Update

Sorry y'all.. been a little busy with various things recently. After my trip back to the UK to get a new passport I managed to pick up some literature that was very self-motivating towards poker. It allowed me to sit down and reassess what I wanted to achieve and to push the limits like never before. So I set myself a challenge. A ludicrous, ridiculous challenge that I had no chance of reaching, but I set it nonetheless. $200,000 profit in 4 months. If I don't hit it, I don't go to the WSOP, it's that simple.

Now I'm usually good for $15-20k a month which is fantastic, but unless you set new goals you become stagnant, in business & life. However, the PokerGods were not in on my goal as they punished me worse than I've ever seen. I ran worse than Jonny Vegas halfway through a London Marathon. I've managed to claw it back in the past week though, and I now stand at +$11,000 after 30 days. Erm, think I'm gonna have to hit a big one. But then again, why not? I'm also intending to up the ante with the stakes that I'm playing, as I may venture above $500 SNGs which are usually the highest I go. I've dropped my highest stake a little lower in the past few weeks for obvious reasons.

Other than that bills are paid & there's money in the bank. Car. Condo. Nice weather. Life could be worse, so I won't bitch. I think I've been doing far too much of that lately considering my position in the world. Time to walk around with a smile like I should be.

GL at the tables,
JPK

Isn't it funny..

..how variance in poker coincides with variance in life? Upswings and downswings, side by side... strange.. in the UK right now.. back to Tampa on Monday.. will post a full update when I stop losing my ass on a daily basis..

New Betfair article up

Variance..

http://site.poker.betfair.com/newsandviews/article/itemId/i65767651/index.html

A good few days and pix of my new car..

$11k up in the past 5 days from very little play, whether that's good variance kicking in, or the calm before the storm I'm really not sure right now but I'll ride with it anyway. But one thing's for sure long term I really need to grind more. 1000 SNG per month should be the minimum benchmark for any professional and I'm well short of that the past 12 months. I don't practice what I preach a lot of the time and I need to turn the corner starting, well, tomorrow. Which I will.

That said, the $11k came in handy after I purchased this little demon a couple of days ago:














I'll have condo pix up in 2 weeks, it's not quite finished yet, hence the delay, if anyone cares.

Also it appears, including myself, that poker bloggers in general are neglecting their blogs. I've got no doubts facebook is the cause, so if you'd like to add me, do a search for Jonathan Farrer from the Manchester network. I'll try to be less tardy (that's right, I said tardy, too much time in the states) here, and thanks so much for all the comments and emails guys, especially the car advice. I just felt getting a Porsche whilst learning to drive on the other side of the road was a little too indulgent :-)

Regards,
JPK

A new year and a good start

Played twice since the turn of the year, for a profit of around $5500. Can't ask for more than that. Hands holding up can be a pretty nice thing every now and again. Hopefully I can really turn the screw in the next few weeks and I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. I've been playing so much better than my opponents for months now without reward, so it's time for variance to kick in.

I fly home on the 31st for around 10 days as I need to renew my passport and get some finances in order. Then, back "home" to Tampa for some, erm, hot weather.

I am test driving a BMW Z4 & Porsche Boxster tomorrow.. hey, we all need to spend a little on indulgence every once in a while, don't we?

Pix of the condo coming in the next post.

Regards,
JPK

Sorry, sorry, sorry..

Yes I know, another lapse in updates but what can I say.. I've been busy. I'm not like all you fuckers with hours to spare reading nonsensical poker blogs online. Just kidding, honest. Anyway.. I'm settled in Tampa now, my place is pretty much fixed up (pix forthcoming), and beginning to make friends and the phone book is filling up.. all is coolio..

2007 was a weird year. I'm sure I'll look back at a later date and think it was absolutely fantastic, but right now it's a "what might have been". I have no reason to complain though the last 6 months, financially, haven't been amazing. Personally, they're getting better. I also managed to get a haircut. But I shall forever be the pirate king, just sans bandana..

So I've been pretty quiet, both in blogland and to those that know me. I'd like to say it's not purposefully, but if you read this blog you'll know that's not the 100% truth. However, poker is the main agenda now, and I'll be hitting the tables full force up until the end of May. I don't envision me going to Vegas, but you never know.

Aims for 2008 in no particular order:

£10,000 profit per month MINIMUM including rakeback (providing I don't run like I have been doing)
Play as few live tournaments as humanly possible
Play more online MTTs, they really are a huge strength yet I continue to be tardy with them
Get a better tan
Move upto 13st, 10% bodyfat
Less alcohol
More girls

Basically, keep on the road I am currently, without the sarcasm of course.

My new dead weight, erm, I mean protege, "EricKGB" (Betfair) has started a blog, http://erickgbpoker.blogspot.com - so check that out for lots of moaning about bad beats and stuff..

Another update when I have time to think..

Regards
JPK

Small update

The condo is coming along nicely but taking longer than expected. However I'm settling in well, although have not played much poker. In fact since Nov 10th I've played 5 SNGs, winning all of them, LOL.

I decided I will continue this blog, I had too many positive messages via email not to.. surprisingly most came from people I don't know, rather than people I do. I think that just reinforces what I said in my previous post. It's all good, at least I know where I stand now.

I'll post some pictures up of the finished article sometime weekend next. I've been thinking of naming the Condo "Fish Towers", in honour of all those who helped pay for it, but I will resist putting JPK lettering on the front door, and trust me, I almost decided to do it, how much of a mark am I? :-)

Regards,
JPK

PS I have added a link for Dial-A-Dealer, which is an independent start-up company that provides dealers/equipment for private poker functions. It is run by a friend of the family. So if you are planning (or want to plan) your own poker event, be sure to check them out and see what they can do for you.