Loving your work @68Trebor, keep it coming please. By the bye, the sections are not "screwed" together, they are bolted together. Amazing, all the same.
Fingers crossed the job promotion you are after arrives eventually. There will always be opportunities for the right people who work hard & do their job well, so you'll be fine.
Good luck tonight. Villa remain, in my mind, a traditional "big" club, & even in the Sky Bet Championship, crowds usually exceeded 30,000, sometimes 40,000 or more. They truly "belong" in the Premier League, though I'd argue so do Birmingham City.
If tonight's game is one tenth as entertaining as the 2nd leg between Fulham & Derby last night, it'll be a cracker. I do find it hard to like or admire Mr Terry, but that's balanced by young Jack Grealish, who really looks to be top drawer despite being just 22 years old. He'll end up at Barca or Real in the fullness of time.
What a tense 90 mins that was. Although we always looked in control it was squeaky bum time for the entire game. Everytime Traore got the ball I was petrified he was going to shove the abuse back down our throats, but as he did so many times for Villa he just never delivered. Thought the fight we showed over the two legs was immense and we thoroughly deserve to be the team off to Wembley. Hats off to The Jedi last night who was a man mountain in the centre of the park and also to Snodgrass (love his 100% die for the cause attitude) and Hourianne (one of his best all round games for Villa). Special mentions to Hutton, had Traore in his pocket for 2 games, Bree, who grew into the game despite a nervous first 15mins and especially to Steve Bruce. To have both your parents pass away in the last couple of months and still be able to motivate and tactically get it so right, says a huge amount about the bloke and his thorough professionalism through it all. Was a little disappointed with the pitch invasion at the end as it meant the players never got the chance to thank the fans but 'hey-ho'. Was funny to hear The Holte End singing 'where were you when we were ****' to the thousand odd who did go on. Should be getting my tickets for The Final today and then it's all about looking forward to a cracking day in the capital. On a side note I am contemplating investing a small amount into some cryptocurrency. 'You've missed the boat' I hear you shout, and in some ways I have. It came back to me the other day about a conversation held on the way back from a stag do in Barcelona about a year ago. Amongst the group was a lad called 'Goldie', a nice enough lad but not everyone's cup of tea. He was very much a slave to the dollar, a clever bloke and had spent a lot of time travelling around the world to some of the not so touristy destinations. At the time he was trying to convince us all that cryptocurrencies were the future and an easy way to make money. He kept banging on about this thing called 'Ethereum' and even got a couple of lads to invest in the thing for a few hundred quid each. At the time it was trading at about $40, today it is now trading at $692 and did hit a peak of about $1,400. I haven't seen Goldie since and have no idea if he is now a multi-millionaire or not. Since then I have been a distant observer and I am now thinking of investing a small amount on three of the relatively smaller currencies with the hope they are the next Bitcoin. I would be amazed if some people on here haven't taken the plunge and was wondering what their views would be on how easy it is to do, what trading platforms they have used and how they found them and any other useful advice they may have.
What a night on the tables tonight. It was one of those nights when every decision you make seems the right one, when every flip goes your way, when every card you want to see on the board appears, a night you get once in a blue moon and a night you never want to end. It resulted in a win in a £11, £400BH for £149, a win in the 7 at 7 for £148, a 2nd in a £11, £750BH for £103 along with a 17th in the £1k Reload for £21. It was made even more enjoyable by having the JJBink's twitch stream on in the background. As I have said before this is an absolute must watch for any SkyPoker MTT players with the banter in the chat hilarious.
Balance £510.03
MTT's Played = 233 Total Profit = £7801.89 Total ROI = 248.34% ITM = 18.5%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600 Total Profit = -£778.69 BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214 Total Profit = £34.20 Total ROI = 1.49%
Amazing string of results (would be great to get those scores in a week let alone a night) Congratulations, well played and you're largely responsible for most of the laughs in JJ's chat too btw, good stuff
Been a frustrating couple of days on the tables with variance paying me back following the other night. I seem to be getting it in good only for the cards to run against me and eliminate me. The one bright spot is that I have satted into the £30k Super Sunday and will also have the pleasure of watching JJBink's final stream. Would be nice to be on the same table as him for some of it, although that would probably be a -ve ROI position to be in. Wembley tickets arrived this morning and I am really looking forward to the day. I have made the decision to drive down as it is the cheapest option by far and the most convenient in terms of how the day pans out and what time we will get home. The Mrs is flying to Palma on Saturday morning, from Leeds/Bradford, for a week in the sun with her friend. I have agreed to drop them off at 7am, meaning I should be home by 8am. Our lad is stopping over Friday night so we should be ready to go for 8.30ish. Quick stop in Scissett at Mustangs cafe for a good old English breakfast and then its down the M1 to Stanmore. Hope to arrive there about 12pm and then its a quick tube into Wembley Park for a look round before heading to The Green Man for a couple of pre-match beers to settle the nerves. Looks like the weather will be El Scorchio so it will definitely be shorts and Villa shirt attire for the day. Just hope we play to our full potential and get back to where we belong. Off to the tables now, where I will be playing a fair few, starting with The Hitman Semi.
