updates?

+1

Wow sick bump!!

I've been back in Australia since April. Thought I'd keep playing pro for a while but eventually decided that it wasn't my best option so I'm back at my old job. Haven't really played much poker at all really since coming back. Played no more than 15k hands at Ongame and I've just logged into my Stars account for the first time in over a year tonight. I think I'll try play some Zoom on the side while working. I really enjoyed Rush and it's a great way for me to get in respectable amounts of volume while holding down a full time job.

Weddings still on and is coming up fast. Haven't really done anything about it in months so got to get my ass into gear with that one!! Ring has been made and the Mrs. loves it so that's a relief. She had such a clear idea of how she wanted it I was worried the jeweler wouldn't be able to live up to her expectation but he pulled though. Was a pretty suspect looking guy too, Russian with prison tattoos so I'm actually stoked we got the diamond back at all!!



I never really wrapped this thread up the way I'd like so I'm happy to do some Q&A over the next few days if anyone has something they want to ask. I'll check in regularly and reply to everything.

Here's a few random photos in no particular order to recap...



Apologies to people with slow connections

Cool pics!

kinda miss following your trip around the world.

couple (well maybe more) of questions:

1) what did you decide to get back to the old job? what was your evaluation poker vs. regular job?
2) how hard is it to get back to "normal" life?
3) any place you regret not being to?
4) best place to live in your opionion, among the once you've seen? (and what do you look at to judge)
5) not a question...but gl! Pretty sure all of us will be invited to your home for the wedding...lol

1. For a number of reasons but mostly I realised I'm not good enough to make so much money it outweighs the downside. It's an inherently unstable and anti-social occupation and the future is very uncertain. I actually quite like my job too, I work in finance, mostly writing residentially secured loan buts also providing investment advice and I enjoy creating wealth and helping others do the same. I don't intend on giving up poker entirely but I'll probably play no more than 30k hands/month. I want to stay sharp as I do believe there's a chance that US and China eventually come on line and it just blows gold everywhere if you've got the skills to collect it.

2. It was hard at first but as of now I'm back in a rhythm and it almost feels like I never left. I think Mrs. Cooke would say differently but actually like a bit of routine in my life. I like to feel like I'm winning life, getting fitter, smarter, wiser, wealthier. And a lot of that was put on hold while travelling.

3. So so many places. The worlds a huge place and a year is not even close to enough time to explore it all. a lifetime probably isn't enough time even. Top of my list of missed places that I still want to travel to, in no particular order: South Africa, Egypt, Tanzania, Japan, Chile, Argentina, Canada, India...

4. Honestly after all our travels I still think Australia/New Zealand top my list of best places to live. It's really expensive to live here comparatively, but the quality of life is second to none. The air is fresh, the water is clean, we've got good education and work opportunities, there's vibrant sporting and artistic communities... it's just a great place to have grown up and I count myself incredibly fortunate.

5. Ummm no, the guest list is already blowing out, sorry. Open invitation to catch up if you or any of the other regular posters here are ever in Melbourne.

wtf you went 12 months around the world and didn't visit romania? FOR SHAME

Romania was in the original European itinerary but overstaying in Turkey and Santorini meant we had to make some culls. Bulgaria and Croatia missed the cut too.

wow nice trip.. i dont know if i missed it, but how much did the whole trip cost (airfare, food cost, entertainment expenses etc.)? and did your poker playing pay for the whole trip? hoping to do something like this one day

I lost track pretty early on but I guess the costs were something like $40k maybe even $50k. I only managed to win around 1/2 that over the year.