Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

4 weeks today, I got back from Vegas, & until the last few days, I've not managed to sleep more than 2 hours at a time. Insomnia must be a terrible thing. As a result, I've been grumpy, tetchy & awkward. Tirednness is not at all nice.

Been very busy (relatively) with work, which is good, & eventually got my new contract signed & sealed. It does not guarantee me anything as to job security really, its just a means of getting paid, then can get rid any time they wish, but at least it shows intent on their part, so that's good. I'm quite keen to get past the 10 year mark, which is just under 2 months hence.   

I still can't stop thinking about Vegas, had the best time ever, & I wish it had gone on for ever.

I piled on one & a half stone in Vegas. I spent the first week at home eating normally, then got back on the diet regime, & have managed to lose half a stone so far.

I started walking every day again 10 days ago, & that's quite hard at the moment, it is an effort rather than a pleasure.

Some beautiful views though, and the part of the Thames Path I used can't have changed in 50 or 60 years, it's achingly pretty.

To amuse myself whilst walking, I sometimes count how many species of birds & animals I spot - my record is 37 on the 2 mile walk. The baby swans, or cygnets, have grown up so quickly, & are now full size, but still have the brown feathers. Not sure when they turn white. Mummy Swan & Daddy Swan escort them for a daily paddle, & get very protective if you try to approach them.   

[tikay]

Air show spectators hailed for rescuing Herne Bay pilot after his plane plunged into the sea

 http://bit.ly/2aVr0jU

Click to see full-size image.

Blimey, he did well to get out of that.

Herne Bay used to be a "day out" back in the day. The place is probably run down & decrepit now, like so many seaside towns.

[tikay]

Some cracking views along the river bank, & at this time of year, everyone is messing about on the river.

[tikay]

.

[tikay]

I had occasion to visit the Leeds Office last week. Sheesh, that place has exploded with new people. This time last year they had 600 staff, now they have north of 1,000. And at least - at least - 4 of them are Sky Poker. 

As per, I tried to convince myself to dress casually, sans tie, but I just can't do it. Had meetings all day, with about 10 different people, including 2 Super Suits, & felt a complete pratt in my jacket & tie. Nice jacket & tie, mind, at least they would have been impressed by my wardrobe.

Took the train, so arrived at Kings Cross an hour early, to have a perv.

Have to say, think they have done a good job with the concourse remodelling.

Travelled up first class, oioi, & Mr Channing, also summoned to Leeds for the day, was on the same train, but could not sit with me as I was in a designated "Quiet Coach". He's banned from them.  

[tikay]

I had not previously noticed what classical & well-scaled lines the train shed has, spoilt only, in this photo, by that dreadful Virgin thing.

[tikay]

Now we are talking class - I spotted this iconic & thoroughly beautiful Class 43.

Quality, don't you think?

[tikay]

Class 43 locomotives generally haul "slam-door" passenger stock.

Of all the aural experiences in life the sound of those doors closing with that deep, reassuring double clunk must be near the top of anyone's list.

They ride beautifully, too, you really feel like you are on a train in those beauties.

Last week, a chap was in one on the Gatwick Express at Wandsworth or somesuch, stuck his head out of the window &  promptly got himself killed by an oncoming train or piece of trackside furniture or a catenary support.

Condolences to him & his family, obv.

The next day, the media was full of "they need to get rid of carriages which have windows you can open, they are dangerous".

What?

Whilst I'm clearly sad about Mr Lean Out of the Window Man, at what point do we need to take responsibility for our own actions?

Stick your head out of a train window, & what do you THINK might happen?

The media do love to point fingers at authority. They should stick to reporting news, not opinions. It's not like the media, newspapers especially, are exactly squeaky clean, is it?

It'll be a very sad day if we ever lose slam-door stock.

[Mohican]

It seems the chap in question should really have known better.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/first-picture-railway-fan-killed-8591221

[hhyftrftdr]

Grand Central are excellent, and much better than Virgin IMO. Loads more space, comfy seats, free wifi in peasant class (though I think Virgin are introducing this if you book through them). Also the added benefit of no stops between York and London, so I know when I get on at York/London and the seat next to me is vacant, it remains vacant for the entire journey not that anyone would want to sit next to me, but that's beside the point. Always look to travel GC over Virgin whenever I have to go to London. GC have been known to randomly declassify first as well....

What a thrilling addition to this diary. Edge of your seat stuff.

