Outrage

Really nice day today in the main.

Woke up, it's my Dad's birthday, so spent the morning with cards and presents and the like. He was happy, got things he could use although my gift is still stuck in the post.

Went off to soccer, in a jovial mood. Since I got back from Oz, we have lost 4 straight games which is absolutely unprecedented for this team and a complete joke as we should have won at least three of them. Whatever, things can only get better we thought, we figured we were playing a cup game against good opposition but with a new kit so were kinda optimistic. Stuffed 'em 4-1. Wicked, everyone played really well.

Ran off the pitch, out of the shower quicker than Igor when there's an audience, and straight past the pub, home to watch the rugby. Wales lost to England. Typical, but there's hope, England have a very good side and Wales were missing many key players. Shit happens but we'll come back again.

Picked up Chinese takeaway for a surprise for Dad. Awesome meal, had never heard of this restaurant but its quality. However, did have time to recall the last time I had crispy beef. That was in Revesby, when I took the lovely Mrs Jane Bigelow out for a meal. Does Doctah know about that? Mum then decided to pay for the pay-per-view soccer game, Man Utd won, day back to good again.

Offered to take Dad out for a game of snooker. I've been playing pretty well since I got back from Down Under and am in training. I have a score to settle on the snooker table with Richard so that is the single most important reason I go back there, even ahead of seeing the Doctahs.

Strangely, Dad says no. He says he'd rather an evening in where me and my brother teach Mum and Dad how to play poker. I thought that was cool, apparently he and Mum wanted to find out what the fuss was about this game we play and watch on tele. So we played, they picked it up so well despite knowing bugger all about poker beforehand and are now far more accomplished players than people like The Trott, Niall, Cat and Twathead (my new name for Lois, I think it suits her). It really was good, Mum kept folding cos she knew 9-5 off-suit isn't good and Dad started betting pre-flop on Pocket Aces, I seriously was proud. And then Dad got Pocket Rockets again, twice in a night! Well, I guess it is his birthday.

Eventually Mum and Dad are knocked out and Me and Ga decide there's no point carrying on when we're only playing for fun and I had a good lead. But then, then comes the absolute mockery of fair play, standards, etiquette which I must confess was an absolute master stroke.

After only 2 or 3 hands, Dad had worked out the game. On his next deal he then decided to remove the aces from the pack and stow them under the table until he had hands he didn't fancy. And it worked a trick, no-one noticed, he cleaned up a couple of times and no-one had a clue. Awesome, we wouldn't have known till he decided he was so proud he should tell us. And even considering all the sport I saw today, I thought that was the best move of the lot. Apparently there's still life left in the old dog yet! Happy Birthday Dad!