Have you got what it takes…

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I had no intention to blog about what you’re going to read in this post. My intention was to blog about the type of chess player you might be – do you see yourself in one of the photos in the above image? –  and to put the question to you: What kind of chess player are you? Do you think carefully about your move…do you make the move instantly?…Are you a careless player? There are many more questions I could have asked you – I think you know them all. Maybe the picture ties in- in some way – with what I’ve found and which I want to share with you.

In my SEARCH  I came across this link and thought to add the information- for readers who haven’t read it before or haven’t read something similar on my blog before. The next question is: Have you got what it takes to be a chess player? [a serious chess player – I might add] Even children sometimes turn up in large groups very eager to play/learn and then discover that chess is actually not for them – or not what they thought it is all about. At the bottom of this entry you’ll find a link to an entry on my blog about Chess Personalities and a link to Brunel University about research they’ve done. Enjoy the reading from the above link quoted:

Traits of a Good Chess player
Quote of the Month: Not all highly intelligent people play chess well, and not everyone who plays chess well is highly intelligent (although if you ask them…!) A beginner often wonders if he has what it takes to become proficient at the Royal Game. The answer is that there are many aspects of intelligence and personality that correlate with the potential to become a good chess player. Almost everyone realizes that a lot of hard work will be necessary to climb the ladder of chess success, and few want to put in many hours of work with little prospects for reward. Knowing that you have some of the requisite talents is always helpful in keeping up your spirits. Several lists of applicable chess traits have been published, so I thought it would be fun to give it a Novice Nook spin. I have separated the traits into four groups:
“IQ” Aspects
Physical Traits
Personality Traits
Emotional Traits
…but there is quite a bit of overlap, so these are really just rough groupings. “IQ” Aspects
Memory – The ability to remember things is certainly a “no-brainer”, insofar as being helpful for chess. First there is the obvious ability to retain more chess patterns and what you know about them, including opening and endgame knowledge, tactical positions and ideas, positional maneuvers. In addition, there is also everything else you “know” about chess – including guidelines, how to handle a six-hour World Open game, and the information in Novice Nook. The better the memory, the better you can store the information and retrieve it quickly and accurately. It is also well documented that memory is not as sharp when you get older, so age does degrade this ability. Note: “Knowledge” is not an ability, but it is the information you retain better with a good memory. It is also worth noting that knowledge is not correlated one-to-one with your playing strength; for example, a player who reads more books and retains more knowledge is not always better than one who has read much less. As one of my chess friends once said, “Never confuse ignorance with stupidity” – the corollary being “Never confuse knowledge with intelligence.”

Spatial Relationships – I call the special vision which enables one to
understand what is happening on a chessboard “Board Vision”. But the
general ability to process spatial relationships is more than just that chessspecific skill; it is the capability to see and/or imagine what is happening in two or three dimensions. An example of how this is tested would be the type of IQ test question where they show you an unfolded cube and you are asked to fold it in your head and select which of four folded cubes could be created from the fold. The ability to visualize geometric patterns is valuable in chess when you are trying to look ahead and imagine a possibly occurring position. An example of an error using this ability would be a “retained image” – when you fail to see that a piece has moved off its square and you visualize it doing something on a later move when, in fact, if that line were actually played that piece would no longer be there!

Deductive Logic – This is the “If A implies B and B implies C, then A
implies C” type of logic. In chess you need deductive logic to figure out what
is forced and what is not. For example, during analysis of a position you need to be able to look at a move and deduce something like “Because of so-and so, if my opponent does not stop my killer move (or whatever), then I can do this, so he must make move A or move B to prevent it or else I win.” A common deductive error would be assuming your opponent will make a move that you think is forced when in fact another move is better. Of all the skills in chess, I believe that this one is perhaps the most popularly recognized by the general public. Your deductive logic is another part of the thinking process that slows as you get older.

Physical Traits
Concentration – Playing chess correctly requires a lot of thought(!) The
better able you are to concentrate and focus your thoughts on the task at hand, the better. If your mind is wandering – even thinking about a mistake you made earlier in the game – that can only hurt you. Lack of concentration
detracts from your ability to perform from the task at hand, which is usually
finding the best move in the current position within the given time available.

Stamina – This is the physical ability to sit and play without excessive
tiredness or fatigue throughout not just a long game, but possibly even a long series of games in a tournament or match. One of the problems older players have is lack of stamina; they get tired more easily. You can increase your stamina by eating and drinking correctly before and during a long game, getting proper rest, and entering the event in good shape. That is why it is helpful to have an aerobic sport, like tennis, jogging, or swimming, to
augment your chess lifestyle – these are beneficial for your non-chess
welfare, too!

Nerves – In the course of chess history, it has been stated about several toplevel grandmasters that were not serious World Champion candidates because they did not have the nerves for top-level play. Playing chess for fun is one thing, but playing for your livelihood – or your place in history – is quite another. It requires strong nerves to play chess at the highest level, but having “bad nerves” affects your play negatively at any level.

Personality Traits
Carefulness – Of all the traits that make for a good chess player, one of the
most important is the ability to take your time on each move and try to find
the best one. And of the personality traits that support this ability, being
careful is the key trait. Interestingly, one can be too careful and, in that case,
you may even be afraid to move for fear of making a mistake. This fear
inevitably leads to time trouble, requiring fast moves and resulting in even
bigger mistakes than the ones you had been avoiding by taking 12 minutes
instead of 6. Therefore, the best chess players are the ones that are careful, but not pathologically so. It should be noted that players who are not naturally careful in life can learn to be careful in chess! I have seen several players who were able to overcome their natural tendencies, but of course to do so one has to feel strongly that it is worth the special effort!

Caring – This trait is different than carefulness, and is actually more closely
related to some of the emotional traits below. You want to care about your
move, your result, your rating, and your reputation, but not too much. If you don’t care at all, you won’t work to improve it/them, and if you take these too personally then chess becomes too involved with your personal image and you will find it hard to take the necessary risks to play and improve.

Determination – This is one area in which I score well. I will not stop at
something until I get it right. My wife thinks I am a little nutty because I once took almost a year on the same tough cryptogram – I would not skip it or take a hint or look up the answer. She is right, of course, but that same
determination paid me good dividends when I wanted to become an expert, a master, and get my FIDE rating (back in the days when you had to have a
FIDE rating of at least 2205 to get one). One should differentiate game-time
determination to obtain the maximal outcome (“will to win” or “fighting
spirit”) with the longer-term career goal determination to do whatever it takes to become the best player you can. During a simultaneous exhibition at a local high school, I once met a student who, when he found out I was a chess master, said “Really? Wow! That’s cool. I live for chess.” I was a little
amazed by this pronouncement, so I said, “If you live for chess, then why
don’t you play in tournaments? For example, come a few miles down the road and play in some of the big events at the Adam’s Mark Hotel.” His
disappointing reply, “Oh no! I couldn’t possibly do that!” I guess that makes
him like a kid who lives for baseball but cannot possibly think of playing in
Little League! His answer was not a mark of determination!
Note: “Killer-instinct” is not the same as “fighting spirit”. Killer-instinct is an
intense desire to either beat down the opponent, or at least finish off a won
game. Good chess players seem to have either one of two special traits: killer
instinct or expert problem solvers. Without one of those two traits it is hard to have the determination and perseverance to play hard each move, game after game. I am more the problem solver type – I want to find the best move each and every time and I am not trying to wound my opponent’s ego.

Perseverance – This trait is similar to determination, but it represents not the will to do well, but the ability to carry on that will despite whatever
roadblocks are presented: lack of time to play and study, unexpected and
unnerving losses, the scepticism of others, etc. Again, there is short-term
game-time perseverance and the more common long-term career goal
perseverance. Surprisingly, I find a lot of students who have the
determination (otherwise they would not hire me as their chess coach), but
lack the perseverance – they want quicker results than is possible, get
discouraged at the inevitable setbacks, and cannot maintain their chess
determination for the years that are required to reach their lofty goals. Since
extensive chess progress can only be measured in years, it is not surprising
that many players cannot persevere in what it takes to maintain improvement over that time period. Note: I did not forget “Willpower”, but it is mostly contained within determination and perseverance.

Capability to overcome natural shortcomings for the good of your chess
play – This is a special type of trait which enables you to not dwell or be held
back by any shortcomings you have, but to be able to rise above them due to your strong desire to play well and improve. Almost every player thinks, “I’m not this or I am not that.” Everyone has shortcomings in one area or
another. No one has a great memory and great deductive logic and great
nerves and everything else – even the Fischers and Kasparovs are not perfect (but they are a lot closer than the rest of us!) However, some players let their concern about these shortcomings hold them back. Further, in some cases, these shortcomings can mostly be overcome by will. For example, suppose you are naturally impatient or not very careful. It still may be possible, when sitting down at the chessboard, to say to yourself, “OK, I am naturally impatient (or not careful), but if I am going to play good chess I have to take my time on every move and be very careful on every move or else I can let the game slip away just by that one bad move.” If you are able to say this to yourself, you may be able to overcome your natural impatience for the good of your game. Once you get in the habit of consistently practicing correctly, then it becomes easier and easier, despite any natural tendencies otherwise.

