A cold beer and tofu steak in Yamamori – its become a twice weekly occurrence for me lately!
Its just so tasty – the crispy tofu in batter is delicious, and I quite like the japanese beers – they put extra ingredients in like coriander, orange peel and nutmeg for added flavour, a nice kick indeed!
Given my history with Paddy Power Plc, I’m actually quite surprised myself that I’ve never posted a blog about them before. Having worked for them (in their Head Office, which should be called ‘Head Prefab’ given it’s temporary classroom-like structure), it quickly became apparent early in my almost two year stretch there that they definitely care more about their customers or ‘punters’ than they do about their employees. 
Today however, that opinion has changed. Not many people know about this relatively new market they do, its called ‘fallers insurance’. Basically, you can back a horse in any jumps race at slightly less odds, and if the horse or unseats the rider, you will get your money back. Its a very good idea, and I’m surprised more people aren’t taking advantage of it. Anyway, the Scottish Grand National was on today, and Paddy Power were doing a special on the race (both online and in shops) whereby they were paying 5 places on the race, i.e. back any of the 31 horses in the race each/way and if it finishes in the first 5 places you will win. I had been following a horse called Dom D’ostreval for quite a while, and I wanted to back it. It was 18/1 on the show, but being quite protective of my money I wanted to cut out some risks so I took significantly less odds of 14/1 on the fallers insurance market.
It finished 5th in the race – happy days for me as Paddy Power were paying 5 places on the race, and subsequently had a page put up after the race saying that they payed out on Dom D’ostreval. However, when I checked the result online it was on their website as a ‘loser’. I was quite disconcerted by this, so I rang the customer service, and was told basically that they weren’t paying the 5 places on the fallers insurance market. I was quite shocked, as I read through each of the rules and terms and conditions of the market and there is nothing to suggest that the each way terms would differ from the regular outright market. So basically, Paddy Power were blatantly engaging in false advertising. I am still so annoyed that they are not paying out my bet, and I have emailed them letting them know that I will be taking the matter to the Director of Consumer Affairs, and will definitely be seeking legal advice on it.
I hated them as a company already before this, but now I truly despise them, and hopefully I will prevail in my quest to get paid out my winnings which are rightfully mine as I won them fair and square, but which were plainly declined for no reasont, which is, as aforementioned, not cool.
Out, J.
The Augusta Masters is over for another year – and yet again, Lee Westwood blows another chance of winning a major. Great performance from Phil Mickelson though, and a deserving winner. Tiger Woods played some of the most amazing shots I’ve ever seen, and also some of the worst ones, what a weekend he had – still managing to finish in the first 4.
I remember we went to the Irish Open in Baltray last year, and I was really rooting for Westwood as I had backed him, and he blew up after being in contention after the second round. I continued to back him in subsequent tournaments until eventually I gave up as he never seemed to put four good rounds together. Then he almost won the Open, and he went and started winning at the end of 2009, and had a string of places and top ten finishes to boot. His overall game, evident this week, is top class. I’m very impressed in particular with his putting. In my opinion, putting is the most important part of the golf game, and without it you can forget about ever winning anything.
Still working on this new vision book, I have been analysing various putting strokes, head movements, and statistics of various golfers, in preparation for the new system which will be utilising the science behind the book. Many golfers need to understand that head movment, and the role of the dominant eye, are integral in a consistent and accurate putting stroke and alignment. Mickelson, Westwoon and Woods however, are three golfers who seem to have mastered the art and are therefore ones to always keep on the right side of when golf betting.
Just to mention, the new ‘Backstryke’ Oydessey putters from Callaway are amazing looking – some of them are built the ‘wrong way around’, incredible.
A cowboy running down the street in the sun is my final memory of my stay in Galway. He looked like he was coming from a western movie set and was racing to get some prop forgotten. The sun was shining again on this beautiful Sunday morning, typical that I was on my luggaged up way to the train station and to pop into the Cellar one last time to meet Justyna, where she would have a bag brought already to help me carry all my worldly possessions. I teased her saying that she might be able to regain that tan she had from before from the actual sun and not some dodged up sun bed in the polish quarter! When we compared our skin my fake tan was actually darker than her natural colour even thought mine was a week old at that stage and seemed to refuse coming off at all.
Arriving in the train station and realizing that Justyna had sacrificed her lunch half hour to being me down really made me feel guilty at first but then knowing that I would do the same, made me though about how close we are when we’re together even though we’re far apart. Saying au revoir and all the bulk that comes with the good bye I thanked her for the great time and insisted that she’d come over to Dublin within a month!!, here’s a hoping that she’ll get the time off work.
So I had my ticket prebooked as I had from the inward journey and I found my carriage. A31 so I went up to the tip top of the train where I presumed I’d find my seat. The numbers augmented as I steered my baggage up the aisle. Hoping that my name would be electronically imprinted beside the seats I was looking at I soon noticed that I was in the wrong carriage. It was two minutes till departure so I was in no mood to go back, what did it matter really what seat I was in as long as I wasn’t taking somebody else’s.
