Freshened Up

Thanks for the comments on the last post, it's nice to know I'm not the only one. I took the end of last week off from playing all together and feel much fresher and less tired now. I'll get back in the saddle this week. I don't know if it was the tiredness or work stress but last week was the most difficult so far of not smoking this year. It was probably down to work, although the cravings didn't occur during the 9-5. Not an evening went by when I didn't think about having a smoke. Hopefully it was a turn point and getting through it will be the making of success. It's been 6 weeks since I last smoked.
See you on the felt...

NoMojo

Have found it very difficult to be in the right headspace when I sit in front of the computer since the weekend and therefore have only played a couple of games with nothing good to report. It's good that I can recognise when I'm not feeling it, but I do sometimes wish I had a trigger activity or routine that gets me into the right place to play. Maybe I can work on that. I think a lot of it is to do with a very busy week at work so some fairly long days and I've been knackered when I get home. Hopefully the work situation is getting under control now so things should've improved by the weekend.

A little rest

I didn't play much poker over the weekend, instead having my first real downtime of the year, which was perfect timing. Saturday night was a really nice family evening with my godparents who I haven't seen in a year, mum, dad, brother, sister, brother-in-law, nephew and nephews best friend. We had dinner and a snooker tournament and it was a lot of fun. We had a handicapping system for the snooker that gave everyone a fair chance. My brother and I made it to the final, but I finished runner up after committing about 6 fouls in the final game. I blame the wine ! It was also the 4 week mark of giving up smoking and the first time I've been slightly drunk since quitting. I managed fine and didn't crave too much even though my godmother was still smoking. She's got a give-up-date this week and is on some of the pills that are supposed to work their magic by blocking the nicotine receptors in the brain. Hope she can do it this time, I offered my support any time she needs to just call someone to talk.

I'll leave you with this since it made me think, and that's enough ;

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley (1849 - 1902)