UKIPT season 2 and Lord Sugar’s tiny beard

We’re nearly at the end of the year. For most people that’s 31^st December – for everyone in ‘media’ it appears to be something closer to the 14^th as that’s when it all grinds to a halt!

I’m in ‘just get things done then we can have holiday’ mode – it’s a magnificent tick box, standard slipping state which probably partly made this country great

Season 2 of UKIPT has already started we’ve had the first event in Galway. The presence of TV cameras made it all the more exciting; as did the presence of ludicrous amounts of snow in England and Ireland. A lot of players couldn’t make it on time so we delayed the start and all spent the time having snowball fights, drinking hot chocolate (it was Guiness) and playing online. Environmental problems aside a lot of players still made it, more than last year and enough to give the event it’s great atmosphere. We got some great stories too, nearly getting our first female winner and actually getting our first two time winner. Next stop is Nottingham and time to dust of my Robin Hood tights…its nice to be able to wear them with non-arrestable excuse

It took me ages to get a sky plus box (other hard drive recording boxes devices are available) but now I have I love it to the point of a deep sexual longing. It means I’ve missed less episodes of good stuff like the Daily Show and American sport. The Apprentice gets my nomination as best show on telly ever. Just get some people that take themselves very seriously, make them do stupid stuff, point the camera and let them make themselves look ridiculous. The few minutes of tv in the penultimate episode where ‘the brand’ was brutally fired and then Jo magnificently validated was as good as telly gets.

My favourite sequel ever

So my blog has become a bit like the door handle that goes into my living room that barely works and come out it’s socket in your hand 20% of the times you use it.

It’s needed writing for ages like my handle needs fixing and there’s nothing stopping me writing it but the longer it goes the more of a chore it feels.

There’s a scene in friends where Rachel meets a doctor whose a gynecologist and shes put off him because he expresses that what he sees all day at work he doesn’t want to see in his free time… I think blog writing is like that for me – I write all time so it’s more writing….

Anyway let’s jump off the introspection band wagon….

We’re between UKIPT seasons and I feel a bit naked without it. Season 1 ended in London and I won’t do the commercial bit about how well it all went but .um…it really did go very well. I loved the whole season; ukipt events have their own atmosphere and they really do kick other poker events ass….royally…from above. Season 2 will be on us soon (first one in Galway first week in December) and I have a sneaking suspicion it’ll be bigger and better and sexier than season 1…just you see if it’s not.

Things are going great away from the tour thanks for asking. It’s weird when you’re freelance and there’s no structure or plan but after a period of some frustration earlier in the year things are happening on lots of different writing and performing projects. I’ll ‘blog’ about them when they’re certain but it’s a fun exciting time. …which is nice.

In other news here are things I like at the moment….

-        the Apprentice…christ it’s good. I like to take a drink everytime someone says ‘skill set’ – mullered by 9.35. Last week someone actually said to a person’s face ‘I look forward to dialoging with you later’….genius

-        the NFL. Loved it years ago and I’m right back into it this season. Helps that it’s one of the most competitive seasons in years and that my childhood team the Raiders have their first decent outfit for ages

-        Red wine. Have started to frickin love the stuff. Think it’s a sign of being old but who cares. I know a tiny bit about it and want to keep it that way – I think knowing more about it would spoil it for me. Currently working with Malbecs….tremendous!

-        Sky + HD recorder (other HD recorders are available)…was very late to this party but it really is the shizzle. Espcecially when you’re into watching North American sport

Not much else really – you’d think after a couple of months break I’d have more to say but to be honest deep down I’m a very shallow person. I guarantee the next time we speak the door handle won’t be fixed because where as I can type if I try to do anything DIY related ever not only will the initial problem not be fixed but 14 more will be created.

On The Rail Podcast #38 Released

Dear On The Rail Member,

For a limited time you’ll have exclusive access to the newest edition of the On The Rail podcast.

Britain rules the poker waves and Nick finds out why with an interview with young EPT winner Toby Lewis. Also on the menu Nick ranting about the old dudes that ‘just don’t get modern poker’ in a desperate attempt to prove he’s not old. Get on it!

You’ll need a password access it on the site, this month it’s : magnetic

Click here to listen:

http://www.ontherail.co.uk/podcasts/on-the-rail/on-the-rail-38/

That’s it for this edition of the newsletter, as ever, lets us know what you think about the podcast by posting comments on the site.

Best,

Nick and the team @

www.ontherail.co.uk

On The Rail #38

Britain rules the poker waves and Nick finds out why with an interview with young EPT winner Toby Lewis. Also on the menu Nick ranting about the old dudes that ‘just don’t get modern poker’ in a desperate attempt to prove he’s not old. Get on it!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (48.0MB)

Edinburgh and all that

Summer is over and I ended it with a bang…well a binge to be more accurate.

