Dusk Till Dawn Poker

Archive for March 2009

Wedding of the year part 2

If you have not already read it, read Part 1 here.

Wedding of the year part 2

Kev decided he did not want to choose which of his friends who would be best man. Instead, we would play one hand of poker and the winner would take responsibility. It was irrelevant really as in any situation like this, Julian was bound to win. Simon Nowab was not present so Kev played for him. To add spice to the situation, Padraig had come up with the idea that whoever came last would be the flower girl. Everyone had agreed to this in my absence, knowing full well I was all but nailed on to get this honour.

 

 

 

Arguments erupt as its announced a rematch

Arguments erupt as its announced a rematch

I insisted on a new rule, should anyone tie for either first of last place everyone was back in.

The cards were dealt and I was obviously thrilled to see pocket jacks. This was almost like a freeroll, it’s impossible to come last from here. Surely!

I was right and I duly went on to win it. Unfortunately irony was to play its part. Kev, playing for Simon and Padraig, both came joint last. They both had Q8 suited and neither improved with the board, despite Padraig flopping a juicy flush and straight draw. We would all have to play another hand. Doh! Damn my fair play rule change.

I insisted the button move and was reasonable happy with the K10 I was dealt. I wasn’t out of the woods however. By the turn I had made a pair. Julian obviously already had the thing locked up with a flush or straight or summut but if the queen of spades came on the river, I would be stone last. Normally in this situation a one outer would be 35-1 but with my fate in the balance it was probably be nearer even money. Thankfully I was spared when a jack came to my rescue.

Irony had played yet another part. Padraig had missed all his draws. He would have the honour of carrying Leona’s bouquet. He complained that the button should not have moved but no one was willing to replay the hand. I accompanied Padraig in the casino bar till around 5am helping him drown his sorrows.

As I had blown all my money by night 2, mainly due to a strategically placed craps table, he lectured me on the benefits of bankroll management. He told me to stop playing the side tables and concentrate on poker. I have an edge at that. Despite the fact we had way too much to drink he was making a lot of sense and at this point I agreed to never touch the tables again. He talked me into going to Vegas for the entire world series and to have a shot at as many events as possible.

Veronique and Julian Colsole Padraig after his loss

Veronique and Julian Colsole Padraig after his loss

The following night, Kerry recommended a restaurant by the sea called Fisherman’s Wharf. When we arrived It was not the most salubrious of surroundings and Kerry promptly informed us it was not her 1st choice and she couldn’t get us in the other place. She needn’t have worried, this was the Caribbean not London Mayfair, nobody expected the Dorchester. The food was tremendous and I would recommend the place if you are ever out that way,  (that is of course, if the place is called the Fisherman’s Wharf. I can’t actually remember but Bev assures me every Caribbean Island has a restaurant called the Fisherman’s Wharf so I’m sticking with it. Kev, maybe you could confirm in the comments when you read this, if you haven’t fallen out with me for posting this that is)

Simon Nowab makes his usual late arrival. Not to the restaurant but to the island. He’d flown in a few days later. Rather than going straight to the hotel to check in, we told him to meet us at the restaurant. A little flustered, he explained how he had missed his connection in Antigua. It had cost him the best part of 400 bucks to get another for the short journey over to St. Kitts. To add insult to injury, while waiting for his new flight he thought he would take the opportunity to have a cigarette. After passing through security and enjoying his vitamin N, he was forced to pay a further $25 departure tax before being allowed back in. Oh well, any smoker will tell you that 25 bucks is cheap for a ciggy after being deprived of one for 7 or 8 hours.

We arrive back at the hotel and I was secretly pleased everyone was talking about having an early night. Last night’s session with Padraig was still taking it’s toll. I agreed and said 2 drinks and I’m off to bed.

Simon whined on how it was his first night an insisted we stayed and drank with him. He then dragged me kicking and screaming to the roulette table to blow another 200 bucks. Oh well, 16hours without gambling is not a record, but it was a reasonable start. A few minute later Simon went to the toilet and never came back. The lightweight was drinking bottled water anyway.

Obviously some 8 hours later me and Padraig were asked to leave by the barman. All the other staff had gone to bed and he would like to join them.

 Come back for exclusive pics of the wedding, including Padraig with flowers in his hair. An achievement in it self.

