Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The Codewords Comeback

It had been quite a while since I spent some time filling in a codeword puzzle. I remedied that over the weekend by picking up one of the puzzle books laying around and timing myself.

Bearing in mind it had been a very long time since I did a puzzle of this kind, I was quite happy with the time of 20:42

For me - anything under twenty minutes is good. Usually. So, being forty-three seconds over - on my codewords comeback - is promising.

Codeword Puzzle

Monday, March 18, 2024

1,000 Days Later

Remember the other day - in the post when I wrote about it being Wordle's 1,000th daily puzzle and I mentioned that there was another 1,000th day celebration coming up? Well, the moment has finally arrived.

It has been 1,000 days since I first used an Amazon Kindle.

You know how I am aware of that? Well, it's because - on the Kindle app - it states that I am on the 1,000th day of continuous reading.

1,000 Days Kindle

I have written posts sharing my milestones in the past. The first update was 10 Weeks After I Started. Then, I came back with another update when it was A Year After first picking up a Kindle. The most recent follow-up came last year when I reached 100 Weeks as a Kindle owner.

Considering I am on Day 1,000, I guess I don't need to prove that I still enjoy using the device. Heck, I should have written 'Devices' considering I now own TWO Kindles after having picked up a Kindle Scribe last summer.

Both Kindles get good use out of me. 

In the last update, I wrote that I had read 131 books. As of right now, the number stands at 187. Here's everything I have read from 132.

132. The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks
133. Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov
134. Tangled Ropes by 'Superstar' Billy Graham
135. Drowning by T.J. Newman
136. The Waste Lands by Stephen King
137. The Premonitions Bureau by Sam Knight
138. Needful Things by Stephen King
139. Dynamite and Davey by Steven Bell
140. Pop 1280 by Jim Thompson
141. This Is Your Own Time You're Wasting by Lee and Adam Parkinson
142. The Very Best of Fesshole by Rob Manuel
143. Gerald's Game by Stephen King
144. Diary of a Flight Attendant by Marika Mikusova
145. Overheard at Waitrose: Poetry of the Public by Nathan Bragg
146. Good Pop, Bad Pop by Jarvis Cocker
147. Grateful by Eric Bischoff
148. Wrath of the Dragon by John Little
149. The Last Real World Champion by Tim Hornbaker
150. The Last Action Heroes by Nick de Semlyen
151. The Two-Minute Warning by David A. Kelly
152. Tod Is God by Tod Gordon
153. Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
154. It Will All Work Out by Kevin Hart
155. 9/11 Chaos by Larry Smith
156. Dirty Briefs by Dave Fendem
157. The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
158. The Woman Who Would Be King by Madusa Miceli
159. Starting Over by Jack Sheffield
160. Gambler by Billy Walters
161. Put The Kettle On by Trish Taylor
162. Overheard at Whole Foods by Theresa Vogrin
163. This Other Eden by Paul Harding
164. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
165. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
166. Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
167. Study For Obedience by Sarah Bernstein
168. If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery
169. Behind The Mask by Tyson Fury
170. Ganbaru: How All Japan Pro Wrestling Survived The Year 2000 Roster Split by Jonathan Foye
171. Football Biographies For Kids by Robert A. Malone
172. The Best of Matt (2022) by Matt Pritchett
173. Books Of Blood (Volumes 1-III) by Clive Barker
174. A 1980's Childhood by Michael A Johnson
175. The Rise by Ian Rankin
176. Gloves Off by Tyson Fury
177. The Wrestling Observer Complete Collection 1989 by Dave Meltzer
178. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
179. Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King
180. The Space Between Us by Doug Johnstone
181. Macho Man by Jon Finkel
182. James by Percival Everett
183. Changing Times by Jack Sheffield
184. Fourteen Days edited by Margaret Atwood
185. Insomnia by Stephen King
186. Back to School by Jack Sheffield
187. Inside Out by Ole Anderson

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Iceland's TGI Fridays Churros

 I recently tried another TGI Fridays product from Iceland.

TGI Fridays' Churros from Iceland

This time, the supermarket chain has churros sold under the 'Fridays' moniker.

I don't recall ever seeing churros on the TGI Fridays menu. However, I don't recall ever eating a dessert from the real restaurant either, so - what do I know?

As for these - they weren't too bad. My only complaint is a single churros (churro?) is smaller than you may expect.

