August is a strange time for me when it comes round seemingly almost always on a yearly basis. Basically to sum up … nothing happens.

The two main industries I work in all but shut down. Poker suffers its post WSOP hang over and in comedy everyone goes to Edinburgh for the festival and then they all go on holiday. So things right now are quiet, bitty and a bit meh…. I suspect this blog will accurately reflect that. 

That doesn’t mean my life isn’t crazy wild and exciting… oh no. (it does)

So what can I tell you about…Well the Omaha challenge has started briskly. I’ve managed to play 20k hands at .5/1 which is a good start and more hands than I’m usually able to play in a month. I’m a marginal winner so far – which I’m disappointed by as I feel more competent than most of the players in the game. I almost certainly need to get off my own back on this as I’ve only been playing the game properly for a few weeks – but you’ve gotta have standards.

Learning something is interesting. We do it less as we get older but it’s such a great feeling when you improve at something. You also go through peaks and troughs – times when you feel like you don’t get it at all and are completely lost or even that you’ve gone backwards and then those heavenly times when something just clicks and you move up a level.
It feels good to be learning something but it also feels good to have some of my passion for poker back  

Right time to vent…. if one more “journalist” says either ‘credit crunch’ or ‘team gb’ in my presence I will beat them to death with rusty shovel.

Let’s all be clear the credit crunch is something that happened between the big banks when their mindless greed eventually resulted in making such ludicrously bad lending decisions that they ran out of money to lend each other to cover up their incredibly bad greedy decisions. The beauty of capitalism is that it’s we the public that suffer the greater relative effect because of the knock on to the economy. Sorry I’m not really a fan of capitalism… that said I’m too lazy to change it so we all have to make the best of it….
None of this means that ‘credit crunch’ is responsible for the whole economic downturn, or the price of petrol rising, it is also not responsible for the bad weather we’re having being unlucky in love or the bruhahah in south ossetia so if people in the media could stop saying the words credit crunch in every tossing report that would be lovely.

Second up is it me (it probably is) or is the term ‘team gb’ somehow really odious. I think its great that the nations sportsmen are bucking a generation of underachievement to rock the house at the Olympics. Let’s rejoice in our victories rather than pondering over various defeats and near misses. However it is not necessary to brand the nations athletes as ‘team gb’ – its not necessary to brand them at all. In the words of Bill Hicks, not my words in case it applies to you I have plausible deniability, ‘if you work in advertising or marketing kill yourself’.

Having said that ITV news did cheer me up the other night. My old flat mate and I always used to call it ‘the news for kids’ and I love it when they fulfil the ultra low standards they set themselves. Last night the first words out the anchors mouth were ‘team gb continues the great haul of china’… genius

Okay enough ranting – let’s end on something positive and life enhancing. The final tally on my sister and I’s marathon fund raising is in. We had a target of £5000 which I always thought was stupidly high. However we somehow managed to make £6,400!!! It’s a great feeling to have accomplished such a big figure but more importantly knowing that several young children who have had really horrendous, unfortunate starts to life will have their time improved by our efforts.

I know several of you that contributed read this blog and there are too many to thank individually so just to say a huge thanks to you all – you’ve helped us do a really good thing and your money will be really well spent.

Of course none of that is remotely worth me having to run anywhere….but you live and learn.

Right can’t help feeling the title may have encumbered this blog with a level of expectation that can’t be fulfilled.

So a little background before I tell you about the quest which I’m really excited about.

As I said in an earlier blog I was really worried about my poker playing. I’d reached a point where I wasn’t really improving, wasn’t playing my best often enough and – far more importantly – wasn’t really enjoying it.

On my trip to vegas I’d hoped to reach some kind of decision either that I’d take a break for an extended time or that I’d find some inspiration to kick on because I was starting to resent the time I spent playing.

Fortunately the latter happened in Vegas – is there nothing it can’t do?

