Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[horseplayer]

Before I reply to those questions, a quickie on the World Snooker.

The coverage is just superb, snooker, especially Best of 25 & up, makes for really good TV.

Both BBC & Eurosport are giving it loads of airtime. I'm not mad on Hazel Irvine, or John Virgo, & so generally watch on Eurosport. The Eurosport pundits are Jimmy White & Neal Foulds, a rather weak pairing as it happens, though I just prefer to watch the games rather than listen to the waffle clichés from the pundits. Jimmy's face is really puffy now, reminiscent of an over indulgence on alcohol I suspect.

Anyway, Ronnie departed the scene last night, always a shame, at his best he is like nobody else, ever. His concentration was erratic though, he should never have lost to Hawkins, but fair play to Hawkins for hanging in there. Was really good to see Ronnie big up Hawkins afterwards too - very gracious & genuine, I thought. 

Ronnie was wearing a patch, "ROS147.com", which intrigued me, so I took a look.

http://ros147.com/

All clear? Gawd knows what that is about, but Ronnie's chest is prime real estate for a patch, so there must be money in it somewhere.

A quick search of google images suggests Ronnie wears a different parch almost every time he plays. Wonder what he charges to display a sponsors patch, anyone know?





 

WHERES THE CUE BALL GOING

[tikay]

Hi Tikay,

Is John Kirkland still around and are you still in contact with him ?

Really enjoying your stories.

I was reminded of this by Lisa. My apologies, but let's be fair, I'm a busy man, & it was only 21 months ago that you asked.

I was reminded of it the other day, of course, but I intended to await Bowmer & Kirkland's Annual Results, which are usually published the last week of April. Guess I'd better not procrastinate any longer - reply will be up in the next 24 hours.

Do you know, or know of, John? Just curious as to your interest in him.

I did note that in the previous financial year, JNK paid himself £10 milly.  Worth every penny, imo.

Incidentally, given his stature, position, & immense wealth, it's really hard to find photos of him on google. He gets photographed all the time at various functions, but very few get onto google.  Maybe he uses Data Privacy or somesuch?




 

[tikay]

Do you remember Harry Fenton's Tony?

I got my first couple of suits their High St. Kensington shop.

Of course, proper gear that.

Kevin Keegan modelled for them.

I got my first really posh flares from Harry Fenton. Jeez, I looked good in those, proper fancied myself.

[tikay]

I walked past a bhs in Edinburgh city centre yday on one of my rare voyages into the old school retail environment as I never go old school shopping any more.  Was pretty easy to easy why they are going busto compared to their rivals without even going into the shop just by walking past it.  Looks so 1990s from outside.  Got all the bankroll and location advantages and they still fall behind the times just like lolbrokes and hills, the whole world has changed beyond belief in ten years. The guys who didn't believe it would who used to be monopolies are now dying through arrogance in numerous sectors,

I could spend all day discussing this BHS story.

Sir Philip Green paid £200 milly for it in around 2000. He paid himself £400 milly in dividends over 10 years, then sold it for £1, but with over a billion in debts, including a pension fund deficit of over £500 million. He left only £70 million in working capital in the business, & has now offered £80 million towards the pension fund shortfall.

He sold a pup, in truth, & for that he needed a naïve buyer, & that man was twice bankrupt Dominic Chappell, described in the City as "a complete buffoon".

BHS was one of four "Variety Stores", along with Woolworths, Littlewoods & M & S. Only M & S have survived.

When Woolies went to the wall, 87% of the shops were re-occupied by other retailers within 12 months. & hopefully, the same will happen here.  

Here's Dominic, with another of his pups, & below that, Sir Philip Green's old yacht, which is clearly looking a bit tired & dated. He has three of these beauties now. Well you need a spare for emergencies, right?

[tikay]

Here's where we are as to staking - Camel (2%), Mere Novice (1%) & Scotty77 ("1% action swap") all added.

Brad the Boss 5%

Nakor 1%

KarmaDope 2%

horsey 2%

RedSimon 1%

booder 1%

hhy 1%

Mohican 1%

sonour 2%

Redbull 1%

Big-D 5%

bobAlike 1%

engy 1%

Knottikay 1%

Uncle Conk 1%

Marky 1%

MrDickie 1%

Mr Russell 2%

Chompy 2%

Sue & Dave £150

Doobs 2%

Camel 2%

MereNovice 1%

Scotty77 1%

38% & £150 reserved as of now.

