Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[skolsuper]

Camel made mention of Jeff Buffenburger ("Buff") somewhere yesterday.

Buff is one of those rare folks who is liked by everyone. A big smile is perma-fixed to his face, & he always sees the positive side of life, a proper glass half full guy.

He has a business - I think he trades in used Mobile Phones & Office copiers etc, he refurbishes them & resells them, probably - I don't know - to third world countries. 

If you play poker, & Jeff walks into the room, you'd pay good money for him to be on your table, he is such fun, & I've never once known him throw a sulk over anything.

He went through a bad spell about 2 years back, due to illness in tyjhe family, which never worked out well, but he seems to have got his mojo back now.

In the inaugural WSOP-E (£10k buy-in), Jeff was in good shape & they were on the money bubble. A deep-stacked kid was exploiting the bubble dynamic, & when Jeff opened with K-K, the kid jammed on him, expecting a fold, & Jeff, of course, made the quick call to find himself up against K-8, or K-10, as good as it gets, but the kid got lucky & busted Jeff. Even that never wiped the smile off his face (he plays off his own money), despite the fact that £19,000 had just gone down the swanee. 

We see "heroes" & "legends" talked about in poker every day, which is a slight exaggaration of the term, to put it mildly, but if there were suich a thing as a poker hero, Jeff would be one.

In the photos below, you'll see thr "Michigan" cap - Jeff is a yank, & in one photo, note the random fish on his mobile, tsk tsk. That, as it happens, was Luton, & on the table also was "Pepe", & Joe Grech. Plus the random on his phone.

I was sat to his left when this happened, and the bubble was over £27,000 that 1st year. Such an incredibly nice guy, didn't stop laughing and joking all day, but even he let a note of disappointment creep into his voice for just a second after that. IIRC "the kid" was Marcello Marigliano: http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=91660

Thanks James, & I stand corrected, the "bubble" was worth £27,000, not £19,000 as I stated. That has to pinch a bit, & all the more credit to the man.

PS - I hope your Auction went well. Guess who forgot to bid?........

I did it in conjunction with another - wiser & better - chap last time, & he did one bid, for a tidy %, which we intended to share, 50/50, but we got the bid price wrong, & we never got any.  I was waiting to agree something along the same lines this time, a joint bid, if you like, but I plum forgot. Hope you get the lot in Austria. It's not wholly beyond the realms of possibility that I may fancy a jaunt, & come out myself. Good luck, anyway.

Yeah I think a few of my regulars 'forgot to bid' on this one too. Theoretically I don't think it should change much having the bids by pm, except with the last one having the replies in the thread kept it turning over as the most recent post which meant it got more attention I think. Maybe also just because it was a new thing. Anyway fingers crossed I'll win in Prague and get a return for the more organised folks who did get around to making a bid.

[tikay]

Camel made mention of Jeff Buffenburger ("Buff") somewhere yesterday.

Buff is one of those rare folks who is liked by everyone. A big smile is perma-fixed to his face, & he always sees the positive side of life, a proper glass half full guy.

He has a business - I think he trades in used Mobile Phones & Office copiers etc, he refurbishes them & resells them, probably - I don't know - to third world countries. 

If you play poker, & Jeff walks into the room, you'd pay good money for him to be on your table, he is such fun, & I've never once known him throw a sulk over anything.

He went through a bad spell about 2 years back, due to illness in tyjhe family, which never worked out well, but he seems to have got his mojo back now.

In the inaugural WSOP-E (£10k buy-in), Jeff was in good shape & they were on the money bubble. A deep-stacked kid was exploiting the bubble dynamic, & when Jeff opened with K-K, the kid jammed on him, expecting a fold, & Jeff, of course, made the quick call to find himself up against K-8, or K-10, as good as it gets, but the kid got lucky & busted Jeff. Even that never wiped the smile off his face (he plays off his own money), despite the fact that £19,000 had just gone down the swanee. 

We see "heroes" & "legends" talked about in poker every day, which is a slight exaggaration of the term, to put it mildly, but if there were suich a thing as a poker hero, Jeff would be one.

In the photos below, you'll see thr "Michigan" cap - Jeff is a yank, & in one photo, note the random fish on his mobile, tsk tsk. That, as it happens, was Luton, & on the table also was "Pepe", & Joe Grech. Plus the random on his phone.

