Nothing much to report really over the last couple of nights, managed a couple of 3rd places in the 2 am and 1 am freezys respectively which pretty much covers all the other lost buy ins and means that heading into the weekend Im almost dead even so far for the week.
Not played as many deepys as usual and have managed to swerve most of the cheap hunters (they are like whisky to me, i know theyre no good for me and yet despite knowing Im gonna feel like hammered poo about it later, Ive just got try another).
looking forward to playing the Ryder Cup over the weekend. Hope to God Im not the player who totally spanners it for the Norf.
If it's not an impertinent question (ignore it if it is), what line of work are you in Mark?
I notice your poker pattern involves sort of late-evening - early morning, so it was that which made me wonder.
And 1 more Q.....
You are clearly heavily involved with the Church. As a kid, I was forced to attend Church, but it ended badly after a bit of an incident, & I've never been since. What is it about Church/religion that drives you to give it so much of your time?
I work as a takeaway delivery driver Thur Fri Sat evenings now although for many many years I was a Professional Door Supervisor and also ran my own security company. So yes late nights and early mornings are a way of life.
To answer your second question honestly isnt easy but bear with me and i will try.
By 2010 I had almost retired from the door scene, having spent almost 25 years in a world of violence drugs and anarchy I had managed to avoid a seriously heavy beating and prison but the odds were against this continuing.
By 2011 I was what the doctors call a functioning alcoholic drinking several hundred units a day (typically 3/4 bottles of wine, 12 cans of Stella and a litre of Jack) I was fortunate that I sought help and with the support of my wife and children successfully completed detox and rehab.
By 2013 however, with the crutch of alcohol removed I was unable to handle the guilt of much that I had done whilst involved in the violence I was struggling to leave behind and became extremely morose and depressed.
Struggling with this and slipping back into addiction I decided to take my life and why not on my 50th birthday? It seemed appropriate.
Two days before this my son perseuded me to attend a comedy evening with the promise of a free bar. I went and it transpired that it was hosted at a local New Frontiers Church and yes there was a free bar and it was a place full of mainly younger happy people and somehow I found myself engaging with a couple of the older ones.
To this day I dont know why I was telling them about my life and my need to put things right before I died. I knew I was going to **** but just needed God to know that I was genuinely saddened by and sorry for whay I'd done . In the world i came from you never let anybody know anything about yourself because that left you vulnerable and exposed.
Long story short, yes I know. I came out having decided to ask for Gods forgiveness, renounced my past and accepted Jesus as my Saviour.
I am what you call Born Again, a new creation. I no longer struggle with mental illness and addiction and yes i enjoy a drink and now have a real desire to see lives changed and people saved and this is what drives me.
I consider myself a man of faith I dont consider myself religious. Religion is usually the problem not the answer.
I hope Ive answered your question honestly and with integrity.
Can I just add if any of this resonates with anybody feel free to p.m. me Im always there for you.
As it happens, I'm very interested in the seedier sides of life, & have met, & know, many people who, you know, have crossed the line. I could name at least 3 or 4 poker players I know well & have shared tables with who were subsequently found guilty of murder, including one who cut his wife's head off & deposited both parts of her body in the Nevada desert, & another who chopped up his victim & stuffed it all in a suitcase & hid it under his bed. Both are currently still in prison as far as I know.
I also knew very well several poker players who, in the language used for these things, "worked the Doors", a euphemism for great big bruisers who, more often than not, did more than just did the Doors at Nightclubs & the like. (Bernard O'Mahoney & the like). Not suggesting you did more than "security" of course). The book by the late Lenny McLean "The Guv'nor" is a great read by the way, telling of his time "working the Doors". Your description of "violence, drugs & anarchy" sums up "working Doors" perfectly).
I had to chuckle at that Meet you went to which offered a "free bar". That's exactly what you did not need at the time, lol.
Incredible tale, & thanks for replying in so much detail.
Much respect.
