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Author Topic: Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary  (Read 6296174 times)
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« Reply #55740 on: August 06, 2021, 03:31:19 PM »


Nicotine is a demon though or certainly the engrained habit is.  There was a little halfway house at the golf course I played yesterday.  I helped my self to a tasty sausage roll and as soon as I'd finished, the thought of a ciggie appeared from nowhere.  I gave up 12 or 13 years ago.   
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« Reply #55741 on: August 07, 2021, 04:42:03 AM »

The Public smoking ban came in just as I had begun to dip my foot in the waters of live poker. I was still 'at uni' in Nottingham. I was at Uni but i wasn't. If only I had used my attendance record and effort at Gala on my degree I'd have walked out with a first class honours degree. In the end I was lucky to end up without an ass-whooping for the ages from my dad.

Anyhow, that Gala poker room was full of very big characters. One character who loved poker was Taffy. If my memory is correct, he passed away a few years ago but he was known by many blondes. The day the smoking ban was implemented, Taffy light up a cigarette in the middle of the room. I even remember which exact table he did it at. This had already happened a few times that evening. I remember Dave Barnett, another regular player lighting up and he nearly jumped out of his skin to run outside with his cigarette when he realised what he'd inadvertantly done. It was a phase of my life where I was smoking, for no real reason, which makes it all the more stupid. I guess partly to calm the adrenaline of gambling and partly just because. Stupid, I know. Anyway, to everyone's surprise, when Taffy was reminded that he couldn't smoke there, he didn't put his cigarette out or make any apology. Instead he screamed and shouted about the government and it being his right to smoke there as he always had. Everyone was shocked and the tournament stopped as everyone just stared at this until management and security came to remove Taff. He got a 6 month ban for that little episode.

(Side memory: the manager at Gala at the time was called Ken. I can't say why i disliked the man so much because we never had an issue but I just found him to be a smarmy and snake like character. I think he got fired but I don't know what for if any Gala Notts regs are reading and have any idea).
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« Reply #55742 on: August 07, 2021, 04:53:02 AM »

Thinking about it now, I'm so grateful for the smoking ban. How horrible it was to go home from bars/pubs/casinos etc and just stink from head to toe of cigarettes.

As a kid, I remember my dad smoking. He wasnt a pack a day guy. He wasn't even a cigarette a day guy but he would go through some cigs if he was watching football or with his mates/my uncles etc.

He had to take out a company health insurance policy around 25 years ago with his 3 business partners. I think his premium was so much more as a smoker that he couldn't believe it.

He told the lady to put him down as a non-smoker. She said 'I can't do that sir, you've just told me you smoke'. He said, 'not anymore i dont' and after she informed him that he wouldnt be covered for the next 6 month because it would show in his system if anything happened, that was the last time he ever touched a cigarette.
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« Reply #55743 on: August 07, 2021, 09:21:06 AM »

Fags really are a monumental folly. We don't need em and we have to work to overcome our natural revulsion so that we can start smoking them in the first place.








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« Reply #55744 on: August 07, 2021, 10:19:36 AM »

The Public smoking ban came in just as I had begun to dip my foot in the waters of live poker. I was still 'at uni' in Nottingham. I was at Uni but i wasn't. If only I had used my attendance record and effort at Gala on my degree I'd have walked out with a first class honours degree. In the end I was lucky to end up without an ass-whooping for the ages from my dad.

Anyhow, that Gala poker room was full of very big characters. One character who loved poker was Taffy. If my memory is correct, he passed away a few years ago but he was known by many blondes. The day the smoking ban was implemented, Taffy light up a cigarette in the middle of the room. I even remember which exact table he did it at. This had already happened a few times that evening. I remember Dave Barnett, another regular player lighting up and he nearly jumped out of his skin to run outside with his cigarette when he realised what he'd inadvertantly done. It was a phase of my life where I was smoking, for no real reason, which makes it all the more stupid. I guess partly to calm the adrenaline of gambling and partly just because. Stupid, I know. Anyway, to everyone's surprise, when Taffy was reminded that he couldn't smoke there, he didn't put his cigarette out or make any apology. Instead he screamed and shouted about the government and it being his right to smoke there as he always had. Everyone was shocked and the tournament stopped as everyone just stared at this until management and security came to remove Taff. He got a 6 month ban for that little episode.

(Side memory: the manager at Gala at the time was called Ken. I can't say why i disliked the man so much because we never had an issue but I just found him to be a smarmy and snake like character. I think he got fired but I don't know what for if any Gala Notts regs are reading and have any idea).

Your spidey-senses were correct Cos.