I was sat to his left when this happened, and the bubble was over £27,000 that 1st year. Such an incredibly nice guy, didn't stop laughing and joking all day, but even he let a note of disappointment creep into his voice for just a second after that. IIRC "the kid" was Marcello Marigliano: http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=91660

Thanks James, & I stand corrected, the "bubble" was worth £27,000, not £19,000 as I stated. That has to pinch a bit, & all the more credit to the man.

PS - I hope your Auction went well. Guess who forgot to bid?........

I did it in conjunction with another - wiser & better - chap last time, & he did one bid, for a tidy %, which we intended to share, 50/50, but we got the bid price wrong, & we never got any.  I was waiting to agree something along the same lines this time, a joint bid, if you like, but I plum forgot. Hope you get the lot in Austria. It's not wholly beyond the realms of possibility that I may fancy a jaunt, & come out myself. Good luck, anyway.

Yeah I think a few of my regulars 'forgot to bid' on this one too. Theoretically I don't think it should change much having the bids by pm, except with the last one having the replies in the thread kept it turning over as the most recent post which meant it got more attention I think. Maybe also just because it was a new thing. Anyway fingers crossed I'll win in Prague and get a return for the more organised folks who did get around to making a bid.

This, really, and yes, good luck to those who organised themselves & got a piece. It is quite interesting to see who bid what, & @ what price. Maybe those prices will set a benchmark for future bids, too. I note my co-bidder last time never bid this time, either, so we are as bad as each other.

Genuinely hope you win the thing.

[tikay]

Tuesday & Wednesday of this week were spent in Technical Rehearsals in the new Studio, ready for our re-launch next week. There are no Live Shows this week, to give us time to prep everything.

We were in the Studio from 9am until 6pm both days, all, or most of, the talent, & all the techie guys. I've got a bunch of photos, but too tired to upload right now.

Most of the time is spent doing the same take 5 or 6 times, swapping screen partners, trying out different combos, messing with talkback, microphones, lighting, camera positions, plasma positions, experimenting with using an i-Pad in vision, etc.

All interesting, but so much hanging around, which I really find difficult, doing nothing does my head in. Think I'll swerve being a Film Star.

We had a photoshoot, too, as a group, as "on-screen pairs", & solo.

Triple-barrelled name Lady Stylist kitted us all out in new "Wardrobe", top to toe, shoes, jeans, strides, shirts, ties, jackets, the lot. My red jacket has been condemned, & amongst my new gear is a velvet jacket. Oooohhh....

I thought it best to shave off my 2 week-old beard before the photoshoot, but I was in a rush, & made a right mess of it, looked like I'd been attacked by something, cuts & nicks galore. That went well.

I have to do the whole rehearsal thing again next Wednesday, then on Thursday, we do the new Live Show, & I've got the opening Show in the new set, so that is kind of re-assuring in a peculiar way, what with all these new young guys getting the gig. Insecurity rules, though if my time us up, no complaints or regrets, as I've had a grand run, & I have plenty else to get on with.

[mondatoo]

Did I miss your reply to the retirement v bucket list question ? 

[snoopy1239]

Camel made mention of Jeff Buffenburger ("Buff") somewhere yesterday.

Buff is one of those rare folks who is liked by everyone. A big smile is perma-fixed to his face, & he always sees the positive side of life, a proper glass half full guy.

He has a business - I think he trades in used Mobile Phones & Office copiers etc, he refurbishes them & resells them, probably - I don't know - to third world countries. 

If you play poker, & Jeff walks into the room, you'd pay good money for him to be on your table, he is such fun, & I've never once known him throw a sulk over anything.

He went through a bad spell about 2 years back, due to illness in tyjhe family, which never worked out well, but he seems to have got his mojo back now.

In the inaugural WSOP-E (£10k buy-in), Jeff was in good shape & they were on the money bubble. A deep-stacked kid was exploiting the bubble dynamic, & when Jeff opened with K-K, the kid jammed on him, expecting a fold, & Jeff, of course, made the quick call to find himself up against K-8, or K-10, as good as it gets, but the kid got lucky & busted Jeff. Even that never wiped the smile off his face (he plays off his own money), despite the fact that £19,000 had just gone down the swanee. 

We see "heroes" & "legends" talked about in poker every day, which is a slight exaggaration of the term, to put it mildly, but if there were suich a thing as a poker hero, Jeff would be one.

In the photos below, you'll see thr "Michigan" cap - Jeff is a yank, & in one photo, note the random fish on his mobile, tsk tsk. That, as it happens, was Luton, & on the table also was "Pepe", & Joe Grech. Plus the random on his phone.

Definitely K-T. I was standing at ringside with a note pad in hand, like the good ol' days.