Confidence – Like many of these other traits, either extreme is bad: too much confidence is overconfidence, which often leads to carelessness, or lack of respect for the opponent. On the other hand, if you play with lack of
confidence your results will surely suffer. Chess is a mental sport, and one’s
lack of confidence often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Let me augment
this observation with a brief story: As a teenager I had a friend who played
regularly and studied chess diligently. For example, in the openings he
learned the English and the Caro-Kann. But in tournaments his low rated
opponents did not play into his study lines and he suffered from very poor
results, getting an 1100 rating based on several events. He then quit playing.
Ten years later he had not played nor picked up a chess book, but asked to
play in one of my invitational round robin tournaments, filled with players
rated 1300-1500. Despite not having played in a decade and being the lowest rated player, he finished in second place with a performance rating of almost 1700. I asked him how this was possible. He said that maturity made the difference – he no longer worried about what his opponents were doing and just enjoyed playing. Whereas before he doubted his ability and was affected by his opponent’s weird play, now he was confident that he could just play well and do the best he can. So the extra 500 points or so of playing strength was almost all due to his new-found confidence and lack of worry.

Awareness – A player who can keep his awareness and be cognizant of what
is important has a big advantage. For example, when an experienced player
starts to realize that the time is running short and time management is
becoming a bigger and bigger part of the play, he has an advantage over an
opponent who either is not as aware of the importance of this change, or is so but does not change his priorities. Similarly, being aware of possibilities, such as unexpected opponent blunders, or sudden changes in the phase of the game, is a distinct asset.

Flexibility – In a similar manner to awareness, flexibility of plan and action is a big asset. If you are not flexible enough to adapt to the change in state, then being aware of that state is not much use. It is also very important to be
flexible in your learning. This flexibility is related to the next trait, open-mindedness.
Open-Mindedness – The ability to listen and to consider new ideas (or
realize that the old ones you have are at least somewhat misbegotten), is very important. It is very difficult to learn if you “know” you are right or not open to new ideas, or possibilities of what you are doing wrong. A brilliant,
stubborn beginner probably will never get past the beginner stage since it will be very difficult to learn from his mistakes, even (or especially!) if they are pointed out to him. The good news is that in chess if you are not very openminded you tend to retard your own progress. Therefore, if you can recognize the cause of this lack of progress, it may jar you out of your complacency.

Emotional Traits
Ability to deal with losses as a learning tool – This is a very important
indicator of how good a chess player someone is going to become. Suppose a player take losses so hard and personally that you can’t speak to them and they don’t want to review or think about the game. Then not only will they not be able to optimally learn from those losses, but eventually the realization that they are going to lose thousands of games in order to become a good player will wear them down. At the other extreme we have someone who doesn’t care at all if they lose – they, like the tough loser, will also not review their games, because “it is just a game” and why should they spend effort to avoid repetition of their cause of defeat if it does not matter? These players are doomed to repeat their mistakes over and over and never get much better. The best outlook is somewhat in between: you cannot take your losses too personally but you have to be the type who vows never to lose the same way twice. A player who takes great interest in their shortcomings and studies them in such a way as to minimize the chance of recurrence will usually be much better than the players who are at each extreme.

Pride in your moves and your reputation – I think this trait is a little
underrated. Players who take pride in each move have an advantage over players who are don’t care that much about each move. These latter players are often surprised when I ask them about what considerations went into a particular move, as if to say “Why should you care? It is not that important to me” or “This is just a medium speed internet game – why should I try my best?” But almost all strong players share the concern that they put in the proper effort on each move (time permitting) and try to reach the correct decision, or at least do the best they can. Can you imagine Garry Kasparov annotating one of his games and writing, “I made this move without much thought – I really didn’t care if it was a good one or not”?!
Ability to deal with setbacks, bad moves – This is different than
perseverance, which enables you to maintain your will after setbacks of any type. Perseverance is therefore part of this trait, but not the only part. For example, the ability to maintain equanimity – not lose your cool – when things have gone wrong, is important. Players who get upset and let previous moves affect their judgment of the current move, or even think about the previous move instead the current move, are almost making a big mistake. Playing chess is fun – This is the most common trait shared by chess players. Humans who lack this trait may become good scientists, doctors, lawyers, engineers, golfers, bridge players, video game champions, businessmen, or whatever, but they won’t become good chess players. Studying chess is fun – This is the flip side of the previous trait: take random chess players at a chess club and hand them Capablanca’s Best Games and ask them to read it, a certain percentage will decline and the rest will gladly accept. The ones that accept almost always find that doing chess work is fun. Assuming they have not already read this book and that no extraneous factors are at work, the ones that decline usually like to play chess, but find the studying side tedious. When I work with beginning chess players of all ages, this is one of the first things I notice: everyone wants to get better, but only the ones who find doing the “work” side fun will ever have a chance of getting anywhere. No matter how much the others are determined to get better, they can never overcome the fact that doing the “unfun” work on a hobby like chess cannot last very long.

Coachability – Despite some fiction to the contrary, no one becomes really good at chess in isolation. Many factors, including some of the above, can contribute to this trait. A player might have many reasons they are less coachable: bad listening skills, stubbornness, know-it-all, doesn’t care enough, lack of maturity, or just believes that books alone can make him a great player. In any case, coachable players obviously have an advantage in the long run.

Conclusion
Next time you run into someone who says, “So-and-so is really smart – he would make a good chess player”, consider how well that person fits some of the above, “non-IQ” criteria. And how well did you score? If you were above average on most of the critical requirements, that may mean that you have a promising career ahead – assuming you are not damagingly low on a couple of others! A player is usually only as good as his weakest link will allow him to be.

Click HERE to read about Chess Personalities and research done by Brunel University. The link will open in a new window.

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Le postillon de Lonjumeau

I’m not feeling well, all week. I feel rotten today and have a flu/cold since Tuesday. Many colleagues absent too this week and I’m just in a mood to sit and soak up some opera music – to suit my mood! First you can listen to The Coachman of Lonjumeau sung by South African Tenor, Gert Potgieter. Next video – Gé Korsten sings Di Quella Pira from Il Trovatore – The Troubadour. I hope it’s not too depressing for you…lol. If you’re an opera lover and you want to listen to heavenly music, do a search on Mimi Coertse on youtube and you’ll find plenty videos of her to listen to. She’s got the perfect voice! She’s a soprano. Make sure you listen to: Caro Nome from Rigoletto sung by her. Don’t forget to listen to Werner Nel too.

En ja! Wie sal nie die berge mis nie!

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London Chess Classic 2010

London Chess Classic 2 – Date: 8-15 December at Olympia. I attended the London Classic I last year in December and will definitely not miss this one too as Anand [my favourite] will be playing!You can read my entry about the 2009 Classic HERE on the 12th December 2009.

Image: londonchessclassic

Heading the line-up is the world chess champion, Viswanathan Anand from India; the teenage sensation who currently outranks him on the world chess rating list, Magnus Carlsen from Norway; and Anand’s immediate predecessor as champion, Vladimir Kramnik from Russia.

Vishy Anand is the one addition to the field that contested the first London Chess Classic in December 2009. Though undisputed world champion, Anand is currently not the highest rated player in the world, but he recently wrested back third place from Kramnik, so is considered the man most likely to stop Carlsen making it two London triumphs in a row. Anand has recently stated that his ambition is to regain his number one status, so it sounds like he already has plans for his clash with the prodigiously talented Norwegian in London.

Kramnik and Anand

London Chess Classic 2010 lineup

Carlsen, Magnus NOR 2826

Anand, Viswanathan IND 2800

Kramnik, Vladimir RUS 2780

Nakamura, Hikaru USA 2733

Adams, Michael ENG 2728

Short, Nigel D ENG 2690

McShane, Luke J ENG 2657

Howell, David W L ENG 2616

Click here for entry forms – to take part in the tournamnet [yes, you can play there too] and here for tickets.

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An award – ‘n toekenning

I not the kind of person that like to showcase awards, medals, etc. but don’t have the option to hide this blog award Vlam has passed on to me, which I really appreciate. Her motivation for the award was: she sees me as a busy boddy and never depressed. [borrellend besig en nooit bedruk – in Afrikaans] I think she’s hit the nail on its head with both, but honestly, must say that with what was going on in my home country the past week, had me quite upset and depressed and it was hard to stay positive about South Africa when getting news about pasients dying in hospitals due to the strike of medical staff! Then, on the positive side, I do read Annie’s blog for quite a time now and have found a lady of great inspiration. Annie is an American living in Pretoria and it’s amazing what she’s always doing. I do salute Annie 70×70 for the work she’s been doing and also in the past week she volunteered at a hospital and cheered pasients up with her humorous personality. I need to pass this award on to 5 other amazing people and Annie is definitely on the top of my list. Next is Kyker for his beautiful photos of places around the world. The scenes and places are always thoughtfully selected and you will enjoy his photograpy when visiting his neatly laid out blog. I think he’s an example of perfection. He’s also writing his own poems and if you can read Afrikaans, you will definitely enjoy his poetry too. Thirdly I would like to award Madele  for always being positive in her views and always taking other people into consideration. Madele only started blogging quite recently and has already shown she’s a person of great inspiration too, an open person who’s truly honest and someone you can trust.  Recently, Roer has started blogging again – after silence of almost a year – and I appreciate her determination in her decisions and pushing through with ideas when she’s decided to do things in life, despite of what other people are saying/thinking. Lastly, but not the least, I would like to pass this award on to Connie for his great blog he’s started recently about Chess in his area/province, which is the Northern Cape – in South Africa. He’s always uploading some great pics of  children taking part in tournaments across the country/province.  He also keeps his followers/readers informed about tournaments and always has details at hand. I got to know Connie through the chess.com-site and he’s a great Chess player too – as his twin-girls! Keep up the good work, Connie.