I spent 10 or so days in Edinburgh and re-discovered the student within me.

Not sure how many reading this will have been to the Edinburgh festival or to Edinburgh full stop but if you haven’t then do! I haven’t been everywhere but of the towns/cities I’ve visited in the UK and Ireland it’s by far my favourite  – if we could move it a couple of hundred miles south I’d be there in a shot.

I was there for the latest leg of the UKIPT and then for some quality comedy festival time. The tournament went very well especially considering it was a brand new event for Scotland – next year I think it’ll be even bigger.

The festival was great except for deciding to torture my liver by drinking every night. I’m a complete lightweight and never really ‘drank’ when I was the age you’re supposed to drink so it was all a bit silly but a lot of fun. The comedy was very mixed – there are a lot of comics around these days who clearly belong in rock bands (as in they just want to be famous) and don’t actually have any material. But then there are also geniuses like Emo Phillips and the God that is Tim Vine. When Tim was told he’d won the best joke at the festival award he replied ‘I’m so excited I’m going to Sooty’s barbecue to have a sweep stake’…genius.

I have ‘a lot on’ at the moment. Lots of big poker tournaments are coming to London this month and the WCOOP is happening on line so there’s plenty of poker work . Also I’m working on some comedy projects and probably a couple of TV shows so it’s all a bit full. With all of that there isn’t much time for poker at the moment and I’ve reached a plateau with Omaha so I’m taking a break until I have time to focus on it properly. Will be playing a couple of live events in the next 6 weeks so I’ll let you know how those go.

Think that’s about it…..hope summer isn’t over for you and you can cling onto it for a few weeks to come!

On The Rail Podcast #37 Released

Dear On The Rail Member,

For a limited time you’ll have exclusive access to the newest edition of the On The Rail podcast.

Nick and Kara catch up with another transatlantic On The Rail and a look back at the WSOP. There’s also an in-depth interview with WPT champ and new team Poker Stars pro David Williams and news on the latest attempt to harness the power of Ivey.

You’ll need a password access it on the site, this month it’s : playtex

Click here to listen:

http://www.ontherail.co.uk/podcasts/on-the-rail/on-the-rail-37/

That’s it for this edition of the newsletter, as ever, lets us know what you think about the podcast by posting comments on the site.

Best,

Nick and the team @

www.ontherail.co.uk

On The Rail #37

Nick and Kara catch up with another transatlantic On The Rail and a look back at the WSOP. There’s also an in-depth interview with WPT champ and new team Poker Stars pro David Williams and news on the latest attempt to harness the power of Ivey.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (66.2MB)

nicks bits

Apparently it takes a day for every time zone you travel through to recover from jet lag. Well I must have popped around the world a couple of times because this trip back from Vegas kicked my butt. I don’t think it helped I went straight to the UKIPT in Brighton and managed not to sleep for more than about  5 hours for 2 weeks but still….. Several times I’ve been up before 830 and that just wont do!!

Brighton was great – the Rendezvous is a great place to play and did the tour proud. It’s also a cool place to be generally although it’s many times cooler during the week than the weekend when the hordes from London descend.

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Final WSOP fantasy game standings….Kara 45pts / Matt 37 pts / Nick 17 pts

I suck. I’ve been let down. Kathy Liebert needs to have a serious word with herself frankly it’s the last time she lets me down…

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I’ve had a shocking month on the playing poker side of things. It involved a couple of weeks of barely winning a significant pot and then some time where variance kicked my arse. The last few days I’ve been playing well though and my PLO game is looking better so we’ll see. Still running horribly on the year making  small profit online when it should be a decent one; thank goodness for live tourneys…never thought I’d say that.

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Did you see Inception yet? It’s basically a very well done heist thriller covering up a story about the lead character’s love and loss and it demands to be seen it’s just so well done. Amazing Nolan isn’t lauded here – we’ve produced a Steve Spielberg equivalent and you barely see anything on him.

That’s all my bits for now…later skater

On The Rail Podcast #36 Released

Dear On The Rail Member,

For a limited time you’ll have exclusive access to the newest edition of the On The Rail podcast.

Nick and Matt look back on the World Series and the latest UKIPT. There’s also an interview with online super star Jude Ainsworth and Nick finds out what’s up Matt’s wizard’s sleeve as they talk magic the gathering.

You’ll need a password access it on the site, this month it’s : bennett

Click here to listen:

http://www.ontherail.co.uk/podcasts/on-the-rail/on-the-rail-36/

That’s it for this edition of the newsletter, as ever, lets us know what you think about the podcast by posting comments on the site.

Best,

Nick and the team @

www.ontherail.co.uk

On The Rail #36

Nick and Matt look back on the World Series and the latest UKIPT. There’s also an interview with online super star Jude Ainsworth and Nick finds out what’s up Matt’s wizard’s sleeve as they talk magic the gathering.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (58.2MB)

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