That Ken was indeed a snake and in cohoots with a well-known cockroach who even managed to run his own cash-game inside Gala's cardroom.

Heaven only knows how much "help" was handed out during breaks and colour-changes in tourneys to those in that crooked circle.

They all used to meet in the Indian restaurant nearby after his shift and divvy up the ill-gotten gains.
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« Reply #55745 on: August 08, 2021, 10:07:37 AM »

Ahhh gala the good old days

I remember playing in some games in there
Think ash was the guy who ran it


Hope everyone is well.
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« Reply #55746 on: August 08, 2021, 10:17:46 AM »

The Public smoking ban came in just as I had begun to dip my foot in the waters of live poker. I was still 'at uni' in Nottingham. I was at Uni but i wasn't. If only I had used my attendance record and effort at Gala on my degree I'd have walked out with a first class honours degree. In the end I was lucky to end up without an ass-whooping for the ages from my dad.

Anyhow, that Gala poker room was full of very big characters. One character who loved poker was Taffy. If my memory is correct, he passed away a few years ago but he was known by many blondes. The day the smoking ban was implemented, Taffy light up a cigarette in the middle of the room. I even remember which exact table he did it at. This had already happened a few times that evening. I remember Dave Barnett, another regular player lighting up and he nearly jumped out of his skin to run outside with his cigarette when he realised what he'd inadvertantly done. It was a phase of my life where I was smoking, for no real reason, which makes it all the more stupid. I guess partly to calm the adrenaline of gambling and partly just because. Stupid, I know. Anyway, to everyone's surprise, when Taffy was reminded that he couldn't smoke there, he didn't put his cigarette out or make any apology. Instead he screamed and shouted about the government and it being his right to smoke there as he always had. Everyone was shocked and the tournament stopped as everyone just stared at this until management and security came to remove Taff. He got a 6 month ban for that little episode.

(Side memory: the manager at Gala at the time was called Ken. I can't say why i disliked the man so much because we never had an issue but I just found him to be a smarmy and snake like character. I think he got fired but I don't know what for if any Gala Notts regs are reading and have any idea).

Your spidey-senses were correct Cos.

That Ken was indeed a snake and in cohoots with a well-known cockroach who even managed to run his own cash-game inside Gala's cardroom.

Heaven only knows how much "help" was handed out during breaks and colour-changes in tourneys to those in that crooked circle.

They all used to meet in the Indian restaurant nearby after his shift and divvy up the ill-gotten gains.

I never played that game anyway. I didn't like the fact that the dealers were chosen by the person in question and weren't employees of the casino. I know 2 in particular that had shady pasts.

In fairness, all the management seemed to lick Mr 'A''s ass but Ken in particular seemed to live so far inside it, it was really cringeworthy.

I think said person is now allowed in DTD after being banned from inception for years.
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« Reply #55747 on: August 08, 2021, 10:18:41 AM »

Ahhh gala the good old days

I remember playing in some games in there
Think ash was the guy who ran it


Hope everyone is well.

lol.

There was a Chinese student called Tony who played there. Me and him were good friends. I actually saw him many many years later in Macau which was kinda cool.
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« Reply #55748 on: August 10, 2021, 04:13:35 AM »

get a move on what is this nonsense!?
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« Reply #55749 on: August 10, 2021, 01:59:44 PM »

The Public smoking ban came in just as I had begun to dip my foot in the waters of live poker. I was still 'at uni' in Nottingham. I was at Uni but i wasn't. If only I had used my attendance record and effort at Gala on my degree I'd have walked out with a first class honours degree. In the end I was lucky to end up without an ass-whooping for the ages from my dad.

Anyhow, that Gala poker room was full of very big characters. One character who loved poker was Taffy. If my memory is correct, he passed away a few years ago but he was known by many blondes. The day the smoking ban was implemented, Taffy light up a cigarette in the middle of the room. I even remember which exact table he did it at. This had already happened a few times that evening. I remember Dave Barnett, another regular player lighting up and he nearly jumped out of his skin to run outside with his cigarette when he realised what he'd inadvertantly done. It was a phase of my life where I was smoking, for no real reason, which makes it all the more stupid. I guess partly to calm the adrenaline of gambling and partly just because. Stupid, I know. Anyway, to everyone's surprise, when Taffy was reminded that he couldn't smoke there, he didn't put his cigarette out or make any apology. Instead he screamed and shouted about the government and it being his right to smoke there as he always had. Everyone was shocked and the tournament stopped as everyone just stared at this until management and security came to remove Taff. He got a 6 month ban for that little episode.