Part of receiving the award is naming three things I like. Well, that is quite difficult as there are many things I really do like. I like it when people are honest/fair and have an open mind about things in life, thinking logical about things that make sense to us all. I appreciate the beauty of nature, the wild and would love to be on a farm for the rest of my life. Lastly, I like reading and poetry and would love to have all the time in the world just to read. When I was little, I even read every single advertisement in the newspaper or every single label on bottels etc. I always thought I was going to miss something…silly billy me…lol…Now, the last part of my task – as part of the award. I need to upload a photo of a place/something I like. Well, it wasn’t difficult to decide as my first choice will always be the Drakensberg Mountains – this mountain range stretches from the north of the country to the far south and in this photo you can see Mt Aux Sources – the highest peak in South Africa – which is about 4300 m. The actual highest peak – Thaba Ntlenyana – is in Lesotho – an enclaved country in South Africa. -an enclaved country is a country within [surrounded by]  another country. Thaba Ntlenyana means beautiful little mountain. I was 15 when I was on top of Mount Aux Sources with a school trip. There are two chainladders to go up before you reach the summit. A great experience if you like hiking or the outdoors!

Dankie, Vlam vir die toekenning! Ek waardeer dit, komende van jou – net so borrellend besig en bedruk? Nee, nie van wat ek weet nie! Jy’t my ook voorgespring met Skoor natuurlik – hehe… sjoe, hoe lus het ek vir cupcakes as ek so na hierdie pienk prentjie kyk – lekker eetbare prentjie. lol

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Natural

This is what I call:
1. Natural talent
2. Natural beauty
3. Acting Natural

To watch a full version of the above video, listen to what Gamu herself is saying, click here – plus Simon’s comments. The link will open in a new window.

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A People are what its women are

Photo: Mrs Otto Krantz 

One of the women who received the Government’s sanction to join a commando was Mrs. Otto Krantz, the wife of a professional hunter. Mrs. Krantz accompanied her husband to Natal at the commencement of hostilities, and remained in the field during almost the entire campaign in that colony. In the battle of Elandslaagte, where some of the hardest hand-to-hand fighting of the war occurred, this Amazon was by the side of her husband in the thick of the engagement, but escaped unscathed. Later she took part in the battles along the Tugela, and when affairs in the Free State appeared to be threatening she was one of the first to go to the scene of action in that part of the country.

Read on this link more about the women and the boer war.

A people are what its women are. The woman is the conscience of her nation as well as the measure of its values. The moral life of a nation is controlled by the women and by the women can we measure the moral condition of the people. – Postma

I have a very famous poem of a very famous South African poet to celebrate Women’s Day in South Africa. “Die Vrou” – in English “The Woman”. She translated some of her works in English/German/Italian/French and Hebrew and won many prizes in South Africa and in the Netherlands. She was born in 1915 and died in 2007  in Amsterdam. Sarah Raal [picture] was one of those strong women during the South African/British War [Boer War] and she fought alongside the Boer Soldiers. You can read this book written by her:

Die vrou

Somer en herfs en winter trek in wye
onafgebroke wisseling deur die land,
maar sy bly draer van die lente want
liefde het haar verhef bo die getye.

Haat en verwoesting plant hul lamfervlae
in honderd stede en oral sink die nag;
vir háár op wie ook bloed en worsteling wag
klink nog die lied van vrede en welbehae.

Die uitgeteerde ruiter neig sy sens
en aarselend voor die klaarheid van haar blik
erken selfs hy sy heerskappy se grens:

in haar wat die onsterflikheid bewaak
ontkiem die toekoms in die flou getik
van lewe wat voorwêreldlik ontwaak.

Elisabeth Eybers

Tomorrow,  9th August, South Africa celebrate’s Women’s Day. I’ve decided to create a special entry on Women. I have for you photos from family – both sides – dated back just before the 1800’s.

I agree with the above quote from Postma. Women are  the anchor of a nation and if women are not taking the lead when it comes to morals and values, well, then its tjaila-time [like we say in South Africa] for a nation. We as women need to conduct ourselves in a way that our children can look upon us, be proud and so be proud adults too. I’ve come across a very interesting piece of writing and copied part of the article here. The complete article can be read on the given link at the bottom of this entry. 

Mrs General Botha

Mrs General Meyer

British colonization and its positive, beneficial effects dominated nineteenth-century South African historiography written in English. Dutch settlement, as well as the Great Trek and the founding of the Boer republics, was regarded as peripheral to the saga of British settlement and government at the Cape. Works by Noble (1877) and Wilmot and Chase (1869) remained the standard source material on South African history until G. M. Theal began to publish research based more closely on archival material, during the latter part of the century. The writings of Noble and of Wilmot and Chase portrayed Boers settlers outside the Cape Colony as ignorant, illiterate and cruel, as ‘living on the margin of civilisation’, their ‘moral condition … scarcely higher than the Hottentots or slaves who were household companions’.

During the last quarter of the century, especially after the mineral discoveries and the Boer victories during the Transvaal War of Independence (1880-1), such criticism began to be countered by an apologist approach to the Boers in both English and Dutch historical writings (the latter emanating from the Netherlands as well as the Boer republics). Historians such as Klok, Van der Loo, and Du Plessis took great pains to paint a positive picture of Boer society, drawing close parallels between the Boers and their exemplary European heritage.

In the new historiography Boer women received greater attention. They were described as extremely courageous  and, owing to their sufferings in the past, were considered by some writers to be ‘the greatest patriots’. ‘Taking all the sufferings a mothers and daughters during the early days into account, it is indeed no wonder that it is amongst the female sex, especially amongst the older generation, that the greatest patriots are found’. These authors painted a detailed picture of the simple and unassuming Boer lifestyle, which was presented as an overt sign of a classless and egalitarian society. At the same time, their ordered and structured society was emphasised, by way of countering the negative images mentioned above. Van der Loo, in his work De Geschiedenis der Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek aan het Volk, lavished praise on Boer women. Despite their contact with ‘wild barbarians’ and their isolation from civilisation, they remained true to their traditions of ‘virtue, moral sensibility’ political independence and free institutions’. An added dimension was their purported racial superiority and purity. Symbol of her racial purity, the white complexion of the Boer woman – despite exposure to the African wilderness – was highlighted by Lion Cachet, who maintained ‘a Transvaal woman is, for Africa white’ . This feature was likewise stress Klok in his description of Boer women. He also paid attention to their lips, implicitly contrasting them with Negroid features: ‘thin lips, a round chin and a white neck…. Seldom does one see ugly, that is, really ugly women’.

In the projects of these men there is a clear convergence between the development of the ideal of the volksmoeder and the rise of Afrikaner nationalism. In 1918 Postma (then retired because of ill-health) was requested by two Afrikaner organizations, the Nasionale Helpmekaar4 and the Kultuurvereniging of Reddersburg, to write a book entitled Die Boervrouw, Moeder van Haar Volk (The Boer Woman, the Mother of her Nation). The timing of this publication was important. It followed on the unveiling of the Vrouemonument, the Rebellion of 1914 and the termination of the First World War. The war was a significant event in the history of Afrikaner nationalism, for it was during this time that secondary industry, in particular labour intensive industries utilising mainly cheap female labour, began to flourish in South Africa. At the same time, a population explosion in the Afrikaner community, coinciding with the impoverishment of the rural areas, resulted in a massive influx of young, mostly unskilled Afrikaner men and women to this labour market in the urban areas. The presence of these unsupervised and unattached young men and women in the cities gave rise to grave concern for their moral safety in state, church and welfare organisations. In this social context, the characteristics of the Boervrouw as enumerated by Postma gained particular relevance for reformers, cultural entrepreneurs and concerned Afrikaners in general. His book was both an articulation of the already established image of the volksmoeder and a glorification of Afrikaner women, aimed at the instruction of Afrikaner youth and young girls in particular. In his writing the volksmoeder ideal was propagated as a role model for a new generation of women. This involved the emulation of characteristics such as a sense of religion, bravery, a love of freedom, the spirit of sacrifice, self-reliance, housewifeliness (huismoederlikheid), nurturance of talents, integrity, virtue and the setting of an exam others. Of particular significance is that Postma extended the prevailing notion of ideal womanhood to include their nurturing of the volk as well. For the first time the Boer woman’s role as mother and central focus of her family was expanded to include the concept of Boer women as mothers of the nation: The motherhood of the Boer woman extends itself to her volk just as it does to her child’ (Postma, 1918 164; translated). To substantiate his argument he cited the demonstration of Afrikaner women at the Union Buildings in 1915, when a delegation marched to Pretoria to protest against the capture imprisonment of General Christiaan de Wet as a rebel. The idea of demonstration had originated with women suitably connected prominent men and thus well qualified to be regarded as mothers of the nation’ – Mrs. Joubert, wife of the famous Boer general, and Elsie Eloff, the daughter of the late President Kruger. Yet the way in which Postman saw the demonstration taking form portrays a revealing disregard for the women’s initiative: ‘In true womanly fashion the call was complied with, without delay, not taking account of expense or trouble. Love called, love obeyed’ . The limitations of Postma’s perception of the women’s action are evident in these words: women did not argue, they did not stop to consider the consequences and they did not calculate the cost or the trouble of their actions. They were motivated irrationally, solely by love. But having disregarded any political significance in the women’s action, Postma weeded to link the moral strength of the Afrikaner people to that its women: ‘A people are what its women are. The woman is the conscience of her nation as well as the measure of its values. The moral life of a nation is controlled by the women, and by the women can we measure the moral condition of the people’ .