Balance £314.27
MTT's Played = 254 Total Profit = £7723.05 Total ROI = 228.69% ITM = 17.3%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600 Total Profit = -£778.69 BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214 Total Profit = £34.20 Total ROI = 1.49%
What a day of mixed emotions yesterday was. It started full of hope and ended in sheer disappointment. The day started with a Full English and then the drive down to Stanmore. The nearer we got the more and more cars with Claret & Blue flags, scarves and shirts we saw. The nearer we got the bigger the anticipation grew and the thought we could do this grew. Landed at Stanmore tube at 12ish and took the 4 stop trip to Wembley Park where we had a quick walk up to the ground and then headed off to The Green Man. We thought we were there in relatively good time but as we rounded the corner to start up the hill to The Green Man we were met with a group of a couple of thousand Villa who had taken over the small green in the centre of a roundabout. We reached The Green Man to be met with a queue of approx 100, a steel fence and a team of security guards who didn't seem to be enjoying the weather as much as the rest of us. The noise that was coming from inside the beer garden sounded very appealing but after a 15min wait, during which a few people left but no-one entered we decided this was not the way to enjoy our afternoon. We decided to return to the hordes, singing their hearts out, kicking footballs, letting off flares, drinking their cans and being a general focus of interest to the locals trying to go about their daily routines. We had spotted a Tesco local across from the green and went to buy our 4 packs. It became apparent a 100 or so other people had the same idea and a new plan involving a small mini mart across the road was hatched. After 10 mins and £20 later we had our 4 cans each in our little black carrier bags and proceeded to the green. On a side-note I would love to know how much profit the entrepreneur who owned the shop cleared on the day. £10 for 4 warm cans even seemed a bargain somehow. We are a funny breed when it comes to football and beer. We spent the next couple of hours watching the world go by, joining in the odd song and laughing as people became more and more boisterous and daring as the mix of sun and alcohol began to take effect. At 4ish we made our way to the ground and took our seats in the top tier behind the goal. By this point I was convinced that with this support behind them and our experience we were already back in The Big Time. Then as Villa have done most of the season and despite all that experience we decide not to turn up in the first half. Second half we improved but again, apart from Grealish, who just gets better and better, we never had the guile or cutting edge to break Fulham down. Yes they should of been a man down in the first half, maybe it was a penalty, we played OK second half but at end of the day Fulham were better. So, as all football supporters do, we move on and look forward to next season. There will be a lot of questions to answer in the next couple of months. Will Bruce be trusted to get it right next year? Terry, Snodgrass, Grabban, Omonah and Johnstone will be gone. Can we hold on to Grealish and Chester? Will Hutton sign a new, less rewarding contract? Will the kids be given a chance? On the plus side we will have Kodija fit for the full season, Hogan must come good at some point, Tzunabe is on a 2 year loan from Man Utd, the U23's have had a cracking season. On the tables I had a pretty decent day on Thursday, satelliting into the Hitman for £7.20 and then managing 8th for a £160 profit. Today it is all about Super Sunday and having already qualified for the £30k I will also play the Mini and try to satellite into the £10k Bounty Hunter.
Balance £452.67
MTT's Played = 264 Total Profit = £7861.45 Total ROI = 226.01% ITM = 17.9%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600 Total Profit = -£778.69 BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214 Total Profit = £34.20 Total ROI = 1.49%
Mission accomplished at first time of asking. Satellited into £10k Bounty Hunter for £7.20. Tonight will consist of just 3 tournies - £10k BH, £30k Main and £5k Mini. Off out for a walk with Willow and a couple of pints in The Grove and will see you all later for a huge increase to bankroll hopefully.
Not played any poker since 29th May and not even turned laptop on. This has been due to the time constraints of having the annual stocktake at work. As anyone with a retail background will tell you this consists of counting endless amounts of stock and working endless amounts of hours. As this is now complete I will be returning to the tables tonight. During the last 2 days I have played since my last uodate I have managed a couple of creditable finishes with an 8/205 in a £1k BH and a 7/137 in another £1k BH.
My aims for May were the following. 1. Only play MTT's with a buy in of £11 or less. 2. The only satellite I can enter is the £7.20 Semi / LR Semi to the Main. 3. I must not enter any All-In Sats. 4. Double my Bankroll to £400.
This is how I fared. 1. Fail - Played a couple of £33 Mains and a £22 BH. 2. Fail - Tried to satellite into a fair few tournies. 3. Fail - Entered about 5. 4. Achieved - Bankroll now above £500.
Aims for June are as follows. 1. Stick to a £11 max buy in rule. 2. Don't enter any All-In Sats. 3. Double my bankroll to £1000. (Would give me opportunity to buy straight into £22 MTT's). 4. Stick to SkyPoker. (Temptation to play on STARS has been strong recently).
Balance £500.64
MTT's Played = 278 Total Profit = £7797.12 Total ROI = 208.20% ITM = 18.0%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600 Total Profit = -£778.69 BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214 Total Profit = £34.20 Total ROI = 1.49%
Not a bad start to June with a £340 profit on the day. I seem to be really getting to grips with the satellites on SkyPoker and now need to start turning my Main Event qualifications into some sort of profitable return. The Quickdraw MTT really seems to suit my style and since the beginning of 2017 I have played it seven times with the following results - 1st, 1st, 2nd, 6th, 11th, 13th, 29th. You are probably thinking why don't you play it more often. Two reasons - BRM and Start Time. The circus that is Aston Villa continues to frustrate and god only knows what next season holds. Dr Xia has re-iterated his desire to get Villa to be the powerhouse of Europe he hopes for but I think this is a very, very long way off. With the season only 8 weeks off now is the time to put a stake in the grass and confirm what the **** is going on and what the plans are to move forward. Hopefully some sort of news will be forthcoming over the next few days. I will be again on the tables tonight following an afternoon of lawn mowing, dog walking and couple of beers drinking.
Balance £843.18
MTT's Played = 285 Total Profit = £8139.66 Total ROI = 209.98% ITM = 18.6%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600 Total Profit = -£778.69 BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214 Total Profit = £34.20 Total ROI = 1.49%
It's been a while, well a month to be precise. Haven't played on SkyPoker at all since 5th June and have only had the odd foray on Stars but due to the weather not been playing much. When we last spoke the Bankroll sat at over £800 but due to one thing and another, kids, investing in Crypto, kids, dogs and kids I have had to withdraw it all. The decision to invest in Crypto Currency was taken as I kept looking at it and never took the plunge. As I had a decent bankroll at the time I thought why not. The decision was also made as I don't want to be sat here in a year or twos time thinking 'if only'. Over the last month I have also spent a lot of time thinking what to do with my poker playing. Although I enjoy MTT's I just don't have the time to invest in them. I have always had a real desire to get good at cash and have spent a lot of the last month looking at cash strategy. As a result I have decided to deposit £50 bankroll and start at the very bottom of the cash ladder on the 2p/4p tables and try to spin it up whilst practising what I've learnt. I will use the following BRM to hopefully move up the stakes. Get to 25 Buy-Ins at the stake above and move up, moving back down when I fall below 20 Buy-Ins. So first target is to get to £250. On the football front I have really enjoyed this World Cup and it has been nice to get away from the depressing story that Aston Villa have become. God only knows what next season holds but I don't expect it to be anything great. The one bad thing about this World Cup is that due to being a slave to retail I am working this afternoon and will also be working if England get to the Semi Finals. On the plus side at least it will be a quite Saturday afternoon and evening. Willow continues to steal my heart and she was six months yesterday and is an absolute pleasure to spend time with. I maybe biased but she really is a cutey, as you can see below.
