The beginning of a new era

Well, I've just come in from a few drinks cos today was my last day at work.

Well, sort of cos I am going back a week on Monday to finish the final account but most of the people will have transferred to the new contractors (Kinetics) and I will be working in a different location.

So when I left today after emptying my desk I had a bit of a big brother moment where all the lights get turned off (I was last one out).

It will be strange going to work without any of the friends and colleagues I gave worked with for the last 13 years. Not bad though considering I started there as a temporary clerk and worked my way up.

So as of Monday I have a week off where technically I am unemployed.

Because I took voluntary redundancy I have 12 weeks pay plus another 22 weeks pay off, tax free and the relative security that two or three months temporary work gives me to find another job.

It's not exactly the best moment in time to be looking for work but I have the added security that I am a qualified teacher so I could also fall back on supply teaching to keep me going until I get a permanent job.

It's quite a crossroads really. I turned 40 a few weeks ago and I'm looking at changing jobs.

So next week I will be working as a professional poker player. I'm hoping to put in 40 - 50 hours, probably STT's and maybe a few MTT's thrown in the mix too and see where it takes me.

Can't say the idea of playing for a living would fill me with too much joy. You only have to read the blogs of a few full timers like Amatay to see that it is easy to lose the love of the game when you are relying on it to provide your living.

A week should be ok though.

I'm toying with the idea of posting every day for the week showing my P&L, no of games played etc. Might be a good way of making sure I get into a routine rather than sleeping in and wasting the week.

I'm starting Monday cos I'm off to see Rob Brydon in Blackburn on Saturday night and going to the Circus in Liverpool with a mate from work for his first live game on Sunday afternoon. Before that Andrew has a cup quarter final on Sunday morning where they have a pretty good chance of progressing all the way to the final so looking forward to that too.

Anyway, that's it for now, I'll post again on Monday or Tuesday.