…. In it many of the characteristics already outlined by Postma emerge: Afrikaner women had a purifying and ennobling influence on their menfolk; they would sacrifice much for their families and were loyal housewives and tender nurses, earnest in prayer, sage in advice, with sat love of freedom and steadfastly anti-British. Stockenstrom maintained adamantly that Voortrekker women were ire of their calling as volksmoeders: ‘The women profoundly realised that they were the mothers of the future Afrikaner nation, and were fully conscious of the fact that their children and grand-children could never develop into a virtuous and glorious nation unless they were absolutely independent and free’.

Click HERE to read the complete article on the site of SA History Org za.

Photo: A Teacher and her class – 1913, this image is from the same site as the website where you can read about Elizabeth Russel Cameron [next picture]. She was a remarkable lady and her history is a must read! You can read how she obtained the right to vote in a time in South Africa when women were not allowed to vote, but that was not the reason for what she’s done. 

Image:http://www.mpumalangahappenings.co.za/pilgrimsrest_characters.htm

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The pawns are the soul of chess

Image: Wikimedia – Philidor

I’ve read a lot about Philidor the last couple of days as he was – as  a chess player – also a great composer of his time. [Of course, if you don’t know it, it was Philidor who said…‘The pawns are the soul of chess.’] I’ve thought to create an entry about research that was carried out about chess and music – and have found some useful information, but very basic and I think we all know that already, but also came across an interesting article…and  you can read an extract of it and the complete article on the given link – which is more about Steinitz. So many beginners think about the Pawn as just a piece to move if they don’t know what to move and I sometimes struggle with students not to move their Pawns unless they have to. I think Philidor was a bright spark! He composed beautiful music and played some brilliant chess. The info from Wikipedia is quite interesting. Read why he died in London. Chess is also a game full of strategies which you can apply to your everyday life – as we all know, but there are now companies making use of Chess players to support them in their business and training their staff in Chess strategies in order to excel in the company. The following quotes about Chess were found on one such Chess Consultant’s site. If you have a Twitter account, you can follow jacobm – as he is such a consultant and these quotes are from his site.

“Knights are the curvy pieces that bring a circular aspect to an essential linear game.”
– J. Rowson, Scottish Grandmaster

“The handling of the Rooks demands a great understanding of the strategy suited to a particular position.”
– L. Pachman, Czech Grandmaster

“Whenever you have a Bishop, keep your pawns on opposite color squares.”
– J.R. Capablanca, Cuban World Champion 1921-1927

“The game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions; for life is a kind of Chess.”
– Benjamin Franklin

“When the chess game is over, the Pawn and the King go back into the same box.”
– Italian proverb

“Every Pawn is a potential Queen.”
– J. Mason, 19th Century Irish chess master

“The handling of the Rooks demands a great understanding of the strategy suited to a particular position.”
– L. Pachman, Czech Grandmaster

“What do you want to achieve or avoid? The answers to this question are objectives. How will you go about achieving your desired results? The answer to this you can call strategy”
– William E Rothschild

THE HISTORY OF CHESS AS WE conceive of it today  can be safely assumed to start with the composer (of music) François-André Danican Philidor (1726–1795). His undoubted status as a ‘founding father’ stems mainly from the famous sentence that everyone associates with his name, ‘the pawns are the soul of chess.’ That ‘pawns are the soul of chess’ is the fundamental law of chess theory. It is the identification and elaboration of the fact that pawns are heavily limited in their movement, so that the structure of pawns is much more static and rigid than that of pieces; this, coupled to the fact that an advantage of a pawn is usually enough to win the game (if the endgame, where pawns are potential queens, is reached), gives the handling of pawns an importance and a difficulty that goes beyond that of pieces. The consequences of a pawn move are lasting, and cannot generally be pondered by ‘concrete analysis,’ the sheer calculation of variations. Moving pieces always involves of course the risk of mistakes and blunders that immediately ruin a game—but these can be calculated and avoided. Moving pawns means a much more subtle risk, for relevant negative consequences might appear a long time afterwards; there is no need for blunder to lose a game because of a pawn move. This distinction between pawns and pieces is at the core of the distinction between ‘strategy’ and ‘tactics,’ the two branches of chess theory, training, education, etc. (Strategy is the identification of the general long-term ideas and plans of the game, usually based on the configuration of pawns reached after the opening; tactics refers to the actual moves and short-term variations that execute the plans, and it usually focuses on the action of pieces. ‘Tactics consists in knowing what to do when there is something to do; strategy is about knowing what to do when there is nothing to do,’ Tartakower is reported to have said.) In this sense, the discovery of strategy, and with it the birth of chess theory as such, is essentially linked to the name of Philidor. Thus (and I choose the following source for no other reason than having it at hand—assertions to the same effect are easily found in any book on chess strategy), It was master Filidor, the luminous French musician and chess player, the first to understand, already at the end of the eighteenth century, the importance of pawns in chess; it is actually with him that the game’s positional strategy is born. This is what the name Philidor means for chess today. He plays the role of the symbolic point of reference, the recipient that contains the essence and the primary source of chess theory. But, as usually happens with such figures—think of Thales as the father of philosophy, Pithagoras as the father of mathematics, and even of Aristotle as the father of empirical science—, he himself is exiled from his name, and what he actually thought or understood is ignored in favor of what we think and understand. Historical fact is of little importance for the role of the figure—just as Homer, and more recently as Saussure, he is defined by us as the author of his works, rather than his works being defined for us as the product of his efforts. In fact, ‘the pawns are the soul of chess’ is a corruption of what Philidor really said. (The fate of this sentence is similar to that of other myths like Newton’s apple or Galileo at the Tower of Pisa: dubious recollection of facts modified by tradition to suit its fancy.) The actual quotation from Philidor’s foreword to his 1749 Chess Analysed or Instructions by Which a Perfect Knowledge of This Noble Game May in a short Time be Acquir’d (his own translation of the Analise des E´checs) reads. My chief intention is to recommend myself to the public, by a novelty no one had thought of, or perhaps ever understood well. I mean how to play the Pawns. They are the very life [not ‘soul’] of this game. They alone form the Attack and the Defence; on their good or bad situation depends the Gain or Loss of each Party. And then, immediately: A player, who, when he had played a pawn well, can give no Reason for his moving it to such a square, may be compared to a General, who with much practice has little or no Theory. Philidor’s wording (Attack, Defence, Reason, Theory) reveals that ‘strategy’ and ‘tactics’ are not part of his conceptual net. When ‘the pawns are the soul of chess’ is interpreted today, what it brings to mind is the classification of pawns into weak pawns (isolated, doubled, hind pawn) or strong pawns (passed pawns), some especial configurations (chain of pawns, hanging pawns), and the concept of weak and strong squares. All this obviously remains at best inarticulate in Philidor’s book. As Cecil Purdy says, “in Philidor’s system of play, it is not at all evident to a mediocre player even if experienced why ‘on the good or bad situation (of the pawns) depends the gain and loss to each Party.’ ” Follow this link to read the complete article, the link will open in a new window. -[ it is a PDF-document]

http://www.fedegarcia.net/writings/steinitz.pdf
François-André Danican Philidor (September 7, 1726 – August 31, 1795) was a French chess player and composer. He was regarded as the best chess player of his age, although the title of World Chess Champion was not yet in existence. Philidor’s book Analyse du jeu des Échecs was considered a standard chess manual for at least a century. He was commonly referred to as André Danican Philidor during his lifetime.

Chess career
Philidor started playing regularly around 1740 at the chess Mecca of France, the Café de la Régence. It was also there that he famously played with a friend from ‘New England’, Mr. Benjamin Franklin. The best player in France at the time, Legall de Kermeur, taught him. At first, Legall could give Philidor rook odds, a handicap in which the stronger player starts without one of his rooks, but in only three years, Philidor was his equal, and then surpassed him. Philidor visited England in 1747 and decisively beat the Syrian Phillip Stamma in a match +8 =1 -1, despite the fact Philidor let Stamma have White in every game, and scored all draws as wins for Stamma. The same year, Philidor played many games with another strong player, Sir Abraham Janssen, who was then the best player in England, and with the exception of M. de Legalle, probably the best player Philidor ever encountered. He could win on an average one game in four of Philidor, at even terms; and Philidor himself declared that he could only give to Janssen the pawn for the move.