[tikay]

2 pieces of good news as to staking.

First, I won't be publishing those tiresome staking lists any longer, they are not exactly riveting reading. MereNovice has agreed to join the Team, & take 1%, but more importantly, he has agreed to produce a Spreadsheet which tracks everything & everyone.  So from now on, his Spready will be the Stakers Info sheet. He'll post the link here in due course, but quite soon I gather.

Next up, once again, Mere has agreed to be the Stake Arbiter, Referee, Umpire, call it what you will. As such, he will rule in the event of any disputes, change of schedule, unforeseen rebuys or re-entries, additional/reduced schedule, whatever. His decisions are binding on both parties.

Big thank you to Mr Mere for that.

Now we just need to find a name for the Team.

My flight is booked, & I'm now trying to finalise the playing schedule.  

I fly out on June 3rd, play 2 events, then Gill comes out for 10 days, during which I'll only play 2 or 3 more events. We hope to do the 2 day SoCal adventure again this year. She goes home on June 15th, then it's play most every day time until early July, when, all being well, I start "work".

Playing schedule will be finalised shortly.

PS - 38 sleeps. I'm unbelievably excited.  

[EvilPie]

Any chance you could put a link to the spreadsheet in your signature so we can find it easily?

Ta x

[Nakor]

Before I reply to those questions, a quickie on the World Snooker.

The coverage is just superb, snooker, especially Best of 25 & up, makes for really good TV.

Both BBC & Eurosport are giving it loads of airtime. I'm not mad on Hazel Irvine, or John Virgo, & so generally watch on Eurosport. The Eurosport pundits are Jimmy White & Neal Foulds, a rather weak pairing as it happens, though I just prefer to watch the games rather than listen to the waffle clichés from the pundits. Jimmy's face is really puffy now, reminiscent of an over indulgence on alcohol I suspect.

Anyway, Ronnie departed the scene last night, always a shame, at his best he is like nobody else, ever. His concentration was erratic though, he should never have lost to Hawkins, but fair play to Hawkins for hanging in there. Was really good to see Ronnie big up Hawkins afterwards too - very gracious & genuine, I thought. 

Ronnie was wearing a patch, "ROS147.com", which intrigued me, so I took a look.

http://ros147.com/

All clear? Gawd knows what that is about, but Ronnie's chest is prime real estate for a patch, so there must be money in it somewhere.

A quick search of google images suggests Ronnie wears a different parch almost every time he plays. Wonder what he charges to display a sponsors patch, anyone know?
 

Translation of ROS147.com

Snooker world champion Ronnie o ' Sullivan September 2016 to come to China to participate in Snooker Shanghai masters, where you will have the opportunity to close a glimpse of the King of "rocket" style!
 

Just sign up for free subscription ROS147.com Fact-sheet you can keep informed of Sullivan's latest developments. We will also offer you the o ' Sullivan autograph treasured mementos, including a Snooker Cue and snooker unique vest.

Register now and win your exclusive VIP trip to Shanghai, zero-distance contact with Sullivan!

There are then a list of dates pre the World Championship - so it does seem to be advertising something that has already happened.  Very strange.

[POWWWWWWWW]

I'll take 2%

[sonour]

Hi Tikay,

Is John Kirkland still around and are you still in contact with him ?

Really enjoying your stories.

I was reminded of this by Lisa. My apologies, but let's be fair, I'm a busy man, & it was only 21 months ago that you asked.

I was reminded of it the other day, of course, but I intended to await Bowmer & Kirkland's Annual Results, which are usually published the last week of April. Guess I'd better not procrastinate any longer - reply will be up in the next 24 hours.

Do you know, or know of, John? Just curious as to your interest in him.

I did note that in the previous financial year, JNK paid himself £10 milly.  Worth every penny, imo.

Incidentally, given his stature, position, & immense wealth, it's really hard to find photos of him on google. He gets photographed all the time at various functions, but very few get onto google.  Maybe he uses Data Privacy or somesuch?




 

I've waited 21 months so I can wait until the end of April. Let's wait for the Annual Results.

