"The Downswings of Property and Poker"

[Eso Kral]

Great read Richard. It's rapidly become my favourite thread.

I'll always remember one of my dads last jokes.

He was been wheeled into the back of an ambulance when one of the ambulance women was trying to cheer him up by suggesting his heart problems had been caused by too much wine, women and song.

As quick as a flash and whilst clearly distressed, he said "OK, I'll give up singing."

Thx Alan but im disappointed its only rapidly becoming your favourite 

See you at DTD this weekend?

[Lucky]

Great read Richard. It's rapidly become my favourite thread.

I'll always remember one of my dads last jokes.

He was been wheeled into the back of an ambulance when one of the ambulance women was trying to cheer him up by suggesting his heart problems had been caused by too much wine, women and song.

As quick as a flash and whilst clearly distressed, he said "OK, I'll give up singing."

Thx Alan but im disappointed its only rapidly becoming your favourite 

See you at DTD this weekend?

Its there already Richard.

Yes, hope to be at DTD too.

[paulhouk03]

do u still get cravings to play on the wheel of doom?

also do u still play pit games? even for small stakes

[Boba Fett]

Whats the most ridic/strange thing youve had a bet on?

[leethefish]

a lump in my throat reading this  brings alot when i lost my gran..

[sovietsong]

this diary is incred.

[Karabiner]

My dad went along a  very similar path to yours Rich although he was considerably older.

Like your dad he preferred to stay at home in familiar surroundings rather than go into an old folks' home and I used to visit him for an hour or so a couple of times a day to make sure he was okay and to fix him something to eat at teatime although it got more and more difficult to tempt him as his appetite waned.

I remember when he first got hospitalized by our GP after he had fallen over and was put in a temporary ward whilst being assessed. He had no appetite due to as yet undiagnosed cancer and was in a bed for a few days opposite some old boy who devoured every morsel of every meal put in front of him which drove him almost to distraction.

[Eso Kral]

do u still get cravings to play on the wheel of doom?
No not really i quite like watching if in a Casino and really funk for peeps to win espec if i know them but it does not get me excited now 

also do u still play pit games? even for small stakes
At Christmas i take my offices out for a meal and give them the choice and they always pick the casino for the night out, for £35 they get a 4 course meal 3 free drinks and £10 for the roulette last 2 years we went we all club together and lump on and agree to keep playing till busto or each has £50 at which point they stop and the girls go home with £50 and the boys drink and go home with nothing!
This is the only time i play pit games and if i was out socially i might play 20-40 on Blackjack but thats probs a twice a year thing.

[Eso Kral]

Whats the most ridic/strange thing youve had a bet on?

I always have a study and punt on Eurovision Song contest but away from that its mainly mainstream, i have never bet on a pie eating contest 

[Eso Kral]

this diary is incred.

TYTY obv my viewing numbers will drop as were only a few pages from today and then i will have to talk about drving to work along the seafront or the like!!

[Eso Kral]

a lump in my throat reading this  brings alot when i lost my gran..

yeah i knew a few people would be touched m8, absolutely tez disease but i shall keep my thoughts to myself on whether or not they really want to find a cure!

[Eso Kral]

My dad went along a  very similar path to yours Rich although he was considerably older.

Like your dad he preferred to stay at home in familiar surroundings rather than go into an old folks' home and I used to visit him for an hour or so a couple of times a day to make sure he was okay and to fix him something to eat at teatime although it got more and more difficult to tempt him as his appetite waned.

I remember when he first got hospitalized by our GP after he had fallen over and was put in a temporary ward whilst being assessed. He had no appetite due to as yet undiagnosed cancer and was in a bed for a few days opposite some old boy who devoured every morsel of every meal put in front of him which drove him almost to distraction.

That must have been tough for your Dad, my dad towards the end only wanted a few mouthfulls of fastfood so that he never had to endure the cooking smells that put him off and then could have a bit to eat.

[Eso Kral]

2 WEEKS RESPITE

Dad settled in well into the home on the first day and had his own room even managing to eat a bit of his dinner and i left telling him i would be up to see him on Thursday (my day off) and gave him a big hug. He was always a portly fellow and looked a cross between Reg Holdsworth and Alec Gilroy from Coronation Street so seeing the weight fall off him was really hard, over the next few days i spoke to him on the phone and a few friends visited him but he was losing strength and they started to up his morphine which was given intravenously.

By thursday he was pretty much out of it but woke for a few mins whilst my brother and myself were there and the look in his eyes told you he was ready, he told us that his wish was for the cats to be put down and to be cremated and scattered with him and we agreed which was upsetting as whilst the cats were old they still were ok but these were my Dads wishes and wanted him to feel ok.

I left in tears and wondered if he would still make it through to my next visit on Sunday. Sunday came and the care home had told me he was not really awake much now and again they had increased his pain relief, i had driven up from down south and sat with him for a few hours drip feeding him via a swab some water and just watching him. His breathing was now eratic and he didnt open his eyes until i left when i whispered in his ear to wait until i could come back with Petra the following Thursday and i will never forget how he opened his eyes and nodded and i broke down as i hugged him and told him i was sorry for the hurt i had caused him over the years he just smiled and gave me a kiss.

Leaving the home i wasnt sure if i would see him again and i cried most of the way down the M1, i stopped at Luton G for the sunday late afternoon comp and donked out in a few hands as after starting the comp i regretted it and drove home knowing that the next visit up north would most likely be even worse....

[Eso Kral]

Ok cant finish the rest today as it brings back so many emotions and im currently sat at work so need to tie up a deal or two before leaving at 2pm to get to DTD 

Firing 2 bullets if required this month

GL to me obv and all other blondes playing!

[boldie]

F'ing hell, tears in my eyes reading that.