Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Revealed: Britain's busiest and quietest stations

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35105105

I kept meaning to reply to this Rich, thank you.

I was quite surprised to learn a few weeks ago, that excluding the big London Termini, Brighton is the 7th busiest Railway Station in the UK. Quite fascinating.

[tikay]

PBS America show some really fascinating stuff, it's one of my bookmarked TV Channels.

A few days ago they had a show called "Tesla, Master of Lightning". One of the Top 10 TV Shows I've seen this year.

http://pbsamerica.co.uk/tesla-master-of-lightening

I had wondered if the show was about the Tesla Electric Motor car, which is fabulously successful, but I now learn that Tesla Motors is named after this Nikola Tesla chap.

His Wiki will absorb 10 minutes of your time, but if you have ever benefitted from electrical power - & who has not? - you ought to read it.

The man was a cross between a breathtakingly astonishing genius, & a complete nutjob. In fact he may have been both.

What an interesting character. Died penniless, too, after living, Howard Hughes-esque, in a little Hotel Room for the last years of his life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla

[tikay]

Train related question good sir, my sisters are thinking of going to Switzerland to watch the Gymastics European Championships and one of them has suggested getting a train there. Any views on this? Would you recommend it?

Yo Matt.

When I saw your name, I immediately thought you were going to remind me again about that Winter Giveaway faux pas, "here's £2,000, but it's a secret how we share it" sorta thing. Sometimes I just have to suck it up, you know. 

Train to Switzerland? Highly recommended. Eurostar to Paris, then get the Paris Milan via SNCF to Geneva.

Trains in Switzerland are nothing short of brerathtakingly good. Modern stock, punctual, reliable, clean. We did a bit of it when we visited Geneva earlier this year - wonderful memories. I'll try & find some of the photos once things calm down a bit.

Why are your sisters (how many have you got) going all tat way to watch Gymnastics - are they gymnasts themselves?

How old are they? Names? Height, too, I SO want them to both be taller than you.

God to see your name in the UKPC lobby, see you in February. I wrote to Natterley & Adam earlier this week, as I've not seen either post anything (with one sad exception) since Punta Cana, but was pleased to hear back that both are hale & hearty.

I have 2 older sisters, Catherine is the eldest and is turning 40 on New Years Eve and she is taller than me. My other sister is Helen, 37 and shorter than me.... if that is even possible!

We have all been involved in gymnastics since we were young. My sisters moved to the coaching side of things as teenagers and Catherine runs her own gymnastics club now. I used to compete in national competitions (never quite good enough to get in the national squad) believe it or not.

UKPC should be good, looking forward to it!

Well, I never.

I could never have you in my mind as any sort of gymnastic sort, never in a million years.

Just goes to show, books & covers.

I love finding out the non-poker side of poker people.

TommyD has quite a story too, I believe, Hospital Radio commentary from White Hart Lane I believe. Might not be now, but was in the days when Sir Smug of the Sherwood was in charge. Oh those glory days. 

Have a grand Xmas Matt, & hope you get the lot in UKOPS. I'll be playing exactly 2 of them - the PLO & PLO8. This time next week, Rodney.....

[tikay]

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35061511[/url

One for you TK

Thanks Dakky, but that link does not work for me.

What was it?

[Marky147]

Happy Xmas to you and your good lady, Tikay.

Hope that you get right into it, with party hats, and crackers

[MrDickie]

Happy Xmas to you and your good lady, Tikay.

Hope that you get right into it, with party hats, and crackers

Ditto Tikay....hope the santa outfit still fits ok this year.

[KarmaDope]

Thanks Dakky, but that link does not work for me.

What was it?

Link should be fixed now Tony.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35061511

[Jon MW]

...

What an interesting character. Died penniless, too, after living, Howard Hughes-esque, in a little Hotel Room for the last years of his life.
....

It was the New Yorker hotel, we stayed in it (not Tesla's suite though) when we went to New York a few months ago.


This is one of their marketing shots


and this was the view from our window when we stayed

Click to see full-size image.

It's a bit run down and about Travelodge standard - but perfectly pleasant and comes with a great history.

I think I read as well that Tesla spent a lot of his later life looking after injured pigeons - often in his hotel room

[horseplayer]

Tikay

Think you will enjoy these

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/big-interview-graham-hunter/id988360681?mt=2

They are all excellent the latest one with Alan Pardew is good value and gives a good insight into his mindset i think.

Graham is very easy on his guests so it is not Paxman but in return he gets some great snippets.

[hhyftrftdr]

ITV tonight, 23:10, Trains vs Weather.

I'll be appearing on at 9pm as well tonight.

[tikay]

ITV tonight, 23:10, Trains vs Weather.

I'll be appearing on at 9pm as well tonight.

Ooh, excellent, thank you. I'll need some relaxation tonight, been one of those days.

Not sere I dare check the 9pm thing - plump related, by any chance?

[hhyftrftdr]

ITV tonight, 23:10, Trains vs Weather.

I'll be appearing on at 9pm as well tonight.

Ooh, excellent, thank you. I'll need some relaxation tonight, been one of those days.

Not sere I dare check the 9pm thing - plump related, by any chance?

Watch and find out....

[celtic]

Give us one of those weekly diary things you done a few weeks back, from Christmas Day to New Year's Day.

TIA teeks.

[TightEnd]

thought you might like this

Shape shifting birds: Murmurations of starlings creating strange shapes http://goo.gl/OT72Fl 

[tikay]

The morning is going well.

Puncture on the M1 near Northampton Services.

Luckily, had the (non 3G) IPad with me, so tethered to my phone, went on Internet "nearest Kwik Fit". That required my location postcode, so found that, pressed some buttons, and then got the Kwik fit postcode, then dialled that into the sat nav.

A difficult 3 miles later, here I am, sat in Kwik Fit. Ain't the Internet great? Sometimes.

Bloke behind the counter took all my details, including inside leg & blood group, then cheerfully says "we are a bit busy today, but you are in luck, you are only 5th in the queue, and both my fitters are very fast. They will be on dinner first though."

Think I will explore the sights of Bridge Street, Northampton. It's smack next door to the Carlberg Brewery, arguably Britain's ugliest building.

All good then.