Out but not down

"To be walked all over you have to be lying down"

One of my favourite quotes that i sometimes repeat to myself in order to try and improve my performance. It sums up how i'm playing at the moment, but i'm not going to be depressing, i'm taking positives today.

I lost today in the first round of the tournament, 2-0 best of three, with a handicap of 21 each time. My opponent was a half decent player, funny enough he reminded me of how I used to be able to play, and was reassuring to know that when i get back to the standard i was i could beat him, even whitewash him. So revenge is on the cards, just got to wait until the next tournament.

My friend went out in the second round, having got a buy in the first frame, lost 2-1 to some guy he should have wiped the floor with, and looked to be doing in the first 10 minutes.

My attitude is starting to change, this tournament has made me feel better and inspired me to try hard in the new year. What i need now is a break from snooker, i'm not going to play in january i don't think, certainly not a match.

Practice is what i need, watching some of the good players today at the club reminded me how much i miss potting, and potting well. I miss compliments from other tables as to how i'm playing and some of the characters you can only find in a snooker hall.

I'm going to beat my best break of 30 next year, thats for sure. I'm half considering a new cue, although i know it's not the way to solve problems on a table, but i think spending more than £30 on a cue will stop me thrashing it about (i've already split the wood and it's taped together!) and while searching for the cue and researching what will be best, i might just regain some interest in the game again, it's inspiration i need, i can't even find it from watching the pro's which used to make me produce some of my best stuff.