Feeling like shite

Well the title pretty much explains what this post is about. I feel like I've let myself down with the way I've handled certain things over the last few months. I'm usually a pretty considerate person I think (erm when sober anyway!) but I have been really inconsiderate this year and hurt people in the process. Not cool. But I guess the Karma is that now I feel crap about it. I cant change the past but maybe at least now I will put myself in other peoples shoes a bit more, and think of the consequences of my actions.

Right with the heavy stuff out the way, Rimini is 10 days away and although I've considered not going, I think the break will do me good. So providing Bookpoint actually pay me I will be going. Gareth has managed to find a 3 bed room in a hotel for £25 a night each including breakfast so I cant grumble about that. Plus its right near the beach and bars! Until then though, it's staying in every night and Spaghetti/beans on toast for tea! I feel like I need a new hobby. I could do some weights......but that will last all of one night and I'll get bored! I was thinking a language. Maybe French. This girl Shameen who sits next to me at work speaks it fluently, so I can then pester her in a whole new language! I've already been coming out with the few random French phrases I know, e.g 'ou est la Gare?' She just looks at me in disgust and turns away to carry on with her work. ha!

Right time for some reading.....

Why is it not Friday yet?!!

It's Monday and I already cant wait for Friday to come along.....not good. It's mainly coz I'm seeing Corinne this weekend and I cant wait. I started out thinking that it would be a good thing that we didn't see each other that often, but things have changed a bit now and I wish it was different. Meh. We're going to a bbq round Limburn's on Friday night and then Brady's wedding reception on Saturday night. She staying round mine, so I need to get my act together and tidy the house up coz its a right shit hole at the mo.

I'm working on a contract at Bookpoint at the moment which is odd. Still, easy money at least. Been doing some training on GTG today which was strangely nostalgic! Also, Office Depot rang me up the day after my interview and offered me the job....but I dont think im going to take it. Im not 100% about that though yet.

BO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just got back to sunny Andover from a long weekend in London with Corinne. Went out in Clapham on Friday night but we were home by 12.30 as Corinne and her flat mate Nina decided to hit the Southern Comfort early and it all got a bit messy! I did warn them, but would they listen....Had a really good night though. There are some really nice bars there, but the prices were pretty sick. Me and Darryl (Corinne's other flat mate) went ahead of the girls as they were taking way too long to get ready for our liking! Anyway, so I get a pint of Carling and a Vodka for Darryl, yeah £9.20. Cheers. Turns out they only serve doubles, but I still think that was a bit much!

Headed into central London on Sat (after i had built Corinne's new bed!), and went to the National Gallery. How cultured of me! I really enjoyed it actually and it was nice to do something different to getting ball bagged! We then went for dinner in Chinatown, and stopped off for a pint in the Chandos before heading home. Me, Corinne and Nina went out for a few in Balham on Sunday night, but other than that we just chilled out and watched a few films.

I really like London, and I'm getting so tempted to move there myself at some point. First I need to get some cash together! Despite the job situation things are going good at the moment and I'm actually happy for a change.

Me, Gareth and Kev have booked two weekends away as well which im really looking forward to. Our return flight to Rimini (Italy) was £9.98!!! Nearly the same as my round the other night which is a joke. Thats 3rd - 8th July and then we go to St Tropez 4th - 9th Sept. Also Corinne got tickets to the Red Bull thing in Hyde Park in two weeks so im going up to London for that.

Right time to find some temp work for the rest of the week....great

Edit: I am so bloody bored today and there is no temp work going for tomorrow....Wtf am I supposed to do with my time in, theres nothing to do in Andover, arrrgggghh!!!!!

Fingers Crossed!!

Found a couple of jobs in London I really like, so have applied for them today. Coincidently one of them is in Balham, which is the area Corinne lives in. Its for a subscriptions manager, and the money is fairly good so would be worth the traveling each day. Plus its an easy commute from Andover, just one change at Clapham Junction and no tubes! Still not had any luck getting a temp job in Andover. I'm going up to London for the night today, just to get out of Andover really. Plus its the only chance i'll get to see Corinne until Bank Holiday weekend :(

Poker is off the menu at the moment and will be until at least Saturday. The break is definitely needed. Although I noticed my Rakeback payment went in today which is a healthy boost to the bankroll.