I can confirm that he certainly wasn't smiling when that river came down, and I don't blame him.

I think Jeff actually busted a hand or two later.

[tikay]

One of my NYR's was to travel more this year, & so I booked a trip to St Petersburg, which is the finest City I have ever visited, outside of London, I guess.

Was due to fly out next week, in fact, but some stuff got in the way, & I had to cancel, so that was the fat end of £2k down the drain, sigh. Partly my own fault, really, but the timing, what with the channel launch & everything, could not have been worse, & if I had gone, I would have been endlessly fretting. Now I'm not going, & I'm still fretting. Ho hum.

Tomorrow (today) I head up to Derbyshire, then back down to Luton in the evening, then Saturday & Sunday at the Luton SPT.

Monday, start again.

All good, nice & busy, but there has been a bit too much this week, with lots of other stuff to field, too, & I'm ready for a rest. That trip to St P next weekl would have been just right, but it is what it is.

[tikay]

Did I miss your reply to the retirement v bucket list question ? 

No!

It is on my way too long "to-do" list.

Timely prompt that, Ray, given my previous Post.

[NoflopsHomer]

Camel made mention of Jeff Buffenburger ("Buff") somewhere yesterday.

Buff is one of those rare folks who is liked by everyone. A big smile is perma-fixed to his face, & he always sees the positive side of life, a proper glass half full guy.

He has a business - I think he trades in used Mobile Phones & Office copiers etc, he refurbishes them & resells them, probably - I don't know - to third world countries. 

If you play poker, & Jeff walks into the room, you'd pay good money for him to be on your table, he is such fun, & I've never once known him throw a sulk over anything.

He went through a bad spell about 2 years back, due to illness in tyjhe family, which never worked out well, but he seems to have got his mojo back now.

In the inaugural WSOP-E (£10k buy-in), Jeff was in good shape & they were on the money bubble. A deep-stacked kid was exploiting the bubble dynamic, & when Jeff opened with K-K, the kid jammed on him, expecting a fold, & Jeff, of course, made the quick call to find himself up against K-8, or K-10, as good as it gets, but the kid got lucky & busted Jeff. Even that never wiped the smile off his face (he plays off his own money), despite the fact that £19,000 had just gone down the swanee. 

We see "heroes" & "legends" talked about in poker every day, which is a slight exaggaration of the term, to put it mildly, but if there were suich a thing as a poker hero, Jeff would be one.

In the photos below, you'll see thr "Michigan" cap - Jeff is a yank, & in one photo, note the random fish on his mobile, tsk tsk. That, as it happens, was Luton, & on the table also was "Pepe", & Joe Grech. Plus the random on his phone.

I was sat to his left when this happened, and the bubble was over £27,000 that 1st year. Such an incredibly nice guy, didn't stop laughing and joking all day, but even he let a note of disappointment creep into his voice for just a second after that. IIRC "the kid" was Marcello Marigliano: http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=91660

Thanks James, & I stand corrected, the "bubble" was worth £27,000, not £19,000 as I stated. That has to pinch a bit, & all the more credit to the man.

PS - I hope your Auction went well. Guess who forgot to bid?........

I did it in conjunction with another - wiser & better - chap last time, & he did one bid, for a tidy %, which we intended to share, 50/50, but we got the bid price wrong, & we never got any.  I was waiting to agree something along the same lines this time, a joint bid, if you like, but I plum forgot. Hope you get the lot in Austria. It's not wholly beyond the realms of possibility that I may fancy a jaunt, & come out myself. Good luck, anyway.

Would be awesome if you did, the tournament will give you a good amount of time to get into that 6-8bb you call the 'comfort zone'

[mondatoo]

Did I miss your reply to the retirement v bucket list question ? 

No!

It is on my way too long "to-do" list.

Timely prompt that, Ray, given my previous Post.

Sigh at having to cancel, got my own little trip in the pipeline, only live once etc.

[tikay]

Did I miss your reply to the retirement v bucket list question ? 

No!

It is on my way too long "to-do" list.

Timely prompt that, Ray, given my previous Post.

Sigh at having to cancel, got my own little trip in the pipeline, only live once etc.

True, but "everyday" life is good too, as good as it gets, really. Yeah, I intend to travel more, but life is good with or without it, & in my case, I've fitted a good bit of travel into my time.

[tikay]

After my sordid exploits yesterday, I got to thinking - how did you first get the betting buzz? What kick-started it? I think it's pretty interesting to look back & see how & where it all began. For many of us, it sort of changed the way we lived. Not necessarily changed our lives, but definitely part of something that was always there.