No I didn't know him or of him until you mentioned him. But I'm interested in your story of which he is obviously a large part.

xx

[tikay]

Teeside yesterday.

[bobby1]

Here's where we are as to staking - Camel (2%), Mere Novice (1%) & Scotty77 ("1% action swap") all added.

Brad the Boss 5%

Nakor 1%

KarmaDope 2%

horsey 2%

RedSimon 1%

booder 1%

hhy 1%

Mohican 1%

sonour 2%

Redbull 1%

Big-D 5%

bobAlike 1%

engy 1%

Knottikay 1%

Uncle Conk 1%

Marky 1%

MrDickie 1%

Mr Russell 2%

Chompy 2%

Sue & Dave £150

Doobs 2%

Camel 2%

MereNovice 1%

Scotty77 1%

38% & £150 reserved as of now.

Will take £100 please Tony.

[tikay]

Here's where we are as to staking - Camel (2%), Mere Novice (1%) & Scotty77 ("1% action swap") all added.

Brad the Boss 5%

Nakor 1%

KarmaDope 2%

horsey 2%

RedSimon 1%

booder 1%

hhy 1%

Mohican 1%

sonour 2%

Redbull 1%

Big-D 5%

bobAlike 1%

engy 1%

Knottikay 1%

Uncle Conk 1%

Marky 1%

MrDickie 1%

Mr Russell 2%

Chompy 2%

Sue & Dave £150

Doobs 2%

Camel 2%

MereNovice 1%

Scotty77 1%

38% & £150 reserved as of now.

Will take £100 please Tony.

Lovely job, thanks Phil.

I've now finalised the playing schedule, such as I can - it's a bit flexible - & will post it tomorrow.

MereNovice will then post a link to the Spready, which will show all the stakers, amounts, %'s, & playing schedule. Then we'll be all set.

Good to have you on board. I promise to get my hair cut. 

 

[tikay]

Busy busy again today, got 2 more articles to write. I'm writing a lot of stuff these days. I rarely publish it here, as it's targeted at a very different market to the average blonde reader. Love writing.

Big meeting this afternoon at 4pm, then an easy weekend, or I hope so. So today, I'll write till around Noon, prep for the 4pm Meet, then go do my walk, followed by 90 minutes at the Gym, once that's done, play some poker tonight then watch the snooker.

We booked our West Coast Adventure last night. Well Gill did, that's her department. Just 2 days (1 night) away from Vegas, we fly early morning on the 9th to San Diego, then catch the Amtrak Surfliner up the coast to Carlsbad, stay overnight, then jump the train up to Oceanside to go on a a "Whale & Dolphin" boat trip. Back on the train then, either up to LA or back down to San Diego, & fly back to Vegas.

Return flights, room, train fares, everything, comes to around £500, which is pretty good.

We are staying at Beach Terrace Inn, Carlsbad, this will be our room.

[tikay]

Really love almost everything about the World Snooker.

The players dress properly - I like that. Proper shiny shoes, "suit" trousers, waistcoat, nice collared shirt & bow tie, & sensible haircuts.

The players respect Authority, & don't argue with the Ref. Actually, the Refs main job is to "spot" the balls, as the player self-police the game, & if they commit a foul or whatever, they declare it themselves. Very much like golf really.   

The audience is sensible, deferential & good mannered, too. They keep nice & quiet during players shots, & whilst they have "favourites", they applaud everyone warmly.

It's all a million miles removed from football, & it's lack of respect for authority, &, well, others in general. So much hate in football & many of those who follow it.

My only negative with the snooker is that as the players take the trouble to dress nicely, the audience should do the same.  To see them turning up in trackies & casual shirts irritates me no end. And every night - get this, I am not kidding - there are members of the audience wearing, wait for it....

FOOTBALL SHIRTS

What?

What sort of bringing up did these people have? GO OUT WEARING A FOOTBALL SHIRT?

You are kidding me.

If I had a son that did that, I'd flush him down the toilet, have him sent to East Anglia, or have him put down.

I went to a posh restaurant in Vegas once, & a pal of mine turned up wearing a Peterborough FC shirt. I nearly died with embarrassment.

One chap at the snooker proposed to his young lady whilst he was wearing.......

Trainers

Trackie bottoms
 
A football shirt.

Can you imagine what sort of upbringing their offspring will have? It does not bear thinking about, does it?