AARRRGHGHHGHG!!!!!!!!!!!

This seriously cant continue any longer. Beat after beat after fooking beat. Its beyond a joke now. I got my money in, well ahead four times today in tournaments and got 2 outered every time. So sick. I was going well in the $10,000 guarantee, and there is this donk on my right with loads of chips....great double up time. Had AJ on the button and he called my raise after limping. Flop J94 rainbow. He checks, i bet pot coz i know hes a fish and he insta raises me all in. He had me outchipped so i think about his range for a bit and decide im probably ahead so i call. Sure enough he flips A9 and im 90% to win the hand........turn brings 9 and im gone. This happened a couple more times before i eventually gave up.

Think I need to have a break for a bit, but I've picked a really bad time to give up my hobby, as i have literally nothing to do until the bank holiday weekend!

Nothing really happening on the job front yet. Registered with a few agencies now, but apparently there isnt a lot going in Andover at the moment. Seriously considering getting a job in London, which would probably make sense for me right now.

All change

Been putting off updating the blog. Things have changed quite a lot for me over the last couple of months and im not sure all of it is for the best yet but we'll see. I dont regret coming back from Oz, but it has led me to face some things earlier than i would have done. I think I am doing the right thing but it doesnt make it any easier. I am starting to feel happier about it though.

Poker wise its been the unluckiest week ever! I cant hit a flush draw, nothing holds up, bla blaaaa. I've not played my best but the luck element has really bit me on the ass this week.

Meh

I dont want to leave!!

Coming to end of my time in Tokyo and really dont want to go.

The 12 hour flight here was pretty nasty and i didnt get any sleep so was shattered by the time i got to the hostel. Me being the muppet I am, i didnt write down the address of the hostel, and couldnt find it when i got to Asakusa. Asakusa is an area of the city, comparable to say Hammersmith in London. So i spent 2 hours walking around looking for it. Clever me. I thought it would be fine, they'll be plenty of people who speak English. Wrong. Hardly any of the Japanese people speak English, so i quickly realised that the language barrier was going to be a problem. I eventually went in Starbucks(they are everywhere!) and blagged use of a lap top to find the place. It was like 4pm here then so i went to bed and basically slept all the way through to Sunday!

Dan arrived on Sunday, as did the two Germans (James and Florian) who we ended up spending most of our time with. They are both a similar age and we get on really well. Me and Dan went off the Ueno for the morning on Monday, but it pissed it down and everything was closed so we retreated to the hostel. We went to a bar in Shibuya in the evening, with James & Florian, but just for a couple of drinks. We then carried on drinking once we got back to the hostel and next thing we know its 7am. Oops.

Tuesday was a busy day of sightseeing, which started with the Imperial Palace. You cant really get that close, but managed to get some decent photos with the Camera Zoom at max! Then we went to Shinjuku which is where all the huge Skyscrapers are. Man that was awesome. We went up to an observatory on the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building and got some nightime photos of the skyline. Then back to the hostel and more beer.

Wednesday we went back to the Observatory and took daytime photos. We were hoping to see mt Fuji but it wasnt clear enough. We walked from Shinjuku to Shibuya (which was stupid cause its mikes) and went to Meiji Shrine in the middle of the park. Very relaxing after the skyscrapers! We stayed in Wednesday night and didnt really drink for a change, but I was woken up at 1am by the fire alarm! It turns out some old women on the 5th floor didnt have her glasses on and thought it was the light switch.....i was not impressed. The fire alarm is weird as well, cause it repeats 'there is a fire on the 5th floor', plus an alarm. I was so spun out.

Thursday we took a boat tour around Tokyo bay and this was the best thing we did in my opinion. The photos are amazing. I will post some more on Facebook today but i will also try to send an email round for the people who dont have it.

Friday was club night and it was awesome. The club is called Pure Shibuya and its 17 quid entry, with all you can drink all night! We thought there might be restrictions on the drinks but you could drink anything you wanted. Beer, shots anything! We left the club about 6am. Severe hangover. Enough said

Saturday = slept all day!

