OK, lets start off with the trip report on Spain.
I arrived in Lloret on Friday and at the airport were myself, Darren Shallis, Ian Thompson, Phil TC, Matt Ward, Glen Lamings. There were others I had not met before and I am bad with names but the bus had about 12 on us on it. It takes about an hour to get to Lloret where we find the advance party of Stu Ward, Brendan Byrne, Craig&Beth and Alan Lake sat in the sun with tour leader Paulie "Paulie_D" Davies.
A quick change and shower and we had all joined them. Stu introduced the barman, Max, who was a great bloke himself. A taxi then arrives and out get Leigh Wiltshire, Jack "Technolog" Prime, Ger Smyth Jnr and to the cheers of the crowd gathered Ger Smyth Snr. In about 3 seconds they all have a beer and we are all have a great time. The night quickly becomes very hazy and Lloret is soon spinning. I obviously forgot to get anything to eat due to having much more important things to do. We had to a bar called Gerrys and play pool, which is quite hard when you can"t see straight, although Shallis seemed to adjust to it quite well and takes down both games (Pineapple Luckbox). Richard (Carlarge) arrived at some point as well but I must be honest and say I don"t know exactly where. However I have made a fishy mistake here and forgotten that beer without food is always a bad play and fail to make it much passed 11pm. I tried to eat but as soon as I tried I found it really didn"t work after drinking. I have noted this leak in my game and will not make the mistake again.
After I recover on Saturday morning I quickly get some food and have a few waters and get back to feeling normal. We then get a beer (well I get a beer some people get a few more than that). Before heading down to the casino to play poker. As always the tournamernt is organised well and we discuss before it begins and we all kind of have an issue with staying focused here. This comes true as most of the regs bust out quickly (poker post to follow) and I sit in the bar chatting to Chen and Ian for a while. Leigh provides us with vouchers for free drinks which is good. I manage to progress from soft drinks onto beer again and finally do come back to life. Myself, Darren and some others use up the tokens we have and then go back to Gerrys where we have a few more pints (much more sensible than the night before though) and sit down and have a chat, this is another great part of the weekend. It closes at 3am so we head off to Yates bar down the street. Petch convinces five very attractive women to take us there and after they show us where it is Petch seemed odds on to go on with them to where ever they were going until he explains what poker (pok er) means anyway. We end up going back at around 4am leaving Jack and Petch still happily drinking away. Good day.
On Sunday we get outside the hotel by midday (it"s colder today) after having a coffee and waking up we head off for breakfast. I can"t honestly remember who was there but Ian took a picture so hopefully he will be posting that. The pub we had breakfast in was great and we then headed off to the sports bar to watch the football. A few of us want to go and see Barcalona play, others want to go and play poker at the casino. I decided to go to the game and we head off in a taxi for the Camp Nou, there was Me, Petch, Rod "paradise" Copeland, Stu Ward, Matt Ward and Ger Jnr. We see a great game, Barca must be the best team in the world and the control they had was unreal at times. After returning from the game we go for a final drink before heading back.
Overall another great APAT weekend, respect to the work Rich Prew and Leigh Wiltshire do to keep this running and make the weekends happen, whilst we are all enjoying ourselves and having fun they are always working hard to make the tournament run and keep the updates going.
Stu, it was good to meet you properly as well, sure I will be seeing you again in Season five.
For those of you who are in Bolton I will see you in two weeks - for those who are not, see you in season five.