And a real character, as you can see when she decided to jump in the canal.
Finally for all those who keep moaning 'it's too hot'. Please shut up.
Balance £50
MTT's Played = 300 Total Profit = £8149.27 Total ROI = 201.76% ITM = 19.0%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600 Total Profit = -£778.69 BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214 Total Profit = £34.20 Total ROI = 1.49%
So its a week into the adventures on the 2p/4p tables and it has been going OK. I have made a tiny profit. One scenario keeps appearing that I did not encounter on the 5p/10p tables. There seems to be a never-ending amount of limping going on. If I have position I have been tending to raise these with any 2 decent cards and then continued to show strength on decent looking flops. The problem comes when you have 2 mehhh cards, there are 4 limpers in front of you, you've got position and the amount in the pot means you just have to call. I hate limping but is this the correct decision in these circumstances. Then there is the scenario when you are in the SB and again there are 3/4 limpers and its only 2p to get into a 20p pot. How can you not call? The World Cup is now over and I have to say, as many others already have, what a wonderfully well run and enjoyable one it has been. It is the first major tournament I can remember where there has been no crowd trouble at all and for all Mr Putin's faults you have to take your hat off to him for that. England did us proud and you just wonder how good we could be if our players got a club game very week and if we had one Modric, Hazard or a modern day Gazza. Step forward Mr Jack Grealish! What made it even more enjoyable was the fact we could forget we supported The Villa for a few weeks and the fact I came 2nd in our Fantasy Football League for a return of £30. Summer continues and my 18 year old daughter returned safe and sound from her week to Magaluf with 11 of her friends. Not only that but as she was delayed for 6hrs coming home she is getting £400 back from Jet2. Not bad work if you can get it. This means that me and Our Lass are now on countdown to our 2 week cruise around Croatia, Montenegro, Venice, Malta etc,etc. Less than 4 weeks, or only 17 shifts as I like to look at it. Had another interview for a Deputy role on Friday. This time there was no advertising of the job and 3 of us were asked to go and see the Store Manager. Thought it went really well and I know I have more experience than the other 2 candidates so just hoping that politics don't come in to it and that finally I may get that promotion. Should find out this week.
Bankroll = £55.30
Hands Played = 3,735 Total Profit = £5.30 BB/100 = 3.55 Profit/Hr = £0.43
Quick update. Got the Deputy Manager promotion at work. Villa are now owned by the 3rd wealthiest owners in English football. I have 11 shifts until my holidays and have the joy of having no worries whilst away as I will have left one role and not started another. I think I'm getting to grips with 2p/4p. The sun continues to shine.
It's been a while and a lot has happened in the last 6 weeks. Had a wonderful holiday, possibly the best ever, when me and our lass spent 2 weeks aboard the Marella Celebration cruise ship. Being our first cruise we were both a little apprehensive but I have to say the service, the food, the entertainment and the whole package was worth every penny and I would thoroughly recommend cruising to anyone thinking of doing it. Got to visit some really memorable places - Hvar, Kotor, Venice, Valletta, Dubrovnik, Kefalonia, Koper, Sibenik Ancona, Messina and Igoumenista. Some places were more memorable than others but all had something to offer. Valleta's War Museum was amongst the highlights as was wondering around Dubrovnik Old Town and the obvious Venice. Have to say that Hvar and Kotor were also wonderful and charming places to sit and watch the world go around. Enjoyed it that much that we are looking at the possibility of doing another cruise with Marella, on a newer ship, to take in Scandanavia and St Petersburg next August.
Now completed my first week in my new role of Deputy and have to say there is a lot to do and I feel like I have really got my mojo back when it comes to work. I've always loved a new challenge. The good thing is that my journey to work has been cut from 45mins to 20mins and now involves driving across country rather than trawling up the M1 and M621. With this in mind I am toying with trading the BMW 320d in for a 4x4 as I don't fancy doing the journey in winter in what can only be described as a death trap as soon as ice / snow rears it's ugly head. Looking to test drive a 2011 plate Jeep Compass tomorrow. Villa continue to frustrate and how we have got in the position where we have no Centre Backs beggars belief. It comes to something when we are clinging to the hope John Terry may come back. I'm not a big fan of constantly changing managers but even I feel Bruce's time may be up. First game of the season will be Blackburn away on 15th September. Willow, our beloved cockerpoo, has had her lady bits removed and tomorrow we visit the vet for her final check up and then we can return to long walks and long pints. On the poker front I have been dabbling a lot on Stars, with some success and a small profit. Now that Willow is getting back up and running I have returned to cash and being playing 5p/10p on Sky. The last few days have gone well, bit of run good and been playing a bit better and I have got the BR up to £125. I know this is short for 5p/10p but I found I struggle to really focus when I go any lower. Aim, as ever, is to keep building the BR so I can move up the levels. One thing I have done is started working out my hourly return and this has certainly helped me focus.
Villa? Not looking great, is it? Shame really, I'm a bit old-fashioned (a bit?), but I yearn for the big clubs of yesteryear - Villa, Leeds United, Sunderland & so on, all of whom can get huge crowds every week - to return to the big time.