So its 6am here now and today is the last day. Tokyo is such a great place to be and i recommend it to all. The worst thing is probably the lack of edible food! You can get by with the language but it isnt always easy. Anyway next post will be Sydney. Bye all

Konnichi Wa from Tokyo!!

Well im here after 3 hours at Heathrow, 12 on the flight, 1 at Tokyo Narita, and then 2 hours walking around Asakusa looking for the hostel. Didnt sleep on the plane so i am seriously tired now. Jet lag is a bitch. Now im here i just cant keep my eyes open. Tokyo looks cool from what ive seen so far, but i was so concerned about finding the hostel that i havnt taken any pics yet. Im gonna grab a shower then head down to Asakusa Temple to have a mooch around. They have a spring festival on at the moment so there is a lot going on. Bit of an eye opener for a country boy from little old Andover!

Anyhoo i will post some photos when i have some. Have a good day all!

I'm leaving, on a Jetplane.....

Right last post before I leave for Japan. Thank god as well cause I am stinking up the Poker tables at the mo. I was up $750 at one point but that is down to about $500. I have had the worst run of cards since i've been playing i think, and it has caused me to tilt money off as well. I've missed about 10 flush draws in a row, and still ent hit one now. I've had the correct odds blah blah but just missed every time. Bollocks!! Its also doesn't help that playing during the day you are against a better standard, so to be honest there have been times where im simply being outplayed. Thing is i get stubborn and want to keep playing until i work out their game; usually after tilting off a buy in or two! So no Poker for me now until Vegas, unless I wonder into a casino in Sydney which is quite likely. I'm a better live game player anyway.

I'll keep the blog updated whilst on my travels, and post some photos of cool shit.

Steaming!!!!!!!!

I am seriously hacked off about the bad beat i just took. They always happen in the huge pots as well. I'm playing so well, even with my hangover, sat down with $50 and within an hour im at $200 and basically walking over the table. Then this happened:

Im on the button with KJ and limp, sb calls and the bb checks.

Flop K J 9 rainbow. sb bets $2, bb calls. I raise to $8, and the sb insta-shoves for his stack of $25. bb flat calls again, so i shove to put the bb all in for $45. I just knew i was ahead and i was. Sb flips K6 (wtf) and the Bb shows QQ. Turn blank but river brings 10 for BB to make his straight and take down a $112 pot. So that was me back down to $150

Still, good day overall

Ship it

Ship it Matt Hill's way guys, cheers. Been hitting some seriously good cards and playing really well this week. Yesterday i cracked pocket Aces three times with decent draws and the fish just couldnt let go of em. Waa Waa.

I cashed out of Party Poker and deposited $200 into Full Tilt, with 100% match bonus(which is going to take ages to clear) and 27% Rakeback. So far I'm up to $440 which means I've made my target of $600 for the month with 9 days still to go! Friday is going to be a write off though, as me, Gareth and some others are going up to London for an all day razz for my send off. Should be a laugh. So actually Saturday will prob be a write off too!!!

Bored

That's right I'm bloody bored. Three days into the Poker playing and I'm starting to get fed up of my own company. Had a losing day of about $40 yesterday in which my ace high flush got rivered by quad Sixes. Meh. But I've just spent the last three hours on one cash table and up $100, which gives me $405 now. So going well, but its starting to do my head in. Some fish play for 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. crazy. Going out with Steve and the rest of the guys for a curry tomorrow and then some Poker back at his place, which is just what I need so really looking forward to it!

Nothing else to say really....

Yo!!!!!!

Decided to go out to Gran Canaria for the week as Lucy and her family were out there already. Had a good time and enjoyed the sun, but mostly the beer. The lager is just so much better....and cheaper! The best I found was right in the shopping centre of Peuto Rico, 90 cents a pint, which is about 75p. Its called Tropical, and although not the best beer on the Island I'm not one to moan at that price. I'm a little glad it wasn't a lads holiday else that would have been messy! The most annoying thing is that you had to pay 50 cents for the public toilets at the beaches etc. 38p for a piss.....mind you I've paid £80 before!!! ha

So I've not played much Poker but it is going well generally at the mo. Starting playing about 2.30 today and I've made more than I would for a days work. Just playing ABC Poker on $22 Sit and Go's is what I've been playing today. The standard just seems so weak, and the deck hasn't bit me on the arse yet today. Roll is back up to $345 so getting near the $500 target.

