It was difficult at the start, and many times I thought about giving up.
Shipments arrived wrong or with issues. In the first shipment of pool tables that arrived, one side of the table had the cushion upside down. Running the risk of self-concussion at every shot, I could do nothing but give the tables away as workbenches. The second shipment, many were damaged in the container on the way to New Zealand. I had bought sandwiches at the corner dairy with more robust packaging.

Filled with anger and furious rage, my shaking hands booked a ticket directly to China. Somehow, I made it to the factory in a secluded industrial town, the name which sounds like the noise a rubber ball makes when it hits the ground. Here I sat down with the owner, shoes off. He offered me tea. I accepted. It tasted like washed sock water. This explained the shoes-off policy. But I remained calm and collected. I had a mission to complete.

The meeting went well, and I requested that they build my own pool table design, to my specifications. With higher-quality cushions and felt, and to make it more solid with the cushions up the right way up. I didn’t think this was too much to ask. This is the Viper 8. It’s designed to be the best possible alternative to a 500kg and $6,000 slate table.

I take massive pride in The Ultimate Man Cave, and I want to make sure that any product you purchase for your own man cave is a quality product at an affordable price that I personally would be proud to have in my own Man Cave.

So, if you are looking to deck out your man cave, shed, or your very boring work office, know that the pain I have been through can be the very thing that makes your superficial friends want to hang out with you. (Cue inspirational music)