(Side memory: the manager at Gala at the time was called Ken. I can't say why i disliked the man so much because we never had an issue but I just found him to be a smarmy and snake like character. I think he got fired but I don't know what for if any Gala Notts regs are reading and have any idea).

Sorry for slow replies Mr Cos, I struggle to cope a little these days & I'm quite busy with work & irl stuff.

I well remember the night of Taffy's smoking rebellion. What a character he was. I first met him at that gaff in Derby, next to the Pink Coconut. He looked a little like Steptoe, old, haggard & unshaven, but he wore a quite wonderful full-length Crombie. It was so long you could not see his legs moving, & he seemed to move around as if on wheels. He had a young lady on his arm, early twenties at a guess, with long straight blond hair, super slim & with a habit of wearing halter tops showing a teasing glimpse of bare midriff. Quite a sight in a cardroom full of leery blokes. All sorts of rumours circulated as to what she saw in him, & maybe it's best we don't go there.

Dave Barnett? I really can't say his name rings a bell.

I do of course remember the late Dave Smith very well. Gala used a weird system when tables broke, fastest feet took the most advantageous seat, & Dave, despite considerable rodundity was always the fastest to the best seat, & woe betide anyone who got in his way.

There were any number of Cardroom Managers there, some of whom were not really suited to the task. The best was a young lady of Eastern European origin, quite a short, full-bodied young lady. Can't recall her name for the life of me.

The big do was always that £100 Comp, & we'd be squeezed in 12 or 13 to a table. The whole of Maria's family would be there, her, her Dad, Uncle Louis, Kim, Peter Costa.

There was also four finger Jimmy, Burglar Kev, Mick McCool, Doc Makawana, Thewy, Belly, Ralph, Tom, Gosney, Tina, Lala, Timmy the Chinese gent, & so many others. Loved Timmy to bits. The Sheffield crew all used to come down too.

What times, poker was never so much fun, all in all.   
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« Reply #55750 on: August 10, 2021, 02:05:28 PM »

Next in the compendium of Cos questions.....


Job you never did but wish you had. (Mine would be footballer if dreaming or policeman if something realistic).


Train driver is top of that list. Even today, I sill look at train drivers full of envy. Being in charge of 800 tons of train & any number of passengers was & is my dream.

Wish I'd gone in the Army too, or any of the Services really, to cure the lifelong lack of self-discipline I have.

Obviously, a pro sportsman would top anyone's list, & if I had the choice I'd undoubtedly choose golf. Those boys - those at the top - really do have the life of riley. Play in lovely locations, mostly great weather, wearing comfy and brand new casual clothes every time they play. What a life.  

If I failed at golf, I'd get a Top Golf franchise, like my hero, Brad.   
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« Reply #55751 on: August 11, 2021, 08:34:59 AM »

 Click to see full-size image.


Photo posted on Twitter by Shane Kimbrough, US Astronaut, aboard the International Space Station, some 250 miles above the Las Vegas Strip.

Incredible what you can make out. Green blob is MGM. Then you can see the Raiders stadium just above the bottom left of the Strip. Nice view of McCarran below the bottom left of the Strip. Red blob above the top right of the Strip (before it jags off to the right) is the Rio, I think. And so on.

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« Reply #55752 on: August 11, 2021, 03:03:19 PM »

 Click to see full-size image.


Photo posted on Twitter by Shane Kimbrough, US Astronaut, aboard the International Space Station, some 250 miles above the Las Vegas Strip.

Incredible what you can make out. Green blob is MGM. Then you can see the Raiders stadium just above the bottom left of the Strip. Nice view of McCarran below the bottom left of the Strip. Red blob above the top right of the Strip (before it jags off to the right) is the Rio, I think. And so on.





I'm very wowed by this, the detail is incredible for 250 miles. Surely they must have used a telephoto lens?



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« Reply #55753 on: August 11, 2021, 03:08:21 PM »

This is also from the international space-station. Given that they can't zoom out further than 250 miles, the Vegas pic must be zoomed in.

Does that make sense?


 Click to see full-size image.
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« Reply #55754 on: August 11, 2021, 03:17:15 PM »

 Click to see full-size image.


Photo posted on Twitter by Shane Kimbrough, US Astronaut, aboard the International Space Station, some 250 miles above the Las Vegas Strip.

Incredible what you can make out. Green blob is MGM. Then you can see the Raiders stadium just above the bottom left of the Strip. Nice view of McCarran below the bottom left of the Strip. Red blob above the top right of the Strip (before it jags off to the right) is the Rio, I think. And so on.

Even from this distance the light shooting out of the top of the Luxor stands out.
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