Notes (mostly snooker)

I went to Manchester for 10 days earlier this month, to see the snooker Tour Championship. I'm not sure I'll be in the mood for a full and detailed post about it, but I just want you to know that it was magical and wonderful. I can't believe that it's already my third tournament that I've been to, since the first one in December last year. My next one won't be until November, now, though.

The World Championship starts tomorrow. And in very good news: Ronnie confirmed that he is going to play. I don't really know what to expect from him this year, seeing as he's been withdrawing from anything and everything this season, and we've not even seen him play since he broke his cue in anger after losing to Robert Milkins in the Championship League in January. I still want him to do well, though. And it made me smile to see him again.

Just... unfortunately Ronnie and Mark are on the same quarter of the draw. That means that if both get through the first two rounds, they'll meet in a quarterfinal. I don't think I need to tell you how I feel about the prospect of this. Let's not think that far ahead, though. For now, there are matches to enjoy from tomorrow (well, that's today now, seeing as it's 1am already), so let's deal with one thing at a time.

Players I like who are in the tournament: Mark Selby, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Wu Yize, Ding Junhui and Si Jiahui. Maybe David Gilbert, too, a little bit. It massively broke my heart that Michael Holt failed to qualify, after he had such a good run to Judgement Day, but then crumbled in the last match, unfortunately. I love him, though. I mean it, he'd probably be 3rd on this list by now.

Players I want OUT, as soon as possible: Neil Robertson, Luca Brecel, Ali Carter. From the tactical point of view, I also want Kyren Wilson and John Higgins out, but it's not a fierce desire for it to happen as soon as possible.

Yes, I will drive everyone crazy with the snooker during the next 2.5 weeks.

In non-snooker news, I have now finished preparing course materials about edible plants that can be found near my town.

No, this is not my area of expertise by any means. Some months back I wanted to start learning more about which useful flora could be found nearby, though. So, there's this woman I knew to be into these things, and she came up with the idea for the course. She's the one supplying the majority of information about plants and nature, while I've been doing the technical work on the computer, as well as some research and adding a bit of information related to mythology and folk beliefs/medicine, as I might know a bit of that, even if I can't distinguish even basic plants from one another.

The course will run for 7 weeks, one day each week. We already have 7 people signed up for it, and our start date will be 23 April. No, I don't feel like I should be teaching these things, and I mainly see myself as a technical assistant rather than a course host. But the thing is still that I've accepted being there, so I will be. And that is, in itself, complete madness.