Cold Hands, Warm Heart.

That's what they say, isn't it ? Cold hands, warm heart. Is it true ? As a fact, I'd have to say no.

Anyway, that's a digression and the only reason I mentioned it was because I have cold fingers. It makes typing awkward and leaves me with plenty of 'typo's' to deal with it.

If any of you follow snooker, you'll know who Ronnie O'Sullivan is. For those that don't, he's probably the most gifted snooker player to ever have played on the green baize. A number of years ago, he engaged to the help of Ray Reardon (Another player of mythical status) Maybe it was a 'mentoring' kind of relationship, he certainly didn't need help with honing his skills. You would see Ray, sat in the audience. I would imagine he was there as a 'calming' influence. Ronnie could be unpredictable, when it came to his 'attitude'. Some would say that you never knew who was going to turn up, the genius or the fool. It can sometimes be a fine line, as we know.

The reason I mention this, was because from the moment Ray Reardon appeared on the scene, Ronnie would start every session with a mug of something. He never drank from it. He would just sit there, as the introductions were being made and hold it with both hands. It dawned on me, after seeing this a few times, that the mug was probably full of hot water.

My guess is that he was doing this so that his hands were warm,

right from the start, which has to be a good thing when you're a snooker player. Everything they do on the table is coming from both their posture and more importantly, their hands.

I have no doubt that this little addition was a 'tip' from Ray. How clever and yet so simple. During the year or so that the two were connected, Ronnie displayed a much more clam and collected demeanour, he wasn't as rash in his shot selection, there was more deliberating. He was, if possible, a better player for it.

When I was sixteen, I broke my leg. Three pins and two weeks in the local hospital. One morning the consultant surgeon came for a wander round the ward, checking on his patients. He stopped by my bed and asked if everything was alright. Yes indeed it was, thank you. Although I did point out that the cast was causing some irritation and pain where my foot was hanging out of the end of it. He looked at me and then at my leg and then proceeded to pick up a book, that was on my bedside and place it under the end of the cast, this immediately took away my discomfort. Off he pootled, probably despairing at the 'youth of today'.

In our haste to resolve, what may seem complex issues, we overlook the obvious. Sometimes, the simple solution is the best one. Life can be complicated but it doesn't always have to be.

This all has nothing to do with my intended subject. I had even made some notes on my phone, while earlier waiting in traffic. They'll save for another day, nothing time sensitive.

Let us all have triumphant Tuesday.