Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[Tal]

Not sure which is the best diary for this one, but I'll put it here and hope both you and Red-Dog give your views at least.

There's a big aquatics place not far from home, which has been there for years. When I was a little Tal, we won two goldfish from a fair, which meant various trips to this place for nets, new tanks, gravel, food, castles and so on. It would offer a great excuse to go and see the nurse shark, the koi carp and all the various other fish and watery wonders this place had to offer.

Fred and Ginger died some long years ago now, and I've not been to the aquatics place for a good while. Anyway, it's moved about 4 miles away to a bigger site in a less urban area, having sold off the land for flats, as is the way these days.

My question to you is how on Earth would the logistics for that work? How do you move a few hundred fish? I can't imagine someone driving a HGV full of water. Well, I can, but I quite fancy watching the advert where a guy says he was driving on the dual carriageway when a lorry braked in front of him at the lights. He couldn't stop in time and ended up being attacked by a startled octopus.

Goldfish should be easy to transport, but what about the bigger stuff?

What if your old boss had said "do it or I'll find someone else who will"?

[Mohican]

Not sure which is the best diary for this one, but I'll put it here and hope both you and Red-Dog give your views at least.

There's a big aquatics place not far from home, which has been there for years. When I was a little Tal, we won two goldfish from a fair, which meant various trips to this place for nets, new tanks, gravel, food, castles and so on. It would offer a great excuse to go and see the nurse shark, the koi carp and all the various other fish and watery wonders this place had to offer.

Fred and Ginger died some long years ago now, and I've not been to the aquatics place for a good while. Anyway, it's moved about 4 miles away to a bigger site in a less urban area, having sold off the land for flats, as is the way these days.

My question to you is how on Earth would the logistics for that work? How do you move a few hundred fish? I can't imagine someone driving a HGV full of water. Well, I can, but I quite fancy watching the advert where a guy says he was driving on the dual carriageway when a lorry braked in front of him at the lights. He couldn't stop in time and ended up being attacked by a startled octopus.

Goldfish should be easy to transport, but what about the bigger stuff?

What if your old boss had said "do it or I'll find someone else who will"?

Try here for starters-http://www.pondsuk.co.uk/management/fish-transportation/

[RED-DOG]

Hi Tal.

My mate keeps a fishery and when he re-stocks one of his ponds the fish arrive in a reinforced container like the one below. They come on the back of a flat-bed truck.

As long as they are filled to the brim with water (and fish) there is no problem with stability because the water can't slosh around.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

Not sure which is the best diary for this one, but I'll put it here and hope both you and Red-Dog give your views at least.

There's a big aquatics place not far from home, which has been there for years. When I was a little Tal, we won two goldfish from a fair, which meant various trips to this place for nets, new tanks, gravel, food, castles and so on. It would offer a great excuse to go and see the nurse shark, the koi carp and all the various other fish and watery wonders this place had to offer.

Fred and Ginger died some long years ago now, and I've not been to the aquatics place for a good while. Anyway, it's moved about 4 miles away to a bigger site in a less urban area, having sold off the land for flats, as is the way these days.

My question to you is how on Earth would the logistics for that work? How do you move a few hundred fish? I can't imagine someone driving a HGV full of water. Well, I can, but I quite fancy watching the advert where a guy says he was driving on the dual carriageway when a lorry braked in front of him at the lights. He couldn't stop in time and ended up being attacked by a startled octopus.

Goldfish should be easy to transport, but what about the bigger stuff?

What if your old boss had said "do it or I'll find someone else who will"?

Morning Tal.

Others have replied as to moving fish from hither to thither.

You reminded me, though, of the fact we always had a castle in the fish tank.

Why a castle, I wonder?

Do fish like castles. Do they recognise castles, or have some affinity with them?

It was always something of an exciting moment when a fish actually swum through the castle, too.

Oh boy, we knew how to live in those days.

[tikay]

Imagine trying to sort that out, especially in the UK, where our utility companies are not joined up.

Look at the services that needed sorting;

Sewage pipes

Fresh water pipes

Electricity cables

Gas pipes

Comms cables

And so on.

And it soon filled with water, which had to be drained before work could start.

7 days later, the whole job had been completed.

In the UK, that would take months.

Bravo the Japanese.

