It all clicks....i've got the bug!

First day back to the table after taking a months break, which was needed, I now crave playing snooker, maybe moreso than before. Whats more encouraging is my attitude to snooker is improving, days before snooker is back on TV (when i'm usually inspired) and i've got the bug again, hopefully as bad as ever.

Right now i want to travel everywhere and play in as many clubs as possible, enter as many tournaments as possible and see where it gets me. Right now i'm not concerned with winning or losing (strange, as it's my nature to care about winning) just as long as i play well i'm happy as larry.

for example today, woke up at 6:15 to get to uni for 9:30 for an exam. finished by 10ish and we played pool in the bar, i was putting together good table time and thought that if i could carry this on to the snooker table in the afternoon i would be in a good position.

Lost every game of pool, but who gives a shit? i'm a snooker player!

got at the club, now under refurbishment and looking good if i say so myself, a nice new bar being put in place :. I had to referee the first game for my two mates and pick the balls out the pockets for them, but it only served to wet my appetite for the game. I was ready and rearing to go, as much as i've ever been in snooker.

My time came around, and for what i believe to be the first time ever i potted my first three balls at the table. ok, the guys knew i was a decent player and were looking forward to me putting on a show. And a great start got my confidence up, i missed a couple easy ones, but i let em slide, i've not hit a ball for a month! I won my first game back, gained a healthy lead of about 32-5, to my amasement within around 5 visits to the table gained a great advantage. I took my foot off the pedal and it got rather close (not doing myself down, it's down to inexperience, this year will be only my second year at a full size table) but i was able to see it through, overcome the pressure and pott well enough to secure a win.

Enter my next mate, by no means a snooker player, but like every other guy, competitive and will play dirty and defensive to win. Strange as i write this i remember by first week at Uni playing him, as i listen right now to the song that was on my mp3 player that very week.

Anyways, ditto to the previous frame, took a healty early lead, 20-0 in a short period of time, this frame was more of a mess around, and I let it get silly, took a few unneccessary risks and got down to the pink and black, him needing both to re-spot the black. I was really relaxed now and really enjoyed the frame (i can't remember the last i enjoyed) and he bottled an easy pink although he is shite with the rest. I potted (a long) pink and claimed the frame and two successive wins on my return to the table.

I've learnt in my break to keep my aspirations within the snooker club. Don't try and match the pro's in your appraoch until you have years of snooker under your belt. The way i see today, i was the favourite to win both games, overcame the pressure of challengers, and won both games despite a lot of pressure and male pride, I won, nobody beat me at snooker today, and it's a great boost to the ego, something i've needed.

I'm playing my mate next week, he's my biggest competition, and we're good mates, snooker buddies, if you will. I want to get some practice in before i play him, and claiming a convincing victory over him will be the icing on the cake.