Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[millidonk]

Longest I have spent reading looking at this diary for a long time.

[Kev B]

Did you catch Crouchies goal Tikay, wonderful.

[Laxie]

If Tony had taken the pic....

OMG!     Wp Sir.  VWP. 

[Machka]

It was magnificent. I took over 1,000 photos (continous mode eats up the numbers) not all of which were perfect, but I'll later on Post both of those that were.

And yes, they still do cooked breakfast! I could but stand, stare, & smell it, as I am on a severely restricted food intake at present.

I never knew they had a place @ Arundel - I will deffo visit it. I adore Arundel, the Castle is magnificent. Not sure if it is still the case, but John Dunlop's horseracing stable used to be based there. In fact, I don't even know of John is still alive, he'd be quite old now, but he had a son, I believe.

Wish I'd seen your crested grebe note before I went. I THINK I got a snap of one, but that was accidental.

I love to see parents taking young kids there (if well-behaved), I cannot think of many better things to get kiddywinkles to understand the sort of things they should value in life. If a child of mine spent all their time messing with Play Stations, Mario the Plumber, & X-Boxes, I'd be so disappointed in my parenting skills. Little & often, & "balanced" is fine, but I'd so want them to get an early feel for stuff with more depth and scope than computer games & stuff. A Wetland Centre, with birds nature shown so well, is a great place to educate them. 

I'll be uploading those photos later, be warned.

Also went to Brighton yesterday - it was rammed choc-a-bloc with day trippers in the sun, absolutely heaving!

A lovely day.

Off to the airport now, armed with camera......

PS - (SPAM ALERT) - I know you play a bit next door - hope you bag one of those £10,000 Vegas packages in our first Viva Las Vegas Final tonight! One £10k package is guaranteed (13 runners @ present), if we get 20, that'll be two £10k packages. Either way, not bad odds for a £10k package.

The Semi-Final @ 5.30pm currently has 14 runners (1 in 5 go through), so that might fill up & help make 2 seats in the 9pm Final.

OK, off to the airport it is.

Isn't Continuous mode a wonderful thing?  After each of my outings to a park, concert, party, holiday I upload the photos, usually in the region of 500 per day out and have a little routine.

1. Upload to PC (by removing the SD card from the camera and putting it in a £1 SD card reader)
2. Auto-rotate all the pictures so they portrait ones are in the correct orientation (using software called Irfanview)
3. Renaming all the images to a standard format YYYY_MMDD_HHMMSSxx.jpg (using software called EXIFER)
4. Looking through all the images once removing any blurred, useless pictures.
5. Looking through all the images again removing all the duplicate pictures, or choosing which of the continuous almost identical ones to keep.
6. Filing away the remaining photos in a folder called for example 2012 03 March Brighton SPT

This way I end up with a complete timeline of all my photos going back to 2000 12 December, all in order, neatly named and easily identifiable.

I really don't like using any software that comes with cameras or software that is supposed to help you categorise your pictures.  When happens when you change camera, the software becomes outdated?

[Machka]

It was magnificent. I took over 1,000 photos (continous mode eats up the numbers) not all of which were perfect, but I'll later on Post both of those that were.

And yes, they still do cooked breakfast! I could but stand, stare, & smell it, as I am on a severely restricted food intake at present.

I never knew they had a place @ Arundel - I will deffo visit it. I adore Arundel, the Castle is magnificent. Not sure if it is still the case, but John Dunlop's horseracing stable used to be based there. In fact, I don't even know of John is still alive, he'd be quite old now, but he had a son, I believe.

Wish I'd seen your crested grebe note before I went. I THINK I got a snap of one, but that was accidental.

I love to see parents taking young kids there (if well-behaved), I cannot think of many better things to get kiddywinkles to understand the sort of things they should value in life. If a child of mine spent all their time messing with Play Stations, Mario the Plumber, & X-Boxes, I'd be so disappointed in my parenting skills. Little & often, & "balanced" is fine, but I'd so want them to get an early feel for stuff with more depth and scope than computer games & stuff. A Wetland Centre, with birds nature shown so well, is a great place to educate them. 

I'll be uploading those photos later, be warned.

Also went to Brighton yesterday - it was rammed choc-a-bloc with day trippers in the sun, absolutely heaving!

A lovely day.