Bankroll is now up to £151, despite not playing any real volume at all. With work, walking of Willow, going out and general life stuff I have felt tired whenever I have a couple of hours spare and rather than doing what I would have done in the past and charging up the laptop to play less than optimal poker I have taken the decision to watch a bit of TV or generally relax. This has meant that I have only had the one losing session and I am finding that when I do play I am making more correct decisions than lazy ones. Still finding it hard to sometimes throw away a decent hand even though in the back of my mind I know it is the right thing to do. I am, however, beginning to get to know the players and know who to avoid and to who to get into pots with. Real target now is to try and get to the magical £500 so I can take a stab at 10p/20p. Tickets arrived today for the Blackburn game and I am looking forward to a day out with my lad, a few beers and a curry after. Just hope it doesn't turn into one of those days when every one turns on the team and starts calling for the manager's head but I have a horrible feeling it will. On the car front I never followed up on the Jeep Compass, although I did take a peek at it and thought it looked nice but some of the reviews really put me off. I am just going to keep checking Autotrader until something comes up, possibly a Honda CRV or VW Tiguain. Took Willow out for a 5 mile walk today and I am pleased to say she is fully recovered and back to her normal bouncy self. Love this time of the year when it is not to cold but there is a freshness to the air and the landscape is constantly evolving as we head towards the Autumn. Have today invested in some waterproofs though for when the rains do come. Definitely gonna put a few hours in tonight and hopefully continue with the current form, its not a bad life when your hobby is making you £7.37 an hour. Long may it continue. Losing streak probably about to commence now.
Only managed a couple of sessions this week,and as predicted above, the next one was the biggest losing one in a while, losing £50. Thankfully the other one ended with a £25 profit. Hopefully this is a sign of progress as in recent times one big losing session would be followed by another and then the decline of the bankroll would commence. Going to play a small cash session now, before cooking and consuming tea, a good old beef roast followed by cherry pie and custard, and then another one later when I am considering regging for the Mega Mini alongside my 3 cash tables. Surprised these haven't got anywhere near the guarantee and probably means we won't be seeing them again. Went to Blackburn yesterday for the first Villa away day of the season. For anyone who has been to Rovers as an away fan they will be aware there are only really two pubs for away fans and as there were 4,000 away fans we were unable to get in to either of these. Ended up at Aldi and invested in some cans of there own label Dark Fruits. Have to say that I couldn't tell the difference between it and the branded equivalent and at £2.79 for a 4 pack was extremely kind on the pocket. On the pitch we were pretty dire, despite not being awarded a definite penalty, Abraham missing a couple of really decent chances and Hourihane scoring a wonder free kick. It is so frustrating to watch a team that on paper should be terrifying other teams with a collection of front players that wouldn't look out of place in the Premier League. Abraham, Kodja, Hogan, Bolasie, El Ghazi, McGinn, Grealish, Lansbury, Hourihane, Bjarnason, Adomah. Despite all this talent Bruce is determined to set us up not to lose. With all that talent we end up playing Elmohamady and Jedinak in midfield and play just one up top. Really can't see us going up under Bruce and need someone in who will give the undoubted talent we have the freedom to express themselves and scare the living daylights of this Championship. Next possible game I will get to is Millwall away in three weeks, dependant on ticket sales. Had a pretty good weekend so far, Friday night out for a few pints of Guiness and Ossett Blonde, Saturday in Blackburn and this morning a good 5 mile walk with Willow followed by a roast beef dinner. Would be nice to round the weekend off by taking the Mega Mini down. Wish me luck.
Its been a month and during that time I have been dabbling on the MTT tables at Stars and Party with a little success and a greater failing. Going to return (again) to the cash tables at Sky (due in no small part to DOHHHH's tales on his thread) and hope to start achieving a steady profit rather than continue to look for that one big cash. Plan is to play at 20nl. A new, and hopefully more successful, era is beginning at Villa Park under the Smith and Terry leadership. I think that for once we may have the right people in place and if nothing else we should now play a more attractive brand of football. Really looking forward to the line up in his first game in front of a sold out Villa Park. Bet a certain Mr Hogan is rubbing his hands and hopefully we will see a more balanced and settled side. After the success of our first cruise this summer we have already booked another for next summer aboard the Marella Explorer taking in some of the major ports on the Baltic with the highlight being 2 days and nights in St Petersburg. Until I researched this cruise I never realised just how hard and expensive it still is to get into Russia. The process for getting a visa involves a fair amount of paperwork and the associated cost rises to at least a couple of £100 each when taking into account travelling to embassies etc. Thankfully if you go on organised trips with your cruise company you are covered by a group visa and do not have to go through all that stress. Although me and the wife prefer doing our own thing rather than going on the organised trips we have decided to make an exception in this instance. Our daughter has now been at University in Newcastle for nearly a month and although I miss her massively she has settled in really well and at the end of the day that is the most important thing. She certainly seems to be enjoying all Newcastle has to offer and is part of a group of about 20 friends who all live in the same halls of residence. Work is work and although I am enjoying my new role and store the world of retail continues to get harder and harder. It appears these days that costs are more important than standards and as an old school retailer this is a hard pill to swallow. Whether this will change when the Sainsbury/Asda merger happens we will have to wait and see. It does have a feel at the moment of Walmart screwing every last penny they can out of Asda before relinquishing the reins. I am half hoping that when it happens, mid 2019, there may be a chance of redundancy as they have to sell off some shops. It could be a viable option depending on terms etc. Anyway I will be on the 20nl tables soon so say hello if you see me.
Comments
Fingers crossed the job promotion you are after arrives eventually. There will always be opportunities for the right people who work hard & do their job well, so you'll be fine.
Good luck tonight. Villa remain, in my mind, a traditional "big" club, & even in the Sky Bet Championship, crowds usually exceeded 30,000, sometimes 40,000 or more. They truly "belong" in the Premier League, though I'd argue so do Birmingham City.
If tonight's game is one tenth as entertaining as the 2nd leg between Fulham & Derby last night, it'll be a cracker. I do find it hard to like or admire Mr Terry, but that's balanced by young Jack Grealish, who really looks to be top drawer despite being just 22 years old. He'll end up at Barca or Real in the fullness of time.
