Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

Andy Kershaw, described these days as a Radio 3 (Radio THREE - eh?), is someone I've much admired down the years, & his broadcasting career, originally on Radio's 1 & 2, gave delight to many.

He has fallen from grace now, big time, after a relationship went badly wrong, & he persistently stalked the young lady, bombarding her with texts & abuse. Eventually, he was sent to Prison, in the Isle of Man (where he now lives/lived), for 3 months. He was released on Friday, immediately resumed the vitriolic abuse & stalking, & was promptly re-arrested, & stuck back in clink on Sunday.

On Monday, he was released, & advised to leave the Isle of Man tuit suit, & not come back.

Love, what a weird thing, & what strange affects it has on otherwise intelligent & rational grown-ups. I feel for him, really, but I feel for his ex, too. All very sad, his career is in ruins, his image in tatters, but he got what he deserved I suppose.

[tikay]

Dolphins are lovely, we all like them, but I think they must employ an excellent PR Agency, as they ain't as amiable as we may think.

This is a Bottlenose Dolphin, & there is quite a colony of them in the Moray Firth, & along the East Coast of Scotland generally.

I discover today that they share this habitat with Porpoises. Porpoises are much smaller than Dolphins - no bigger than 6 feet long generally, with Dolphins being much larger.

Dolphine don't like Porpoises. They don't like them so much that they gather, mob-handed, as a group, & beat the porpoises to death. Beat them to death? Yup, that's about it. They surround the porpoise, ram it, toss it out of the water repeatedly, & continue until the porpoise is seriously dead. Botanists who carried out Post-Mortems on these porpoises discover every bone in the porpoises body is broken. Dolphins don't eat the body - they just want to kill any porpoises they encounter. Not as nice as their image, eh?

if you ever come up here TJ i will take a place 4 miles from my home where you can see this happen

Thanks Iron, but I think I'll pass on that. Nature does it's thing, both cruel & wonderful, but beating any living thing to death sends shivers through me. Instant death, OK, but being beaten to death must be just the worst death imaginable, for animal, or human.

[tikay]

A man called Josef Stawinoga died in October. He was a Tramp, 86 years old when he passed away. 
 
He was, it seems, revered by the local Asian Community, who looked after him, & fed him daily. The Daily Telegraph reported.....

Unkempt and dirty, with long matted hair and a 2ft straggly, yellowish beard, he became a local celebrity. He was revered by local Hindus and Sikhs as a saint who had shunned all worldly possessions, was awarded an honorary degree by Wolverhampton Polytechnic and even had his own 6,500-strong fan group - "we love you Wolverhampton ring-road tramp" - on the internet site Facebook.
And....

Though he did not have a bath in 30 years he never went short of the essentials. Every day members of the local Asian community would come to pay homage with gifts of blankets, clothing and food - including, on one occasion, a live chicken which took up residence inside the tent until it vanished, probably under the wheels of a passing car.

He lived on a Traffic Island in Wolverhampton. On the A4150, between PC World & a Bathroom Showroom, apparently. Where else? He'd lived there for donkey's years, & the local Council had even replaced his tent - nine times.

[tikay]

Here's another pic of Josef, & apologies if you think it's Karabiner. Talking of whom, he's been unwell with conjunctivitis all week, & now it's spread to his other eye. I do worry about the frail & elderly, so I rung him today, & he's bright & cheerful, as much elderly peeps can be. He told me Rob Creed - LittleMissC's Dad - got a result at dtd last night - well done him, he has good game, but variance has been a bit cruel to him of late.

I spoke to Thewy too, he's headed home for the day, & returns to The Vic tomorrow to resume his quest for a third GUKPT Trophy. I was intrigued by his miracle comeback yesterday, down to 4k early, then yoyo'd up to 45k, before ending the day on 25k-ish. "Could you have grinded it out like that 2 years ago Julie? I enquired. "No way" said Mr GB.

I left a message for Chili, too but she has yet to return it. I'm wondering  if she took offence at "Good Luck Fat Bloke". So sensitive, these TV Celebs.

[tikay]

OK, off to the Gala (Bristol) for a last minute pow-wow with the Sky Suits, & Kara Scott, Matt Broughton & Nick Wealthall, about the Boot Camp, which starts at 10.30 am in the morning. 10.30am!

And I gotta be on my guard, in case that Kara tries to make a move on me. Stranger things have happened, you know.

[NoflopsHomer]

OK, off to the Gala (Bristol) for a last minute pow-wow with the Sky Suits, & Kara Scott, Matt Broughton & Nick Wealthall, about the Boot Camp, which starts at 10.30 am in the morning. 10.30am!