Off to the airport now, armed with camera......

PS - (SPAM ALERT) - I know you play a bit next door - hope you bag one of those £10,000 Vegas packages in our first Viva Las Vegas Final tonight! One £10k package is guaranteed (13 runners @ present), if we get 20, that'll be two £10k packages. Either way, not bad odds for a £10k package.

The Semi-Final @ 5.30pm currently has 14 runners (1 in 5 go through), so that might fill up & help make 2 seats in the 9pm Final.

OK, off to the airport it is.

It drives me crazy to see parents doing nothing constructive with their children.  Letting them sit in front on their TV, console, computer all day every day.

I used to help out in Leo's school quite often, 2 or 3 days a week when I was between contracts. 

During half term I'd try and take Leo somewhere interesting every couple of days. 

Not necessarily away on holiday, just to the park, the new forest to see the horses, play around in the woods, to Mayflower Park by the docks at low tide to turn over rocks and collect a bucket full of crabs, eels, goby fish, and then release them at the end.  After taking the mandatory photos of course. ;-)

Then we'd go back to school and Leo would tell 1001 stories to his teacher and friends.

I asked one of Leo's friends what he did over the 2 week break, his highlight was eating biscuits and watching a DVD.  Sigh.

Such a waste of a young mind.

[tikay]

Off to Luton for some DC now, but I must just wish Jen Mason "good luck" on her debut tonight as an Analyst on Channel 865.

You'll have to excuse the poorly written Press Release, you just can't get the staff these days.

Channel 865, the 24/7 Sky Poker channel, has freshened up its Shows of late with the addition of several new Analysts, young, fresh, & very much in tune with their message of "entertainment & education".

The latest addition is a young lady steeped in poker not just as a player, but as a reporter, updater, & journalist, too, Miss Jen Mason.

Jen has been on the poker scene for years, & is one of those rare individuals without an enemy or detractor. She is, however, something of a left-field curve-ball, not really like anyone else on the poker scene.

Educated at Oxford - with a Degree in Classical Languages, of all things - she is also an experienced crossword setter, a mean exponent of gin rummy, and with a keen interest in Japanese films, setting her apart from most. A wonderful raconteur, & terrific company, she is never shy in putting her sometimes eccentric views forward, but in a disarmingly engaging & inoffensive way. Despite her beautifully clipped English accent, she is American by birth, & holds dual nationality, with both UK & USA Passports. Very handy for those queues at the Airport!

Her real poker asset is her diversity, & it is hard to name anyone else with her breadth of poker experience, both sides of the poker baize. She has played at the very highest level, in the WSOP, & several EPT's, won a year-long challenge against senior pros, but is equally at home grinding 2p-4p Omaha High Low Online. Add to that she has been a poker dealer, an updater of great repute the world over, a "ghost" author, a journalist reporting for major Live Poker Series, and a contributor of articles to the major print media poker magazines.

Been there, done it, got the t-shirt, applies to few in poker as well as it does to Jen Mason. Sky Poker has never been afraid to innovate, & this one hits the spot.

Jen's first appearance on Channel 865 will be on Sunday 25th March from 7pm

[KarmaDope]

Can I buy a comma from that Press Release please?! Ridiculous overuse of them!

[tikay]

Can I buy a comma from that Press Release please?! Ridiculous overuse of them!

Nope, I like commas, to try to write as I speak.

[horseplayer]

"I never knew they had a place @ Arundel - I will deffo visit it. I adore Arundel, the Castle is magnificent. Not sure if it is still the case, but John Dunlop's horseracing stable used to be based there. In fact, I don't even know of John is still alive, he'd be quite old now, but he had a son, I believe. "

Arundel is a fantastic place for a day trip or even two. Not such a fan of John Dunlop a man who has perfected the art of looking like he has swallowed a wasp everytime i see him at the races. In truth he is a declining force with the ammunition he has his strike rate the last few years is very average at best, having said that he has a net worth of more than i would ever dream so i doubt he will be to upset by my opinion.

Ed Dunlop is his son and although not my favourite stable does seem to be able to train especially the fairer sex.

[booder]

Will be watching............love the Djinn

[rex008]

Isn't Continuous mode a wonderful thing?  After each of my outings to a park, concert, party, holiday I upload the photos, usually in the region of 500 per day out and have a little routine.

