Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[dik9]

Thought you would appreciate this Tikay

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1YzlTB8fEsA

[tikay]

Sky Offices, Feltham.

3 days Offline, & a mountain to catch up on. Lots of interesting threads & PM's to answer - please bear with me - & the most wonderful 2 days in London, of which I shall have plenty to say. I'm devoting the whole day, until the Show tonight, to Online catch-up.

But first I gotta do my e-Mails - 3 days worth, & I'm dreading it - I guarantee there'll be over 100 of them awaiting replies.

Groan. OK, cover me, I'm going in.

[tikay]

Sky Offices, Feltham

I bit the bullet yesterday, & replied to all of my e-mail pile, & my PM's, mostly. Sadly, the e-Mails came flying back, with knobs on - horrible stuff too, some of it. I've really done with "business", especially business politics, I did my 40 years, & it was the politics that I got hacked off with in the end. Everyone wants to score bloody points, instead of just getting the job done. Still, I have a cunning plan......

Did the Sunday Showdown Show last night, & physically & mentally I was right out of sorts. Luckily, I was just a Guest, not an Analyst, as I was totally out of the zone, I'd eaten something dodgy (some onion had crept into a Cottage Pie methinks, all onions should be shot at birth), & my head was all messed up by a bunch of quite mischievious e-Mails from folks with nothing better to do than stand on the Rail & take potshots at me. Well, bollox to them, they have about as much backbone as a jellyfish, so it's game on. As to last night, respect to Richard Orford, who sussed I was not quite myself, & looked affter me. Top Man him.

I stayed over locally, & was due to have a Conference Call at 1pm, but I got a call at 10am to say it had been moved to 11am, so I got up all rushed, & was all of a tither. I can't be doing with being rushed in the morning, & years ago, it used to make me tetchy & grumpy. Luckily, I'm over that now.....

I really don't know what I'm doing today. I had the Conf Call, & wrote my Weekly Blog for Sky Poker, & we had a bit of a Meet about the Cash-Game Pilot Show we are doing on Wednesday. (9am Call-Time ffs!). I can't quite summon up the enthusiasm for tonight's "Irish" Comp at Luton, but I may yet play, I'll see.

I have another Meet here tomorrow morning, & a Meet in London tomorrow night at 8pm, with that 9am start on Wednesday, so I think I'll stay down here tonight & tomorrow.

After the Pilot Show on Wednesday, (should finish about 5pm, allow for the De-Brief, say 6pm) I'm a-going home, & hope to get up to DTD for their £100 Omaha, I sooo want that Comp to take off. 30 or 40 runners would be plenty, it's well-structured, & plays well, but it'll take time to build. We just gotta support it until it does. Or does not.

Thursday I'm free, & Friday I'll prob play the Luton £75-er, en route to Sky for Saturday's Show. I was supposed to be in Austria this weekend with APAT, but I was rota'd a Sky Show, so that buggered up the Austria gig. It's not a case of I get paid for one & not the other, but I do have very strong contractual obligations to Sky, who have been extraordinarily good to me, so I had no choice really. It's the third APAT gig I've missed, & it's becoming embarrassing, missing Events I should be at, but it can't be helped, & Des has been very understanding. Sheesh, little fluffy clouds in the otherwise clear blue sky, but clouds, all the same.

Sunday I shall play the DTD £100, probably the poker highlight of this week for me - it's a lovely little comp.

Now I am gonna write up my views on "Equal Chance". That's gonna raise an eyebrow or two.......

[tikay]

It's a Game of Pure Skill, Part One.

Before I do my Equal Chance piece - it'll be a bit long - two stonking hands from the Equal Chance Tourney.

Rob Garfield does not do badbeat Stories, & this had to be prised out of him, but it's a stonker.

Early in the 20,000 chip, slow-clock affair, he picks up Aces (both black), & he finds two oppos, both holding Jacks. All the chips fly in pre, & he's looking good for a treble-up. He's 95% pre-flop.