I have a weird liking & respect for those who have gone down the wrong road but got their lives back on track, & this applies particularly to rock stars who should be dead due to drug abuse but somehow sorted themselves out. (Steven Tyler, Anthony Keidis, Joe Walsh, Duff McCagan & many many more). There but for the grace of God & all that.
Wow what a post. Respect to you for that Mark, glad you got your life turned round. like @Tikay10 I like hearing stories of the Lenny McLean/Roy Shaw type. where did you work the doors if you don't mind me asking
Wow what a post. Respect to you for that Mark, glad you got your life turned round. like @Tikay10 I like hearing stories of the Lenny McLean/Roy Shaw type. where did you work the doors if you don't mind me asking
I worked mostly in Stoke on Trent (Hanley and Longton) but also Newcastle Under Lyme, Stafford, Uttoxeter, Nottingham and Derby. I also worked in Wrexham, Liverpool and Newport (South Wales) but the latter three were as part of a special "out of town" team brought in specifically to turn a venue around.
Great post edge. A military background? Just sounds so familiar ...
I was all set to join the Staffords on leaving school. However, a friend of mine was killed over the water about 3 months before I left. I saw the devastation it caused his family and Im ashamed to say I bottled it and didnt join up.
What a fascinating read Mark. Almost like living 2 lives. That is an incredible amount of alcohol to get through everyday, most people would be dead after drinking that or at least be getting a stomach pump!
Good luck with the poker. I thought the church was against gambling?
What a fascinating read Mark. Almost like living 2 lives. That is an incredible amount of alcohol to get through everyday, most people would be dead after drinking that or at least be getting a stomach pump!
Good luck with the poker. I thought the church was against gambling?
That is the danger of reaching the stage of being a functioning addict. Its something to do with the physiology of the body and not everybody is able to become one. Basically I was in a permanent state of being drunk but the brain has got used to the effects so I wasnt slurring, staggering around or giving any outward signs of intoxication.
However, the body requires an almost continual drip feeding of alcohol to prevent uncontrollable D.Ts sweats and visual and auditory hallucinations. In fact the body is now so reliant on alcohol that to suddenly stop would almost certainly be fatal.
Many Churches frown upon gambling as they believe that it leads to addiction and exploits the vulnerable in society and whos to say thats not a valid point. They then immediately organise a tombola or a raffle to raise funds for x y and z. They are also happy to receive lottery funding.
Many people labour under the impression that Christians are squeaky clean, holier than thou and superior. Well if you come across people like that I would suggest that they are not genuine.
Christians are simply people who realise that they are flawed due to sin of thought, word or deed and have decided that Christ is the answer.
We smoke, drink, follow sports, play poker, swear (we just dont blaspheme), have sex with our spouses, argue, moan about work, give the boss the finger when he isnt looking, get angry, sad, upset etc in fact we do everything that every other person does, we still get things wrong and make bad decisions and sin sometimes.
Comments
Not played as many deepys as usual and have managed to swerve most of the cheap hunters (they are like whisky to me, i know theyre no good for me and yet despite knowing Im gonna feel like hammered poo about it later, Ive just got try another).
looking forward to playing the Ryder Cup over the weekend. Hope to God Im not the player who totally spanners it for the Norf.
Until next time Have fun and rungood
Mark
If it's not an impertinent question (ignore it if it is), what line of work are you in Mark?
I notice your poker pattern involves sort of late-evening - early morning, so it was that which made me wonder.
And 1 more Q.....
You are clearly heavily involved with the Church. As a kid, I was forced to attend Church, but it ended badly after a bit of an incident, & I've never been since. What is it about Church/religion that drives you to give it so much of your time?
It's a genuine question.
To answer your second question honestly isnt easy but bear with me and i will try.
By 2010 I had almost retired from the door scene, having spent almost 25 years in a world of violence drugs and anarchy I had managed to avoid a seriously heavy beating and prison but the odds were against this continuing.
By 2011 I was what the doctors call a functioning alcoholic drinking several hundred units a day (typically 3/4 bottles of wine, 12 cans of Stella and a litre of Jack)
I was fortunate that I sought help and with the support of my wife and children successfully completed detox and rehab.