Click to see full-size image.

The Japanese have got nothing on the Brits.

Look at the size on this one, and we are going to get it fixed in less than a week.  Amazing what you can do with a traffic cone and a bit of tape.

Click to see full-size image.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-42806485

FWIW They had to refix the Japanese one after it sagged about a week later; cowboys.

It's incredible, isn't it?

Our various services & agencies are just not joined up, are they? Some roads are managed & maintained by the Highways Agency, others by Local Authorities. Its all a bit of a mess.

The current mania for regulating everything, for H & S, for approvals etc is mind-boggingly complex.

Before we can bang a nail in the wall, or replace a cats eye in the road, Compliance has to be addressed, Health & Safety, Induction take place, and a Risk assessment completed.

When Sky Poker TV used to go visit a poker venue, the Risk assessment ran to 30 + pages.  That then had to be circulated to everyone, who then had to read it, sign I & return it.

H & S, Compliance & Regulatory stuff is a whole industry in itself.

[Tal]

Thanks for the answers all

[tikay]

How does one even begin to catch up on your blog tikay?!  

It's quite the spasm of a lunatic. (I think that's good, right?)  

Hope you're keeping well and enjoying life.  Maybe you'd join us in Manchester in April for a bit of 8 Game or similar?  We'd all love to see you.

Ha, think that sums it up pretty well.

Was delighted to see on Twitter that your Daughter, Rebecca, has been accepted at Cambridge Uni, you must be some proud dad. What is she going to study, or, as I believe educated types call it, "read"?

I'm keeping OK, all things considered, thank you. Back on the annual diet again, sigh, but I feel better for it.

Am thoroughly enjoying work - after all those years, we got a new Forum on October, & it's made a big difference, & is thriving now.   Took a while to get it, mind.....

Wish I could tell the story here of SB&G's phenomenal growth over the last 5 years, but I think it may be considered a bit out of line. The recent (5 years or so) growth in Online Sports Betting & Gaming reminds me of poker growth 10 or 15 years ago, & SB&G have gained SOW during those 5 years.  Mentions of Sky Bet on blonde generally draws a round of boos & hisses, I guess many just don't understand what a success story it has been.

CEO Richard Flint is nothing short of a genius. I was up in the Leeds Office last week & he spotted me & came across to shoot the breeze for a few minutes. Amazed he even remembers me, they must have the fat end of 2,000 staff now, spread across at least 7 Office in the UK, Germany & Italy.  

Manchester in April? Would love to, if I'm free, thank you.

Reb did brilliantly, thank you Tony.  We're all very proud.  She and I were driving together around three years ago and she told me she was considering getting a degree through an apprenticeship, as opposed to going straight to Uni.  In truth it was a bit concerrning at the time, but she's very independent so I supported her thinking while gently nudging and encouraging her to keep her options open. But she stuck to her guns and won a scholar placement as a junior consultant with Deloitte.  She is working with them this year and will continue to do so through summer holidays for the next four years, and they're paying her well and covering some of her Uni fees.  Not to mention the experience.  The icing on the cake came last week when she was offered an unconditional place at Cambridge doing Economics. It's amazing how many times she said 'no' when I mentioned Oxford and Cambridge in the past....to add them as 3rd and 4th options (supposedly to keep her mother and I happy).  But boom, she nailed the A levels, Deloitte entrance exams and Uni interviews.  She's a bright girl, no question - but she's has an outstanding work ethic, thrives on it I'd say.  She's not into football though, so I wouldn't say it's all been plain sailing...

SB&G, hadn't been aware of the new forum, will take a look at that.  Read that Richard impressed in parliament yesterday.  A brilliant leader and very deserving of his success.  I didn't recognise many of the people around when I came up to meet him last year.  The growth there has been staggering...only hope it doesn't lead to him jumping ship at some point.  Would assume competitors would find it extremely difficult to match his equity value.

Give me a shout when you're able with regards Manchester.  The team have done a great job with the schedule and I'm sure there are a ton of players who would love to say hello.  www.apat.com/wcoap

Morning Desmond.

Rebecca is independent & stubborn? Wonder where she gets that from? She'll do well, for sure. You must be some proud Dad.