"Is there a better sight in English football?"
Well err, yes.
Which, in turn, will soon be this;
What a tense 90 mins that was. Although we always looked in control it was squeaky bum time for the entire game. Everytime Traore got the ball I was petrified he was going to shove the abuse back down our throats, but as he did so many times for Villa he just never delivered. Thought the fight we showed over the two legs was immense and we thoroughly deserve to be the team off to Wembley. Hats off to The Jedi last night who was a man mountain in the centre of the park and also to Snodgrass (love his 100% die for the cause attitude) and Hourianne (one of his best all round games for Villa). Special mentions to Hutton, had Traore in his pocket for 2 games, Bree, who grew into the game despite a nervous first 15mins and especially to Steve Bruce. To have both your parents pass away in the last couple of months and still be able to motivate and tactically get it so right, says a huge amount about the bloke and his thorough professionalism through it all. Was a little disappointed with the pitch invasion at the end as it meant the players never got the chance to thank the fans but 'hey-ho'. Was funny to hear The Holte End singing 'where were you when we were ****' to the thousand odd who did go on. Should be getting my tickets for The Final today and then it's all about looking forward to a cracking day in the capital.
On a side note I am contemplating investing a small amount into some cryptocurrency. 'You've missed the boat' I hear you shout, and in some ways I have. It came back to me the other day about a conversation held on the way back from a stag do in Barcelona about a year ago. Amongst the group was a lad called 'Goldie', a nice enough lad but not everyone's cup of tea. He was very much a slave to the dollar, a clever bloke and had spent a lot of time travelling around the world to some of the not so touristy destinations. At the time he was trying to convince us all that cryptocurrencies were the future and an easy way to make money. He kept banging on about this thing called 'Ethereum' and even got a couple of lads to invest in the thing for a few hundred quid each. At the time it was trading at about $40, today it is now trading at $692 and did hit a peak of about $1,400. I haven't seen Goldie since and have no idea if he is now a multi-millionaire or not. Since then I have been a distant observer and I am now thinking of investing a small amount on three of the relatively smaller currencies with the hope they are the next Bitcoin. I would be amazed if some people on here haven't taken the plunge and was wondering what their views would be on how easy it is to do, what trading platforms they have used and how they found them and any other useful advice they may have.
What a night on the tables tonight. It was one of those nights when every decision you make seems the right one, when every flip goes your way, when every card you want to see on the board appears, a night you get once in a blue moon and a night you never want to end.
It resulted in a win in a £11, £400BH for £149, a win in the 7 at 7 for £148, a 2nd in a
£11, £750BH for £103 along with a 17th in the £1k Reload for £21. It was made even more enjoyable by having the JJBink's twitch stream on in the background. As I have said before this is an absolute must watch for any SkyPoker MTT players with the banter in the chat hilarious.
Balance £510.03
MTT's Played = 233
Total Profit = £7801.89
Total ROI = 248.34%
ITM = 18.5%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600
Total Profit = -£778.69
BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214
Total Profit = £34.20
Total ROI = 1.49%
Rewards Received = £143.09
Total Profit = £7,200.49
Amazing string of results (would be great to get those scores in a week let alone a night)
Congratulations, well played and you're largely responsible for most of the laughs in JJ's chat too btw, good stuff
You could buy one helluva nice chair with that little lot
Been a frustrating couple of days on the tables with variance paying me back following the other night. I seem to be getting it in good only for the cards to run against me and eliminate me. The one bright spot is that I have satted into the £30k Super Sunday and will also have the pleasure of watching JJBink's final stream. Would be nice to be on the same table as him for some of it, although that would probably be a -ve ROI position to be in.
Wembley tickets arrived this morning and I am really looking forward to the day. I have made the decision to drive down as it is the cheapest option by far and the most convenient in terms of how the day pans out and what time we will get home. The Mrs is flying to Palma on Saturday morning, from Leeds/Bradford, for a week in the sun with her friend. I have agreed to drop them off at 7am, meaning I should be home by 8am. Our lad is stopping over Friday night so we should be ready to go for 8.30ish. Quick stop in Scissett at Mustangs cafe for a good old English breakfast and then its down the M1 to Stanmore. Hope to arrive there about 12pm and then its a quick tube into Wembley Park for a look round before heading to The Green Man for a couple of pre-match beers to settle the nerves. Looks like the weather will be El Scorchio so it will definitely be shorts and Villa shirt attire for the day. Just hope we play to our full potential and get back to where we belong.
Off to the tables now, where I will be playing a fair few, starting with The Hitman Semi.
Balance £314.27
MTT's Played = 254
Total Profit = £7723.05
Total ROI = 228.69%
ITM = 17.3%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600
Total Profit = -£778.69
BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214
Total Profit = £34.20
Total ROI = 1.49%
Rewards Received = £145.39
Total Profit = £7,200.49
Oh Dear, Oh Dear, Oh Dear!