In 1754, Philidor returned to France, after nine years of absence spent mostly in Holland and England. He was now a much stronger player, having successfully played with opponent of the calibre of Philip Stamma and Abraham Janssen, but, as G. Allen reports in The life of Philidor, it was not until his match with de Legal in 1755 that he can be considered the strongest player in the world.

“When Philidor left Paris, in 1745, although he had for some time been playing even games with M. de Legal… he had not ceased to recognize his old master as still his master and superior. But nine years of practice, with a great variety of players, had authorized him to look for neither superior nor equal; and when, in 1755, a match was arranged between the pupil and his master, who was still at the height of his strength, the result placed the crown firmly and indisputably upon the head of Philidor.”

In 1771 and 1773 Philidor made brief stays in London to play at the Salopian coffee-house, Charing Cross and at the St James Chess Club. In 1774 the Parloe’s chess club, on St James street, in London, was created and Philidor obtained a remuneration as a Chess Master every year, for a regular season from February to June. Philidor stayed faithful to this agreement until the end of his life and he was replaced by Verdoni only after his death. It is rightly in this place Philidor encountered Mr. George Atwood, famous mathematician and physician, lecturer at Cambridge University. In an article of J. J. O’Connor and E. F. Robertson [1], devoted to George Atwood, there is the following passage:

” Atwood was a renowned amateur chess-player and among other opponents played games against the famous French player Philidor, who was regarded as the unofficial world champion.”

H E Bird records :

“Of the players who encountered Philidor, Sir Abraham Janssens, who died in 1775, seems to have been the best, Mr. George Atwood, a mathematician, one of Pitt’s secretaries came next, he was of a class which we should call third or two grades of odds below Philidor, a high standard of excellence to which but few amateurs attain. One of most interesting features of Atwood as a chess player is that he recorded and preserved some of his games, an unusual practice at that time. These records have survived, among them the last games that Philidor played which were against Atwood at Parsloe’s Club in London on 20 June 1795.”

In England, Philidor astounded his peers by playing three blindfold chess games simultaneously in the chess club of St. James Street in London on 9 May 1783. Philidor let all three opponents play white, and gave up a pawn for the third player. Some affidavits were signed, because those persons who were involved doubted that future generations would believe that such a feat was possible. Today, three simultaneous blindfold games would be fairly unremarkable among many chess masters. Even when he was in his late years, when he was 67 years old (1793), he played and won two blindfold games simultaneously in London.

Philidor, both in England and France, was largely recognized in each of this fields and got a lot of admirers, protectors and also friends, like were the French philosophers Voltaire, Rousseau and the famous English actor David Garrick (1717–1779).

In December 1792, however, when he was then age 65, Philidor had to leave definitively France for England. He was fleeing the French Revolution (1789–1799), because his name figured on the Revolutionary banishment list, established by the Convention nationale. This was not probably due to his ideas (indeed it seems Philidor was rather reserved about his opinions apart from music and chess), but very likely in view of the traditional attachment of his family to the King’s family service [2].

Andrew Soltis writes that Philidor “was the best player in the world for 50 years. In fact, he was probably about 200 rating points better than anyone else yet alive—set apart by the mysteries of the game he had solved.”

It was said that the reason why Philidor emphasized the pawns in the chess game was related to the political background during the eighteenth century of France, and that he regarded pawns as the “Third rank” on the chess board (citizens were regarded as the third rank of the society before the French Revolution started in 1789). He also included analysis of certain positions of rook and bishop versus rook, such analysis being still current theory even today. He is most famous for showing an important drawing technique with a rook and pawn versus rook endgame, in a position known as the Philidor position. The Philidor Defense(1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6) is named for him. Philidor’s book was the very first (1) that gave detailed annotations on how to play the middle-game, (2) that presented chess strategy as a whole, and (3) that presented the concepts of the blockade, prophylaxis, positional sacrifice, and mobility of the pawn formation.

Philidor joined the Royal choir of Louis XV in 1732 at the age of six, and made his first attempt at the composition of a song at the age of 11. It was said that Louis XV wanted to listen to the choir almost every day, and the singers, while waiting for the king to arrive, played chess to relieve their boredom; this may have sparked Philidor’s interest in chess.

Listen to the music of Philidor.

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Blog Invasion III

complete image:Lettershometoyou.wordpress
Pawns moved…If you want to read more about where this invasion comes from, you can click HERE and if you click HERE about Cappa….you can view more images about the place and the invasion. “Pawns are born free, yet are everywhere in chains.” – Andy Soltis.

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Anand vs Topalov

Anand…my favourite – image: Official site

 

Schedule

See the image/link to the Official site on my blog’s sidebar [top right]. The link will open in a new window.

Round 1: Topalov vs Anand –  move 19 [click on images for a larger view]

Round 1 move 23

Move 25

Round 1 move 29 – big trouble – Anand has resigned this game

Topalov – 1 Anand – 0

[Event “Sofia BUL, WCC2010”]
[Site “Sofia BUL”]
[Date “2010.04.24”]
[Round “1.22”]
[White “Topalov, V.”]
[Black “Anand, V.”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “D87”]
[WhiteElo “2805”]
[PlyCount “59”]
[EventDate “2010.04.24”]
[EventType “match”]
[EventRounds “12”]
[EventCountry “BUL”]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Qd2 e5 13. Bh6 cxd4 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. cxd4 exd4 16. Rac1 Qd6 17. f4 f6 18. f5 Qe5 19. Nf4 g5 20. Nh5+ Kg8 21. h4 h6 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Rf3 Kf7 24. Nxf6 Kxf6 25. Rh3 Rg8 26. Rh6+ Kf7 27. Rh7+Ke8 28. Rcc7 Kd8 29. Bb5 Qxe4 30. Rxc8+ 1-0

Game 2 Image: Chessdom
ROUND 2 – Sunday 25th April: Anand 1-Topalov 0

Anand vs Topalov Round 2 move 14

Round 2 move 16

Round 2 move 19

Round 2 move 28

Round 2 move 32

Round 2 move 37

Round 2: End position

[Event “Sofia BUL, WCC2010 game_2”]
[Site “Sofia BUL”]
[Date “2010.04.??”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Anand, V.”]
[Black “Topalov, V.”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “E04”]
[WhiteElo “2787”]
[BlackElo “2805”]
[PlyCount “85”]
[EventDate “2010.04.24”]
[EventType “match”]
[EventRounds “12”]
[EventCountry “BUL”]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. Ne5 c5 7. Na3 cxd4 8. Naxc4 Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bd2 Nd5 11. Rc1 Nd7 12. Nd3 Ba7 13. Ba5 Qe7 14. Qb3 Rb8 15. Qa3 Qxa3 16. bxa3 N7f6 17. Nce5 Re8 18. Rc2 b6 19. Bd2 Bb7 20. Rfc1 Rbd8 21. f4 Bb8 22. a4 a5 23. Nc6 Bxc6 24. Rxc6 h5 25. R1c4 Ne3 26. Bxe3 dxe3 27. Bf3 g6 28. Rxb6 Ba7 29. Rb3 Rd4 30. Rc7 Bb8 31. Rc5 Bd6 32. Rxa5 Rc8 33.Kg2 Rc2 34. a3 Ra2 35. Nb4 Bxb4 36. axb4 Nd5 37. b5 Raxa4 38. Rxa4 Rxa4 39. Bxd5 exd5 40. b6 Ra8 41. b7 Rb8 42. Kf3 d4 43. Ke4 1-0

 Anand 1-Topalov 0

Anand Image: Chessdom

Image: Chessdom

Game 3 Topalov vs Anand – Move 26

Game 3 Final Position

Game 3: Topalov 1/2 – Anand 1/2

Results after round 3: Anand 1 1/2   –   Topalov  1 1/2

[Event “Sofia BUL, WCC 2010 game_3”]
[Site “Sofia BUL”]
[Date “2010.04.27”]
[Round “3”]
[White “Topalov, V.”]
[Black “Anand, V.”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “D17”]
[WhiteElo “2805”]
[BlackElo “2787”]
[PlyCount “91”]
[EventDate “2010.04.24”]
[EventType “match”]
[EventRounds “12”]
[EventCountry “BTN”]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6
9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 a6 14. Rc1 Rg8 15. h4 h6 16. Ke2 Bd6 17. h5 Bh7 18. a5 Ke7 19. Na4 f6 20. b4 Rgc8 21. Bc5 Bxc5 22. bxc5 Rc7 23. Nb6 Rd8 24. Nxd7 Rdxd7 25. Bd3 Bg8 26. c6 Rd6 27. cxb7 Rxb7 28. Rc3 Bf7 29. Ke3 Be8 30. g4 e5 31. Rhc1 Bd7 32. Rc5 Bb5 33. Bxb5 axb5 34. Rb1 b4 35. Rb3 Ra6 36. Kd3 Rba7 37. Rxb4 Rxa5 38. Rxa5 Rxa5 39. Rb7+ Kf8 40. Ke2 Ra2+ 41. Ke3 Ra3+ 42. Kf2 Ra2+ 43. Ke3 Ra3+ 44. Kf2 Ra2+ 45. Ke3 Ra3+ 46. Kf2 1/2-1/2

