Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Happy Birthday to me!

It's my birthday today and I'm planning to write, even though I have the option of sitting about eating chocolates. Does this indicate maturity at last? Seems so unlikely, I can't give that idea much credence.

On an wholly unrelated note, aren't online archives marvellous? The LRB has been busy archiving its older issues, and I recently found my own Diary of a Hustler piece there from February 1997 - the snooker article which springboarded my first novel with Sceptre and gained me an agent at Curtis Brown.

Those were the days! What the hell happened?

7 comments:

Poetry Pleases! said...

Dear Jane

Happy Birthday!

I'm glad I don't know your address as my sister's present has already cost me a fortune. However we are visiting some friends later on and we shall definitely be having a few drinks in your honour.

Have a great day!

Best wishes from Simon

Bo said...

A very happy birthday to you. love bo xx

Jane Holland said...

Ta muchly. And as I recall, there's a shiny New Moon conjunct my Scorpio Sun today. Good omen? (I bloody well hope so; bad omens I've had aplenty this past year!)

Unknown said...

Hope you enjoyed it immensely, Jane. A b'lated birthday greeting - here, that makes you Scorpio, doesn't it...?

Jane Holland said...

A Scorpio and a half, m'dear. But I keep it all inside ...

robert d said...

A belated Happy B-Day.

Could only read part of Diary of a Hustler. You have to sign in or something and I just don't do such.

Would really appreciate your insight into how you do what you do with the cue.

I played Snooker, big table - little balls - rounded pockets,
in Thailand.

Do you do as well at pool and billiards (no pockets)?

Snapping out,

d

Jane Holland said...

Yes, you need to buy the article in order to read it all, I'm afraid. But it's nice to know it's still available online ...

Insights into playing cuesports? Practice. And then more practice. Though some natural ability is useful. Keep still on the shot, with your head well down, even after the cue ball has been struck. That's a good habit to get into. And don't let your concentration wander when your opponent is at the table. Stay completely focused, waiting to get back in.

I play pool and billiards too, and am reasonable at both, but I've only played carom (billiards without pockets) once. You don't tend to find many carom tables in the West.