So how did you spend your Saturday evening?

[IanDavies]

I would say more than possibly – Drone (and not for the first time) surely calls it like it is.

I have always considered myself happily socially dysfunctional, but some of the full-time betting characters I have met over 40 years in the game have made me feel relatively normal!

They are, by and large, a weird myopic motley crew!

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Drone]

Never one for nightclubs or anything else the ‘night time economy’ has to offer after the once-regulation pub kick-out at 10.30pm (11pm Fri & Sat); at least not since my early 20s when I attempted to go with the yoof culture flow and get on down with my fellow kids: get up and go home was a blessed relief

‘Drinking beer at noon on Tuesday’ * and the ensuing lost afternoon in a smoky dive relishing the chance encounters was my idea of the perfect debauch. Still is, but, alas, all the smoke has gone and so has Tetley Hunslet Bitter so I rarely bother: ageing frame can no longer cope anyway

* Sheryl Crow : she knew

All I wanna do is have some fun
Until the sun goes down over The Victoria Family & Commercial, Leeds

[IanDavies]

For me, Saturday night in the winter months is all about being nice and warm indoors, maybe having a takeaway delivered, watching the evening AW (if any) studying Sunday’s cards, maybe watching Match Of The Day.

In the summer months, it’s sitting outside enjoying the extended daylight hours and, with the exception of MOTD – much the same!

It’s not a bad life.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[% MAN]

I was persuaded to go to a nightclub for my 21st birthday – my first and last time as a punter.

More recently – pre lockdown – I did some shifts as a nightclub medic, time flew because we were always busy and it was interesting educationally because it gave good practice treating drug related patients. Invariably I would come home almost deaf with all the noise.

I also covered a few music festivals which were even more enlightening – I recall one festival where we did occasional foot patrols round the site – by the time we returned to the medical centre after one patrol my crewmate and I were both high, so much dope was being smoked.

[He Didnt Like Ground]

Darren I’m normally a talksport man but Abbott and Ferrari h now have me to listen to LBC more often than not , Abbott does seem to attract the stranger phoner in lol

[IanDavies]

Not one of your better ideas, Nathan.

If the hideous notion becomes awful reality, maybe I could (briefly!) join you all from home via Zoom?

A day at the races followed by a “Ruby” and you might have an idea with legs, however, sir!

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Nathan Hughes]

Ian,
More chance of you apologising to Tank than me turning up to a nightclub
and may show my face at last orders in time for a chilli kebab

Charles Darwin to conquer the World

[IanDavies]

I would say it’s 1000 at Betfair Exchange and no takers both outcomes.

The Chilli Kebab sounds alright, though!

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[darren83]

Agree with you mate I love Abbot my fave presenter he is I like Brian from Stockton on tees when he calls up and Ken from Westminster who is mad religious caller

[gamble]

I only got up an hour ago !
Since I have been living in a rabbit hole, and this odd situation has persisted since May and my surprise visit to Goodwood racecourse, I have dramatically changed my behaviour. Obsession, eccentricity, call it what you will I have had an entirely different direction in life and different goals.
It’s dark in here and I hear faint rumblings of other miners, but they are off track and going down the wrong holes – their journeys will bring no fruit. My 2000 hours of chipping away are finally bearing fruit.

That’s made my current situation clear so now on to Saturday nights and I do remember well the lost one but it’s rather stale to go back so may post up three more recent Saturdays then I am likely to disappear back down my hoke. I will get myself another cup of tea and ponder whether I am doing the entirely right thing.

I rather like the word hoke !

[gamble]

I have just voted for the Blob

He’s head and shoulders above the tree and Hughsie the news man who brought the TV
I must make that tea.

If your names Bob
vote for the Blob
If your names not Bob
Vote for the Blob !!!

The Blob is..

THE ONE AND ONLY IAN DAVIES

[gamble]

One Saturday evening a few months ago

I was out one evening in Bankbrokeciti, the weather was mild, and it was about 730 and I was doing some light shopping. I must have felt a little bit in detective, pad shoe mode, as I can’t think why otherwise I entered the bookmakers den. I hadn’t been in one for yonks and I certainly was curious. I felt that same feeling of guilt as I opened the door of the large chain, as I had in the past.
There were only about four people in there, one sitting at a table and the others on machine. There was a race meeting on – Kempton or Wolvers.

I bode my time for a few minutes just watching what was going on and taking in the lack of atmosphere. The bookie looked a bit bored so I approached the desk for hopefully a natter.

I used to bet quite large in these shops back in the nineties but now the shops are like ghost towns these days

‘Yes it must have been different back then and I am expecting a quiet evening.’

It was the evening I suppose but I asked him what the punters currently bet on.
The most popular bet is lucky fifteen and we get quite a few betting on the virtual racing.
He told me some put on bets as large as £200 on a virtual horse.
I joked that obviously he didn’t have to ring up head office for that and then I asked when on ordinary racing he would need authority. You can bet anything up to £500 over that and I would need to phone. That surprised me !
A punter then approached – he was having problems with his card and the bookie told him there was a cash machine over the road. It transpired he wanted to bet a football score at 80-1. I didn’t realize you could now bet on football on a machine.
I then spoke specifically of the crack roulette machines and he told me a lot were hooked and kept coming back and he looked at one particular person.

End of report.

It took me longer than I thought and don’t know if I’ll bother with writing about the other two Saturdays tonight as I shall be having my Xmas dinner soon. A poor lamb has been sacrificed for me. I had a lovely bit of turkey yesterday with a nice bit of gammon. Hope to have turkey tomorrow.
A VERY MERRY XMAS TO ALL
including AI 😊

( I have never used AI and am a bit of a neanderthal when it comes to pooters )

[Author]

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