First of all I had a great trip with lots of old and new poker friends and that plus kara’s ME run gave me a lot of enthusiasm back. More importantly I was convinced to take a new direction with my game and usher in the age of Omaha. I need to give credit where its due it was Brian Townsend’s idea and its been backed up since by everyone I’ve talked to. Not only is it a more interesting, challenging game than Holdem but – far more importantly – there’s a lot more money to be made playing it because people play it far worse.

I’ve played Omaha before, read the odd book… basically dabbled – but never tried to study it or play well. As soon as Brian suggested I specialise in it felt like the right thing to do as I guess I’ve always had a fascination with the game. So it’s a valid question as to why I haven’t done this before. I think there’s such a big comfort zone with Holdem (the game I grew up on etc) that moving out of that needs a big reason. And also jumping into Omaha isn’t necessarily that easy as there’s so much less information on the game.

I do have bits and pieces of knowledge picked up along the way however I’m trying to completely dismiss those and learn the game from the ground up. Already I think people have some pretty big misconceptions about it …which is nice I guess!

Now being the deal making genius I am (?!) I’ve managed to use this new ..ahem…”quest” to solve another life problem – getting into the bloody main event. The great people at Virgin poker have agreed to sponsor me for it next year – but there’s a condition. They’re paying half my buy in; I have to win the other half playing Omaha…. that’s the quest part you’ve heard so much about!! Obviously given my 15 year struggle to play in the thing without actually paying (!) I’m delighted by this – it also give me a concrete target (which I plan on exceeding) which I need to keep me focussed; so a big thanks to Virgin.

I’ve no idea how interested you guys will be but I’ll give you regular updates on my progress. I’ve started with $4k and was playing .25/.50 put have moved up to $.50/.1 (.25/50 euro) as there doesn’t seem much difference in the games.

So far Omaha rocks – just a lot more interesting than Holdem – although I haven’t got to the stage where I’m counting outs without using my fingers!!

Wish me luck….

So what’s it all about this life business?

You’ve probably asked yourself a couple of times along the way – well relax because I’m pretty confident that by the end of this post all you’re questions will have been answered.

Before my trip to Vegas I think (and we can only see these things in the rear view mirror) I’d become stale in a lot of different ways. I think I needed a shakabuku ‘a swift spiritual kick to the head that alters your reality forever’ and I think I got it.

Actually I think the last 3 weeks has just reminded me of a couple of things I sometimes forget but really shouldn’t by now.

Here’s the thing.

The juice of life is experiences.

Only when we’re having new, surprising, rich, fun experiences are we really living – the rest of the time is hanging around.

It’s the old cliché – if you’re not growing you’re dying. And it’s really hard to grow if you’re doing the same things everyday or don’t have passion in what you’re doing

One of the interesting things is that people continually make the mistake of pursuing and spending their money on things and possessions when they should be spending it on new experiences (I’m borrowing this idea from ‘Happiness’ by Richard Layard – though I think he was observing not inventing; I think it’s bang on basically)

Of course one of the main reasons for this is that possessions give you only a fleeting moment of pleasure where as experiences are forever and you can relive them again and again

The last 3 or 4 weeks have been full of experiences I didn’t expect; couldn’t have expected. Almost every day brought something new and exciting; with some times that I think I’ll remember for ever. And it’s made me so happy and grateful for getting to live through it.

I was going to write that if only life could always be like that … but then I’d be shattered – I think those days interspersed with a couple sitting on a big bean bag staring into space.

Sometimes you don’t realise what a great time a period of your life was until you look back on it in the future; this wasn’t like that. I enjoyed it, relished it and tried to make the most of it every day.

The thing that made it particularly special I was lucky enough to have on this trip were some of my favourite people in the world (some long standing – some newly promoted to that status) around. Of course sharing the experiences I’m banging on about is what elevates them to pure pleasure

I need to make clear that I’m as guilty as anyone of not following these ideas. I often waste too much time, or I’m not open enough to new experiences or I don’t spend enough time with people I love. It’s just that in the last month I was lucky enough to get it right and it reminded me what really makes me happy.