What a day of mixed emotions yesterday was. It started full of hope and ended in sheer disappointment. The day started with a Full English and then the drive down to Stanmore. The nearer we got the more and more cars with Claret & Blue flags, scarves and shirts we saw. The nearer we got the bigger the anticipation grew and the thought we could do this grew. Landed at Stanmore tube at 12ish and took the 4 stop trip to Wembley Park where we had a quick walk up to the ground and then headed off to The Green Man. We thought we were there in relatively good time but as we rounded the corner to start up the hill to The Green Man we were met with a group of a couple of thousand Villa who had taken over the small green in the centre of a roundabout. We reached The Green Man to be met with a queue of approx 100, a steel fence and a team of security guards who didn't seem to be enjoying the weather as much as the rest of us. The noise that was coming from inside the beer garden sounded very appealing but after a 15min wait, during which a few people left but no-one entered we decided this was not the way to enjoy our afternoon. We decided to return to the hordes, singing their hearts out, kicking footballs, letting off flares, drinking their cans and being a general focus of interest to the locals trying to go about their daily routines. We had spotted a Tesco local across from the green and went to buy our 4 packs. It became apparent a 100 or so other people had the same idea and a new plan involving a small mini mart across the road was hatched. After 10 mins and £20 later we had our 4 cans each in our little black carrier bags and proceeded to the green. On a side-note I would love to know how much profit the entrepreneur who owned the shop cleared on the day. £10 for 4 warm cans even seemed a bargain somehow. We are a funny breed when it comes to football and beer. We spent the next couple of hours watching the world go by, joining in the odd song and laughing as people became more and more boisterous and daring as the mix of sun and alcohol began to take effect. At 4ish we made our way to the ground and took our seats in the top tier behind the goal. By this point I was convinced that with this support behind them and our experience we were already back in The Big Time. Then as Villa have done most of the season and despite all that experience we decide not to turn up in the first half. Second half we improved but again, apart from Grealish, who just gets better and better, we never had the guile or cutting edge to break Fulham down. Yes they should of been a man down in the first half, maybe it was a penalty, we played OK second half but at end of the day Fulham were better. So, as all football supporters do, we move on and look forward to next season. There will be a lot of questions to answer in the next couple of months. Will Bruce be trusted to get it right next year? Terry, Snodgrass, Grabban, Omonah and Johnstone will be gone. Can we hold on to Grealish and Chester? Will Hutton sign a new, less rewarding contract? Will the kids be given a chance? On the plus side we will have Kodija fit for the full season, Hogan must come good at some point, Tzunabe is on a 2 year loan from Man Utd, the U23's have had a cracking season.
On the tables I had a pretty decent day on Thursday, satelliting into the Hitman for £7.20 and then managing 8th for a £160 profit. Today it is all about Super Sunday and having already qualified for the £30k I will also play the Mini and try to satellite into the £10k Bounty Hunter.
Balance £452.67
MTT's Played = 264
Total Profit = £7861.45
Total ROI = 226.01%
ITM = 17.9%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600
Total Profit = -£778.69
BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214
Total Profit = £34.20
Total ROI = 1.49%
Rewards Received = £145.39
Total Profit = £7,262.35
Mission accomplished at first time of asking.
Satellited into £10k Bounty Hunter for £7.20.
Tonight will consist of just 3 tournies - £10k BH, £30k Main and £5k Mini.
Off out for a walk with Willow and a couple of pints in The Grove and will see you all later for a huge increase to bankroll hopefully.
Not played any poker since 29th May and not even turned laptop on. This has been due to the time constraints of having the annual stocktake at work. As anyone with a retail background will tell you this consists of counting endless amounts of stock and working endless amounts of hours. As this is now complete I will be returning to the tables tonight. During the last 2 days I have played since my last uodate I have managed a couple of creditable finishes with an 8/205 in a £1k BH and a 7/137 in another £1k BH.
My aims for May were the following.
1. Only play MTT's with a buy in of £11 or less.
2. The only satellite I can enter is the £7.20 Semi / LR Semi to the Main.
3. I must not enter any All-In Sats.
4. Double my Bankroll to £400.
This is how I fared.
1. Fail - Played a couple of £33 Mains and a £22 BH.
2. Fail - Tried to satellite into a fair few tournies.
3. Fail - Entered about 5.
4. Achieved - Bankroll now above £500.
Aims for June are as follows.
1. Stick to a £11 max buy in rule.
2. Don't enter any All-In Sats.
3. Double my bankroll to £1000. (Would give me opportunity to buy straight into £22 MTT's).
4. Stick to SkyPoker. (Temptation to play on STARS has been strong recently).
Balance £500.64
MTT's Played = 278
Total Profit = £7797.12
Total ROI = 208.20%
ITM = 18.0%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600
Total Profit = -£778.69
BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214
Total Profit = £34.20
Total ROI = 1.49%
Rewards Received = £145.39
Total Profit = £7,198.02
Not a bad start to June with a £340 profit on the day. I seem to be really getting to grips with the satellites on SkyPoker and now need to start turning my Main Event qualifications into some sort of profitable return. The Quickdraw MTT really seems to suit my style and since the beginning of 2017 I have played it seven times with the following results - 1st, 1st, 2nd, 6th, 11th, 13th, 29th. You are probably thinking why don't you play it more often. Two reasons - BRM and Start Time.
The circus that is Aston Villa continues to frustrate and god only knows what next season holds. Dr Xia has re-iterated his desire to get Villa to be the powerhouse of Europe he hopes for but I think this is a very, very long way off. With the season only 8 weeks off now is the time to put a stake in the grass and confirm what the **** is going on and what the plans are to move forward. Hopefully some sort of news will be forthcoming over the next few days.
I will be again on the tables tonight following an afternoon of lawn mowing, dog walking and couple of beers drinking.
Balance £843.18
MTT's Played = 285
Total Profit = £8139.66
Total ROI = 209.98%
ITM = 18.6%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600
Total Profit = -£778.69
BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214
Total Profit = £34.20
Total ROI = 1.49%
Rewards Received = £145.39
Total Profit = £7,540.56
It's been a while, well a month to be precise.
Haven't played on SkyPoker at all since 5th June and have only had the odd foray on Stars but due to the weather not been playing much. When we last spoke the Bankroll sat at over £800 but due to one thing and another, kids, investing in Crypto, kids, dogs and kids I have had to withdraw it all. The decision to invest in Crypto Currency was taken as I kept looking at it and never took the plunge. As I had a decent bankroll at the time I thought why not. The decision was also made as I don't want to be sat here in a year or twos time thinking 'if only'.
Over the last month I have also spent a lot of time thinking what to do with my poker playing. Although I enjoy MTT's I just don't have the time to invest in them. I have always had a real desire to get good at cash and have spent a lot of the last month looking at cash strategy. As a result I have decided to deposit £50 bankroll and start at the very bottom of the cash ladder on the 2p/4p tables and try to spin it up whilst practising what I've learnt. I will use the following BRM to hopefully move up the stakes. Get to 25 Buy-Ins at the stake above and move up, moving back down when I fall below 20 Buy-Ins. So first target is to get to £250.