APAT Manchester - unfortunately, it's Easter, when a) I work, as Sky Poker have a Easter UKOPS, & b) Gill comes down for Easter, so I can't really go swanning off to play poker. But thank you anyway, & when a date fits in future, I'd love to come along.

And yes, Richard Flint impressed massively when he appeared before the Parliamentary Committee. Right across the Industry, he's being lauded, & rightly so. Not on blonde, mind, where he was described as a "roffler", which I thought was quite sad. He's a brilliantly successful guy, & polite & respectful to everyone.  Not sure anyone could poach him, I'd hazard a guess he is well-looked after financially, & if SB&G ever go to Market, or get sold, he'll be a zillionaire. I suspect SB&G are becoming like Ryanair - the more successful they get, the more record breaking years they have, the more negative noise they attract. Both are stunningly successful though.   

What are your views on the current Liverpool team, &, in particular, Mr Klopp?

[tikay]

When a week or 2 week sporting event is covered by TV, one of the great joys is getting to "know" the participants, see their character & mannerisms.

This week has been a treat, with the World Indoor Bowls taking place.

Where does the World Indoor Bowls Championships take place?

You really should know that.

Football has Wembley, Rugby Union has Twickers, Tennis has Wimbledon, & Indoor Bowls has.......Hopton-on-Sea.

You might ask where Hopton-on-Sea is - well it's obviously Norfolk, where they all talk funny & think slowly. Pretty sure I saw booder in the crowd.

It takes place at the holiday version of an Old People's Home - truly - & the audience appear to have a minimum age of 80. The venue is called "Potters Resort", & "Resort" is a sort of Vegas style name. Not sure "Resort" works in Norfolk, to be honest.

Not a seat to spare all week, & the place holds, I reckon, close to 3,000, & the audience are as respectful as they are in snooker, a deadly hush interrupted only by the sound of some old boy doddering off for a wee every 10 minutes.

Click to see full-size image.

 

[tikay]

It's intensely competitive, & the skill level is very high indeed - right up there with snooker & way ahead of darts.

And all Bowls players have a different delivery action.

The key thing in so many sports is the "follow-through". Think of snooker, golf, cricket, even darts - the follow-through after delivery is key.

And some of these Bowls lads have THE most eccentric follow-throughs. Hands like a classical conductor, arms extended & fingers in all directions, or back foot inexplicably tapping the floor 4 times. 

I think it ends tomorrow, & its covered extensively on BBC2, "live".

Do try & catch a session or two, you wont regret it if you are a student of human behaviour.

Click to see full-size image.

[Tal]

You'll know about the Bowls GOAT, Tony Alcock, tikay.



He retired to start a new career: in dogs.

Started off showing them but soon became a judge. He is now accredited to give the top award to a number of breeds of dogs in shows: a Challenge Certificate.

Affenpinscher

Bichon Frise

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Chihuahua (Long Coat)

Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)

Chinese Crested

English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)

Griffon Bruxellois

Havanese

Italian Greyhound

Japanese Chin

King Charles Spaniel

Maltese

Miniature Pinscher

Papillon

Pekingese

Pomeranian

Pug

Yorkshire Terrier


https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/judge/display.aspx?id=12801

He specialises in the Toy Group.

[tikay]

^^^^^

Great piece, Tal, love that sort of stuff.

On which note, there was a terrific TV Show this week about.....pigeon fanciers.

I should start by saying if you are, in any way, into pigeons - racing, breeding, showing whatever, then you earn the title fancier.  

Now even this Diary - or spasm of lunacy as I think it was recently & accurately described - will struggle to get replies if I go into too much depth about pigeon racing.

But here's the thing - the chap below, who would ever have believed he was big in the Pigeon Racing world these days? He lobbies for pigeons - "save the Pigeons" & that sort of stuff, & is an accredited judge in the world of Pigeon competitions.

Who'd have thought that?



 

Click to see full-size image.

[Chompy]

Same head movements innit

[tikay]

Same head movements innit

Ha, excellent spot.

That clip of a schoolboy Gerry Francis was actually in the TV show.

[tikay]

That clip is hilarious.

Don't make TV like that these days.

[booder]

You'll know about the Bowls GOAT, Tony Alcock, tikay.

Good ,but not GOAT  imo.

Good spot of me in the crowd Teeks , was treating my new girlfriend to an exciting day out.