Wedding of the year Part 1

 

Although Kila and I have been playing poker for a relatively short period of our lives we have met some of the best friends anyone could be lucky enough to have. I have never been one to judge friends by how long I have known them, simply by how w ell you get along and what you are prepared to do for each other.

Two such friends are Kevin O’Connell and his long suffering girlfriend Leona. We first met back in 2004 on the very first Ladbrokes cruise. They had not long been seeing each other.

Obviously when Kev finally proposed back in August of last year we knew we wouldn’t be missing the wedding.

I am sure their home town of Burnley, just a short drive from where we live would have a suitable registry office, however Kev is not one to do thing the easy way.

We would obviously change any plans made in order to attend the big do so when he told us it was in the Caribbean island paradise of St. Kitts with lots of booze the RSVP wasn’t long in coming. (to be honest the booze bit did it for me)

Along with Kev and Leona we were to be joined by Jessie and Mickey May, Julian Gardener and his good lady Kerry, Adam O’Connell, Kirsty Thomson and Leona’s sister Philena. Padraig Parkinson and his better half Veronique had set off a few days earlier and were waiting there for us.

Flights to the Caribbean are never easy. Thankfully Ryan Air don’t travel there and although BA are considerably better, 12 hours in a plane is very unappealing. Besides, the plane was to stop on route in Antigua and if you ever do go to the West Indies do not expect prompt departures.

“Hey Mon, what u in an urry fer, da sun is shinning it’s a wondafool daaay. Chiiiiiiilllllllll., We will set off when we ready”

St kitts Sunset , my favourite time of day

St kitts Sunset , my favourite time of day

Luckily we got to the airport early and managed an upgrade to premium economy for 150 quid. Bargain! I rang Jessie who dashed over from his hotel to check in ASAP but to no avail. They were sold out. However the plane was pretty quiet and everyone in economy got 3 seats each. DOH!

As expected we sat at Antigua for several hours longer than expected. Ok not longer than expected but longer than we were scheduled for. St Kitts was a mere 20 minutes flight from there and when we arrived it was beginning to go dark. THANK THE LORD! It was hot as a bitch and in an un-air conditioned airport it took us forever to get through immigration. How long does it take to look at a passport photo, a quick look at the person who handed it you, grab a rubber stamp and hit one of the pages with it. I can only assume the people who check the passports also unload the baggage but eventually they arrived and we all clambered though the door for our well deserved cigarettes. Jessie explained that to survive a Caribbean experience you just not gotta fight it. Slow down and except everything will take time, this is quite to opposite to a Vegas trip.

We stopped at the Marriot Hotel and Golf resort and which had several restaurants. After the compulsory gallon of strawberry daiquiri we decided to check out the steakhouse. It was tremendous, and it only took an hour an a half to get served.

We had only been on the island a few hours and Julian had already found his supply of  Caribbean herbal refreshment. He was not going to struggle getting into the swing of how things are done.

The next day we decided to take the trip to the local beach. The resort had it’s own beach but there were a few bars down the road and it seemed like a good place to start the week.

Now me and sunshine don’t get on well. In fact we avoid spending time together as much as possible. In the past I have had sunstroke from choosing post cards. I use sun factor 2000 and swap seats on the bus whenever it  turns a corner. Luckily we found a beach hut masquerading as a bar and I was able to stay sheltered. I am proud of my white pasty skin. No matter what country I travel too I come back the same colour, milk bottle white. Besides in the past I have attempted to join the bronzed body brigade. I go pillar box red, peel then back to brilliant white. It achieves nothing but a few days pain and a bed full of lost skin. I must have lost a stone in weight.

Honest skalie's crazy horse racing game

Honest skalie's crazy horse racing game

As the sun began to fade and the temperature dropped to a chilly 35 ºC the rest made their way to the bar for a few rounds of “Honest Skalie’s crazy horse racing game”. (featured in previous articles like the Galway and Irish open reports).

Basically it’s a horse race using the aces from a deck of cards. I lay prices on which will win and the mugs punters place their bets.

The first race starts with Clubs even money, diamonds and spades are 5/2 and hearts 6/1. Kev shouts “I WANT 2-1 ON SPADES”.

“Kev spades are 5/2″

“I WANT 2 TO 1″ he said even more demandingly.

