Osama speaks...

I came 3rd in the standard speed $11 ,18 player game I mentioned in my last post though it seemed so slow I nearly fell asleep.Normal service resumed in my first $16 turbo when I had to lay down my JJ after being called on an 8 8 10 10 board.After the flop I just knew I was ahead but the second ten on the turn was the killer and I couldn't stay in the hand.Why Mr 910 stayed in the hand after big bets from me both preflop and postflop I'll never know, but long term I suppose that's where I make my profit.I ran KK into 1010 a short time later and crashed after a 10 flopped.

I kept the heid and came 3rd in my next one, although once again I feel I would have won it if a couple of hands had just held up at crucial times.Nice to book a couple of ITM ( in the money) finishes though, so I shouldn't grumble too much.

I did play a short $200 nl 6 max session and broke even after being up $30 and down $40 at one point.I almost only bought in for $100 but that shows weakness and if I'm going to play $200nl 6 max I need to be confident enough to be thinking about maximising profit and not focussing on containing losses.If I get a big hand I want paid in full!

I enjoyed reading about total newbie, Martin Johnson,playing in a WSOP Europe event.It was a highly entertaining read and got me thinking too about how a newbie almost has an advantage sometimes by not making the "by the book play".At one point he goes all in with JJ and pro Kenny Tran lays down his hand putting Martin on KK or AA due to the aggressive way the hand was played.A short time later Martin bets out with 99 on an Ace high flop and Tran folds, certain Martin had paired the Ace."How can you bet without the Ace?",he asks after Martin tells him he had the nines.

Just goes to show that while ABC poker may get the job done, there's nothing wrong with trying to think a little differently at times, and that occasionally making a seemingly daft move may be the best play.

I read ( not the greatest example, but it'll have to do)Yorkie Pud mention the RTR crowd railing him and not thinking much of a Pud shove from the button with 62 off when shortstacked in a tourney.The Big Blind woke up with KK and Pud went out.Nobody wants to push with air ( a hand of little value) but I like the move and most of the time your only going to be a 65/35 underdog at worst if the BB calls.

Look out for me with a big grin on my face, raising with air all the time tonight at the Raisetheriver league game...!




Just had a call from Setanta sports.I posted a wee while back that they had taken a years subsription from my credit card for this season despite me moving out and getting their service free at my new address due to a cable offer.They said I had agreed a "rolling contract" last year and that's why they took £180 from my credit card.( despite the service now being available monthly for £10 with no contract).The good news is that they have finally agreed to refund me in full ( less the month or so I've had the service whilst in dispute with them).I should get around £160 back which is a huge relief.After my recent grumble and link to them I thought it only fair to publish the happy outcome!

In other news apparently Osama Bin Laden has released a new tv message to prove he's still alive.He stated that Celt*c were shit in their Champions league away defeat the other night.

British intelligence have dismissed it saying "it could have been recorded anytime in the last ten years"......

Rolling,Rolling,Rolling...

After receiving a £20 cheque from the airport transfer company that didn't turn up when the ex and I left our Ibiza hotel in June,I'm now after a refund from Setanta sports.I paid the( alledged) robbing bassa's £180,by credit card, last August as a one off for a years subscription to their sports channels.

This year ( not to save me from tears!), they have reduced the cost to £9.99 per month and the contract is now monthly.Despite this they have taken another £180 from my credit card and say the small print in their terms and conditions stated it was a rolling contract.Now I do plenty of rolling, but I don't need no contract to do so!


No renewal letter was sent to me and nothing was said at the time of sale to indicate what would happen this year.I put my complaint to them by email and two weeks later they now they have requested it in writing by snail mail.When I move back home and take cable tv I get Setanta free so why would I pay a for a year ( especially at that price) up front?!

I noticed the other day that allofmp3.com has been closed and my balance moved to mp3sparks.com.I tested the new site by downloading the Amy Winehouse album and after listening to the first few tracks I quite like it.It's about time I delved into some new tunes.Gotta love those Ruskie sites!

In other news I passed football referee Stuart Dougal in the street yesterday and managed to resist questioning his parentage as I have done many times at the game.Well done me!

I did watch the football last night and wasn't impressed by the Scotland performance although at I suppose a win is a win.Good to see Boyd scoring again.


On the poker front I only played a couple of $6 ,18 player turbos last night with Rosie and saw my QQ fall to A7 in the first one and managed to come 2nd in the other.

Dinner tonight at Mother and Father Acorns followed by zooming up the road to look after Step A.She's back at school in 2nd year now and I'm enjoying giving her a run there in the mornings again,dishing out my expert advice on school subjects and life in general.


Mind you, I'm not sure I should be giving any advice after hearing that ( thanks to Mother Acorn!)my sister described the trip my cousin and I took to Amsterdam recently as "Dumb and dumber on tour"!


Following on from the coos keech story/video here's another couple I liked from the paper...

We have no wish to dwell on readers' scatological interests, but after our tale of the chap drinking from the stream tainted by "coos' keech" Bill Smith in Eaglesham reminds us of the shepherd interrupted by a haughty walker who demanded to know what he had in front of him.

"Pills to make you wise," replied the shepherd.

At that the walker chewed and swallowed one, declared it had no effect, chewed another couple and then suspiciously declared that he thought they might be sheep droppings.

"See," said the shepherd. "They're beginning to work then."


And the crack about the chap in New York so hot that he was "sweating like a Chinese toy salesman" has put readers into simile mode.

One avers that he regularly uses the incorrect saying "Sweating like a Geordie sitting an A level" while a second is equally insulting by often saying someone was "sweating like a fat bird in a bin bag".