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A bumpy landing in Vegas
Evening all.
I'm in Vegas now until mid July. I know, I know, tough gig this.
Anyway, I'll be sending a few blogs across. Probably 1 or 2 a week until the Sky Poker players arrive, & then 1 each day, all being well.
In addition, I'll be sending Kirsty some photos from Vegas of various folks or places, some of whom you might be interested in.
Finally, I'll do a few threads on the Forum with various bits & bobs. Just little odds & ends of Vegas news & goss. It'll be a fascinating as a day at work with MattPrawn, or an Essexphil Diary entry.
Comments
Worth remembering that Las Vegas is 8 hours BEHIND the UK.
So I'm posting this at 1.30pm, & it is 9.30pm back home.
The temperature right now? 104f.
At midnight last night, it was 92f
At 8am this morning, it was 89f.
Despite those searing temperatures;
I played some Big O cash at The Rio on Friday night, & made the ultimate rookie error of wearing a t-Shirt but no hoodie.
After 3 hours, I had to quit, as I was shivering & trembling due to being freezing cold. The aircon in these places is amazing, but it don't 'arf get cold.
So if you have been fortunate enough to bag a Viva Las Vegas package, or plan to come over for the WSOP, bring a hoodie. Honestly, you cannot play without one.
Deffo not complaining, but Friday was a bad day.
When you travel to Vegas - or anywhere in he USA - you have to fill a Form in, provided by the Border Protection people.
Amongst other things, it asks how many US Dollars you are bringing into the country.
Here's some advice - ALWAYS tell the truth on these forms.
I had written down the exact sum I was carrying - & I do mean exact. I had x,000 USD, & wrote the exact number on my form.
I queued up in Immigration, had my fingerprints taken as usual, & was then waved through. (Everyone has to have their fingerprints taken each time they arrive in the USA).
Next, go to the carousel & collect my case.
That's it, job done.
Or you'd THINK it was job done, but no, they have one more surprise in store......
So I'm happy as Larry, pushing my luggage trolley towards the exit, & now I have one more barrier to pass through.
The man looks at my Border Protection form, & instead of taking it & waving me through, he sends me to the "Secondary Customs Area". You do NOT want to be invited into this room, trust me.
There was a huge queue I there, & it took me 3 hours before it was my turn to be grilled by the US version of Mr Nasty.
Do you know that you have to declare how much you are bringing in if it exceeds $10,000 USD?
(Yes, I did - but I never exceeded that sum).
Do you know that if you are 1 USD over the amount on the form, we can confiscate every cent?
(No, but I'm not fussed, as I have stated the exact & correct amount).
And so on.
Place all your cash on the table.
I do exactly that. I was tempted to take the Vincent Vega line in Pulp Fiction to Winston Wolf, "please would be nice" but I manage to resist. Don't mess with these boys.
Now count it, & place it in piles of $1,000.
Okayyyyyy
After a while, I'm done, all my cash is laid out on the table in little piles.
Now our man counts it. And reminds me....
If this is 1 cent over what you stated on the form, we will have the right to confiscate it all.
Okayyyyy......
Eventually, he is done. The sum I am carrying is EXACTLY the amount I filled in on the form.
That's it, we are through
Thanks for that mate.
And I toddle off, 3 hours later than planned.
So be careful with these boys. It's not worth shooting your mouth off or getting cheeky.
Natalie & Adam Bromley are here already, but I've yet to bump into them.
Jeff Kimber & Joe Beevers are here, as a sort of twosome, & I will be seeing them in due course no doubt. Jeff wrote to me last night, & he's in good heart.
Patrick Leonard (Pleno) is here, & we plan to meet up in a day or so.
Colossus is in full swing, & the place is heaving.
Sue & Dave Norsden (KidGrimsby & KidGirlGy) are (or were...) here, along with their son, Will, who was in the Redtooth Final. (He finished 9th).
I was due to meet up with them yesterday, as Dave & Sue had a gift for me, but it all went wrong. I met Gill off the plane (she arrived a day after me) & she was unwell, so I had to change my plans & do my duty by looking after her.
So I text Sue & Dave this morning to apologise for not hooking up yesterday as promised, & Dave replied - "we are on the way back to Blighty".
Whoops. I felt pretty bad about that, but it was unavoidable.
Anyway, if Sue & Dave are reading this, I hope you had a safe trip home.
just an aside...
you're a good bloke, tikay.
as you were.
That is one hell of a wait you had upon arrival...
Hope you can smash up some Big O cash games and a few MTT's but above all have an enjoyable time.
Cya sometime after the 9th July.
Those with heart problems have to manage 4 key risk factors;
1) Alcohol consumption needs to be moderate at best. Luckily, I don't drink alcohol, so that one is easy.
2) Daily exercise is a must. Yup, I walk a decent distance every day, usually 4 miles, & in my Rehab, they said my cardio recovery has been excellent.
3) Diet, & cholesterol. ("Bad" cholesterol is the problem, so-called "good cholesterol" is OK). Yup, lost a stone since the problem, & my diet is generally better now.
4) Ciggies. Not had one ciggie since the incident, have stone cold quit.
So I reckon as I tick boxes 1), 2) & 4), I can relax when on holiday & eat sticky buns all day & all night.
As dear old Meat Load said, 3 out of 4 ain't bad, ohhh, 3 out of 4 ain't bad.
Did I pack my Sunday best? Well if I do say so myself, when it comes to sartorial elegance I am truly magnificent, I am an inspiration to the yoof of today.
Thanks mate. Can you thank Lyn from me, please, it is very kind of her. She is a lovely player & a genuinely nice person.
I needed to take a little break whilst I re-organised my lifestyle, the doctors were very clear I had no other option or it was GG time. I'm fine now though, & Ill be back playing Online once I get home from Vegas.
Whilst I have your attention, how are your family? And how is the bowling going? If you happen to "see" mmmchips, give him my best regards please.