Oh dear oh dear

I should have taken Phil's advice. Tried the PokerRocket Challenge and failed miserabley. Started with $50 at .25/.50 blinds and I lost it in less than an hour. I played really really badly. I then also lost $20 playing $5 SnG's so my roll is down to $200. I'll be sticking to my usual .10/.25 from now on. The aim is the get this up to $600 before the end of March so it pays for the months rent that I'm not working.

Speaking of which leaving day is tomorrow, yay! I will be a little upset, after all I have spent the last 6 years working here and I will miss some of the people, especially my team. But I'm going to be visiting some really cool places and cant wait to see some of the world. First stop Japan on the 28th March! Vegas is obviously going to be a big highlight for me, and playing in the WSOP is going to be a dream come true. I'll have to beat about 3,500 people to scoop the first prize of around $900,000, so i'll settle for getting through day 1 which will be a task in itself. I'll also be hitting the cash tables depending on how much cash I have left!!

Pocket J's bite my ass

Yesterday twice I built my stack up to double the $25 buy-in, and twice I lost the double up, with pocket J's on flops with no overcards. Dont get me wrong, I love the fish, but they sometimes get lucky and it really pissed me off last night. The worst one was (6 handed):

I raise to $1 UTG, wank biscuit calls me on the button, all other fold

Flop: 2d,2c,3s i bet $1.75 WB calls

Turn: 6h i bet $4.....WB calls (at this point i think he prob either has A3, or maybe 8's or something)

River: Ks i bet $9....(I still think i'm good here)

WB flat calls and flips K10off. Wp. GG. Muppet

So after an hour im $0.84 up. Great

Current roll on PP $270ish

Boo!! I hate losing days

Today is one of them, what a shocker. Yesterday went really well and I was up to $310, but down about $40 today to $270. It feels a little disheartening but I didn't really do too much wrong so am still feeling confident about building this bankroll up to the $500 mark.

meh

PokerRocket Challenge

Firstly, I've managed to spin that free $10 into $230 and I still cant believe how loose the play is on the site (Party Poker). Just have to play ABC poker and the fish always bite. Got Monday off so am gonna play all day to see if I can get towards $500.

Was reading another Poker players blog, and came across something called the PokerRocket Challenge. Basically you start with $100 at a $.50/1 ring game (the max buy-in usually), and play until you have enough for the max buy-in at the next level ($1/£$2). As soon as you have enough you move up levels, and you keep going until you either hit the sky or bust. Now I know this doesn't fall into line with bankroll management but it could be a laugh, so maybe i'll have a go. Maybe i'll start with $50 at a $.25/.50.

Naturally Phil tried to discourage me from this, but I like to gamble so......

Speaking of which I found that I still had £10 in my Betfair account, so decided to put £3 on a Red card being shown on the Liverpool game and Marco Matterazi didn't let me down, Yey! Only got £17.50 back but still happy with that. I then tried to put the money on those mongs Man Utd to beat Lyon, but the website kept crashing so i gave up. They ended up drawing; it's like the gambling gods are looking after me at the moment!

oh, and I got me payslip today and the cash goes in tomorrow, yeah baby Vegas here I come!

Rivered, Rivered and Rivered

MF RIVER! I hate it, what a shitbag! Logged on to Party Poker the other day and had a Free $10 waiting for me to 'welcome me back', as I haven't played on there for ages. I've spun that up to $125 but it could have been more had I not been outdrawn in three big pots last night. 2/3 of them were donks calling without anywhere near the odds and the third was just unlucky but I cant blame the fish. Anyway I finished even but should have been $40-50 up. Nevermind. Will be sticking to PP for a while, as the standard of play on there is seriously shocking and I can see myself making some decent cash over the next few weeks providing I dont blow up!

10 working days to go...