This flop ensued, & had everyone in the room craning their necks, accompanied by lots of ooh's & aah's.

 

Surely a 7 or Q will not fall? Someone shouts "I passed two red sevens", & that was the cue for the non-club 7 to appear. The River blanked out, Taxi-Time.

Typically, Rob took it like a grown-up. No moans, no groans, a shrug of the shoulders, & off he went. I just love proper grown-ups.

[tikay]

It's a Game of Pure Skill, Part Two

It's the Final of the Equal Chance £300 Jobbie, we have barely begun, & we all watched this car-crash unfold oh-so-slowly.

Man round the back (OverNight Chip Daddy) moves all-in pre, for about 80k.

Lairy Lad in SB with err, "cool" shades, misses the Bet, & attempting to steal the BB, announces "Raise", & makes it 30k to go.

Informed there has already been a Raise, he initially attempts to pull the Bet back - uh-oh young man, can't do that. "You gotta Raise kiddo" says Dealer, & 7 other gleeful Finalists - how we all love to watch a slow-motion car-crash, eh?

A pained looked at the Dealer - "sorry Sir, you gotta make a minumum re-Raise" & in goes just about all his stack, which has taken him two days, & 14 hours of play, to accumulate. The colour drains from his face as the enormity of his gaffe sinks in. We are speculating on the degree of poo-ness of his holding, the intital Raiser flips over A-Q, Car-Crash shows 6-2 - & we all laugh heartily (inwardly) at his misfortune, while he looks abject, & dons his coat.

The flop bought the Q, standard, but a 6 fell too, & a second, Turned, 6, accompanied by a cacophony of oohs & aarrs, gets the job finished.

A-Q man said nothing, shook handls limply, & shuffled away, muttering to himself, in the direction of the nearby railway track, probably with plans to end it all under the 14.30 Fenchurch St to Southend stopper.

Meanwhile, 6-2 man survives, & goes on to finish, if I'm not mistaken, 2nd I think.

[boldie]

It's a Game of Pure Skill, Part Two

It's the Final of the Equal Chance £300 Jobbie, we have barely begun, & we all watched this car-crash unfold oh-so-slowly.

Man round the back (OverNight Chip Daddy) moves all-in pre, for about 80k.

Lairy Lad in SB with err, "cool" shades, misses the Bet, & attempting to steal the BB, announces "Raise", & makes it 30k to go.

Informed there has already been a Raise, he initially attempts to pull the Bet back - uh-oh young man, can't do that. "You gotta Raise kiddo" says Dealer, & 7 other gleeful Finalists - how we all love to watch a slow-motion car-crash, eh?

A pained looked at the Dealer - "sorry Sir, you gotta make a minumum re-Raise" & in goes just about all his stack, which has taken him two days, & 14 hours of play, to accumulate. The colour drains from his face as the enormity of his gaffe sinks in. We are speculating on the degree of poo-ness of his holding, the intital Raiser flips over A-Q, Car-Crash shows 6-2 - & we all laugh heartily (inwardly) at his misfortune, while he looks abject, & dons his coat.

The flop bought the Q, standard, but a 6 fell too, & a second, Turned, 6, accompanied by a cacophony of oohs & aarrs, gets the job finished.

A-Q man said nothing, shook handls limply, & shuffled away, muttering to himself, in the direction of the nearby railway track, probably with plans to end it all under the 14.30 Fenchurch St to Southend stopper.

Meanwhile, 6-2 man survives, & goes on to finish, if I'm not mistaken, 2nd I think.

lol fantastic.

[tikay]

Nature abhors a vacuum

I wrote earlier that I did not know what to do with myself tonight, but fate took a hand.......
 
Best wishes to Mark Banin for a speedy recovery, he's unwell, & has to miss tonight's Show.

The shift was offered to the Fish Compo, but by the time he got the message, it was too late, so golden bollox got it, lucky me, that's sorted out what I do with myself tonight.