On the football front I have really enjoyed this World Cup and it has been nice to get away from the depressing story that Aston Villa have become. God only knows what next season holds but I don't expect it to be anything great. The one bad thing about this World Cup is that due to being a slave to retail I am working this afternoon and will also be working if England get to the Semi Finals. On the plus side at least it will be a quite Saturday afternoon and evening.
Willow continues to steal my heart and she was six months yesterday and is an absolute pleasure to spend time with. I maybe biased but she really is a cutey, as you can see below.
And a real character, as you can see when she decided to jump in the canal.
Finally for all those who keep moaning 'it's too hot'. Please shut up.
Balance £50
MTT's Played = 300
Total Profit = £8149.27
Total ROI = 201.76%
ITM = 19.0%
Cash Hands Played = 25,600
Total Profit = -£778.69
BB/100 = -30.42%
DYM's Played = 214
Total Profit = £34.20
Total ROI = 1.49%
Rewards Received = £145.39
Total Profit = £7,550.17
So its a week into the adventures on the 2p/4p tables and it has been going OK. I have made a tiny profit. One scenario keeps appearing that I did not encounter on the 5p/10p tables.
There seems to be a never-ending amount of limping going on. If I have position I have been tending to raise these with any 2 decent cards and then continued to show strength on decent looking flops. The problem comes when you have 2 mehhh cards, there are 4 limpers in front of you, you've got position and the amount in the pot means you just have to call. I hate limping but is this the correct decision in these circumstances. Then there is the scenario when you are in the SB and again there are 3/4 limpers and its only 2p to get into a 20p pot. How can you not call?
The World Cup is now over and I have to say, as many others already have, what a wonderfully well run and enjoyable one it has been. It is the first major tournament I can remember where there has been no crowd trouble at all and for all Mr Putin's faults you have to take your hat off to him for that. England did us proud and you just wonder how good we could be if our players got a club game very week and if we had one Modric, Hazard or a modern day Gazza. Step forward Mr Jack Grealish! What made it even more enjoyable was the fact we could forget we supported The Villa for a few weeks and the fact I came 2nd in our Fantasy Football League for a return of £30.
Summer continues and my 18 year old daughter returned safe and sound from her week to Magaluf with 11 of her friends. Not only that but as she was delayed for 6hrs coming home she is getting £400 back from Jet2. Not bad work if you can get it. This means that me and Our Lass are now on countdown to our 2 week cruise around Croatia, Montenegro, Venice, Malta etc,etc. Less than 4 weeks, or only 17 shifts as I like to look at it.
Had another interview for a Deputy role on Friday. This time there was no advertising of the job and 3 of us were asked to go and see the Store Manager. Thought it went really well and I know I have more experience than the other 2 candidates so just hoping that politics don't come in to it and that finally I may get that promotion. Should find out this week.
Bankroll = £55.30
Hands Played = 3,735
Total Profit = £5.30
BB/100 = 3.55
Profit/Hr = £0.43
Quick update.
Got the Deputy Manager promotion at work.
Villa are now owned by the 3rd wealthiest owners in English football.
I have 11 shifts until my holidays and have the joy of having no worries whilst away as I will have left one role and not started another.
I think I'm getting to grips with 2p/4p.
The sun continues to shine.
Bankroll £67.01
Date Day Buy-In Tables Duration Hands Total Duration Total Hands Profit Total Profit BB/100 Profit/Hr
08/07/2018 Sunday 2p/4p 4 2.00 600 2.00 600 £6.09 £6.09 25.38 £3.05
09/07/2018 Monday 2p/4p 4 2.75 825 4.75 1425 -£15.48 -£9.39 -16.47 -£1.98
10/07/2018 Tuesday 2p/4p 4 1.10 330 5.85 1755 £2.33 -£7.06 -10.06 -£1.21
11/07/2018 Wednesday 2p/4p 4 1.10 330 6.95 2085 £5.01 -£2.05 -2.46 -£0.29
13/07/2018 Friday 2p/4p 4 3.00 900 9.95 2985 -£4.48 -£6.53 -5.47 -£0.66
14/07/2018 Saturday 2p/4p 4 2.50 750 12.45 3735 £11.83 £5.30 3.55 £0.43
15/07/2018 Sunday 2p/4p 4 2.00 600 14.45 4335 -£19.03 -£13.73 -7.92 -£0.95
20/07/2018 Friday 2p/4p 4 1.50 450 15.95 4785 £15.19 £1.46 0.76 £0.09
20/07/2018 Friday 2p/4p 4 0.85 255 16.80 5040 £13.89 £15.35 7.61 £0.91
20/07/2018 Friday 2p/4p 4 1.25 375 18.05 5415 £1.66 £17.01 7.85 £0.94
LIFE IS GREAT!
It's been a while and a lot has happened in the last 6 weeks.
Had a wonderful holiday, possibly the best ever, when me and our lass spent 2 weeks aboard the Marella Celebration cruise ship. Being our first cruise we were both a little apprehensive but I have to say the service, the food, the entertainment and the whole package was worth every penny and I would thoroughly recommend cruising to anyone thinking of doing it. Got to visit some really memorable places - Hvar, Kotor, Venice, Valletta, Dubrovnik, Kefalonia, Koper, Sibenik Ancona, Messina and Igoumenista. Some places were more memorable than others but all had something to offer. Valleta's War Museum was amongst the highlights as was wondering around Dubrovnik Old Town and the obvious Venice. Have to say that Hvar and Kotor were also wonderful and charming places to sit and watch the world go around. Enjoyed it that much that we are looking at the possibility of doing another cruise with Marella, on a newer ship, to take in Scandanavia and St Petersburg next August.
Now completed my first week in my new role of Deputy and have to say there is a lot to do and I feel like I have really got my mojo back when it comes to work. I've always loved a new challenge. The good thing is that my journey to work has been cut from 45mins to 20mins and now involves driving across country rather than trawling up the M1 and M621. With this in mind I am toying with trading the BMW 320d in for a 4x4 as I don't fancy doing the journey in winter in what can only be described as a death trap as soon as ice / snow rears it's ugly head. Looking to test drive a 2011 plate Jeep Compass tomorrow.