So to recap

Great experiences you can always treasure with people you think are great – that’s what it’s all about; everything else is just window dressing.

And at the end your experiences, in the from of your memories, are all you’ll have. All money will decide is how expensive you’re sheets are and how big the room is.

There we are – it’s pretty straightforward actually.

I would get cracking with some more ‘experiences’ but apparently my body needs about 18 hours of sleep right now and then when I wake up I get to have the ‘experience’ of answering 3 weeks of emails and bills and meeting work deadlines.

But I’ll make sure the next bit of really living isn’t too far away…..

Hey everyone.

Apologies for the huge delay since my last blog. I expected to blog regularly from Vegas but it wasn’t to be. In the words of me talking to my old economics teacher when she used to ask for my essays…. ‘um…I haven’t done it. I have no excues.’
I’m going to give you an extra long update to make for it. Sadly it’s going to be  what did I do on my holidays type deal but there you go….

As I write this I’m totally beaten up. When you get up in the morning and you’re not sure which hangover of the last four your recovering from you know its time to slow down. Vegas does this to me like nowhere else. At home I don’t go out very much and only very rarely in a big way – here it happens for several nights in a room until meltdown which was today! I have 6 days left before going back to England and they’ll definitely be a much more chilled out affair.
It’s been a ridiculous trip. I’ve been coming to Vegas for many years and I’ve never had a trip like it here or anywhere else. I don’t know why but almost every day has had surprises, memorable events and great times – there have been some downs too – but it’s never been predictable. I’ve always thought ‘living’ is the ups and downs that we go through not the day to day grind and this trip has been nothing else.

The first week was a pure holiday and it was a joy. It’s many many years since I came to vegas for a holiday without playing poker or working. This year I needed a break and brought my brother in law out. One of the great pleasures in life is showing some one Vegas for the first time – it never fails to blow them away. Thanks to Kara’s vip connections we had a great party night in Tao. Nightclubs and their pomposity fascinate me – which is why my sitcom is set in one. I love how people pay thousands to stand one side of a rope compared to the other. I also love playing my ‘spot hot girls who can’t dance at all’ game – try it next time you’re out it rocks. We had a blast and thanks to some friends made while busting some shapes I’m now welcome in Detroit any time….. I mean I have no actual contact details but I think if I rock up in Detroit I’ll be golden…

Between my ‘holiday’ and the series main event build up getting going I played some poker. I actually played a few tournaments to change things up – I’m struggling with live cash these days as it’s so slow and keeping discipline is hard. During series time the Venetian and Ceasars run deep stack events which are really fantastic. Professionally run, lots of chips and a chance at a big prize for an affordable buy in. great for players and defnintely the way poker is going as players get more sophisticated. I think I played decently – ran up my stack most times I played (the competeition wasn’t great with a deep stack) but missed out on a big score. I went deep in a Caesar’s event but somehow managed to get KK cracked by 33 which was pretty tedious.

Since moving to the Rio and starting the build up to the main event things have ‘gone a little bit turbo’. I’ve been working during the days – podcasting for on the rail and ladbrokes, commentary for stars and some writing; then socializing in the evenings (there are scores of parties in WSOP week – it’s such a bind ;))…I’ve officially been burning the candle at both ends…. I won’t bore you with all the messy details but the Ladbrokes party on top of the rio was a lot of fun – as was the Cardrunners party involving some righteous beer pong action (which appears to have made it to the forum already – see poker chat) as Brian and I destroyed all comers (after we’d played the old ‘I’m from England I’ve never played it before hustle’)

The main event has been my nemesis as ever. It’s as if poker has been too good to me over the years and it gets its own back when I try and qualify for the thing (do I write this each year?). As usual this year I tried and failed – as usual when I play WSOP qualifying every idiot turns into a poker genius or pulls 9 aces preflop out the back….. do I sound bitter coz I am!!
Thankfully I can live vicariously through Kara. I’m sure you’ve all heard about her awesome day 1 and her 42 kagillion chips. It’s pretty great stuff and she’s put herself in position to make a run into the money. Obviuosly I’m really proud of her and hope she can keep it up. Actually I have 6 or 7 friends going into day 2 so it’s going to be pretty exciting even if I am standing on the rail holding the coats…

That’s a few of the highlights – there’s plenty of other stuff I’ve had to leave out – but all in all it’s been an amazing trip. Still another 6 days left here which will be more relaxed I hope as I prepare to re-enter normal society
Vegas is a dream and nightmare for me I’ve decided – it’s so seductive it removes me of all my real life ambition….

