Recent Posts

Well this has been a tremendous find. One of the things I miss so much about the 'old' forum was your Vegas stories Tikay, so it's great to find them here. I read through all this visit's posts and it was a grim start but the last cash has righted the boat, now to power on and get some deep runs.
Good luck Sir!

Morning Paul, & thank you.

I've not been writing much from Vegas this year even though I love writing & (I think) I have such a bunch of fascinating stories. Fascinating to me, obviously, but not necessarily to others. I'm just not sure folks are that interested in Forum Diaries these days, especially by someone of my age. It's the WhatsApp age, everything has changed. A close friend of mine just wrote his autobiography (just for friends & family), & I've been mulling the idea of doing the same. I really have had THE most amazing life one way & another with some extraordinary twists & turns, & a whole bunch of "right time, right place".

Anyway, moving on, presumably you'll have tickets for Wimbledon which starts in a few weeks? Any views on likely winners?

You still playing much tennis?

Everything OK on the Country Estate & Private Zoo?  Mrs Tune OK?

Still working, or are you retired now?

You really do need to write an autobiography Tikay, from your postings over the years it would definitely be an excellent read.

No Wimbledon for me, I have been many times over the years and don't really miss going there to watch now. It's a much easier trip to go to Eastbourne for the tennis and I often go there to watch County Week, which is an excellent level of tennis. I'm still playing although it's now about trying to maintain a decent (ish) level, whilst the body starts to slow down. No tips for Wimbledon from me I'm afraid, I generally support the outsiders and the brits, so little chance of a winner.

Everything is fine at home, we have a new(ish) German Shepherd dog who we rescued last year and is a work in progress, and an old GSD who is the dog equivalent of my tennis, still tries to play with the youngsters despite being slower and weaker. Currently have about 20 ducks, two moorhen broods, two different herons visiting and swallows nesting in the stables. Down to just 4 cats now and two horses. Thankfully Beaula does most of the animal chores, it keeps her fit and happy, apparently.

I am currently still working, I was due to retire in January but was lied to by the company taking over my business so pulled out of that deal and had to sort another one out. I managed to do that and, in theory, we complete the sale at the end of this month, fingers crossed. I will be staying on for a few months to make sure all the clients are happy, although that will be in an unpaid capacity. At least from next month I should be free of all the mundane paperwork and FCA regulations. 

Anyway I'm off to Kent for a client meeting now, good luck with the poker today, I miss out PLO8 DYM evenings.

This is worth a read:

https://arseblog.com/2026/06/the-ongoing-corruption-of-the-world-cup-by-gianni-infantino-aged-56-1-4/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky

The Guardian football email has been relentless in its take downs of Infantino and refers to the tournament as the Geopolitics World Cup or GWC.
It’s a far cry from the 16 team tournament of ‘66

I still have my Dad’s ticket from that happy day, it cost £1/10/- which is £25.05 today according to the Bank of England.

I've always loved reading a newspaper, though it has to be my own unopened copy, there's something about the crisp pages of an unopened newspaper.

First paper I read was the Daily Herald, which morphed into The Sun in the early sixties. From there I worked my way up to The Times & FT. I abandoned The Times after it went Tabloid & the actual "news" content became about 3 pages, the rest being fill. The FT was a great read but after I went busto the first time in the late 80's & had to sell all my shares there seemed no point.

In the USA though, they have three magnificent daily newspapers in the Washington Post, New York Times & Wall Street Journal, & when I'm in the States I make a point of buying them every day. I'm a speed reader but even so there's an hour of good solid reading in each of them.

I became so addicted to them after a recent trip to the States that I went to my local newsagent (which is a misnomer these days, there's no such thing really) to get them delivered, but they said "deliver newspapers, what?". No paper boys? Jeez. We ALL had paper round as kids, didn't we? I had 3 actually, & they each paid 2/6 a week though I had to pay that to my parents for "board & lodge".

Circulation of print Dailies has of course declined by about 80% in the last 40 years, most of them don't even publish circulation numbers any more for fear of scaring away advertisers.

I suppose I could subscribe to Digital version of those USA 'papers for around $2 per week, but reading news Online is not the same. (Similar to Kindles & proper books). Especially on Sky News. Click the article "7 million killed in Tsunami" or whatever & before you can read the article we have to watch a 30 second advert for Tesco or Incontinence Pants.

Anyway, whilst here I'm reading some quality Newspapers whilst I still have the chance. Proper news, in-depth articles, & a good hour to get through. News Heaven.

