Settled and Unsettled

So life in Barcelona has been a bit different to how I imagined.

I imagined myself playing 40 hours a week of live cash games, getting stuck into some big splashy games, becoming fluent at Spanish and eating tapas everyday.

I've actually barely played 40 hours since I've been here. I haven't noticed much improved in my Spanish despite putting in some decent work and only really eat tapas when we go out. Games are OK, certainly better than anything I could get in England, but I've found I've just lost my motivation to grind them. They are tight and passive, rather than loose and splashy so it's a case of grinding out xbb/hour and I've just lost interest in that.

I feel like I've been there done that with live cash now and I'm looking for something more challenging and fulfilling to do with my life. I still get a massive rush from playing big live tournaments, and love the cash game banter at DTD where I know everyone and can play with some of my best mates. But I just don't enjoy playing here at all really.

Instead I've been playing loads online! I thought moving to Spain would be the end of my online career but I've been playing more than ever. Really like the Spanish sites and it means I can play from home and spend more time with Victoria instead of leaving her alone every night which is nice.

I had some nice success at a recent WPT National festival here, chopping the hiroller heads up so it's nice to hit a some (more!) form coming into all the upcoming tournaments I've got planned. Been sat still here in Barcelona for way too long, I skipped EPT london and aside from a weekend in Andorra, haven't been anywhere for ages!

Next week I head back to England for the WPT at DTD. Spending about 3 weeks there. Then I might head to Amsterdam for the MCOP. Then in December it's Prague which is always huge. It'll be my 5th time there, always love it. Yet to have a big result though, surely it's coming this year!

So there's some really exciting things coming up and plenty of chances to finish the year off with a bang.

I love living here, it's such a sick city in so many ways. I've been keeping fit and eating well, definitely in the best shape of my life at the moment. I love the feel of the place, the atmosphere in the street, beach, squares etc. I love the food and the weather and I'm getting better at Spanish.

However I don't think it's a long term solution. I think I'll be back in England in February. Where and for what? Now that's the question...I do think though, that my days as a professional poker player are numbered.