I do agree I have a weakness on knowing exactly when to push in the center, which is why I prefer open games to semi-closed positions. I have a couple of books on pawn structure & pawn play in the middlegame but haven't cracked them yet. I guess I find the subject kind of intimidating.
If you feel more at home in open positions, then why do you play the Sicilian?
I don't know what books you might have, and as there is indeed a lot of garbage available that should never have been printed I hope they are useful. But in any case, there are certain types of middle game you really should be familiar with, and most of all those that the openings you play lead into.
Funny about ratings, I have a much better score over the last year against 2000-2100's than 1800's. Go figure.
Actually I don't care about rating. Lasker didn't have any.
You're probably right about me doing things wrong, that is not uncommon. You're also right about d4 of course. It's the move I wanted to play but I was worried about c5 followed by Nc6 and d4 starts looking a bit weak. I guess the right plan is 0-0-0 removing the pin and getting the rook on the d-file but with my long history of failing opposite side castling positions and being 350 points lower rated I was planning 0-0 at the time (though I changed my mind on that a few moves later).
Actually I think you are quite a good player and your activity is highly appreciated. I should really post more myself but recently I played very little and none of my games are any good for different reasons.
The plan you outline for Black above fails to impress me. You have a space advantage and the better development, why then should you be afraid of an opening of the position?
Also, it takes a brave if not foolhardy Black player to castle short, so you shouldn't fear opposite castling too much. White's attack is simply easier and quicker.
Instead a typical game might develop like Tartakower - Lillienthal, Stockholm 1937:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1461614 which is the same variation with a slightly differen move order.
White emerged out of the opening with a small, useful advantage, but Black managed by tenacious defence to draw. It is games like this which always made me prefer 3...Nf6 after which I don't see much problems for Black.