There were three men opposite me and I quickly noticed the stares I was getting by these obvious country folk. Shortly having packed my belongings onto the train rack, I took out my savour for the trip-my laptop. I turned it on to strangely discover a weird beeping noise it was making, I think the battery had been so warn down that it was forced to make this noise and to my surprise one of the Galway men made a comment that it had a virus. I think not, so I completely disregarded this stupid and attention seeking comment immediately.
Call my noisy but all these men were interested in was taking briefly to each other but making constant phone calls to arrange bets! The chatter of prices marriaged with the racing post in front of them made them the ultimate annoying people of the century, always talking about horses. The arrogant one with the glasses and unbelievably boggerish accent seemed to be the ring leader of this awful gang. Had they nothing better to do than annoy and bore everyone else in this carriage with their ‘advice’ for horses, ‘’No Paddy I wouldn’t back number 3’’, then quickly calling someone else reporting the same information. As if they had a bloody clue what they were talking about. Ugh, and I glanced over to see that they all had their poxy phones out and all ready for action with their racing posts.
The ticket inspector came around and just as I was taking out my ticket I copped that I was in fact in the Premier carriage. SHIT!!! I was hoping that he wouldn’t say anything for the sheer embarrassment of it all. I could just feel those men starting at anything I did, especially the fat one who would never have a chance anyway if he wasn’t a complete twat already like. Bunch of freaks. Anyway, the ticket inspector was lovely and didn’t seem to care when I presented my ticket. Relief!! There seemed to be no difference anyway with this carriage and any other carriage I’ve ever come across. Why would they care I suppose? Train arrival time 13.45 so Jethro will be there to collect me and so he was. Back home. Happy, but will miss the fabulous weather in Galway and of course Justyna. Over and out.
Today was fun. I got to bed at 7.14am. I managed to squeeze in 4 hours until I had to meet up with 3 of the girls. I woke up and could instantly feel how dizzy I’d be for the day but as I got ready and had a shower everything gradually felt a lot better. I was all set to leave when I remembered that I had to wake up the girl with whom I was staying. She had an 8 hour shift in a restaurant/bar ahead of her and she knew it only too well. It took her 10 minutes to get ready and have her coffee, which she drinks religiously every morning. Off we set, me in my gorgeous outfit which I was sort of forced to wear because all of my other clothes were expecting rain. The sun was shining and it was a nice walk to where I had to go. Justyna realized that she would be two minutes late for work so she quickly decided to ring up and let them know, even though she has more authority at the restaurant than most other people working there.
Right so we were on the main street and I saw my meeting point destination when I glanced around for no reason, and to see my 3 friends. We all hugged and made out way to Eyre Square. I could not believe how hot the day was and this made me all happy because I hadn’t seen my friends in ages so I didn’t want any rain or wind to ruin my hair and clothes. They were all shocked with the colour of my hair as it had previously been very dark when I knew them last year. We had a nice catch up and a much anticipated bitching about a girl with whom we weren’t too enamoured.
Arriving at Eyre Square, we decided to get some ice cream, I didn’t get one as my head was killing me from the previous night, and I don’t think my body nor my stomach would appreciate the strange mix of Malibu, Mojito and then ice cream the next morning. No thank you!! There was some charity thing going on in the Square to do with fundraising for an association which deals with teenagers struggling with depression and wanting to take the shorter road to wherever we go! Well the ‘’musicians’’ that were ‘’performing’’ on the main stage were terrible. But hey, the spirit and thought was good.
I felt my legs getting a bit hot, as I was just wearing a skirt and when I looked down to have a peek they were starting to go a bit red. So the 4 of us sitting there enjoying our surrounding of lovely people happily enjoying the sun and music. Miriam brought up the topic that she had previously described our little get together as being one like those Sex and the City get togethers. Ann Marie told me that I was Carrie, so of course I immediately thought about the spot on my chin but being so paranoid soon thought that she meant it for completely other reasons. We did lunch and had some bizarre conversations along the way. I bid my farewell to them and headed towards the Cellar. There I would be greeted by a very hung over Justyna still working.
I gulped down as much water as possible as I felt so dehydrated. As I was leaving someone wrapped his arms around me. I turned to see that it was Mark, someone I’ve known for years. This random rendezvous was brilliant. He said to join him for a drink with his friends. I soon copped that they were as crazy as he is!! They were all actors, well struggling actors on the dole from Galway. They had the most diverse personalities I have come across in a long time and they were very funny guys also. One of them is in the new Meteor advert so I’ll be looking out for him.
Anyway that was my day and I returned to a very messy, beer bottled up sitting room which I soon cleaned up. I had a great day and I just could not believe how hot it was for my entire trip. I’m just dreading the train journey home tomorrow. I’ve actually got more coming home with me than I did coming up so that packing should be fun, and of course I’ll have to convince Mark to help me lug all my shit up to the train station!!!