Compo then rung me, moaning that I'd nicked his Shift, & demanding 50% of my fee. "OK, I owe you £1,750" I say, & the line goes all quiet, I can hear his little brain ticking over...."HOW MUCH YOU GET?"........

I owe him a few bob from Equal Chance, too, he had a bit of me, we swapped 10%. Wonder if I can deduct the tip?

[boldie]

Nature abhors a vacuum

I wrote earlier that I did not know what to do with myself tonight, but fate took a hand.......
 
Best wishes to Mark Banin for a speedy recovery, he's unwell, & has to miss tonight's Show.

The shift was offered to the Fish Compo, but by the time he got the message, it was too late, so golden bollox got it, lucky me, that's sorted out what I do with myself tonight.

Compo then rung me, moaning that I'd nicked his Shift, & demanding 50% of my fee. "OK, I owe you £1,750" I say, & the line goes all quiet, I can hear his little brain ticking over...."HOW MUCH YOU GET?"........

I owe him a few bob from Equal Chance, too, he had a bit of me, we swapped 10%. Wonder if I can deduct the tip?

[Karabiner]

Nature abhors a vacuum

I wrote earlier that I did not know what to do with myself tonight, but fate took a hand.......
 
Best wishes to Mark Banin for a speedy recovery, he's unwell, & has to miss tonight's Show.

The shift was offered to the Fish Compo, but by the time he got the message, it was too late, so golden bollox got it, lucky me, that's sorted out what I do with myself tonight.

Compo then rung me, moaning that I'd nicked his Shift, & demanding 50% of my fee. "OK, I owe you £1,750" I say, & the line goes all quiet, I can hear his little brain ticking over...."HOW MUCH YOU GET?"........

I owe him a few bob from Equal Chance, too, he had a bit of me, we swapped 10%. Wonder if I can deduct the tip?

Do you mean that it was actually close enough for Compo to have to think about it <gulp> ?

And here I am grinding $1/$2 online 

[tikay]

Sky, Feltham, Tuesday

Stayed over after last night's Show, & was in the Office before 9am today - it's almost like a proper job, this.

Paperwork all morning, then another Conference Call at midday, which went well. We were setting up Live Days, & Overseas Trips, pretty exciting stuff for me. Organising Events & Trips is much more complex logistically than most would realise, & it's interesting to be on the "other side".

I'm due in West London at 6pm for a Meet, & I'll return to Feltham afterwards, as I'm staying over again, as I'm in the Studio at 9am on Wednesday with Norman Pace, for what we hope will be the final Pilot Show for a new Weekly Show. If we get done in time - 5pm will get me out of it - I'll dash up to Nottingham in time for the Wednesday night £100 Omaha, failing which, I'll play Luton on the way home.

I worked with Norman last night, & he told me he's coming to the Bash, with Bev, too, so that's good news. Compo has also confirmed, & I've invited a few friends from Sky, as my personal Guests.

Sadly, I spoke to Thewy today, & he can't make the Bash, as he's Camping that weekend. (Eh?). He gave me his usual Dublin Invite to have dinner with his Mum this weekend if I go across to the Irish Open, (she does the best Roast Dinner on Earth) but I'm doubtful, the Diary is mad daft.

Spoke to Steve "wormster" Meehan yesterday too, & the fight to get Poker Week back on screen continues. I miss that Show so much, working with Compo & Steve every week was so much fun, & I do think the Show appealed to pokerists. There are not enough of them, sadly, & most Channels want it sexed up, which is awkward for a factual Poker Magazine Show. Anyway, Steve may have found a Channel that will take it, so fingers crossed.

Chili called too, she can't 'arf nag, it's like being married.....

OK, SouthWest Trains to Waterloo await, then I can eulogise over a choice of Tube Routes to Kings Cross, & I return by Train later. Does life get any better than that, on a March Tuesday?