For those of you who don't know what churros are - they're like doughnut fingers that can be dipped in an icing or chocolate sauce. Occasionally they come with a chocolate filling piped into its middle. The Fridays-Iceland team up version has a chocolate and hazelnut sauce.

As well as the fingers, the box comes with cinnamon sugar to sprinkle over the churros after they've been in the oven for up to twelve minutes.

The packet states that each box contains approximately fourteen churros. I believe mine did have more than fourteen, but it may have been a case of me miscounting (I didn't cook them all in one go, I returned at a later point to finish off the box).

If I ever see them again, I would purchase them again. They are enjoyable to have as a short family dessert  but - as warned - they do appear smaller than other churros I've bought from takeaways and other frozen food brands.

TGI Fridays' Churros from Iceland

Saturday, March 16, 2024

2024 Cheltenham Festival Betting Diary

It ia now over a day since the conclusion of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. For all of those days of the meeting, I updated this post with all of my bets and the results. Here is the full 'diary' from the week along with some post-festival betting notes that were written today.

* * *

If you read some of my previous posts about the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, you'll be aware that I have placed a trio of Lucky 63 bets across the four days of the race meeting. All of the horses I have backed are with the Non-Runner, No Bet term. This has turned out to be a benefit, of sorts, because a lot of the horses I have backed this year have either been entered into a different race or have been pulled from the entire festival.

With that warning out of the way, here is the 2024 edition of my Cheltenham Festival Betting Diary. It'll be updated each day this week. 

Tuesday 12 March
Here are the horses I have backed. These include the non-runners.

1:30 Supreme Novices Hurdle
I had Ballyburn in one of the Lucky 63s. However, the horse has been entered into the Gallagher Novices Hurdle that will be run tomorrow.
There is a backup plan, however.
I have staked £5 single on Firefox at odds of 5/1 on Sky Bet because the firm will refund losing wagers - up to £5 - on the first race of the day. I have everything to gain and nothing to lose by doing this.

RESULT: Slade Steel won. It looks like Firefox finished in third place, but - seeing as I had it to win outright - I'll have my £5 stake returned due to the promotion from Sky Bet.

2:10 Arkle Trophy
I have Hunters Yarn at 6/1 in one of the Lucky 63s.

RESULT: Gaelic Warrior won. Hunters Yarn finished in fourth place.

2:50 Ultima Handicap Chase
I am covered in this race as well because I have Chianti Classico at 8s in another Lucky 63.

The three horses I have just mentioned have all been placed in a £1 each-way treble using a free £2 bet token.

RESULT: Chianti Classico was a WINNER

3:30 Champion Hurdle
This is the race Constitution Hill was set to defend last year's win in but has been pulled. I didn't have any wagers on this race until this morning. 

I have a £3 each-way gamble on Iberico Lord at 11/1.

RESULT: The favourite, State Man, won. 

4:10 Mares Hurdle
I have the favourite - Lossiemouth - in one of my Lucky 63s.

RESULT: Lossiemouth was the WINNER.

4:50 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
I have placed a £2.50 each-way free bet on Batman Girac. As well as that, I felt compelled to put a £1 each-way punt on Eagle Fang for one reason and one reason only: that is the name of one of the karate groups in Cobra Kai and I didn't want a kick myself if it placed at odds of 14/1.

RESULT: Lark on the Mornin won, my two horses didn’t!

5:30 National Hunt Novices Chase
I've placed a £2.50 each-way wager on Embassy Gardens in the last race of the day.

RESULT: Embassy Garden finished in second place to Corbetts Cross.

Wednesday 13 March
I start off today £9.56 in the red following the losses of singles/each-way bets yesterday. In the bigger picture, I am down £28.46 because - to balance the books - I have put the cost of my three Lucky 63 bets under Friday's 'Staked' column of the spreadsheet because I won't fully know how much I have returned until after all those multiples have been settled at the end of the festival.

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting

There are many selections in the Lucky 63s which are non runners, so I am expecting some returns as voided wagers. 

To be frank, the Lucky 63 idea turned out to be somewhat pointless, but I'll plough on as best as I can.

All the times are going to be a quarter of an hour off due to one 

1:30 Novices Hurdle
The first non runner of the day is Readin Tommy Wong.

Instead, I have placed a £3.44 single on Ballyburn because I took advantage of a boost price at EVENS.

RESULT: Ballyburn was the WINNER.

2:10 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
Broadway Boy is the next non runner.

RESULT: Race favourite Fact to File won.