Image: Chessdom

Game 4

Game 4 move 25

Anand 1 – Topalov 0

Game 4: Final Position – Anand 1 – Topalov 0

[Event “Sofia BUL, WCC 2010 game_4”]
[Site “Sofia BUL”]
[Date “2010.04.28”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Anand, V.”]
[Black “Topalov, V.”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “E04”]
[WhiteElo “2787”]
[BlackElo “2805”]
[PlyCount “63”]
[EventDate “2010.04.24”]
[EventType “match”]
[EventRounds “12”]
[EventCountry “BUL”]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.
Qxd2 c6 9. a4 b5 10. Na3 Bd7 11. Ne5 Nd5 12. e4 Nb4 13. O-O O-O 14. Rfd1 Be8 15. d5 Qd6 16. Ng4 Qc5 17. Ne3 N8a6 18. dxc6 bxa4 19. Naxc4 Bxc6 20. Rac1 h6 21. Nd6 Qa7 22. Ng4 Rad8 23. Nxh6+ gxh6 24. Qxh6 f6 25. e5 Bxg2 26. exf6 Rxd6 27. Rxd6 Be4 28. Rxe6 Nd3 29. Rc2 Qh7 30. f7+ Qxf7 31. Rxe4 Qf5 32. Re7 1-0

Game 4 – Anand vs Topalov

Anand – Game 4 -28th April
Game 4: Anand leads by one point after the second Catalan opening in the match.

The fourth game of the FIDE World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand of India and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria saw another Catalan opening on the board. This is the first opening that was played twice in the match, the players are obviously willing to have a theoretical discussion. Topalov was the one to deviate from the second game, as early as on move 5, when he played the sharper Bb4+ instead of a6.

Similar to the earlier Catalan game, Black clutched onto the extra pawn while White tried to take advantage of his faster pieces’ development. Anand aggressively advanced in the center to break opponent’s pawn formation and open up the files and diagonals. At the same time, Topalov was carefully clearing the queenside in order to reduce the positional pressure.

The game appeared to be taking a normal course but then Anand’s sudden Knight movement (e3-g4) caught Topalov without guard and on the wrong foot. Not hesitating much, Anand knocked a piece sacrifice on h6 and picked a strong attack against the Black King. Still precision was needed in carrying out the assault, but Anand never blinked and found the crushing 25. e5!

Topalov continued for a few moves more, but resigned at the imminent danger of a mate. Anand takes the lead in the match 2,5-1,5, tomorrow is a rest day and the games continue on Friday at 15:00 Source: Official Site

Anand crushes Topalov in fourth game

The fourth game of the World chess championship match in Sofia saw Viswanathan Anand’s best performance to date with a slashing attack against challenger Veselin Topalov.

“Anand really played brilliantly today,” said commentator Zurab Azmaiparashvili, having watched the World champion sacrifice a pawn, then a knight and then a bishop to create a winning assault against

Topalov’s exposed king.

Anand was pleased with his performance. “It was a very complex position with a lot of tension on the queenside,” said Anand. “I thought (my 23rd move) was clinching it but you can’t be 100 per cent sure.”

Anand explained that in a key variation he was prepared to give away both his rooks as well to ensure a checkmate: “Once I saw that I knew I was winning.”

Poor start
After a poor start, Anand, 40, has taken the lead for the first time in the €2 million match and the Bulgarian challenger is looking shaky. “I though I had a decent position,” said Topalov, “but if I was able to answer so simply what went wrong then the result might have been different.

“Certainly my (20th move) was especially bad.”

Playing with white pieces, Anand used the Catalan Opening which had brought him success in game two but Topalov, 35, defended differently this time. Soon Anand sacrificed a pawn and Topalov needed no invitation to grab the material and attempt to hang on to it.

Anand’s unorthodox 10th move, moving a knight to the edge of the board, appeared to be new. However, a member of Team Anand, computer expert Eric van Reem, explained that Anand was following an earlier game, a precedent apparently unknown to Topalov who began thinking hard for the first time in the game.

Excellent compensation
Soon it became clear that Anand had excellent compensation for his pawn when the apparently offside knight moved to the centre, stymieing Topalov’s freedom of movement. Although the position was highly unbalanced — the type of game at which Topalov usually excels — Anand’s speed of play indicated that he had checked the ideas at home with his team and had everything under control.

Anand was coy when asked if the sacrifices were prepared with his team. “I won’t be able to tell you that until the match is over,” said Anand, who has managed to keep the identity of some of his helpers secret as well.

On the 23rd move, after cogitating for only five minutes, Anand sacrificed a knight and Topalov immediately found his king under massive fire. Another sacrifice followed and Topalov was soon defenceless. The challenger resigned after 32 moves and three-and-a-half hours’ play.

Anand leads Topalov 2.5-1.5 with eight games remaining after Wednesday’s encounter. The fifth game, with Topalov holding the first move, will be played on Friday starting at 5.30 p.m. IST. Source:
http://beta.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/article414219.ece
GAME 5 – 30th April -Topalov vs Anand 1/2

Bulgaria Chess Master Topalov Hopes to Crush Anand’s Defense

Click on the image for a clear view -the article continues here:

“We hope to have finally figured out the secret of Anand’s defense. We have five people on our team working with top notch computers on this task, and we hope to see results today,” Danailov explained.

The first move of the fifth game of the Sofia World Chess Title Match was made Friday by Nobel Prize winning professor of economics Robert Mundell, known as “the father of the euro”.

Danailov said Topalov’s team met Professor Mundell during a tournament in China which was won by the Bulgarian chess master.

“I wanted to invite Professor Mundell as a guest during the last M-Tel Masters tournament but he was busy then. This time, however, he managed to find time to be our guest,” Danailov explained.

“It is a pleasure for me to be here. I have come as an economist and a fan of chess,” said the Nobel Prize laureate expressing his happiness to be present at the event.

Source: novinite.com

Game 5 move 17

Game 5 move 32

Game 5 move 39

Game 5 move 42 – Topalov vs Anand 1/2

[Event “Sofia BUL, WCC 2010 game_5”]
[Site “Sofia BUL”]
[Date “2010.04.30”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Topalov, V.”]
[Black “Anand, V.”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “D17”]
[WhiteElo “2805”]
[BlackElo “2787”]
[PlyCount “87”]
[EventDate “2010.04.24”]
[EventType “match”]
[EventRounds “12”]
[EventCountry “BUL”]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6
9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 a6 14. Rc1 Rg8 15. h4 h5 16. Ne2 Bd6 17. Be3 Ne5 18. Nf4 Rc8 19. Bb3 Rxc1+ 20. Bxc1 Ke7 21. Ke2 Rc8 22. Bd2 f6 23. Nxg6+ Nxg6 24. g3 Ne5 25. f4 Nc6 26. Bc3 Bb4 27. Bxb4+ Nxb4 28. Rd1 Nc6 29. Rd2 g5 30. Kf2 g4 31. Rc2 Rd8 32. Ke3 Rd6 33. Rc5 Nb4 34. Rc7+ Kd8 35. Rc3 Ke7 36. e5 Rd7 37. exf6+ Kxf6 38. Ke2 Nc6 39. Ke1 Nd4 40. Bd1 a5 41. Rc5 Nf5 42. Rc3 Nd4 43. Rc5 Nf5 44. Rc3 1/2-1/2

News/comments from the Official site:

After the second rest day, the FIDE World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand of India and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria continued today with game five in which Topalov played with White pieces.

The first symbolic move were made by the “father of the euro” professor Robert Mundell. The President of Bulgaria Mr. Georgi Parvanov visited the match.

The opening was replay of game three in which Anand used the Slav defence and comfortably held a draw. The expectation were that Topalov will find an improvement in the variation and fight for opening advantage.

But it was Anand who first diverted from the earlier game by moving 15…h5 instead of 15…h6. Topalov continued with the logical 16. Ne2 having in mind Nf4, to exploit the newly created situation with Black pawn on h5. Anand established strong Knight outpost on e5 and traded off a pair of Rooks to reduce White’s chances of gaining initiative.

After further exchange of minor pieces, an endgame with Rook and Bishop versus Rook and Knight has arisen. Anand’s 29…g5 initiated changes in the pawn structure, which allowed him to solve one issue and concentrate on pieces’ play.

Black Knight gradually suppressed White Bishop, which eventually landed on the backward d1-square. Right after the time-control, Topalov offered moves repetition before the situation goes out of the hand. Or perhaps it was a psychological move, attempting to test Anand’s resolve to play for a win, in case of which White would also have chances for full point.

But Anand needed no risk and accepted the threefold repetition. Draw signed on move 44. The current score is 3-2 in favour of Anand who tomorrow plays with White pieces. Live coverage on the official website starting at 14:45 local time.

Anand blacks out Topalov’s ambitions

Viswanathan Anand has retained his narrow lead over Veselin Topalov with a solid draw in the fifth game of the Indian’s world title defence in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Anand, playing black for the third time in the match, repeated the Slav opening which had neutralised Topalov’s ambitions in game three, and also came armed with a new 15th move.

