6 of the best poke.....

...r related cufflinks!

So, it always amazes me just how quickly Christmas always creeps up on me. I know it's coming every year, and I know when it is! It just suddenly seems that it's here! Walking down Oxford Street last night, the lights are on, the weather is cold, and people (grrrr, annoying crowds!) are out shopping in force.

As you probably can tell, I'm not a huge fan of crowds. Or shopping. As a result, I've fallen headlong into a, so far, lifelong affair with the internet. OK, it may not be an affair, and I know we both have other interests, but f*ck buddy doesn't sound so poetic.

Right, I'll get to the point. I have, as many people do, an interest in poker. I think my family have cottoned on to this, and suspect that those shiny parcels I am hoping I've been good enough to get this year, will have in some poker related goodies.


What might they be, I hear you ask? Well, I've been banging on about cufflinks a bit at home recently, so had a quick look to see whether there are any nice cufflinks out there - this is what i've found:

1. Dunhill have a nice pair of chips cufflinks, they are quite pricey though, but having recently found dunhill do this sort of thing, I presume the quality will be excellent.

Link

2. Next is another dunhill creation, this time they are lovely looking cards, the marketing spout says they're made from sterling silver with rhodium plating, whatever the f*** that is!

Link

3. At the other end of the scale from the first 2, we've found these bad boys. Considerably cheaper than the dunhill ones, they look good in the photo, and are cheap. I'm not sure getting 8 aces is going to go unnoticed around the table though!

Link

4. From the same site come the Ace of spade cufflinks - not sure I like these as much as the others, but they are simple and cheap.

Link

5. Next on the list we move sites to find some poker chip cufflinks. These have a bit more colour than we've seen so far, but could be fun. At under a tenner, these could be a good present this Christmas for a secret santa thing in the office!?!

Link

6. Finally on this list, we have the kings and aces cufflinks. These have good detail on the cufflink, and I'm sure would complement any shirt.

Link

So, that's our list of 6 of the best. I like these cufflinks, but am hoping if I had to choose a single pair, to get the ones first in this list. Yes,. I know they are £155 but they look really good, and they seem to be built to last. Father Christmas, if you are reading, can I please have a pair?

What do you think of these?

I've got my long legs out...

I'm tall.  At 6' 4" (about 1m90) I'm not *that* tall, just taller than average.  I am in proportion, and therefore come equipped with longer than average legs.

Why is it then, that I feel discriminated against when asked to do certain things? 

Driving cars is becoming easier, as taller consumers are catered for, I have however never driven an early mini, or managed to get my hands on a supercar - although Jeremy Clarkson seems to get in (just) to these things, it's simply not practical in some cases for everyday use.

Another example is flying, and this is one which really does wind me up - every time I fly.  Every. Single. Time.

I will research some seat pitches (or one of you lovely readers may be able to help!), however understand that the trend is an increase over the last few years, I believe it has reached a staggering 31" on BA longhaul flights in economy. Seat pitch indicates (I think!) the distance between the rows of seats - a measly 31" to fit my long legs in for a 10 hour flight is, imho, totally unacceptable, cattle gets more space when flying!

Each time I check in for a flight, I ask whether there is any chance of getting a seat with slightly more legroom, to which the normal response is a flat out no, with the exception of recent offers of being 'allowed' to pay for a bit more room. 

Emergency exit seats tend to be the ones with more legroom, these seats never used to be assigned until travellers were physically at the airport, and the check in staff could assess their ability to open the exit in the event of an emergency, now apparently the safety of other passengers on the plane could be at risk in the event of an emergency, because someone with more cash - not necessarily fit to open the door - has 'bought' the right to a particular seat.

I always make the effort the arrive early, and to check in as soon as possible the day before, when the online check in opens, however it is becoming more and more frustrating that people are given the option of buying this space, as opposed to placing people who cannot physically get their legs in to the meagre space in coach.

When 'sitting' in these seats, I am forced to either ask the person in front to put their seat up, or put my legs out in the aisle - when I normally get hit several times by the trolley!

Fat people are, in extreme cases, asked to purchase 2 seats to accommodate their bulk, however I've been unlucky to be next to one that has not - again, this could be construed as a physical discrimination in that the seats are not fit for purpose - where the issue is deemed medical.

I want action, I need your help as I am not sure the best way to go about this, but come on, we're in the 21st century, and I can't get my legs in a plane seat - the Disability Rights Commission do not, at present, cover air travel, and the airlines will not be interested. 

Another issue is the rude inhabitants of London (I live in London but do not consider myself to be rude!), when on the tube - fine, you read your newspaper, screw the people who are trying to get on the tube (which they've paid a small fortune for, thanks Ken!), or when they do get on, why not just stop. Idiots.

What do I do, who can help me get heard....?  Or of course, you can always donate moeny to me so that I can afford to fly in business.... ;-)

Transfers soon!

A couple of weeks into the season, and things are not looking that good with my team at the moment.  The transfer window opens up later this week, I think, and with injuries to Ledley King and Freddie Ljunberg (and Sol Campbell, but he should be back in action at the weekend), I am looking to make a couple of transfers.

So far, the team has performed ok, although the shock poor start to the season by Manchester United, has not helped, with the goal keeper making mistakes, and Ronaldo getting himself sent off, I have learnt that the transfer window is closed for the first week!  After a strong-ish start (about 10th in my superleague, and in the top 90,000), I suffered a bit following the weekend games, and currently sit on 48 points, with 3 goals - which sees me fall to somewhere between 25-30 in my chosen superleague, and 143000ish in the overall competition.

I'm going to have to make some transfers, but don't want to waste these so early in the season unless I absolutely have to, Ronaldo for instance will not get me any points whilst he is suspended, but will get me points over the season - if he behaves himself!  I will take the hit on the non-earning for this time, and not waste 2 transfers to get him back in a cpouple of weeks.

Who should I get in to replace King and Ljungberg?