2:50 Coral Cup
I have used a free £5 bet on the Coral Cup placing a £2.50 each-way on Langer Dan.

RESULT: Langer Dan was the WINNER.

3:30 Queen Mother Champion Chase
Yet another non runner in Jonbon, who was pulled this morning due to health concerns.

RESULT: Captain Guinness won.

4:10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Abandoned

4:50 Grand Annual Handicap Chase
I had backed My Mate Mozzie, but the horse ran in yesterday's Arkle.

RESULT: Unexpected Party won.

5:30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper
I have Jalon D'oudairies in one of the Lucky 63s. 

RESULT: Jalon D'ondairies finished in third place.

Thursday 14 March
I had a fortunate day yesterday despite the non-runners and the abandoned race. The biggest win came in the form of the £2.50 each-way free bet on Langer Dan in the Coral Cup - the first horse to ever do a double in that race.

There was a doubling up of my £3.44 bet when Ballyburn won the opener for me at EVEN money (I used a special boost from my bookmaker).

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting

So, after two days I am at -2.52 for the week. That number includes the three Lucky 63s that will be settled tomorrow.

Now, let's get to today.

1:30 Turners Novices Chase
I have Ginny's Destiny in one of the Lucky 63s.

RESULT: Grey Dawning won. Ginny's Destiny finished second.

2:10 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
Icare Allen is the horse I have in this race. It also appears in one of the Lucky 63s.

RESULT: Nonmiral won.

2:50 Ryanair Chase
I have a long shot in this race. It's Fugitif and - just like the previous two horses - is one of the selections in one of the multiples I have for the entire festival.

RESULT: Protektorat was the winning horse. I think Fugitif either finished last or didn't finish at all.

3:30 Stayers' Hurdle
I had backed Irish Point antepost, but this is the first non-runner of the day.

RESULT: The favourite - Teahupoo - won.

4:10 TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase
I have used a £2.50 each-way free bet on Il Ridoto.

Ginny's Destiny, Icare Allen and Il Ridoto have been placed in a £1 each-way free bet treble.

RESULT: Shakem Up 'arry was the winner.

4:50 Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle
I was drawn to Mollys Mango. It could only be because of the name (I have been eating/drinking a lot of things with Mango in it lately). With that in mind, I was only compelled to wager £1 each-way in the hope of a place because I think Brighterdaysahead will win.

RESULT: Golden Ace won, Brighrerdaysahead finished second. My bet lost.

5:30 Kim Muir Handicap Chase
I had backed Good Time Jonny in one of the Lucky 63s, but this is a non-runner.

RESULT: Inothewayurthinkin won.


Friday 15 March
1:30 Triumph Hurdle
I had Sir Gino in a Lucky 63, but the horse was finally pulled out yesterday. Therefore, I have another non runner.

With Sir Gino out, I have placed two wagers. One is a £5 win on Majborough because Sky Bet will refund any losing bets on the first race (up to £5). So, if the horse loses, I'll get my money back.

I have also bet £2 each-way on Kargese.

2:10 County Handicap Hurdle
Iberico Lord was my pre-Festival bet, but it ran a different race on Tuesday.

2:50 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
The first eligible Lucky 63 entry I have for the day is Johnnywho.

3:30 Gold Cup
The final Lucky 63 selection I have for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival is Corach Rambler because I liked the 20/1 odds for a placed finish.

I have Galopin Des Champs in a free £1 each-way double. See immediately below for the second selection.

4:10 St. James' Place Hunters' Chase
The second horse in the multiple, along with Galopin Des Champs to win the Gold Cup, is Ferns Lock.

4:50 Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase
To close out the festival, I have placed a real money 'any order' forecast with Limerick Lace and Harmonya Maker.

5:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
My last wager is a £2.50 each-way free bet on Quai De Bourbon.

As it stands, I am £15.52 in the red ahead of the final day. Today's stakes includes the money I spent on the three Lucky 63s last week. I expect some money back from those because of the plethora of non-runners (as well as a few wins and placed runners). So, even if I am unlucky today, I expect to leave this week in the black albeit barely.