“OK, you drive a hard bargain mate you get 2/1″

In the mean time Leona wants 20 bucks on hearts. Kev goes mad and tells her it has no chance, demanding she backs something else, which she does.

Hearts romp home, Kev you truly are one of my best friends.

  

 

 

 

Come back to see who won the illustrious honour of flower girl.

 

 

Genius

Ok some of you have seen these before, but they are too good not to be seen again.

The genius of Matt Broughton

 

A Song for Dave Ulliott


Fast Tube by Casper

 

A song for Lucy Rokach


Fast Tube by Casper

 

A song for Simon Trumper


Fast Tube by Casper

Classic Fast Show (Ted and Ralf)

This is by far my favourite clip ever from the fast show. If you haven’t already seen you must watch it till the end.

 

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGBTrCZObyA]

More Classic Hale and Pace

Hmmmmmm, starting to question my friendship with Norm considering the constant abuse in their old sketches aimed towards northerners and Gingwa’s

 

Northern Calypso (Norm said it’s from their first ever show in 1988)


Fast Tube by Casper

 

Ginger Song


Fast Tube by Casper

Pics from my recent La Manga Trip

 

 

A story is soon to follow, but for now I have posted the photos of what is some truley magnificent golf.

I am obviously talking about the courses not my golf. My golf is truely something but magnificent it aint.

Click here for La Managa Gallery

GUKPT Walsall

  

 

Wrote this a few weeks back and forgot to proof read and post it. If you haven’t already read the Walsall £300 report (click here to read)

Basically spent the whole of Wednesday in bed recovering from the bashing I’d just taken in the cash game. Decided to travel back down for the main event for day 1A on the Thursday, knowing that should things go pear shaped I would have the weekend to myself. I had decided I would drive home after the event and forgo stopping at the “QUALITY” Inn.

Arriving a little late I was less than thrilled by my starting table. I was in seat 5 with seat six occupied by John Tabatabi. Seat 7 was Dave Colclough, seat 8 Sean Gregory and seat 9 Roberto Romanello. There could not be a harder set of blinds to steal in the history of poker.

Roberto and John had already been busy and there stacks were not the better because of it, Dave was quite the opposite and had appeared to have already doubled his starting stack. Everyone was expecting me to get busy from the off so I wasn’t surprised to get 6 callers from my 200 raise with pocket nines. The flop came J 7 6 and the action was checked to me. It did cross my mind just to check but it quickly passed. I bet 1000, Roberto waited a little time to act and pushed in the rest of his chips. I muck, knowing things could have started better.

The banter at the table was obviously high, and when Roberto folded his AK to a pre-flop re-raise only to be shown J4, we obviously pointed out that if he wasn’t so tight people couldn’t make those moves on him.

I received a text from my son Jak, asking if we could go skiing at Chill Factor (a new groovy indoor ski slope in Manchester) on Saturday. Now normally my stack would not be that healthy but I was running well and feeling confident. We agreed that to if on the unlikely event I was to get knocked out we would definitely go, if not one night in the week would have to do.

Despite the bad start and tough draw I had somehow got my stack close to 30,000 by the diner break. However a topsy turvy time followed. Our table was broken and I got moved. Josh Tyler, who was sat nearby came and asked me;

“How annoying is this bloke sat to you right?”

Somewhat shocked to hear these words from him of all people, I blurted out

“That’s a bit rich coming from you isn’t it, you’re usually the most annoying person in the room?”

To his credit he duly agreed and returned to his seat.

Dave was to join me on the new table where James Akenhead and Jerome Bradpiece were waiting. Jerome had a huge stack after a monster pot he’d recently won from James. He was bullying the table well.

Hit Quad member and one of Britian's biggest poker tallents

Hit Quad member and one of Britian's biggest poker tallents

By this time I had contemplated what I would do should towards the end of the day. I wasn’t keen to drive back with around 10 big blinds so I needed to look for opportunities to double up. I limped in for 800 with 55 and Dave Colclough did the same. The button made it 3800 to go and I made the call hoping for a coup. The flop didn’t disappoint when it came down with that lovely little 5 on it. I checked expecting the obviously aggressive player to push which is exactly what he did. I made the call and was delighted when his flush draw missed (never easy is it). Now with around 55k I could sit back and pick my spots no need to get involved making hero calls or taking risks, there was only one level to go.

