Happy New Year

Hope you all found the transition from 2011 to 2012 swift and pain free.

Hope you are all still doing ok at the poker tables. Dont think i played at all after Cheltenham as went onto early shift at work and just couldnt play anymore and get up during the day.

The old Crypto fair enough but this Ipoker lark no chance.

I was playing live poker weekly but the venue got shut down and is now currently waiting demolition. Shame it was nice beer too. Anyways im here and its the holidays and i sat today thinking it would be good to have a Sunday game with Monday being a bank holiday

I had went out on the town on Friday for the Newcastle match and then got a tad merry afterwards so couldnt face NYE out. Was going to have a game then as part of my resolution just to have a little occasional fun i said £100 into Hills, £100 into Stars. Deposit before NYE and when its gone so am i. Wouldnt have botherered but want some cash online ready for Cheltenham (4 x 50p losing lucky 31s please Mr) but at least its traditional

So deposited on NYE and ready to play but then the ex gf came over to spend new year. So that plan went out the window. Woke up late today and after she went i thought cant be arsed going out as overdone Friday as said and going out Wed for Toon vs Man Utd. so decided to play today

Opened stars and registered for the bigger $11. Figured why not. Am only going to probably play it on Sundays before a Bank Hol Monday. I joined 18,839 other hopefuls.

Would love to post the first game back fairytale win but alas i busted out in 149th for $94.

Its pretty sick when you think that you can play 7.5 hours and beat 18,690 people and not even make a hundred but thats the top heavy Stars pay out that means 18 grand for the winner.

Genuinely enjoyed the game and recommend a break to anyone else.

Got mullered with about 200 left and was gasping on air. Kept surviving and managed to double up a couple of times but eventually the exit came.

Folded to button who raises standard. I have AQc in the SB and jam. BB gets out the way and button instacalls with AK. Cest la vie. But great fun and a winning year (so far)

Will try to blog throughout 2012 but to be fair if no poker then not much point updating a poker blog but as dating is ok, dieting is yoyo, off the cigs still after 3 year and we all know that Newcastle United are the best team in the Universe. Simples !!

Right thats it for now. Will leave you with my first poker pic of the year.

Next one will be a win or cracked Aces.

Happy New Year

R.I.P. Gary Speed

Cheltenham Festival

Havent played poker barely at all although when i did it was on Betfair. Got a bit of Cash on Hills so going to try that too but for now i will risk a few pennies of it on the Festival.

Ive picked selections for every race over the 4 days and have backed them already. A daily each way trebles and upwards and a win yankee for the 3:20 race each day. The only selection missing is the 4:00 on Wednesday which would have been Silverhand but now thats not running but no replacement.

Picks for info only as i done alright last year so sods law i do crap this year. Anyway they are...

Tuesday
1:30 Spirit Son
2:05 Medermit
2:40 Sunnyhillboy
3:20 Menorah
4:00 Maljimar
4:40 Quevega
5:15 Tullamore Drew


Wednesday
1:30 Some Target
2:05 So Young
2:40 Aiteen Thirtythree
3:20 Master Minded
4:00 -
4:40 Paintball
5:15 Allure Of Illusion


Thursday
1:30 Mr Gardner
2:05 Ackertal
2:40 Poquelin
3:20 Big Bucks
4:00 Bensalem
4:40 Galant Nuit


Friday
1:30 Sam Winner
2:05 Ski Sunday
2:40 Bobsworth
3:20 Denman
4:00 Baby RunC
4:40 King Of The Night
5:15 Oh Crick


Good luck all :)

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and that 2011 is kind, profitable and generally amazing to you. I had the horrid Man Flu from about Boxing Day and just about getting over it now.

As far as resolutions go i dont tend to go a bundle on them. I could say to play so many hands or try and win a certain tourney but im just not putting the time in so im just going to play casually and see where it goes. Still dont know where as i still havent found my spiritual home since Crypto went the distance.

I should prob resolve to blog more. But in the meantime here are the 2010 Gatsby's

Poker Performance Of The Year

The Brit Winners At The 2010 WSOP

Blog / Website Of The Year

Melted Felt

Babe Of The Year

Holly Willoughby

Hero Of The Year

Chris Hughton

Knob Of The Year

Nick Clegg

Newcastles Newest Manager - Alan Pardew

5 (and a half) years contract.

Never underestimate Ashley though. A very clever man. No coincidence that the press conference was 2.30pm Thursday. Clearly planned to coincide with the debate in Parliament and all the student demos so when the papers show tomorrow Prince Charles getting paint chucked over his car or loads of unwashed students trying to storm Westminster there will be a lot less attention of what went up at NE1.

I cant understand the appointment or the the length of the contract. Owner is not going to splash the cash and appears to have someone in place that wont rock the boat. But the thing is we already had that and that man was liked by the fans and the players so why get rid and bring in an outsider.

I havent felt this low since Keegan walked (the first time)

You Fat Bastard. Get Out Of Our Club

Ok so a couple of dodgy results in the Premiership but thats what happens. Thats why its the most entertaining league in the world. We can put 5 past Sunderland. 6 past Villa, knock Chelsea out the cup and beat the current Prem leaders Arsenal in their own back yard.

West Brom game was disappointing but to sack Chris Hughton beggars belief. This isnt a guy fucking everything up or wasting millions or alienating the dressing room. This is a decent genuine guy who has had sod all to spend. Got rid of some very ineffective egos and has done a pretty remarkable job.