Soon afterwards, as Anand was considering his 17th move, the playing hall — and indeed the entire Military Club — was plunged into darkness by a power blackout. The game timers were stopped by the arbiter but both players remained firmly in their seats, analysing in the dark.

Ten minutes later, emergency power provided some flickering light on the stage and five minutes later the light was good enough for the game to resume.

“I don’t know what would have happened if the lights had not gone on for an hour or more,” admitted Anand. “I don’t know what the rules are for such a situation.”

However, while play continued, the video screen above the players, relaying the game to the audience in the Military Club and to hundreds of thousands of viewers on the internet, remained inoperable. Audible protests from some of the frustrated spectators in the theatre were quickly muted by security guards and five minutes later normal broadcasting of the moves resumed.

Both players reacted calmly to the unexpected interruption, although Anand spent some time re-orientating himself with the position before he made his next move.

“It is very easy to make a mistake after a break in concentration like this,” said Anand, “so I decided to invest an extra ten minutes just to be sure.”

Once again Anand’s opening preparation proved superior to that of his Bulgarian challenger. “I missed Anand’s [22nd move],” confessed Topalov. “It was very strong. I will need to be more precise in future games.”

With other strong pawn moves Anand soon solved all his problems. “I managed to stabilise the position,” explained Anand, “after which I have nothing to complain about.”

Before long Topalov found himself staring at an equal endgame which offered no chances for a win to either player. After four hours play, both players could find nothing better than to repeat moves and a draw was agreed after 44 moves.

The draw was a perfectly satisfactory result for Anand as he retains a 3-2 lead in the best-of-12 contest and will hold the advantage of the first move, equivalent to the serve in tennis, in the next two games.

Anand refused, however, to express any comment on the state of the match so far, saying “I’m just taking it game by game.”

The sixth game will be played on May 1 starting at 17.30 IST. Source:
http://beta.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/article418770.ece
 

Anand vs Topalov…game 6

ANAND vs TOPALOV Game 6

Anand vs Topalov game 6 move 7 – click on images for a larger view

Game 6 move 27

Game 6 move 35

Game 6 move 48

Game 6 End position – Anand 1/2 Topalov 1/2

Game 6

[Event “Sofia BUL, WCC 2010 game_6”]
[Site “Sofia BUL”]
[Date “2010.05.01”]
[Round “6”]
[White “Anand, V.”]
[Black “Topalov, V.”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “E04”]
[WhiteElo “2787”]
[BlackElo “2805”]
[PlyCount “116”]
[EventDate “2010.04.24”]
[EventType “match”]
[EventRounds “12”]
[EventCountry “BUL”]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. Ne5 c5 7. Na3 cxd4 8. Naxc4 Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Nd3 Ba7 13. Qa4 Nc6 14. Rac1 e5 15. Bxc6 b5 16. Qc2 Qxc6 17. Ncxe5 Qe4 18. Qc6 Bb7 19. Qxe4 Bxe4 20. Rc2 Rfe8 21. Rfc1 f6 22. Nd7 Bf5 23. N7c5 Bb6 24. Nb7 Bd7 25. Nf4 Rab8 26. Nd6 Re5 27. Nc8 Ba5 28. Nd3 Re8 29. Na7 Bb6 30. Nc6 Rb7 31. Ncb4 a5 32. Nd5 a4 33. Nxb6 Rxb6 34. Nc5 Bf5 35. Rd2 Rc6 36. b4 axb3 37. axb3 b4 38. Rxd4 Rxe2 39. Rxb4 Bh3 40. Rbc4 Rd6 41. Re4 Rb2 42. Ree1 Rdd2 43. Ne4 Rd4 44. Nc5 Rdd2 45. Ne4 Rd3 46. Rb1 Rdxb3 47. Nd2 Rb4 48. f3 g5 49. Rxb2 Rxb2 50. Rd1 Kf7 51. Kf2 h5 52. Ke3 Rc2 53. Ra1 Kg6 54. Ra6 Bf5 55. Rd6 Rc3+ 56. Kf2 Rc2 57. Ke3 Rc3+ 58. Kf2 Rc2 1/2-1/2

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Chess and Hess

Rudolf Hess – Image: howstuffworks.com

Nazi Deputy Rudolf Hess crashes in Scotland: On May 10, 1941, German official Rudolf Hess made an unauthorized visit to Britain. He was arrested after he broke his ankle in a parachute jump from his Messerschmitt, which crashed just south of Glasgow, Scotland. Hess, whose German title of deputy Führer put him in charge of the Nazi Party apparatus, was on a solo mission. He said he wanted to negotiate a peace in which Britain would be safe from attack if it gave Nazi Germany a free hand in Europe. Dismissed as insane by the British and Adolf Hitler, Hess remained in Allied imprisonment until his death in 1987. Source: howstuffworks/american-history/

Britain and America wanted to release Hess, but the Russians didn’t want to. Perhaps, Hess was a lucky pawn in their hands.

ONE was a notorious Nazi war criminal, the other a young Tyneside soldier.

They came from different countries and from different backgrounds, but they forged a friendship of sorts and ended up playing chess together.

This is the remarkable real life story of Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess and Maurice Williams of the Durham Light Infantry.

Charged with guarding Hess in Berlin’s Spandau Prison, Maurice the pair ended up playing a game of chess.

“It was 1951 and our Battalion was taking up guard duty at Spandau Prison,” said Maurice, who lives at Ovington in the Tyne Valley.

“There were a number of Nazi war criminals there and I was curious about the place.

“I decided to take a tour of the prison and it certainly was a grim place. On my travels I came upon this guy in the prison garden, reading a paper.

“It turned out to be Rudolf Hess. We weren’t supposed to talk to either him or the other Nazi prisoners and, if caught, I would have been on a charge, but I was curious about him.

“He had a chess board and I asked him about it. He asked if I played chess and, luckily, I did.”

Hess challenged Maurice to a game and Maurice said: “In the end, he beat me easily. I said to him that I only thought two moves ahead and that he must be thinking about 10 moves ahead. He laughed and said: ‘Maybe a few more than that’. We played a second time and this time I gave him a much better game but, again, lost out.”

Maurice said Hess was unlike the picture he painted in the Nuremberg Trials of a man on the edge of sanity, adding: “He was a perfect gentleman and asked such things as ‘are you married?’ He spoke perfect English, better than myself!

“I told him I was single and he asked about my family, it was just like talking to the man next door. I really wanted to ask him how he felt about the Jews but the opportunity didn’t arise.

“He said he liked the British and American guards, but wasn’t too keen on the Russians.

“I’m not surprised about that as I found them a funny lot, especially when they were on the vodka, which was made out of diesel oil. If they gave it to us we had to drink it with black pepper.”

Nobody was more shocked than Maurice at what had gone on in Nazi Germany, but he didn’t class Hess as one of the hard-liners who were hanged after the war crimes trial.

“I don’t know why they didn’t let Hess go in the 1950s. Spandau was a harsh place and Hess had a room the size of a normal living room with table chair and bed and also a wireless.

“I believe that later he was given much more room.”

Apparently Britain and the USA wanted to release Hess, but the Russians wouldn’t allow it. Many think it was because it gave them a foothold in West Berlin.

Hess is said to have committed suicide in 1987.

It was not the first time Maurice had been to Germany.

He had joined the Durham Light Infantry at the end of the Second World War and witnessed the devastation as he travelled through France and Belgium toward Germany.

“In Germany we had to hammer on the doors of the civilians and tell them to get their valuables packed up within an hour and stored into the lofts or such place.

“We then took their homes over as billets as there was no army camp. They were put into a displaced persons camp.

“All the time we were there I never knew of any soldier touching the belongings of the German civilians.

“They were lovely middle class houses with lovely gardens. You know what Geordies were like for gardening, so enjoyed keeping them in shape. They could come back to their homes undamaged with nothing missing. In 1946 we were sent out to Egypt. It was later in 1951 when we were posted to Berlin and Spandau.”
Source: Here

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Shakespeare, Chess and dance

 

The Chess players: Shakespeare and Ben Johnson playing chess-

Image: Wikipedia
The Chess Players attributed to Karel van Mander. This was identified in 1916 as an image of Ben Jonson and Shakespeare playing chess. Most scholars consider this to be pure speculation, but the claim was revived in 2004 by Jeffrey Netto, who argued that the chess game symbolises “the well known professional rivalry between these figures in terms of a battle of wits”.

Read more HERE about Shakespeare and chess.

Even Shakespeare (1564-1616) incorporated a well known, though minor, chess scene in The Tempest.

Image: http://sbchess.sinfree.net

The Tempest: Act Five, Scene One  (Ferdinand and Miranda)
The entrance of the Cell opens, and discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.
Miranda: Sweet lord, you play me false.
Ferdinand: No, my dearest love, I would not for the world.
Miranda: Yes, for a score of kingdoms you should wrangle, And I would call it fair play

Miranda and Ferdinand are lovers whose fathers are sworn enemies. Their love, represented in a devious game of chess in the final scene,  restores harmony between the two families.[Source:sbchess.sinfree.net]

Sports and pastimes of the English:[see the next paragraph and the source link] – I think it is even today the case… – due to the weather…chess is a favourite indoor game, that’s why so many people in the UK play chess online. Comparing to our counterparts in the Southern hemisphere, you would get the opposite.

