CR, thanks for your post
I wonder if there are more women willing to come out of the woodwork? I remember one or two very good players but I didn't see them around often enough to think they were in it for a living.
quizard, I never attracted much male attention myself - too common garden variety I suspect
I did however take my boyfriend with me when I could - which wasn't all that often because he worked full time and had an hour's commute each day to boot.
After a year building up to "serious" playing I started playing Quiz machines fairly intensively from 1988 - mainly central London pubs but also had a couple of runs further out.
I didn't really network with other players but I remember a few guys who played back then.....one once said I was lucky as I seemed to go "under the radar" better than they did. I might have just been immune to any stares and speculation? I don't know. In five years playing (1987 - 1994 less 2 years spent in America) I only had two mildly unpleasant incidents - one was a nasty barmaid who it later transpired was involved with a guy who liked to win on the machines!
For anyone who might recall me (???) I'm American, with short dark hair. I feel almost embarrassed admitting this but I did wear a longer wig and glasses on occasion. I was literally embarrassed by my "riches" at one stage there and I got to feel quite conspicuous - though like I said the only attention I was aware of attracting was mild amusement.
After my Mother-In-Law-to-be referred to my winnings as my "ill gotten gains" once in the very early days (pffffft - I mean REALLY, you'd think I'd been out pick pocketing tourists, or worse) I kept quiet about exactly how I was spending my days. She thought I was a receptionist in a hotel.
ops:
I logged all my winnings in four exercise books which I've kept as a reminder. We came across them recently and it's sent me on a real nostalgia trip! For years after I stopped playing (left the UK so my husband could pursue his career) if I ever caught the smell of beer and cigarettes in one hit I'd automatically "hear" coins landing in a tray!
I had dreams about Adders and Ladders amongst other old gems, on and off for years too! Not so much lately.
My partner, now husband, was working as a prop maker for the BBC then. He and a friend made this hilarious thing they called the "alter bladder". You'll see where this is going - It ran off 2 AA batteries and suctioned liquids through a straw like pipe into a kind of sectioned strong plastic bag which had a small tap on the bottom "for emptying at the user's convenience". I'm almost peeing myself laughing now remembering how much fun we had taking it for a trial run and the
terrible noise it made suctioning a drink from a glass.
Needless to say it only got the one pub outing.
My husband has been known to bring it out at parties since then.
ops:
I received most of my education in the USA and my general knowledge wasn't very "global". Initially I worked bloody hard studying trivia and facts to get good returns! Those of you who were around back them will know what I mean when I say the money was
very good.
We invested my earnings in a (small) property just before we left the UK. From September next year we're going to live there.
On a trip back to Blighty in 2005 I did venture out for a dabble on the machines but I was rubbish!
ops: I won't be making a return. If it were the MIL who used to disapprove I think these days it might likely be my daughters! (Though they wouldn't say no to some extra cash to spend I'm betting!)
Recently at a dinner party my husband brought out my log books which we'd uncovered while sorting out the garage. People were incredulous 1/ that I'd ever spent all that time in pubs - I'm not a drinker or pub-goer in general, and 2/ that there was so much tax free income just waiting there for collection!
Sorry for the big ramble! This is a part of my life that seems so far removed from where I'm at now and it's been such a blast reading some of the nostalic posts from some of the veteran pros!
Happy quizzing ALL! Have fun, and prosper!