 

 

 

With the blinds at 400/800 everyone had passed to the small blind who made it up. I checked with Q3. The flop was Q J 9 with 2 spades. He immediately bet out 1800. I was keen to find out just where I was and so raised with the intention of passing against too much resistance. My opponent stood up in obvious disgust complaining. He then frustratingly declared all in, it was nearly 20k more to call.  Now I had already decided to fold to a push but his manor confused me, if this was an act it was by far the best I’d seen. Obviously if I was not in the hand myself the correct thing to do here is fold. The game is so much easier when the decision isn’t yours to make and you’re not carrying the burden of a little voice in your head screaming “HE’S AT IT, HE’S AT IT”

I called and was very surprised to see him flip over top 2 pair and with no miracle to rescue me I had halved my stack.………Doofus!

With the blinds now at 500/1000 I was back to looking for an opportunity to push and either steal the blinds and ante’s or double up. The tournament director announced the last eight hands of the night I was prepared to gamble with the most marginal of hands. James raised to 2800 and I looked down to see KJ. I pushed and after a slight dwell James showed me an Ace before throwing his cards in the muck. He said “Was I good”. “Yes” I replied. I’m not one to lie.

Two hands later I picked up pocket Queens, lovely. James rose again to 2800. I was certain he may call light this time as I pushed all my chips into the middle. He called quickly with pocket Kings. Oh well at least I went out to a better hand for once.

Hit Squad Member and Walsall GUKPT winner

Hit Squad Member and Walsall GUKPT winner

 

 

 

James used my chips very well, taking him all the way to the final where he was to be joined by the eventual winner and his fellow Hit Squad member Sunny Chattha.

Very well done to both and especially Sonny.

Note. I really must do more exercise my legs were in agony for days after the Skiing.

 

The Toy Dolls

As the Pixies article proved quite popular I intend to include a few more music posts. Don’t worry poker fans I have poker exploits to talk about soon

At my wedding a few years back, we decided to have a few bands on. Basically My old band “Nameless” reformed for a few tracks. We were joined by my brother in law’s band (which included Nameless’ drummer and bass player. We also hired a more main stream band, basically they were there so we could use their equipment meaning we were free to get blind drunk and none of us needed to hump gear.

After the bands the DJ was given strict instructions not to play any Take that, Bryan Adams or anything else poncy. And house or raveydavey related tracks were to be punished under the pain of death. In fact most of the stuff he played were CD’s I’d given him.

Obviously it didn’t take long before all the fat ageing punks were pogo-ing on the dance floor. The last track I danced too was the classic “Nellie the Elephant” by the Toy Dolls.

In fact it was the last time I ever danced.

In a drunken frenzy, the dance floor became a riot and I was knocked to the floor with my foot wanting  stay where it was. The agony was excruciating. My ankle swelled to twice what it should have been and a lump protruded from it which some people were convinced was bone, I was advised to travel to the local hospital. My concerned newly wed wife stayed at the reception getting pissed with our friends. Good of her to put aside her worries to take care of our guests.

When getting interviewed by the nurse I explained how it was my wedding night and fell while dancing to our wedding song, surely this must happen all the time. Apparently not, i was the first groom to spend a large part of his wedding night in casualty. In chorley at least.

After the compulsory 3 hour wait I was informed it wasn’t broke but I had probably torn ligaments. Surprised, but obviously relieved, I could leave but I had to rest it.  By the time I left the reception do had long finished, so I went straight to the hotel we had booked to finish our “romantic” evening. After much assistance to our room there was only one thing left to do……………….work out how to remove the trousers of my fancy smancy suit without tearing them.

 

Note- If you saw My 2006 PokerMillion heat you will notice me limp off after my exit. Rumit was sporting a broken colar bone in a show of solidarity.

Click logo for official site

Click logo for official site

The classic Nellie the elephant

Fast Tube by Casper
PC stoker

Fast Tube by Casper
Idle Gossip

Fast Tube by Casper
 

Watchmen

Went watching it last night and have to say I loved it. Highly recomended to anyone liking comic book fiction.

Amazing effects, great story and despite what some critics say I even enjoyed the dialogue (It was a comic for gods sake)

See the trailer


Fast Tube by Casper

Site Layout

I use a reletively has res on my laptops and home PC’s computor screens and use internet explorer.

I need feed back on how the site reads for most people. I will alter the lay out if enough people require it.

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