I have probably spent more time than desirable studying form in the Life, (Sporting Life), studying Timeform, standing in Betting Shops, etc, & from punting, it was only a short step to poker.

A lot of money has washed back & forth, like the tide, but the experience has been something I would not have missed for the world.

It's biggest drawback, to my mind, was the inability to watch a sport, football or whatever, objectively, if I had bet on the outcome.  ONLY the bet mattered, not the spectacle. I most remember Derby winners with affection if I punted them. That sucks.

Now, I really enjoy sport much better, football especially, & I don't want anything to stand in the way of that.

How did the betting journey begin for me?

Fittingly, perhaps, at Paddington Station, in 1967. And I was not even there......

[david3103]

 

[tikay]

It must have been in late 1967. A jumps meeting at Newbury, and the race train back to Paddington from Newbury ran nicely on time, arriving early into Paddington Station, easing to a halt nice & gently.

As was the custom back in the day, the driver would lean over the cab of the diesel loco, surveying from his lofty perch the passengers rushing towards the barrier, tickets in hand. This was not general curiosity, this was when the driver earned his tips, as the occasional passenger would thrust a half crown, or even a 10 shilling note, into the driver's dirty hand, "nice smooth journey, my man", or "10 minutes early, here, have a drink". The driver was not "released" from duty until the train emptied, anyway, & from Paddington, he had to travel back "light" (empty, without the coaches) to the depot, at Old Oak Common, so he'd try & collect a few tips whilst killing time.

On this occasion, as the driver leaned & waited, ready to thrust out his hand if eye-contact was made, a posh looking young bloke, trilby hat at a raffish angle, came up to the driver, & instead of proferring a tip in the money sense, this time it was a tip for a horse.

The driver backed the horse, & there began the story.

The tip was for the 1968 Lincolnshire handicap, 4 or 5 months later.

The name of the horse was "Frankincense", which landed a mighty gamble at all prices down from 66/1, winning a shade cosily under Greville Starkey.

The driver of the train was my Dad, Jimmy Kendall.

The dapper young chap who gave Dad the tip was Barry Hills, who, from the proceeds of that gamble, opened a racing stable, & went on to have a glorious career, saddling over 3,000 winners, & who retired recently, & sadly, in ill-health.

Dad went on to be a daily punter for the rest of his life, never a day passed without he'd do his "yankee". He'd back any Barry Hills trained horse "blind", ditto anything ridden by George Duffield.

In later years, when Dad became unwell, I would take his bets, promising to back them for him, but instead, I would "stand them" without telling him.  Soon, I was standing bets for half the estate we lived on. I stood all of Dad's bets for the last 4 or 5 years of his life.

Imagine the mixed emotions you endure if you "stand" bets from your Dad, who you love? Truth is, I was soon taking bets from loads of people, so I could always afford the luxury of hoping Dad's bet would win. Sadly, he rarely did. Like so many, he had no idea really, but, you know, that "bug" bites, & we cannot help ourselves.

By now, of course, I had the bug myself, & soon it bit me, too, & I became a daily punter. If you include poker, I think I have probably had a gamble 9 days in 10 for over 45 years now, though I had not bet for a decade or more prior to yesterday, as poker ticks all my gaming boxes. Now, I don't play so much poker.......

[DaveShoelace]

University, a friend of mine would go and do the seven sections every saturday morning and I joined him one day, and like I presume many of us, I won the first time, a 14-1 shot no less (£1 bet sigh). Soon after another friend showed me Betfair, we started going to casinos etc. I was a skint student at the time, so the lure of easy money was very tempting, and it was also quite a social thing at the time with a handful of mates. It did make it impossible, as you say, to just enjoy a football match from that point on.

Then poker came along and it just was so much better than any other form of gambling to provide those two things (money and the social side), plus a third competitive element. I rarely gamble in any other way now, maybe two sports bets a year and I have played a house game exactly once in 7 years (ran like god too). I used to win quite a bit in the early days, I am just about break even these days, but poker has been incredibly good to me, job wise obviously but also because it probably stopped me being a big gambler in other areas.

And yes, it was a real honour picking up the European Player of the Year award the other night in Paris.

[Lucky]

Did I miss your reply to the retirement v bucket list question ? 

No!

It is on my way too long "to-do" list.

Timely prompt that, Ray, given my previous Post.

Just put it on your bucket list and problem solved.