Same here Tony. I only read actual books. Used to read several a week, but spend too much time online nowadays.
Have hundreds of books in the house, waiting to be read

the really good times in life would not feel anywhere near as good , without  getting through the really bad times in life

I think Emma is registered for the qualifying in Berlin

Tony. What with the cost of car hire and parking, and the trek to the car park, wouldn't it be cheaper and more convenient to use taxis?

It's a close run thing Tom. Slightly cash-negative yes, balanced by the convenience, plus driving in Vegas is great fun. I went all over Vegas a few days ago looking for a particular gift for Gill, which would not have been possible via Taxis, plus I've driven up to the Spring Mountains, which is 35 miles away & absolutely beautiful, humming birds & all sorts, & 35f cooler than Vegas. (It was 42C = 106F in Vegas yesterday).

Car hire for 3 weeks cost me $810, so about $39 per day.

The Strip Hotels charge $20 or $25 (varies) per day, but the only Strip venues I visit are WSOP (times 5), MGM (x 3) & Venetian, which is $20 but if you enter a poker Tourney they validate your ticket. Taxi fares to each of those would have been $15 or $20 each way, plus if you exit WSOP or Venetian at a bad time, the Taxi Line can be 300 yards long.

Orleans, South Point are free, & Golden Nugget validate your ticket.

South Point would be $50 each way in a Taxi, which makes no sense for the $120 Tourneys I play there.

Overall though it's well worth it for the sheer convenience, driving in Vegas is so much fun &, in a way, part of the holiday.

There's another angle too. Having no car is like having my legs cut off. In 2004, I think it was, I got banned from driving for 6 or 12 months (I forget which), & although John Kirkland organised a Driver for me, 24/7, it was not the same at all, I lost my cherished independence.

It was (to me) the worst thing ever, & in fact it soured me so much that I eventually decided to retire from (proper) work, as I could not stand having to rely on others to go anywhere.

And right at that very moment, something wonderful happened which completely changed my life for ever. It's weird, that's been the pattern of my life, every time something bad happens, it ends up turning into something wonderful.

[No little box to put a no tip red X in either.]

Tony. What with the cost of car hire and parking, and the trek to the car park, wouldn't it be cheaper and more convenient to use taxis?

Uber was cheap compared to taxis when I was last there in 2022. The old Vegas taxis were always looking for ways to rip you off.

Vegas taxi-drivers get really arsey if they feel you're not tipping them enough too!

No little box to put a no tip red X in either.

Another Ralph ZING.

Those "tip box" things on Card Machines really yank my chain.

[less]

My dog is a Lakeland Terrier called Billy.

Quite a rare breed-mainly because they are naturally so vicious towards other dogs they are both neutered very early on and are generally unable to get close enough to another (without fighting) to make little Lakelands. Imagine a breed regularly cross-bred with Jack Russells to make them less aggressive

He has simple rules. My Wife is his Master, I am his friend, and the kids are to be tolerated, and generally liked unless they try and remove kills. (His rule is kills will only be dropped in exchange for cheese). We got him as a rescue dog. Place spent 10 minutes checking on us, and 2 hours checking he couldn't escape.

Recall sharing a table with Neil Channing at an SPT some time ago. On my phone was 1 picture of son, 1 of daughter, and 8 of the dog. Table full of people trying to impress Neil with their poker skills-we were busy talking about dogs...

Great stuff Phil.

FWIW, Red-Dog (Tom) is something of a dog-whisperer, & if you ever need any help with dog issues, drop him a PM, he's a dog genius.

On which note, anyone remember Barbara Woodhouse, aka "sit", "walkies", & perhaps best of all, "there are no bad dogs, just bad owners"?

I just googled her & was shocked to learn she has been dead 38 years. WTF, how did life flash past so fast?

Not for me, boo.

Do you enjoy cooking?

PS - I originally confused salt beef with corned beef, & subsequently edited my post.

Salt beef is called corned beef in the US to add to the confusion.

Boo, you probably had your salt beef sandwiches in Soho at the Nosh Bar on Great Windmill street opposite the famous burlesque theatre.

ZING.

That's EXACTLY what happened Ralph. I googled "Salt Beef" & it came up with Corned Beef. Before I had chance to Edit it, Dereham Bloke had quoted it & it made me feel daft.

Tony. What with the cost of car hire and parking, and the trek to the car park, wouldn't it be cheaper and more convenient to use taxis?

Uber was cheap compared to taxis when I was last there in 2022. The old Vegas taxis were always looking for ways to rip you off.

Found Taxis and Uber about the same price last year.