1. Upload to PC (by removing the SD card from the camera and putting it in a £1 SD card reader)
2. Auto-rotate all the pictures so they portrait ones are in the correct orientation (using software called Irfanview)
3. Renaming all the images to a standard format YYYY_MMDD_HHMMSSxx.jpg (using software called EXIFER)
4. Looking through all the images once removing any blurred, useless pictures.
5. Looking through all the images again removing all the duplicate pictures, or choosing which of the continuous almost identical ones to keep.
6. Filing away the remaining photos in a folder called for example 2012 03 March Brighton SPT

This way I end up with a complete timeline of all my photos going back to 2000 12 December, all in order, neatly named and easily identifiable.

I really don't like using any software that comes with cameras or software that is supposed to help you categorise your pictures.  When happens when you change camera, the software becomes outdated?

a) Step 2: Does your camera not rotate them anyway? Most do these days, although there is sometimes a setting to actually remember the orientation in the saved photo.
b) Get Adobe Lightroom. Then read Scott Kelby's book about it. Can do the rename thing in a magic template thing. The reviewing process is soooo easy, it's amazing. Will help you with all the steps above. It's amazingly good. And it's totally camera-independent. Lightroom 4 is just out, I'm still on 3 though. Don't know if Kelby has an updated book out yet, but the one for version 3 is very good.

[Machka]

Isn't Continuous mode a wonderful thing?  After each of my outings to a park, concert, party, holiday I upload the photos, usually in the region of 500 per day out and have a little routine.

1. Upload to PC (by removing the SD card from the camera and putting it in a £1 SD card reader)
2. Auto-rotate all the pictures so they portrait ones are in the correct orientation (using software called Irfanview)
3. Renaming all the images to a standard format YYYY_MMDD_HHMMSSxx.jpg (using software called EXIFER)
4. Looking through all the images once removing any blurred, useless pictures.
5. Looking through all the images again removing all the duplicate pictures, or choosing which of the continuous almost identical ones to keep.
6. Filing away the remaining photos in a folder called for example 2012 03 March Brighton SPT

This way I end up with a complete timeline of all my photos going back to 2000 12 December, all in order, neatly named and easily identifiable.

I really don't like using any software that comes with cameras or software that is supposed to help you categorise your pictures.  When happens when you change camera, the software becomes outdated?

a) Step 2: Does your camera not rotate them anyway? Most do these days, although there is sometimes a setting to actually remember the orientation in the saved photo.
b) Get Adobe Lightroom. Then read Scott Kelby's book about it. Can do the rename thing in a magic template thing. The reviewing process is soooo easy, it's amazing. Will help you with all the steps above. It's amazingly good. And it's totally camera-independent. Lightroom 4 is just out, I'm still on 3 though. Don't know if Kelby has an updated book out yet, but the one for version 3 is very good.

Yes, most cameras and software do logically auto rotate but they don't actually do a losless JPEG rotation. So I do that with a 2 step select all, auto rotate which does.

The renaming is also automatic with a template. Again a  2 click select all rename based on EXIF date.

Thanks for the ideas though. I know lightroom is an impressive piece of software.

I hope you got all that tikay?

[Laxie]

Jen isn't lucky to have got a gig at Sky.  Sky is lucky to have nabbed Jen.  She's an absolute gem imo.

[booder]

Jen isn't lucky to have got a gig at Sky.  Sky is lucky to have nabbed Jen.  She's an absolute gem imo.

She's a star. Great viewing.

[Doobs]

PS - (SPAM ALERT) - I know you play a bit next door - hope you bag one of those £10,000 Vegas packages in our first Viva Las Vegas Final tonight! One £10k package is guaranteed (13 runners @ present), if we get 20, that'll be two £10k packages. Either way, not bad odds for a £10k package.

The Semi-Final @ 5.30pm currently has 14 runners (1 in 5 go through), so that might fill up & help make 2 seats in the 9pm Final.

I have been playing the sats up to now, but a couple of days ago I decided to do this instead

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=56335.msg1535457#msg1535457

With the family and me working on and off, I can really only do one trip this year.  I suppose if I do a massive bink on or before the first trip this will change,  but I think that must be pretty unlikley.

I don't know if you are out there when I first go out, but will have to meet up to say hello if you are.