'Ho'way th' lads'.

[RED-DOG]

A good run at the $2/4 short-handed cash tables on blonde, aided and abetted by a couple of forays at the heady $5/10 levels swelled my modest bankroll to the stage where I thought it could stand financing a crack at the GukPT Newcastle.

I thought the best plan of action would be to set off on Tuesday, that way I would be able to break the journey by stopping overnight at my dad’s place Sheffield (Part of God’s own country) before continuing on to Newccy the next morning, this would allow me to arrive in plenty of time to register for the Wednesday £300 comp and to “Pick my spot” when registering for the main event so that I would get to play my opening day on the Thursday.

I spent a wonderful evening with my parents. My father and I sitting side by side on the bunk in their caravan, my mother flitting about in the tiny kitchen, tidying and re-organising things unnecessarily. We talked until about 10:30pm, which is quite late for them. We reminisced about the old days, dredging up memories and wallowing in that exquisite mix of pleasure and pain that is nostalgia. Before I left the following morning, I presented myself to my mother for inspection. She quizzed me about the state of my underwear and checked that I had washed inside my ears. Then she kissed my cheek and bundled me out of the door.

Mrs Red has pinched my sat-nav., (she likes to have it with her when she is travelling alone, she doesn’t need it to find her way, but she enjoys arguing with it) so I thought might have some trouble finding the casino. I needn’t have worried, come off the A1, cross the bridge over the Tyne and there it is, bang in front of you. I went in and registered for both comps. While I was waiting, Lee, the card room manager came over and introduced himself. He bought me a cup of tea and we chatted for half an hour, he comes across as a genuine bloke, easy going and no sharp edges to dodge. I liked him a lot.

Having some time to kill, I had a stroll around the city. There has been a tremendous amount of re-generation in Newcastle, but a lot of the old buildings are still standing. For some reason, these old places fascinate me. Especially the factories, they seem to speak to me of wealthy businessmen exploiting raggedy employees. Of opulent lives financed by the sweat and worry of poorly paid fathers who are bent and bowed under the strain of trying to keep roofs over heads and food in bellies.

Another thing that fascinates me about Newcastle is the microscopic clothing worn by the young ladies who mill about the vibrant city centre in their thousands. I stopped one stunner to ask directions and I swear to god, I have seen more material on a bandaged thumb.

The sell out £300 competition was immensely enjoyable. It as very well run and joy to play. I had one of those nights where I couldn’t get going. I ducked and dived for ages but eventually, with about 25 runners left, my luck ran out when I moved all in from the sb with 35os and the bb called me with two face-cards.

Before I go, I have to mention the buffet because it was far and away the best I have ever had in any casino. Mash potatoes with beef stew or chicken, sausage and chips, fresh veg, proper gravy, it tasted just like your mam had cooked it. Fantastic.

I had a good night’s sleep in the Vauxhall hotel, (a bed in the back of my pickup truck) and now I’m sitting in the lobby of the Holliday Inn having a cuppa. I was going to have a stroll down the town to the see if those girls dresses have got any shorter, but the weather has turned a bit nasty, and besides, I have paid for 2 hours WiFi and been accidentally given 24 hour access. So I might have another bash at the cash tables instead.
 

[TightEnd]

(she likes to have it with her when she is travelling alone, she doesn’t need it to find her way, but she enjoys arguing with it)

I can imagine this!

great read, and good luck over the weekend!

[The Thistle]

Hey Red-Dog:

You should be writing instead of playing poker. That's not a slight on your poker, but rather a recognition of some fine writing talent.

I really enjoyed this.

Good luck today if your playing and see you at the final table on Sunday.

PS - Anyone staying at the Jury's Inn - avoid the fish and chips. Mine was like a carbonised beer mat.

The Thistle

[Redbull]

Nice post Tom! Looking forward to seeing some of those bandaged thumbs lol.

Good luck today.

[b4matt]

Lol Tom, gotta love them geordie lasses.
Good luck today mate, i'm playing tomorrow so maybe see you if your still in (u better had be!).

[Ironside]

(she likes to have it with her when she is travelling alone, she doesn’t need it to find her way, but she enjoys arguing with it)

I can imagine this!

great read, and good luck over the weekend!

you 2 are in so much trouble

[ripple11]

I was going to have a stroll down the town to the see if those girls dresses have got any shorter, but the weather has turned a bit nasty,
 

SHAME ON YOU !!













how could you let a bit of bad weather stop you? 

[Geo the Sarge]

Another stunning post Tom.

Good luck

Geo

[Jim-D]

I love how every now and again these fantastically written posts arrive, A true joy to read.

I sometimes so wish i lived more central in the UK so i could travel to all these superb events with out it becoming a 3 day travel fest.

[boldie]

I love how every now and again these fantastically written posts arrive, A true joy to read.

.

that's why I look out for any posts Mr Red starts..the man has a way with words, I tell ya.

Top post Red. Best of luck in the big game

[Rooky9]

Good Luck...

Technically the title should be 'Ho'way th' lads'.
If you were in Sunderland it would be 'Ha'way th' lads'.

Interesting, i think so.

[tikay]

Another Tom stunner, what a beautiful Post Tom.

Before I left the following morning, I presented myself to my mother for inspection

Classic stuff.

[taximan007]

Toms posts are amazing, you can actually picture yourself stood there next to him.

Not a bad poker player either.

Good Luck Red and please more of your enthralling posts.

[RED-DOG]

Good Luck...

Technically the title should be 'Ho'way th' lads'.
If you were in Sunderland it would be 'Ha'way th' lads'.

Interesting, i think so.

Title amended now thanks Rookie, and thank you to everyone else for the nice comments.

I didn't fare very well in the main event, these are the relavant hands.

In the first level I found pocket 1010 utg and made made it 250 to go, two callers.

The flop came 10 9 5 two spades, I bet out for 600 (with hindsight. I should have bet more) and both players called again.

The turn was the 8 of clubs, I hated it but felt I had to bet. I wanted to find out where I was, plus I didn't want to give the flush draw a free shot. I made it 1500 and Matey Boy came over the top for another 5k, I passed.

After that I went card dead for a couple hours, then with just under 5k left I found QQ behind a serial raiser who had just made it 1200 to go. I couldn't re-raise him and then get away, so I shipped it all in and he called with AK. The A hit the flop and that, as they say, was all she wrote.

I got a seat at the most wonderful cash game. Imagine this line up, Barry Neville, Ian Woodly, James Dempsey, Carlo Citronie, Latiff, a mental Chinaman, a Benny Hill lookalike and me. How I managed to finish £90 down I will never know.



OK, its competition time. The event is Wednesday's £300  and you have to guess the name of the player who won this hand. Your clues are, he is a regular and recent winner of big events and he is a blonde.

This hand was played on my table and was between a young man who had barely played a hand until this point, I'll call him Rocky, and the mystery blonde, I'll call him John Doe but you call him somehing else, Rocky did.

I can't remember the exact chip counts but both players had above average, the action went like this.

Rocky: Standard raise.

John Doe: Standard re-raise.

Flop: 

Rocky: pot-size bet.

John Doe: All in.

Rocky: Call.

On their backs......

Rocky: 

John Doe: 

Turn: Diamond.

River: Diamond.

[boldie]

lmao@that hand...What on earth makes me want to say Flushy?