Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[Bainn]

Keep the posts coming, you are making a bright day somewhat brighter.

[The_duke]

Working from home today -- missed the diary whilst you were galavanting, am now in the garden beavering away on the lappy switching over to Blonde every now and again. SO chop chop Tony give us a read.

[RichEO]

Working from home today -- missed the diary whilst you were galavanting, am now in the garden beavering away on the lappy switching over to Blonde every now and again. SO chop chop Tony give us a read.

Working in the garden ey. Have one for me 

[tikay]

On Friday, I found myself in Harrogate, which is a sort of posh place just north of Leeds. I'd not been there for years. It's a magnificent place. But first up, I had been invited to have a little "tour" of the Sky Bet Offices in Harrogate.

If you are a lifelong gambler, these rare opportunities are just golden, & I loved every minute.

They are housed in a high-spec, well-maintained, office block, on the edge of town, overlooking open countryside.

I went right round the building - saw the Odds Compilers doing their thing - all so young! - sat at PC's, with banks of huge TV Monitors spanning an entire wall, all showing non-stop, live, sport. Heaven! They take a lot of telephone business - it's apparently easier to manage than Internet Betting - and I met the guys who design the Sky Poker Tournment Schedule, the IT Guys - the IT Boss was about 12! - the software monitoring boys, the anti-collusion Team, & various Suits who I've got to know whilst at Sky. I gather that the vast majority of Betting arises from Football & Horse-Racing, so I was curious how their business "spiked" on big Race Days, Cup Finals, Champions League nights, etc, & how they cope with the varied workload. Most of the Staff take it as read that they have to work evenings, & weekends, when most of us are out enjoying ourselves. A fascinating few hours, thank you Mr Sky.

I was a bit embarrassed when I met the Sky Poker Team up there - they all watch the Show - obviously, I suppose - & so they all "knew me", and I was very touched by their kind comments.

In the evening, I had an engagement at a sort of private game in someone's home in Harrogate, with a bunch of professional people, & we had a ball, eventually finishing at about 2am. I was staying at a local Hotel, (more of which shortly) & had to be at bB6 in Nottingham for the Football by 11am, so I had to be up by 7am Saturday. Jeez.

But first, what a lovely & interesting place Harrogate is....

[tikay]

Working from home today -- missed the diary whilst you were galavanting, am now in the garden beavering away on the lappy switching over to Blonde every now and again. SO chop chop Tony give us a read.

"galavanting" - not heard that for years!

And I was not galavanting, I was going about my business, if you don't mind. Admittedly, in a galavanty sort of way.

Enjoy the garden. And the beer.

[Bainn]

Harmony will agree as she used to live in Harrogate.

[Laxie]

Working from home today -- missed the diary whilst you were galavanting, am now in the garden beavering away on the lappy switching over to Blonde every now and again. SO chop chop Tony give us a read.

"galavanting" - not heard that for years!

And I was not galavanting, I was going about my business, if you don't mind. Admittedly, in a galavanty sort of way.

Enjoy the garden. And the beer.

Don't encourage him!!!  FFS  He's supposed to be gone to the vet getting his leg sorted and I've already threatened him with...well, all sorts of threats. 

But DO keep up with the diary.  I look forward to these days when you're on a roll of sorts.

[tikay]

Entering Harrogate by road, something seemed odd. Instead of oppressive grey & drab buildings either side of the road, there was a huge expanse of common-land.

It's called "The Stray", & runs to exactly 200 acres. The grass is cut, but not manicured, just a comfy length.  They have left little "as nature intended" islands within it, which fauna & wildlife strongly inhabit.

It's 200 acres, & always has been, & if the Council tries to nick a bit - for a lay-by on one of the roads that fringe it, for example, they have to add an eqaual amount somewhere else.

For that reason, there exists a "Stray Defence Association", (motto, 'We have not inherited The Stray from our parents; We have borrowed it from our children') who defend it's existence with their lives. They were formed back in the 1930's.

There is even a "Stray Act" passed by Parliament, in 1985.

The Stray dates back to 1778, under the "1770 Encosures Act", & I think the local Council purchased it in 1890 for about £10,000 - a fortune in those days, so that it could be protected for the people of Low Harrogate & High Harrogate. (Now just "Harrogate").