[tikay]

2 weeks ago, was the 10th anniversary of the founding of APAT.

http://web.archive.org/web/20060813163656/http:/www.apat.com/

Wow, where did those 10 years go?

Des sent me an e-Mail reminding me, & so we had a catch up phone call a few days later.

I'd nearly forgotten the birth pains of APAT, my oh my people did not trust us. Two Gents in particular gave us a really hard time, ifm, who was just being awkward, & "Dik9" (Rich Wootton) who had genuine concerns, but was later to come onside & recognize APAT for what it intended to be.  We did get a bit of a beating though, folks thought there was some hidden agenda, or ulterior motive & it was all part of a pan for Des to get himself a nice red Ferrari. He's still waiting for that, I gather. Some were fixated by the word "Association", too, I still have no idea why.

One of our first sponsors was Pokerstars, quite a coup by Uncle Des that.

When the very first APAT event tickets went on sale, for Broadway Birmingham, we had a right palaver. After all the moaning & groaning, we had 200 seats for sale, & received 1,400 applications. Kinboshi went on to win it, God knows how.

Next up we tried something else, & eventually settled upon something we called a "clickfest", whereby tickets went on sale at 9pm or whatever.

Des was monitoring the website, as he had to close it when we maxed out. It opened at 9pm, & nothing happened for 30 seconds or so, whilst people were filling in the forms, then suddenly, BOOM, we had oversold in minutes, & he had to close it.  So that caused a hoohah, too, "what about me?" sorta thing. What can you do though, we could not invent casino capacity out of thin air?

Paypal threatened to pull the plug on us, too. My oh my, what headaches we had.

It was originally Des, Tighty, me, & Mel, though Mel never stayed long, she is still around though, deals at DTD a lot.

When Season Two was announced, things got worse, & the blonde thread got a bit heavy, 30 odd pages of debate. Everyone wanted to run APAT, it seemed.

Some real blasts from the past on the thread, worth a gander if you have a few minutes.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=16453.0

In due course, a clash of sponsorship caused me to resign my position there, with very mixed feelings. Ii was either that or leave Sky Poker really. We wanted to do so much, but time & life got in the way.

As it happens, some really good people then came in, Leigh Wiltshere in particular.

I attended an APAT in London a few years ago & got a lovely reception, which touched me enormously. A chap named Tom seemed to be Des's new right hand man, & he seemed just right for the job.

Overall, it was a pain at times, but it was lovely to be part of too, & I am very pleased I did my little bit for the recreationals.

Chirpy? You bet, I was very proud of what we helped build & tried to do.

Long live APAT, & all who sail in her.


APAT events were easy to win though, & here's the proof;



   

[tikay]

It seems the chap in question should really have known better.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/first-picture-railway-fan-killed-8591221

Good Lord, how could he not realise the danger?

Seemed a lovely chap, by the sounds of it.

Now he is no longer with us, & we may be denied slam door stock.

Lose lose. 

[tikay]

Grand Central are excellent, and much better than Virgin IMO. Loads more space, comfy seats, free wifi in peasant class (though I think Virgin are introducing this if you book through them). Also the added benefit of no stops between York and London, so I know when I get on at York/London and the seat next to me is vacant, it remains vacant for the entire journey not that anyone would want to sit next to me, but that's beside the point. Always look to travel GC over Virgin whenever I have to go to London. GC have been known to randomly declassify first as well....

What a thrilling addition to this diary. Edge of your seat stuff.

100% agree as to Grand Central, lovely little franchise.

No good to me, as I mainly do Leeds, maybe one day I'll do it via York & GC. Add a few hours to the journey, but worth it. The Virgin Trains experience is so Corporate, it's the train version of a McDonalds.

Next instalment of my train travelogue will be next week, as I am heading down to Bristol on Tuesday on First Great Western, heading for the magnificent Temple Meads Station on a work thing. Does life get any better than that?

Bristol Temple Meads reminds us why Railway Termini are often referred to as Cathedrals. And quite right too.

[tikay]

And in anticipation of more railway stations photo requests, here's the somewhat plain Bournemouth Station which Gill & I visited recently, adorned by yet another pile of Virgin Cross Country poo.  

[tikay]

Turning now to more serious matters, a very reliable source - I might even call him a mint source - told me a few days ago that Dave Colclough is or was quite unwell.

He lives in the Philippines these days, but the story went that he was very unwell, & needed to return to the UK for urgent treatment.

I don't have Facebook, but I'd be surprised if Dave does not, so if anyone could check it out, or has any news of him I'd be most grateful.