By 2013 however, with the crutch of alcohol removed I was unable to handle the guilt of much that I had done whilst involved in the violence I was struggling to leave behind and became extremely morose and depressed.
Struggling with this and slipping back into addiction I decided to take my life and why not on my 50th birthday? It seemed appropriate.
Two days before this my son perseuded me to attend a comedy evening with the promise of a free bar. I went and it transpired that it was hosted at a local New Frontiers Church and yes there was a free bar and it was a place full of mainly younger happy people and somehow I found myself engaging with a couple of the older ones.
To this day I dont know why I was telling them about my life and my need to put things right before I died. I knew I was going to **** but just needed God to know that I was genuinely saddened by and sorry for whay I'd done . In the world i came from you never let anybody know anything about yourself because that left you vulnerable and exposed.
Long story short, yes I know. I came out having decided to ask for Gods forgiveness, renounced my past and accepted Jesus as my Saviour.
I am what you call Born Again, a new creation. I no longer struggle with mental illness and addiction and yes i enjoy a drink and now have a real desire to see lives changed and people saved and this is what drives me.
I consider myself a man of faith I dont consider myself religious. Religion is usually the problem not the answer.
I hope Ive answered your question honestly and with integrity.
Can I just add if any of this resonates with anybody feel free to p.m. me Im always there for you.
Mark
Blimey.
That might just be the Post of the Year. Thank you.
WHAT a story, & it begs so many follow-up questions, though maybe I've probed enough for one day.
I also have faith....faith in beating them Southerners.
I also knew very well several poker players who, in the language used for these things, "worked the Doors", a euphemism for great big bruisers who, more often than not, did more than just did the Doors at Nightclubs & the like. (Bernard O'Mahoney & the like). Not suggesting you did more than "security" of course). The book by the late Lenny McLean "The Guv'nor" is a great read by the way, telling of his time "working the Doors". Your description of "violence, drugs & anarchy" sums up "working Doors" perfectly).
I had to chuckle at that Meet you went to which offered a "free bar". That's exactly what you did not need at the time, lol.
Incredible tale, & thanks for replying in so much detail.
Much respect.
I have a weird liking & respect for those who have gone down the wrong road but got their lives back on track, & this applies particularly to rock stars who should be dead due to drug abuse but somehow sorted themselves out. (Steven Tyler, Anthony Keidis, Joe Walsh, Duff McCagan & many many more). There but for the grace of God & all that.
Thank you for posting the above, huge respect for the brutal honesty, wish I could say more.
all my era
great post above Mark have a great future
We have probably met in a drunken haze
Did not play well and ran even worse but at the moment its like not really important. I'm having fun and enjoying the banter at the tables.
Hope wherever you played you smashed it.
Til next time have fun and rungood
Mark
Good luck with the poker. I thought the church was against gambling?
BTW, Skybet are offering odds of 15/8 on you having had to chuck a young @stokefc out of Shelleys for being a drunken mess. I'm lumping on.
Have a good weekend and gl at the tables.
However, the body requires an almost continual drip feeding of alcohol to prevent uncontrollable D.Ts sweats and visual and auditory hallucinations. In fact the body is now so reliant on alcohol that to suddenly stop would almost certainly be fatal.
Many Churches frown upon gambling as they believe that it leads to addiction and exploits the vulnerable in society and whos to say thats not a valid point. They then immediately organise a tombola or a raffle to raise funds for x y and z. They are also happy to receive lottery funding.
Many people labour under the impression that Christians are squeaky clean, holier than thou and superior. Well if you come across people like that I would suggest that they are not genuine.
Christians are simply people who realise that they are flawed due to sin of thought, word or deed and have decided that Christ is the answer.
We smoke, drink, follow sports, play poker, swear (we just dont blaspheme), have sex with our spouses, argue, moan about work, give the boss the finger when he isnt looking, get angry, sad, upset etc in fact we do everything that every other person does, we still get things wrong and make bad decisions and sin sometimes.
Hope Ive answered your question honestly Gregster
Mark