And I gotta be on my guard, in case that Kara tries to make a move on me. Stranger things have happened, you know.

[tikay]

Had a pleasant evening with Matt, Nick, Kara (who was all over for me), & a bunch of the Boot-Campers. We have sold out - phew! - at the capacity 60, & a whole bunch of the Booters were there tonight, including a good few blondes. I really think it's gonna go well. I had Dinner with Emma Crowe - she a Sky Poker Big Suit - and it's amazing the care these folks take, she has no need to be here, but she just wants to ensure it all goes tickety-boo. Mark Robson (Miami-Vic) is here tomorrow, too, another Sky big Cheese, & Dr Tom Sambrook is on his way.

I got to the Gala Reception Desk, geezer asks my name.

"Kendall". "

"Spell that please"

"K-E-N-D-A-L-L"

"That's correct".

"Thank you"

"Do you have a date of birth".

I mean, what sort of answer did he expect? "No"?

[HOLDorFOLD]

Had a pleasant evening with Matt, Nick, Kara (who was all over for me), & a bunch of the Boot-Campers. We have sold out - phew! - at the capacity 60, & a whole bunch of the Booters were there tonight, including a good few blondes. I really think it's gonna go well. I had Dinner with Emma Crowe - she a Sky Poker Big Suit - and it's amazing the care these folks take, she has no need to be here, but she just wants to ensure it all goes tickety-boo. Mark Robson (Miami-Vic) is here tomorrow, too, another Sky big Cheese, & Dr Tom Sambrook is on his way.

I got to the Gala Reception Desk, geezer asks my name.

"Kendall". "

"Spell that please"

"K-E-N-D-A-L-L"

"That's correct".

"Thank you"

"Do you have a date of birth".

I mean, what sort of answer did he expect? "No"?

 

[amcgrath1uk]

Had a pleasant evening with Matt, Nick, Kara (who was all over for me), & a bunch of the Boot-Campers. We have sold out - phew! - at the capacity 60, & a whole bunch of the Booters were there tonight, including a good few blondes. I really think it's gonna go well. I had Dinner with Emma Crowe - she a Sky Poker Big Suit - and it's amazing the care these folks take, she has no need to be here, but she just wants to ensure it all goes tickety-boo. Mark Robson (Miami-Vic) is here tomorrow, too, another Sky big Cheese, & Dr Tom Sambrook is on his way.

I got to the Gala Reception Desk, geezer asks my name.

"Kendall". "

"Spell that please"

"K-E-N-D-A-L-L"

"That's correct".

"Thank you"

"Do you have a date of birth".

I mean, what sort of answer did he expect? "No"?

Do their computers not go that far back??

[tikay]

Played the first ever £100 Omaha at DTD on Wednesday, ony 21 runners - not a bad turnout all things considered - and, like all DTD Tournies, they got the structure spot on. 5k chips, 30 min clock, all Levels, & I think the Blinds were about 200-400 or 300-600 when the Final began, oodles of play.

With a few exceptions, players treated it as 4 card Hold 'Em, & several players called to take a flop every single hand. I pretty much sat out, bemused by all this, & even when I did enter a Pot - maybe every 3 years - I still got Callers. But I pretty much bullet-dodged the whole way, watching everyone bust each other with piles of poo, but it was nice to see Ali Bag-of-Bollocks come through & get the job finished. At least, at DTD, he won't lose the lot on the Magic Wheel, so often his undoing. My stack got a bit too low - there's a thing - & eventually it went in, & Ali busted me after an Auto-Call. Still, 4th for £210 - £100 Profit - & 6 hours of great fun, I'm well happy with that.

The Runner-Up was an Omaha Genius. He knew everyone's hand, & told everyone - even when not in the Pot - criticised everyone's play, explained why he was the dogs bollocks - frequently - continually touched the chips in the Pot, made change from the Pot himself, raked in his Pots, & generally acted the arse. He & another both drew a King in the Colouring up jobbie, colouring up procedure, O-G the Heart, Regular Guy the Spade, so the chip went to the spade. "Why? I had a King too?" says O-G. "Bridge Order Mate", he's told by one, "reverse alphabetical" (same thing) says another. O-G ain't buying that, "well, I've never heard anything so daft in my life, & I play this game for a living, I'm a Pro".......Amazingly, he was never behind, on any street, in any hand, all night. Except when he got unlucky. Least, that's what he said, so it must be true. He's a Pro, see?

