Playing Live in 2008

So for the first time this year I have played live and the last two nights have involved a bit of live play at the two extremes. A low almost underworld Pub game Friday night and then a trip to B'pool G casino on Saturday.
Nice to be able to report a bit of success both nights. In brief, came 3rd on Friday night and a small win on a very loose cash table for only £40 but a win is a win. Last night I came 6th @ B'pool for £330, although by the time ive paid Honeymonster his 25% and take off buy-in and rebuy I have only a £140 profit.
The Pub game was full of poorer players so wont bother with any hands from then , but going to spin 3 of the hands from Yesterday now.
1st one is with about 15 players left Blinds (1k/2k) and i'm in BB. Strangely for this level 3 players limp in so pot is 9k. I have J3 of hearts. Flop comes down A,10,2 with 2 hearts , I am fairly short stacked and decide , there is only an ace can call me if I push my last 10.5k and some might be squeezed out.Larger than life Howard Plant is first to act and dwells, well talks none stop about his decision. Eventually decides to call, rest fold. Before we flip, he says i haven't got anything, to which I reply"neither have I". I couldn't wish him to have better cards 4,7 of hearts for a lower flush draw and the board brought nothing so my Jack high stood up.
I squeeze onto the final table in 8th place out of 9 and am drawn in first to act position, with blinds at 3k/6k , I decide i have to act and so make my mind up to push my last 17k rather than face having to call on my BB the next hand.I look at my first card only and see it is a Queen. All folded to SB who calls as does the BB. Flop comes 5,6,Q and I think "hey I might win this", soon shattered as SB bets , BB folds and he flips 5,5 for trips. Turn 6 , river 6 , someone says "Unlucky mate", but Im the only one at the table thats noticed and push forward my Queen, thank you poker lord for I have actually won with runner, runner for the higher FH.
I pinch a couple of blinds and get no callers when i small raise with AA and then this hand comes up. Im in BB with 55k and have 88. Pro player Dave'nice'Mayall raises 20k from early position. I dwell figure his range includes any pair here and AK,AQ,AJ so repop him. He calls with 10,10 and leaves me with 7k. Was this the right play? I dont know, he was the only player at the table I felt was as strong as me and if id won i would have been able to move up the pay ladder considerably and have a realistic chance of winning it and £1800, so maybe. But on the other hand I had a fair few chips and could maybe have waited for a spot where I could have been the aggressor or a greater favourite. Im unsure now about this play, think I should have waited, with a low stack and two very passive players at the table. Any comments welcome here.

Honeymonster and a few are going to Newcastle next w/end for a good looking comp, but I cant see me getting a ticket out for what will have to be a very family unsociable midday departure.
Other news is that Snapper played the Pokerplex satellite for the 40k for me. 5 seats with only 14 runners this week, and he did the business . Forgot to take a screenshot to match last weeks qualification. I said he could play it , but i think he has left me to play, and we are 50/50 on any cash.