In 1778, it was said of The Stray......

'The said two hundred acres of land shall forever hereafter remain open and unenclosed and all persons whomsoever shall and may have free access at all times to the said springs, and be at liberty to use and drink the waters there arising, and take the benefit thereof, and shall and may have, use, and enjoy full and free ingress, egress and regress, in, upon, and over, the said two hundred acres of land, and every, and any part thereof, without being subject to the payment of any acknowledgment whatsoever for the same, or liable to any action of trespass, or other suit, molestation, or disturbance whatsoever, in respect thereof.'

I think that's just wonderful. It's right by the Town Centre, too. How many Towns would be so much better if they had such a wonderful expanse of common-land, tree-fringed, for the people to enjoy?

Harrogate was originally a "spa" Town, but that's pretty much finished now. Apparently the term "spa" derives from the original town where restotative spring waters were first used - Spa, in Belguim. Obvious, I suppose, but I never realised.

[tikay]

.

[Acidmouse]

We have a house just on the edge of the park Its great this time of year, open fields.

Posh place north of Leeds lol made me laugh, loads of places in Leeds alot more expensive now then Harro'gate. Shame I bet you didn't go see Eden Camp 

[tikay]

Harrogate also boasts the original "Bettys" Tea Shop. (Note, no apostrophe in "Bettys"). It's in the rather grand Parliament Street area.

They have half-a-dozen Tea-Rooms in Yorkshire, and are in the same ownership as the Company that pack & sell "Yorkshire Tea".

The original owner was a Swiss bloke, Belmont, who planned to open a Tea-Room in Brighton, but got confused, & got the wrong train, ending up in Harrogate. (Not sure I believe that, sounds tosh to me).

I plan to return to Harrogate very soon, & shall partake of a pot of tea & some cake in Bettys. It's on my "to-do" List.

[tikay]

We have a house just on the edge of the park Its great this time of year, open fields.

Posh place north of Leeds lol made me laugh, loads of places in Leeds alot more expensive now then Harro'gate. Shame I bet you didn't go see Eden Camp 

Really? You live adjacent The Stray? Wow! Hope what I've written is reasonably accurate! I blame google......

I must say, I do see Harrogate as "posh". Such lovely buildings, such beautiful parks. Whereas Leeds, well, it has Elland Road just for starters.

Eden Camp?  No, it was a rushed "up & down" affair on Friday. I'm planning to have a short holiday in the next few weeks, I'll be based in Harrogate, & I'll do Eden Camp then. And the North Yorkshire Moors, the Yorkshire Dales. Anywhere else local I should consider?

[Acidmouse]

We have a house just on the edge of the park Its great this time of year, open fields.

Posh place north of Leeds lol made me laugh, loads of places in Leeds alot more expensive now then Harro'gate. Shame I bet you didn't go see Eden Camp 

Really? You live adjacent The Stray? Wow! Hope what I've written is reasonably accurate! I blame google......

I must say, I do see Harrogate as "posh". Such lovely buildings, such beautiful parks. Whereas Leeds, well, it has Elland Road just for starters.

Eden Camp?  No, it was a rushed "up & down" affair on Friday. I'm planning to have a short holiday in the next few weeks, I'll be based in Harrogate, & I'll do Eden Camp then. And the North Yorkshire Moors, the Yorkshire Dales. Anywhere else local I should consider?

Yes a lovely home just on the edge of the stray (a nice investment even though there is a slump). It really is a beautiful place Harrogate and a really safe environment.

You should see the queue's at Betty's most days, huge ones all the way down the street. The spa just down the street is worth a visit.

Depending on what you like Ripon/Ripley is worth a look, the Cathedral is free and amazing and its only 20mins North of Harrogate. Just to the side of Ripon is Fountains Abbey (google to see what its like). Helmsley Castle and the village is a good place to walk and see the countryside, 20mins east of Thirsk and near the coastal towns of Scarborough.

Living near all these places is the reason I have virtually stopped playing poker, North Yorkshire so much to see Hope you enjoy your trip.

[bobby1]

I great read Tony, I used to work in that office and I agree there is nothing better than walking around Harrogate on a lovely sunny day and dropping into Bettys for a little light refreshment.

[The_nun]

Knaresborough is a must just to see the viaduct.