[tikay]

Went to Luton on Thursday, just staying at the Days Inn overnight, & had no intention of playing the Comp, but well, you know, alone in the Hotel Room, & suddenly I got thinking, mmm, little freezeout across the road.....

31 runners, nice & cosy, and a lovely atmo, as usual in the smaller comps.

My Bankroll from small Comps continues to grow - just steadily, not dramatic, & I'm happy with what I'm playing, how, where, & at what Level. But after the Omaha at DTD on Wednesday I sat in the DC Cash-Game & blew almost the bloody lot. Played one of two hands badly, but really, I just had one of those nights where every draw misses, & suckout followed suckout. Horrible. These nights happen, just gotta grin & bear it, but the proceeds of a month of small Tourney Cashes all went down the pan, & I was not best pleased at my stupidity in risking so much in one night.

So, as I sat down in the £50-er at Luton, I decided to get serious, & see if I could begin the rebuild process. 5k chips, 30 minute clock, but a Turbo Structure with no Minor or Major McCready Levels, not really my cup of tea, but they can't please us all I guess.

My opening Table was a beaut, I sat out for two orbits, sussed what was what, & then started playing. My 5k soon became 8k without any hands, this is easy, I'm thinking.

Then I limp with A-K, & Mid-Pos man, at 50-100, makes it 800! Easy-peasy, this is a push, & I smirkily slide my 8k across the line, "ALL-IN" & he passes his small pair like a flash, at least, that's the plan. But he does not, & he gives it a dwell, then says, "OK, I guess I have to call."  Eh?

So we get to see his small pair, & I had my read spot on - he flipped over his Kings. Shit. But I get lucky, hit my 3-outer, & that's that, I've been suckered & got away with it. To much skill in this game......

I can't fail to Final now, & eventually get 2nd, for £390, a £340 Profit. Well, job done really, but it's amazing how a tourney can turn on a single hand - and a badly played single hand at that.

We saw a stonking hand in the Final, (not involving me, I was doing my sit-out thing) AA v 8-8, all-in pre, before the flop of 8-8-J was dealt.

Heads-Up I'm on 18k, Matey Boy 140k, & the inevitable happens pretty soon, though the Exit Hand was a corker, my Top Set turned over by a Rivered Straight.

Another lovely evening in Luton, & I was delighted to nick a few bob.

Lionel, a Luton stalwart, got involved - caused, really - a bit of a hoohah. Lionel I like - he's older than me, older than Karabiner even, & is loaded I think. Anyway, he comes to the Table & starts taunting a Player.

"How come you are playing this Comp when you owe me £400 from weeks ago?"

No response, geezer ignores him.

"I'm talking to you, you hear me? - you owe me £400 & have not had the decency to speak to me, explain why you have not paid, or take my calls".

Geezer tries to make light of this, & offers Lionel 4 x 100 Tourney Chips. Lionel ain't impressed, was my read.

"Don't make a joke of it, borrrowing money & not repaying it ain't funny, you should be ashamed of yourself".

And so it went , for fully 10 minutes, & Nipper Man never said a word.

Bravo Lionel! Was the (alleged) Nipper ashamed? He did not seem bothered, really. Used to it I suppose.

[tikay]

Official Announcement.

I, Anthony James Kendall, being sound of body & mind, if not memory, duly declare, that as & from now, I have retired from trying to bluff Pots.

I must be THE world's worst bluffer, & I've quit, official, & if you ever catch me running a bluff again, well, you'll probably win the pot.

I really don't know here I go wrong, but there must be a flashing sign on my forehead, I get caught so often, despite being the original Mr Super-Tight-Tighter-Than-Tighty-Super-Rock.

At Luton last night, 3 left, I have the Button & yes, fair enough, I'm expected to make a move here, & I do. Before the cards are dealt, I know I'm gonna do it, & I just hope the Cards are half-decent. 2-3 it is, but on with the plan, regardless, the cards are irrelevant in this spot.

It comes K-J-T, & it's checked to me by wily old Circuit Pro. I bet, he umms & arrs, & calls. No prob.

The turn is a great card for me - I think - another J, so now it's K-J-T-J.

I bet again, more umming & arring, Call. No prob. Probably.

River is a blank - the 4, so now we have K-J-T-J-4.

I bet again, he insta calls. With 10-4. His 4 does not even play, it's counterfeited. So he's called me, for his Tourney, with Third Pair, dead kicker, on a Paired board that I've bet every street. The guy can play, but he's not THAT good, which only leaves the possibility that I am truly the world's worst bluffer. (Retired).

At DTD on Wednesday I got involved with ActionJack, who, it must be said, IS extraordinarily good.