So it’s summer. I know the weather doesn’t tell you so but your local Cineplex (whatever that is will). It’s blockbuster season.

Let me put my cards on the table – I ruddy love a good blockbuster. Last summer I was sitting in the audience for Transfomers and the educated 10% of my brain was thinking this is ludicrous, childish drivel; sadly the other 90% was busy jumping up and down and giggling like an 8 year old as the big robots smashed each other apart….and they could like totally change into cars and everything

Sadly I’m stuck in a state of arrested development – but waddya gonna do…

With that in mind it’s with a heavy heart that I have to rant slightly about the state of most ‘blockbuster’s. Hollywood is busy eating itself with endless sequels and franchises (apparently they’re making 2 more terminator films…. 1 and 2 just awesome but enough now, stop please)

It’s fine when they’re good riotous fun (like Transformers) but not when they’re sad lifeless messes. Unfortunately Indiana Jones 4 (count them) falls into this category. I adore Indy films – especially the original – but this is a bad imitation. Frankly George Lucas needs to stop writing scripts – his endless need to explain everything, even things not connected with the script (what was with the KGB/FBI storyline that completely disappeared… or the conversation about the young guy fencing at school so he can have a sword fight later; christ we didn’t need a conversation in the first film about how Indy did whip classes at school)….

Anyway I want my blockbusters fun and spectacular – roll on the Dark Knight if it’s half as good as Batman Begins I’ll be happy…

My nomination of funniest moment in TV this year was during the final of Britain’s got talent. During the results show as they announced the top 3 of the ten finalists there were several pauses for tension complete with dramatic close ups of the finalists so you could be sure how much it meant to them. One of the acts was a young girl with a performing dog. Not once but twice (and I promise I’m not making this up) during the tension filled moments the director closed in on…. The dog. We were left in no doubt just how much that dog wanted to perform for Prince Charles….

That’s films and TV so you can tell how remarkable my life is at the moment…

Mainly I’m trying to get all my work and stuff done before Vegas

I leave in about 10 days and it should be a great trip. The annual mixture of work in the sun, poker and holiday beckons. I’ll also be doing some serious thinking about my next steps in work and life (and poker) as I’m at one of those crossroad things we hear so much about…. I’ll keep you posted.

Right I wish I wasn’t writing this and I’m a bit weird about making in public but I’m hoping that doing so will help me clarify my feelings about it

 I’m extremely frustrated with my poker game at the moment.

Last night was my 4^th losing session out of the last five in a game I know I can beat. In total its only for about 6 or 7 buy ins which isn’t that significant and certainly isn’t the worst I’ve endured.

However I’m as frustrated and disappointed with what’s happening to my game as I have been for years and I feel like I’m banging my head on a concrete wall

 I know my knowledge of the game has improved over the last year but my results haven’t (I’m winning but at nothing like the level I should be) and I haven’t been able to make the step up in limits I’d hoped to make.

I’ve said before that the better the player the smaller the gap between their knowledge and their execution at the moment my gap is too big.

There are some facts I need to be honest with myself about. It’s very hard for me to play poker in a focussed clear thinking way because of my other life and work commitments. Often I end up playing late at night where it’s impossible for me to be at my best and I end up playing on auto pilot.

I’m trying to make money from players (not all of them of course but enough) who play every day and that’s all they do and if I’m not at my best I can’t fade that edge.