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting

Results from Friday's card
1:30  - Majborough won and Kargese finished in second. So, I had a WINNER and a PLACE. 
2:10 - Absurde won
2:50 - Stellar Story came first
3:30 - As I expected, Galopin Des Champs won.. and - most importantly - Corach Rambler placed by finishing in third place (I was surprised at this finish because the horse was at the back for the majority of the race)
4:10 - Sine Nomine was the winner. Ferns Lock led for most of the race, but I was not confident at all during the race because the horse was a bit boisterous before the off
4:50 - Limerick Lace won, but I also needed Harmonya Maker (finished in 7th)  for the forecast
5:30 - Better Days Ahead won. Quai De Bourbon finished third.

Saturday 16 March
After doing all the calculations, it looks like I ended up £48.98 in profit after all of the bets I placed during the festival.

It should be noted that a lot of my returns from yesterday were in the form of refunds from voided bets because my ante-post wagers were placed with the 'Non Runner, No Bet' term. As you've seen above, I had a ton of non-runners.

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Betting

I think the best course of action, if I decide to go with the multiples ahead of the festival, next year is to wait until I have a better grasp of where the respective horses are likely to run. Therefore, the Monday before the festival might put me in a better position.

With that said, some of the free bets and customer offers were a benefit to me as well. I particularly enjoyed Sky Bet's offer from yesterday's opener which offered me a £5 return should my horse lose. Well, I had Majborough win for me and that returned a profit of £27.50. It was the result which confirmed I would walk away from the week of betting fully in the black. 

So, to close, I thought I would share with you some photographs I took of the infamous three Lucky 63s I had beside me all week. 

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Bets

The first Lucky 63 was the most successful of the trio returning a profit of £7.59 from my £6.30 stake.

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Bets

Another profitable one. This returned £8.16 from my £6.30 punt, so a +1.86c comeback.

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Bets

I'm finishing off this picture display with the worst of the lot. A return of seventy Pence from my wagers meaning a loss of £5.60.

And that's all for Cheltenham 2024. I'll be back (hopefully) more prepared in '25!

Friday, March 15, 2024

1,000 Days Of Wordle

Wordle put up its 1,000th daily puzzle today.

I had a go and I managed to get it in four goes.

The word was ERUPT. You'll be able to see how I worked it out below.

1) I started off with my regular starter word - ADIEU

2) From the starter, I knew there was an E and U, so I thought of a word containing those two letters. I then try to think of something with either S, T or both S and T. I put in FLUTE.

3) I knew the U was the third letter. And there was indeed a T. I was stuck, so wrote in SPORT to find out if S or R were in the word.

4) The SPORT test proved that there was a P in the word. So, knowing I had a E, R and a U (in the third position) and T, it made sense to test out ERUPT. It turned out to be correct.

There is going to be another 1,000th day celebration - for something completely different - next week. More about that, well.. next week.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

'24 WWE Hall Of Fame Shaping Up

The WWE Hall of Fame class for this year has been shaping up over the past few weeks. It appears there are a few themes as usual.

With this year's WrestleMania taking place in Philadelphia, it's understandable to see Paul Heyman as the headliner.

He was, I believe, the first name announced for the ceremony which takes place on WrestleMania Week. 

Heyman's inclusion in Philly is due to his role in running Extreme Championship Wrestling during the nineties into the early 2000s. Philadelphia was the company's home base.

The other names listed are:

Bull Nakano
Thunderbolt Patterson
Muhammad Ali
The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda)

WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Logo

The Ali inclusion, and that of The U.S. Express, makes sense considering their involvement with the first WrestleMania.

The U.S. Express also have a tragic story coming into this year's ceremony because Rotunda was Bray Wyatt's father while Windham was Wyatt's uncle.

Wyatt, whose real name was Windham Rotunda, passed away last year. I fully expect him to be the final name revealed for the 2024 Class. Members of his family being announced already makes me sure of that.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

The Cat Show

I don't watch This Morning regularly. However, it was on in the living room yesterday, so - seeing as it is the first week for the new hosts:  Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd - I stuck around for a while.

This Morning

The most prominent thing I noticed is Deeley seems to want to talk over the people. She also appears to have an annoying tendency to try and know better than the 'guest'.

For example, they had Glynis Barber in the studio to talk about tricks to battle age. Deeley sort of took over by telling Barber about her own tricks.

Then, in a following segment when they had John Torode in cooking Thai food, the new presenter kind of took over from that talking about herself and Thai food. 

I'll be fair and conclude it's nerves. But, if it continues like this, I can assure you the people at home will begin to find her insufferable.

Or, I may already be late for that. 

Before finishing off this post, I had a search and Twitter/X. It seems the complaints are already coming in. And they're along the same issues I had.