It's 4 Card O, & the flop contained 5-6-K. I bet, A-J calls.

I miss on the Turn, bet again, AJ calls again.

The Pot is nigh on £300 now, & I miss on the River, & bet out circa 75% of the Pot - £230.

AJ now puts me through the speech-play mill, & articulates every possible hand I could have, before eventually settling on 7-8. "Yup you can only have 7-8 - I call". And he calls me with his one-pair.

Nuts only now. Deffo. Even the Kiddo Rooks susses my bluffs.

Not no more, no how, never. I'm a-done with bluffs.

[tikay]

I fell into convo with a splendid young man at Luton last night, we'd played a few pots together, & he came to see me at the break.

It appears his father is a Queens Counsel in Manchester - wow! - and needs some help/advice on the legality of a new Poker Room his Client wants to open, would I help, as a witness? I explain I am not up on the law, but he says that's OK, he just wants anecdotal evidence of the demand for well-run poker Venues. No problem then.

We chat, & it turns out the Son is a sort of (posh-words for) Cosmetic Surgeon, Botox & suchlike, doing very nicely too.

By way of conversation, I ask if his father ever knew the late George Carmen QC, who was originally practicing in Manchester. "Yes, he actually worked for him for a while".

Now, George Cramen, who died in 2001, was a Legend. He was best known for high-profile cases, & was involved in the trials of Jeremy Thorpe, Jonathan Aitken ( v The Guardian), Somia Sutcliffe, Richard Branson (the Lottery Bribe thing v G-Tech), Ken Dodd (Tax Evasion), & Mohammed Al Fayed (v Neil Hamilton).

A while back, I read the Biography of George Carmen - "No Ordinary Man", & it was quite extraordinary. It made it quite clear that Carman was a piss-artist, so bad that some mornings he could barely stand up in Court, still bladdered from the previous night. And yet, when it came to the crunch, somehow, Carmen generally got the job done, his scathing cross-examinations being feared by all.

The author of the Bio, aside from having blown Carmen's cover by saying outright he was a raving alcoholic, then said, to those able to read between the lines, much, much worse - shocking parent, philanderer, bad with money - always blowing cash on roulette - da de da. Which was odd, because the Author also described Carmen in glowing terms, & it was clear, he held Carmen in great affection, for all his faults. The Author? None other than Carmen's Son. Tough to be objective about the Dad you love, but he did a great job.

[tikay]

Headed West on the M4 today, I saw a signpost & arrow directing traffic to "Living Rainforest". Living? As opposed to dead, I assume. In Berkshire. One day, I gotta go see what the hell that means.

[tikay]

I also spotted a sign for Wootton Rivers. I spent a few years there, as a very young boy, living with Uncle George & Auntie Winnie.

Wootton Rivers was - (still is, popultion is still less than 300) - a most beautiful Wiltshire Village, near the wondrously evocatively-named Savernake Forest & Marlborough. It had a little Railway Halt, which was closed in the 60's I believe.

The Avon & Kennet Canal has a famous old lock there, & I think there is or was an annual Canoe Race, from Devizes to Westminster, if I recall correctly.

Aunty Winnie gave me a fishing rod to while away the hours fishing in the Canal. It was a rod, a piece of string, with a stone on the end. I dangled said Rod in the water for countless days, perfectly content, but never caught a thing. I was not terribly bright as a kid.

Life down there was so old-fashioned. My Sister was there with me, & water came from a well - proper well - which we used to use to get water for the house. I remember winding the handle, & up came the wooden bucket, full of fresh, cold, water.

The food was dreadful - boiled onions - ! - & lots of Veg, because Uncle George was a farmer's labourer, & I suppose the veg came free.

Uncle George had diabetes, like most of my father's 11 brothers & sisters, no less than 8 of whom had legs amputated - it was common in those days. Diabates led to ulcers, ulcers led to gangrene, & so off came the legs. Family parties were a hoot in those wooden-floored church halls, all those false legs - which were very clumpy in those day - clonking away on the wooden floor.

Auntie Winnie, strangely, also had diabates, & died tragically from a very unusual complication - she was run over by a bus, whilst cycling in the Village one day. We'd warned her so many times not to cycle, with her condition, but her being deaf probably accounted for her ignoring us all. She was a hardy soul, but the thing with the bus was an accident waiting to happen, & I don't suppose it helped much that she'd been blind for years.

We were all shocked at the time, but when you look at it, all these years later, I suppose it was inevitable.

They made 'em tough in those days.

I really must go & take a look at Wootton Rivers again soon. So much to do.