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makan18 Poland. Feb 05 2017 18:47. Posts 65 | | |
This blog post is going to be much more personal than the previous ones. I've decided to change the way I do my blogging - I will write a lot more about things which inspire me, and those which are of great importance to me. 2016 turned out to be quite crucial for a variety of reasons. Finally, I emigrated to the UK, which I believe is an optimal solution for a guy like me, a professional poker player. I dealt with the health issues, which had pestered my body and my mind for many years. I achieved the financial goal I was aiming for, despite having played only 713 out of 1000 hours planned. I drank little alcohol, ate healthy, and exercised regularly which allowed me to gain 7 kg. Physically, I haven't felt better in ages, and without a doubt this is my biggest achievement of 2016.
After few years of what-ifs, doubt and plenty of scenarios considered, I ultimately decided to emigrate to the United Kingdom. In the late August I packed some of my belongings, miraculously fitted my 32 in desktop into a 33 inches wide suitcase, and I set off to carry on the road of the professional poker player in the land of Monty Python.
Until the very end I did not know what's going to surprise me in the new place. I certainly wasn't relaxed with the topic of Brexit coming up, and even more so by the news about increasing number of attacks on the Polish people which accompanied the decision of Brits. A local grinder with Polish roots suggested that I should start looking for a place to stay before flying to England, but I decided against it, as I assumed this is no challenge to me. It probably wasn't the smartest decision I undertook. I spewed tons of $ for hotels, lost few precious hairs, and several gaming sessions. The emotional state I was in called for hitting my head against the wall rather than solving logical riddles.
After tens of hours spent on browsing apartment ads, sending emails, going from the office to office to talk with realtors, who despite having a smile straight out of a TV commercial did not give a fuck about me at all, I finally managed to find a place. Generally speaking, after the initial culture shock I was in, I can reintroduce the term 'good life' back in my dictionary.
In November, a good friend of mine who just like me fights against the odds on the Party Poker platform paid me a visit. This occurred around the long-awaited excursion to see Ludovico Einaudi concert. However, as the maestro was performing in Glasgow, we were faced with a dangerous trip up north. At the beginning I planned to make a trip by British rail, though I missed driving a car too much, so I decided to rent a vehicle. Additionally I wanted to see the Lake District, a popular touristy region, abundant in hills and lakes (go figure). What's interesting, this area was visited on many occasions by the 28th President of the United States - Woodrow Wilson. These stopovers have been even included in a book entitled 'A President's Love Affair with the Lake District'. Lake District made quite an impression, with its small, captivating towns which went way beyond the image of England I had in my mind. The concert was a part of a tour called 'Elements'. It was the first, but definitely not the last time I've seen the maestro at the concert. (For years I held a deep conviction that Mercedes is a car for the people over 50. I think I've never been so mistaken. Driving a c200 is a pure pleasure, 8-hour-long journey was almost like a spa visit).
https://postimg.org/gallery/1z6tf1jn8/
Poker-wise, December was the breakthrough month. I choose to not wait until January with starting out on NL2000 (ultimately, I even timidly looked at NL5k). It was a kind of symbolic decision. When I was taking my first steps in poker back in 2007, NL1000 was a magical border to me. At that moment the perspective of playing on NL1k was but a pipedream of a greenhorn who wants to be the greatest in the world by playing a card game. Looking beyond the wall which goes by the name 'NL1000', was I have built myself in my mind many years ago, once again convinced me that most of limitations exist only in our heads.
After earnestly working for a month, the time for relax came, and I could return to my hometown for Christmas. Meeting people close to my heart was the main theme of that visit, people whom I knew 10-20 years. It's the element I miss the most. I look back at the time I spent in Poland with quite a sentiment, as during the dozen or so days there was never a time of boredom. Unfortunately, the gambling bill which is going to be introduced soon will prevent me from visiting my home country all too often.
The next piece coming very soon. It`s gonna be about my goals and plans for 2017, and my trip to Asia I`m very excited about.
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PoorUser  United States. Feb 12 2017 12:29. Posts 7471 | | |
enjoy your blogs. keep 'em coming. |
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makan18 Poland. Feb 17 2017 17:08. Posts 65 | | |
TY buddy, the new one is coming very soon |
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