[tikay]

Chili, on the long drive home from Walthamstow on Saturday, & seemingly & inexplicably wanting a break from my tractor & crane stories, said she was going to do her daily "Memory-Training", there's a feature on her sexy new 'phone which does it. ('Phones seeem to be toys these days).

It measures your Memory Age scientifically (yeah, right), & in three days, she'd improved from the Memory of a 72 year old, to the Memory of a 46 year old. Impressive stuff.

Five minutes of silence followed, then some female sighing & chuntering, so I dared to ask......

"How did you get on?"

"Damn thing, I can't remember how to find it".

That'll be the Memory of a 60 year old then.

[AndrewT]

OK, SouthWest Trains to Waterloo await, then I can eulogise over a choice of Tube Routes to Kings Cross, & I return by Train later. Does life get any better than that, on a March Tuesday?

Get off at Vauxhall and get the Victoria line to King's Cross - by far the quickest route.

[Royal Flush]

OK, SouthWest Trains to Waterloo await, then I can eulogise over a choice of Tube Routes to Kings Cross, & I return by Train later. Does life get any better than that, on a March Tuesday?

Get off at Vauxhall and get the Victoria line to King's Cross - by far the quickest route.

I am pretty sure Tikay is looking for the longest route....

[Dingdell]

Chili, on the long drive home from Walthamstow on Saturday, & seemingly & inexplicably wanting a break from my tractor & crane stories, said she was going to do her daily "Memory-Training", there's a feature on her sexy new 'phone which does it. ('Phones seeem to be toys these days).

It measures your Memory Age scientifically (yeah, right), & in three days, she'd improved from the Memory of a 72 year old, to the Memory of a 46 year old. Impressive stuff.

Five minutes of silence followed, then some female sighing & chuntering, so I dared to ask......

"How did you get on?"

"Damn thing, I can't remember how to find it".

That'll be the Memory of a 60 year old then.

Nope - just most blokes in general...

[turny]

Sky, Feltham, Tuesday

Stayed over after last night's Show, & was in the Office before 9am today - it's almost like a proper job, this.

Paperwork all morning, then another Conference Call at midday, which went well. We were setting up Live Days, & Overseas Trips, pretty exciting stuff for me. Organising Events & Trips is much more complex logistically than most would realise, & it's interesting to be on the "other side".

I'm due in West London at 6pm for a Meet, & I'll return to Feltham afterwards, as I'm staying over again, as I'm in the Studio at 9am on Wednesday with Norman Pace, for what we hope will be the final Pilot Show for a new Weekly Show. If we get done in time - 5pm will get me out of it - I'll dash up to Nottingham in time for the Wednesday night £100 Omaha, failing which, I'll play Luton on the way home.

I worked with Norman last night, & he told me he's coming to the Bash, with Bev, too, so that's good news. Compo has also confirmed, & I've invited a few friends from Sky, as my personal Guests.

Sadly, I spoke to Thewy today, & he can't make the Bash, as he's Camping that weekend. (Eh?). He gave me his usual Dublin Invite to have dinner with his Mum this weekend if I go across to the Irish Open, (she does the best Roast Dinner on Earth) but I'm doubtful, the Diary is mad daft.

Spoke to Steve "wormster" Meehan yesterday too, & the fight to get Poker Week back on screen continues. I miss that Show so much, working with Compo & Steve every week was so much fun, & I do think the Show appealed to pokerists. There are not enough of them, sadly, & most Channels want it sexed up, which is awkward for a factual Poker Magazine Show. Anyway, Steve may have found a Channel that will take it, so fingers crossed.

Chili called too, she can't 'arf nag, it's like being married.....

OK, SouthWest Trains to Waterloo await, then I can eulogise over a choice of Tube Routes to Kings Cross, & I return by Train later. Does life get any better than that, on a March Tuesday?

tony is steve attending the bash? if so pplease tell him we would love to have him in the footie again.