This all plays into a much bigger question as to where playing poker fits into my life as a whole. I’m too good and too obsessed with it to just be a hobby and I’m not devoted enough to play at the level (either standard of game or my own level) that I’d like

I have some time in the next month with a lighter work schedule to play more hands (live and online) and then I’ll be in vegas for 3 to 4 weeks so we’ll see how that goes.
If I’m not able to make the improvement I want and close my ‘gap’ I’m going to have to make some big decisions. Maybe to acknowledge that I just have to be a recreational player – play less and take the pressure off when I do play. Or maybe take a complete break for a few months.

Something has to change because my current mediocrity is unbearable.

Hello…

 Haven’t done this for a while because I haven’t had anything to “blog” about… I thought about making one up but then I’m not sure if you’d completely buy the idea of me in a cape solving crimes… I mean that is what happens (at weekends anyway) I just didn’t think you’d buy it…. See this is the kind of nonsense I knew I’d come out with…..
 

Um… decisions and judgements that’s what I was going to write about. But now I come to do it I’m not really up for it so you’re getting a shortened version – sorry I have an attitude problem (all my teachers said so)
Everyone needs to go read ‘Fooled by Randomness’ by Taleb if you haven’t already – it expresses what I want to far more clearly and indepth. Basically the older I get the more frustrated I become with how people understand what happens in the world… or rather how they misunderstand it
For example I was presenting the Man Utd vs Chelsea game in the league of weeks ago. Alex Ferguson had controversially left out some of his star players and was losing at half time. I put it to the resident pundit that it would be seen as a mistake and asked him if it was. He answered that if they lost the game it was but we’d have to wait til the end of the game…. I’m not having a go at him I’m sure a lot of people think that way but (and poker is one of the few things that teaches you this) his point was the result dictates whether the decision was right or not. Of course this is nonsense – Ferguson could have picked entirely the wrong team and been extremely lucky in the match and won; it wouldn’t have made his decision right.

In the main, in most areas of our lives people look at the results and work backwards to form conclusions then extrapolate forwards based on that rationalisation. (for example does a murder in the afternoon in oxford street mean our country is less safe or more violent? Of course it doesn’t – one incident in a country of 60 million people cannot have any baring on anything; yet our entire media embraces the idea that it does). I think this tendency is responsible for a lot of mistakes both in individuals’ lives and in social / economic policy. Basically Talebs book should be taught in schools as should poker.

Anyway it frustrates me so I thought I’d share it – that’s what this whole blogging deal is about right?

 What else….

 Um…. people wear too few clothes when the temperature hits 19 degrees or higher. alright for the 4% of people I want to see in less clothes - bad for the rest

 The Apprentice is the funniest (and therefore best) programme on TV

 Er… That is all

 Back from a week in the principality – still don’t really understand if it’s France or not…?

 I’m writing on Sunday evening and have a mountain of work to get through over the next two or three days and feeling a little well… sad.

It’s hard to tell until you properly look back but I’m probably at the end of one of the better weeks of my life. You’re supposed to feel great and grateful after the kind of experiences and I do but right now I’m a bit tired, don’t want to work and don’t want last week to be over.

 I know I’m a bore but the marathon really was an amazing thing to do. A completely unique experience – both in terms of the level of commitment and effort it takes but also in terms of it being the only time I’m ever doing it!!

When I got to Monte Carlo I couldn’t really walk. People were very kind in praising me for doing the run and very brutal in taking advantage of me in my weakened and slow moving state!

Had a great time in Monte Carlo as you’d expect; not a bad place to recover from my exertions…I recommend champagne as the best recovery beverage. The main reason is that several of my friends in poker were around and I got to hang out with them and have some fun in the surreal world of the European poker circuit.

Monte Carlo itself was actually a bit of a let down. Of course I expected it to be expensive but I’m pretty sure they just make the cost of stuff up as they go along (80 euros for 3 heinekens in a night club and 15 euros for 2 bananas were stand outs). Naturally it’s very beautiful but the food, service and some of the venues definitely don’t do it justice. The main old casino however is stunning.