In ten working days time I'll no longer be a Cengage/Thomson employee, and it's starting to feel really real now. If I stick with my current plans then I've got a month until I leave to do 3 months traveling. Plan is Japan, Oz, Nz then the US. Part of me still doesn't want to go and I'm kind of afraid of what I might come back to. Things can change a lot in 3 months. But I can't see me getting another opportunity like this to do it.

Anyway, not played hardly any Poker recently, but will try to get some in before this blog turns into a travel blog!!

No Alcohol & Betfair

Cash game was round Trev's on Saturday and I got wasted. I can't even recall any of the hands from the last hour or so. Me, Steve and James "return of the" Mack were drinking straight Sambuca. Bloody stupid. I was up about £30 at one point I think, but I left about £5 up!!! I puked up outside Trev's house which was a good thing coz the hangover wasn't too furious, however the whole thing did make me realise I need to try and take it easy when I go out.

So, because we are planning a night out on the 22nd (the day i get my redundancy money), I am not going to drink any alcohol between now and then. It's not going to be easy, and I'll probably buckle but I'm determined not to get wasted at least.

Wacked $40 into Betfair on Friday, and I'm up to $110 after playing two short sessions. Forgot how good the site is, and the traffic has certainly improved since the WSOPE. Advertising does work!

Total up for Jan is £160 which is great considering the small amount of time I have put into it. Once March is here I will start recording everything properly and post full results to make sure I keep track of everything. At the moment I'm just playing now and then but intend to try make at least my rent money in March to save me having to get a job straight away!

Fast Forward Please

28 working days forward. I can't stand hearing the shit that comes out of certain people's mouths any longer!

CD Poker

They are bollocks. I had an email from them the other day saying I couldn't cash any more money out of my account, because I needed to send them a fax of the front and back of my debit card for security reasons. This is quite standard practise these days in the Poker world, but not after you've already deposited £50 and cashed out £240 ish over the last 2 months! Surely this should have been done when I set up my account? Mongs.

So, I thought i'd try my luck and cash out my last £67 in the account (havn't played for ages, not been in the mood). What happened? Well, the cash out request was accepted and the money disappeared from my account. Great, I thought, now I can move site. Nope. Afraid not Mr Hill. Logged on a few days later, and what do you know? The £67 is back in my account, and the 'status' on the cash out shows as rejected. ARGH!

Anyway, out of pure frustration I tried to cash out again and logged off. Couple of days later logged back on again....no money in the account and the cash out request this time said 'approved'!!!. At last I thought I'm home and dry. Well that was on the 14th Jan i think, and the money still hasn't hit my bank account. Time to open up a can.....

Online Downswing

Bad last couple of days online, down about £40 but was up £65 at Fridays cash game with Steve and co. I even won the sit and go, with 7 of us which is a miracle! Cashed a further £50 from my account as I know i'll be skint next week which means theres only £67 in there now. Not playing today or tomorrow i doubt so will get back to it maybe Wednesday

Roll on Feb 29th that's all I can say. Work is so boring and I can't cope with it much longer. It'll be nice just to have a couple of weeks where I dont HAVE to do anything.

Keep it coming

Another £25 up last night in less than an hour. Playing all evening probably tonight so we'll see if i crash and burn!

Roll is currently £157, after I cashed another £80 out at the weekend

Good end to 2007, good start to 2008!

Up £220 in December, and so far up £70 in January, mostly at $.25/.50 NLH short handed or eight handed with some PLO thrown in as well. Playing better than I ever have before and feel right at the top of my game. My reads have been good, I'm picking the rights spots to get involved and I'm much more patient than I used to be, which is really paying off.

When I finish work at the end of Feb, I'm gonna have a couple/few weeks just playing serious amounts of Poker. Starting with a $1000 roll my aim is to double it by the end of March. Bit ambitious but even if i cant manage it its no big deal. This will be on Full Tilt Poker, as they have 100% first deposit match up to $600 (it will probably take me ages to get this though), and I can also get Rakeback (I've seen 30% advertised).

First Cash Game of the year round Steve's on Friday, which is more for fun than anything else. Although, going through my records I made just over £250 quid last year, in like 9 sessions which isn't a bad return bearing in mind we only play £.10/.20 blinds!