On a shoestring budget Chris took over the hotseat and lets not forget that after a 6-1 pre season friendly defeat to Leyton Orient that we were actually 7/1 to go down to league 1 (Thats Division 3 in old money) An amazing job followed in that remarkable Championship season which saw us win the title and then bring in a couple of free signings over the summer and then our only purchase being James Perch.

So Our Forward Line went from
Owen, Martins, Viduka, Ameobi, Carroll
to
Ameobi, Carroll

As crap as the first 3 performed you cant keep cutting the squad and not adding to it.
Ben Arfa looked a world class move until he was crippled in a horrendous tackle
Our then lightweight squad was stretched due to suspensions (which were fair) but this has cost a man who didnt deserve it. For the 5-1 against Sunderland and your service in general in attempting to bring the club back into respectability whilst maintaining your dignity and being positive and professional at all times despite all the restrictions we thank you and hope you have success elsewhere.

To those who are mad enough to agree that he wasnt a big enough name. We have had the biggest names and they have either failed (most) or we have cast them aside (Sir Bobby)
In fact no other club on the planet has had more high profile managers than us.
Has any other club in the world had...

2 x World Cup Winners
Charlton, Ardiles

4 x European Footballers Of The Year
Keegan, Daglish, Gullit, Souness

2 x Ex International Managers
Charlton, Sir Bobby

Thank you Chris. We didnt deserve you.
and to Mr Ashley. I Refer him to the title

Stop Press - Sky are saying the next manager is Alan Pardew
LMFAO - No other words needed

Hola - Summer, Footy, Hols and Stufff

Hallo anyone still checking this blog out.
Its been a long time and its also been difficult to find the time to post never mind hit the tables.
As you will have seen from previous posts i spent my hols in Spain. I had booked in advance and was due to come back the week before the World Cup Final but with England doing crap and the chance to extend stay for next to nowt (Flight change was only £20) i thought sod it. Stay and be a true Spanish supporter on World Cup Final night.

Absolutely mental is pretty much the way to describe it. In the old town a giant screen was erected (phnarr, phnarr) near the bull ring and thousands descended to watch the game in a party atmosphere that was no doubt recreated all over Spain.

When Iniesta scored it was chaotic and the scenes around were a joy to witness. Hopefully will see it for real one day in England but i doubt it. Also whilst i was in Spain i turned 40 and we had a party in the local chinese as the majority of expats and residents joined us into the early hours of the morning.

When i got back i had my 2nd birthday celebrations as me and my mates headed down to Doncaster for the weekend. We were originally going to York but there was a big race meeting on and we couldnt get all 12 of us booked up in hotel so decided another venue. Doncaster was picked (as a lazy option purely as its the next train stop after York) and despite most people i asked saying they didnt fancy it or wouldnt go back it turned out to be a cracking weekend.

I then got back to work and get used to the rain and the cold again. One cold rainy morning and i thought sod this and booked back up to go back to Spain again so ended up going there for another couple of weeks at the end of August.

Got back again in England and for the final birthday celebrations of the year (for those that werent in Spain or Donny) we spent the Sunday before August Bank Holiday on an all day session in Low Fell and a good day was had.

Since then its been pretty much work and more work. Used up a lot of annual leave and a couple of favours so the odd weekend has been spent at work too. Also because im doing dayshift at the moment (8-4) i cant play poker still stupid o'clock and get up fresh in the morning so i neglected the old online world for a bit. I also had a few dates with an ex girlfriend so the one day i could have a lie in the next day i wasnt playing poker. But as much as shes a nice girl its not something i want to commit to long term.

Anyways why back. Well for one looking to fill some time in. The dieting went absolutely during the summer. Beer and Pizza and Steaks arent good so have rejoined WeightWatchers. This time im also doing the gym and have found this to be a useful combination as at present ive lost 32 lbs in 5 weeks. Ok lot to lose and first bit going to come off quick its a nice start.

So Gym and WW along with footy fills a bit of time in but im now only going to go out once a week max. Also learning Spanish at a college on Tuesday nights so need to have fun again that doesnt involve eating or drinking so poker is back on the agenda for those cold dark winter nights. Still not sure where to play as havent found a new spiritual home since Crypto finished.
I also have to rebuild the bankroll as it subsidised the summer. But its small stakes fun rather than living the dream so will see how it goes.

Im out the loop with recent goings on in the poker world. Does anyone still play, most colleagues or mates i talk to tend to have not bothered for a while. Is the game getting harder to beat or are people just chucking it more for there sanity. It is nice to have a break and hopefully playing fresh and for fun it will be a buzz again.

Re the Gatsby awards as said im out the loop a bit so going to have a nose around and see whats been going down and maybe post them later in the week. But for now im off to the tables to see if i can min wage for an hour or so :)

Good luck and thanks for reading and i do promise to update more now that im back.
Paul

Been On Hols

Over 3 weeks of sun sea and sangria in Spain
Back now in the cold. Full update and Junes Gatsby awards over the weekend.

Royal Flush

Gatsby Awards for May

Poker Performance Of The Month

Walkers Sensations - They didnt screw up and finish 2nd :)

Blog / Website Of The Month

Pokersites - Info, ratings, bonuses & stuff

Babe Of The Month

Keeley Hawes - Fantastic in Ashes To Ashes

Hero Of The Month 1

Ian Holloway - Got Blackpool In The Premiership

Hero Of The Month 2

Phil Taylor - 2 perfect 9 dart finishes in same match