During the weak I managed to win a decent amount of cash. Also did some commentary on the coverage of the final table – which was unscheduled and a lot of fun

 On the last night the final table was contested by several people almost half my age for money that I’ll probably make in my life – poker really is a bizarre world.

After the last night party I returned to my hotel and stood on the terrace as the sun came up and I took a few moments to think what a very lucky boy I am.

Exotic destinations, luxuries and so on are all great to have but the truth is that the more you have of them the less you notice them and appreciate them. I don’t think there’s anything you can do about this it’s the curse of our adaptable natures.

However you can’t tire of unique, impactful experiences which is why I’ll never forget the marathon… I need to find the next ‘life experience’ and it will not involve running!!!

Just a quickie to say … I rock!!!!

Today I ran a marathon and I finished it!

We ran it at a completely even pace as we’d planned ( a slooowww pace I should add) and got round - which is just an incredible feeling

It’s hard to write about without cliches but it’s everything you’d expect. One of the most exciting, fulfilling, uplifting days of my life - but also one the most trying and painful!

The last 5 miles are totally inhumane. The fascinating thing about it is it’s truly mind over matter. After about 18/19 miles you’re body runs out of energy reserves and you’re legs start to tie up and really hurt. Basically everything in your body tells you to stop and the only way you can continue is by having you’re mind override it. This is fine for a bit but you have to do it for soooo long that it’s incredibly stressful!

Oh and a word on the atmosphere which is awesome. I’d like to thank everyone who shouted, clapped etc personally it makes such a difference - happily in future years I’ll be one of them!

Anyway as I write this I’m basically crippled… but it was so worth it

finally a word about my sister. She ran the marathon ten years ago and for most of the intervening time has been battling serious illness.
She started training in September with her first run of 1 minute run and 3 minutes walk 4 times. She barely made it and then slept all afternoon. 7 months later she completed a marathon today. She’s without question the bravest toughest person I know

Right must go off to Monte Carlo in a few hours for the EPT final

Yeah … I’m a marathon bore. It’s like I’m having / had a baby.

The “big day” is a week and a half away and it’s kind of difficult to think about anything else.

So guess what I’m gonna write about….

 I’m flip flopping between excitement about the day – the crowds, the experience, the challenge and so forth. And pure abject terror.

I can rationalise that I’ve done my training and whatever happens I’ll get round somehow – hey older, worser people – some in banana costumes – have got round; why shouldn’t I? But there’s that creeping, insidious fear of the unknown that has me petrified.

I was pretty tired at the end of my last long run and my legs were starting to knot up – not good signs. If I’d had to do another 9 miles at the end of it I would have staggered to the side of the road and died quietly in a ditch…

The fascinating thing is every other time in my life I’ve had a big challenge ahead I’ve been able to do something about it. If I’ve got a casting/exam/big poker game etc. I’m worried about I’d practise or prepare for it. But right now I’m “tapering” – which means I’ve done all the hard training and I have to rest and not do much. Which is nice of course but would be a lot better if I had the slightest bit of faith I’m not going to collapse on 19 miles and be overtaken by 3 pensioners and a pantomime horse.

So that’s the fear part…

And the loving part…. Um…. Was just for the title…

Oh okay wait – now don’t hate me – but I’ve just found out I’m going to Monte Carlo for the EPT final. It’s straight after the marathon so should be an awesome way to celebrate (if all goes to plan). Though I won’t be able to walk…

I’ve never been and I’m slightly worried – with could reason those of you who have met me can testify to – that I’m no where near classy enough. Going to spend most of the week trying not to be mistaken for ‘the help’…

 This blogs movie recommendation is just about anything by Woody Allen (not including last 5 years – I’m reasonably certain Match Point was made by a cyborg allen impersonator)

I just ordered 3 of his early comedies and they’re genius. Random, funny, touching and well… very funny. It’s fascinating how much people have stolen from him over the year. i’m off to watch Zelig; never seen it before but  it’ll probably be a treat