Villa continue to frustrate and how we have got in the position where we have no Centre Backs beggars belief. It comes to something when we are clinging to the hope John Terry may come back. I'm not a big fan of constantly changing managers but even I feel Bruce's time may be up. First game of the season will be Blackburn away on 15th September.
Willow, our beloved cockerpoo, has had her lady bits removed and tomorrow we visit the vet for her final check up and then we can return to long walks and long pints.
On the poker front I have been dabbling a lot on Stars, with some success and a small profit. Now that Willow is getting back up and running I have returned to cash and being playing 5p/10p on Sky. The last few days have gone well, bit of run good and been playing a bit better and I have got the BR up to £125. I know this is short for 5p/10p but I found I struggle to really focus when I go any lower. Aim, as ever, is to keep building the BR so I can move up the levels. One thing I have done is started working out my hourly return and this has certainly helped me focus.
That's a great update, with some cracking photos.
Villa? Not looking great, is it? Shame really, I'm a bit old-fashioned (a bit?), but I yearn for the big clubs of yesteryear - Villa, Leeds United, Sunderland & so on, all of whom can get huge crowds every week - to return to the big time.
Tickets arrived today for the Blackburn game and I am looking forward to a day out with my lad, a few beers and a curry after. Just hope it doesn't turn into one of those days when every one turns on the team and starts calling for the manager's head but I have a horrible feeling it will.
On the car front I never followed up on the Jeep Compass, although I did take a peek at it and thought it looked nice but some of the reviews really put me off. I am just going to keep checking Autotrader until something comes up, possibly a Honda CRV or VW Tiguain.
Took Willow out for a 5 mile walk today and I am pleased to say she is fully recovered and back to her normal bouncy self. Love this time of the year when it is not to cold but there is a freshness to the air and the landscape is constantly evolving as we head towards the Autumn. Have today invested in some waterproofs though for when the rains do come.
Definitely gonna put a few hours in tonight and hopefully continue with the current form, its not a bad life when your hobby is making you £7.37 an hour. Long may it continue. Losing streak probably about to commence now.
Only managed a couple of sessions this week,and as predicted above, the next one was the biggest losing one in a while, losing £50. Thankfully the other one ended with a £25 profit. Hopefully this is a sign of progress as in recent times one big losing session would be followed by another and then the decline of the bankroll would commence. Going to play a small cash session now, before cooking and consuming tea, a good old beef roast followed by cherry pie and custard, and then another one later when I am considering regging for the Mega Mini alongside my 3 cash tables. Surprised these haven't got anywhere near the guarantee and probably means we won't be seeing them again.
Went to Blackburn yesterday for the first Villa away day of the season. For anyone who has been to Rovers as an away fan they will be aware there are only really two pubs for away fans and as there were 4,000 away fans we were unable to get in to either of these. Ended up at Aldi and invested in some cans of there own label Dark Fruits. Have to say that I couldn't tell the difference between it and the branded equivalent and at £2.79 for a 4 pack was extremely kind on the pocket. On the pitch we were pretty dire, despite not being awarded a definite penalty, Abraham missing a couple of really decent chances and Hourihane scoring a wonder free kick. It is so frustrating to watch a team that on paper should be terrifying other teams with a collection of front players that wouldn't look out of place in the Premier League. Abraham, Kodja, Hogan, Bolasie, El Ghazi, McGinn, Grealish, Lansbury, Hourihane, Bjarnason, Adomah. Despite all this talent Bruce is determined to set us up not to lose. With all that talent we end up playing Elmohamady and Jedinak in midfield and play just one up top. Really can't see us going up under Bruce and need someone in who will give the undoubted talent we have the freedom to express themselves and scare the living daylights of this Championship. Next possible game I will get to is Millwall away in three weeks, dependant on ticket sales.
Had a pretty good weekend so far, Friday night out for a few pints of Guiness and Ossett Blonde, Saturday in Blackburn and this morning a good 5 mile walk with Willow followed by a roast beef dinner. Would be nice to round the weekend off by taking the Mega Mini down. Wish me luck.
A new, and hopefully more successful, era is beginning at Villa Park under the Smith and Terry leadership. I think that for once we may have the right people in place and if nothing else we should now play a more attractive brand of football. Really looking forward to the line up in his first game in front of a sold out Villa Park. Bet a certain Mr Hogan is rubbing his hands and hopefully we will see a more balanced and settled side.
After the success of our first cruise this summer we have already booked another for next summer aboard the Marella Explorer taking in some of the major ports on the Baltic with the highlight being 2 days and nights in St Petersburg. Until I researched this cruise I never realised just how hard and expensive it still is to get into Russia. The process for getting a visa involves a fair amount of paperwork and the associated cost rises to at least a couple of £100 each when taking into account travelling to embassies etc. Thankfully if you go on organised trips with your cruise company you are covered by a group visa and do not have to go through all that stress. Although me and the wife prefer doing our own thing rather than going on the organised trips we have decided to make an exception in this instance.
Our daughter has now been at University in Newcastle for nearly a month and although I miss her massively she has settled in really well and at the end of the day that is the most important thing. She certainly seems to be enjoying all Newcastle has to offer and is part of a group of about 20 friends who all live in the same halls of residence.
Work is work and although I am enjoying my new role and store the world of retail continues to get harder and harder. It appears these days that costs are more important than standards and as an old school retailer this is a hard pill to swallow. Whether this will change when the Sainsbury/Asda merger happens we will have to wait and see. It does have a feel at the moment of Walmart screwing every last penny they can out of Asda before relinquishing the reins. I am half hoping that when it happens, mid 2019, there may be a chance of redundancy as they have to sell off some shops. It could be a viable option depending on terms etc.
Anyway I will be on the 20nl tables soon so say hello if you see me.
How do you manage to work out how many cash game hands you play on Sky. For the life of me I can't find a non painstaking way of doing it?
Great diary/blog when its going btw