DANCING AND CHESS PLAY.–Dancing was certainly an ancient and favourite pastime with the women of this country: the maidens even in a state of servitude claimed, as it were by established privilege, the license to indulge themselves in this exercise on holidays and public festivals; when it was usually performed in the presence of their masters and mistresses.

In the middle ages, dice, chess, and afterwards tables, and cards, with other sedentary games of chance and skill, were reckoned among the female amusements; and the ladies also frequently joined with the men in such pastimes, as we find it expressly declared in the metrical romance of Ipomydom. The passage alluded to runs thus:
“When they had dyned, as I you saye,
Lordes and ladyes yede to to playe;
Some to tables, and some to chesse,
With other gamys more or lesse.”

In another poem, by Gower,  a lover asks his mistress, when she is tired of “dancing and caroling,” if she was willing to “play at chesse, or on the dyes to cast a chaunce.” Forrest, speaking in praise of Catharine of Arragon, first wife of Henry VIII., says, that when she was young,
“With stoole and with needyl she was not to seeke,
And other practiseings for ladyes meete;
To pastyme at tables, tick tack or gleeke,
Cardis and dyce”–etc.
Source

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4 Minutes

When we moved to the UK in 2001, Internet Banking was a no-no in the country…whereas in South Africa, we used to have Internet Banking for a few years at the time, you could even pay your bills online. When we wanted to pay online for horse-riding lessons, the lady at the stalls were looking at us like are you talking double dutch? – when we asked to pay her online. She thought we knew something she didn’t know. I was even in email-touch with one of the banking staff at my branch in Pretoria, whilst here in the UK, at the time, you couldn’t even contact the bank via email. One of the banks in SouthAfrica [for a few years now] do send you a text the minute when someone logs on to your account, even if it is you yourself!

…more…the first South African electric car, the Joule, which was showcased in Paris in 2008.

Joule – image: cdn.24

The Joule’s interior and exterior was styled by South African-born former Jaguar designer, Keith Helfet, who was responsible for iconic Jag designs like the XJ220, the XK180 and the F-Type.
The Joule’s chassis accommodates two large-cell lithium ion battery packs, which use similar chemistry to that used in mobile phones and laptop computers. The five-seater passenger vehicle can be plugged in at home, with a normal 220 volt outlet, and the 300km battery pack will charge in approximately seven hours. Joule will be sold in all major South African centres towards the end of 2010 with sales and exports to the international market will follow shortly after the South African launch.
DID YOU also KNOW:
The world’s first automatic pool cleaning unit, the Kreepy Krauly, was invented by South African Ferdinand Chauvier in 1974.

Ferdinand Chauvier – image:mieliestronk
In 1978 South Africa’s premier ticketing agent, Computicket, became the world’s first computerised ticketing system ever to be invented.
Source:london.thesouthafrican.com

A dolos is an unusually shaped concrete block used to protect harbor walls from the force of the sea by dissipating, rather than blocking the energy of the waves. First installed in East London Harbor, dolosse are now used all over the world. The revolutionary sea buffer got it’s name when it’s designer Aubrey Kruger’s father Joe was asked to make a wooden model of the object. When it was completed he observed “wat speel julle met die dolos?” “dolos” is the Afrikaans word for the knuckle joint in an animal’s leg. With that, the dolos was baptized.

 Pratley’s Putty
Originally invented by Krugersdorp engineer, George Pratley in 1948, to hold components in an electrical box. This hybrid epoxy urethane adhesive was used by NASA in 1969 to hold parts of the Apollo XI mission’s Eagle landing craft together. To prove the reliability of his glue, Mr Pratley used a blob of it to suspend a 13-ton bulldozer over his son’s head. Pratley died in 1983 and today the company is run by his son. The bulldozer is still suspended in the foyer of Pratley’s Krugersdorp offices.

The South African physicist, Allan Cormack, won in 1979 the Nobel Prize with Godfrey Hounsfield from EMI Laboratories for the invention of the Computed Axiale Tomography (CAT) scan.

Allan Cormack -image: Nobel Prizes.com

Trevor Rabin – image: trevorrabin.net

If you don’t know about Trevor Rabin and his great compositions and film rewards for music he composed for films like ….Deep Blue Sea, Armageddon, etc. …then you need to click HERE to read more and HERE to listen to some of his music. Trevor was a bandmember of  the South African band, Rabbit.

 

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Churchill makes me smile

Boer Scouts in Natal

Father and son go to war – image: diggershistory.info

 How I love thee…to read these quotes – you can read similar quotes on my other link in this post.[The Boer War link on my blog]
Enjoy the music of the Hungarian Rhapsody

Update: A great entry to read:
http://politicalvelcraft.org/2012/04/05/rothschilds-british-concentration-camps-a-means-to-usurpdestroy-the-gold-standard-only-then-to-be-replaced-by-rothschilds-keynesian-economics-derivative-fiat-paper/
When the world loved the Boers…

 WHEN IN OCTOBER 1899 the British Empire went to war against the Boers or Afrikaners of the Transvaal (South African Republic) and the Orange Free State, it was widely believed that the conflict would be brief. It became, however, the largest war waged by Britain since the Napoleonic Wars, even including the Crimea, involving the strongest forces sent from English shores since Henry V’s army departed for Agincourt. It was the first of the modern media wars, waged for the hearts and minds of both metropolitan and global opinion, in which military officers and civilian politicians on all sides had to pay acute attention to the coverage provided by the press. Fought at a time when the telegraph and syndicated news agencies had begun to globalise information, it became the most publicised war waged outside Europe between the American Civil War and the First World War. Indeed, in the minds of contemporaries, the South African War shared certain similarities with the American conflict, not least the widespread perception that it involved universal issues and principles which extended far beyond the borders of southern Africa.

 

Imperialists in Britain and its colonies of settlement believed the very essence of British strength to be at stake. Thousands of volunteers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand flocked to the imperial colours in South Africa. Britain, however, was made to appear both militarily and physically degenerate by the three years and almost half-a-million men it took to defeat the Boers, whose forces never numbered more than 88,000. During the guerrilla phase of the war, between June 1900 and the Boer surrender in May 1902, the tactics of farm burning and concentration camps employed by the British added further charges of brutality and moral corruption before the bar of world opinion. The significance of the Transvaal goldfields and the political prominence of leading magnates, often caricatured as a bloated Cecil Rhodes, gave the war a whiff of the sordid, which opponents of the conflict were all too ready to exploit (even if the actual influence of capitalists in the outbreak of hostilities was and remains controversial). Meanwhile, the unexpected protraction of the struggle intensified calls for a complete reorganisation of British educational and industrial life and gave rise to that peculiar Edwardian imperialist soul-searching encapsulated under the catchphrase National Efficiency. The war polarised political opinion in Britain, where David Lloyd George, Emily Hobhouse and James Ramsay MacDonald were among its leading opponents. The war even affected the young Clement Attlee, then a schoolboy at Haileybury, who, along with the entire middle school, was beaten by his pro-Boer headmaster for taking part in a celebration of the relief of Ladysmith that he had banned. In Ireland, the war greatly deepened the alienation of unionists, whose imperialism was invigorated by the war from nationalists who were enthusiastically pro-Boer. In Canada, too, the conflict widened the gulf between French Canadian nationalists and their English-speaking countrymen and set the pattern of their future relationship. It intensified the imperialism of Australia where it appeared to herald the arrival of The Coming Man, that healthy Independent Australian Briton who represented an almost evolutionary improvement on his metropolitan ancestors, ensuring that the new federation was born with a conservative emblem of imperial sacrifice. Nevertheless, it also provided, in the form of `Breaker’ Morant, executed for shooting prisoners, yet another Australian anti-hero. In India, the unwillingness of the British to employ Indian troops in a `Sahib’s War’, together with imperial failure to ensure Indian rights, further alienated moderate nationalists, while Indian advocates of physical force, like their Irish counterparts, came to admire Boer armed resistance. More generally, at the dawn of the twentieth century the war drew on a widespread, almost millenarian sense of angst about the future, manifested in such events as the Dreyfus Affair, the Fashoda Crisis, the Spanish-American War of 1898 and the Chinese Boxer Uprising in 1900.In Europe and America, where there was enormous interest in the war, and in the United Kingdom itself, there emerged vociferous movements loosely regarded as pro-Boer. These varied greatly in outlook, however, from those who favoured an immediate end to the war and conciliation with the Boers, to those, often represented by the Irish nationalists and continental movements generally, which looked forward to a British defeat. There were also …

Source: Questia HERE. It will open in a new window.

The Guinness Book of Records lists the Anglo-Boer War as Britain’s most costly war outside of the two World Wars.

Camouflage was first used in battle by the Boers, who used camouflaged trenches and adapted battledress to blend into treeless landscapes.

The Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) was the first war of the 20th century and saw the introduction of trench warfare, the first large-scale use of concentration camps for non-combatants, and the most prolonged period of guerrilla warfare by a conquered nation’s military against a victorious army.

Young Boer soldier with the name of Conrad…

I’ve decided it was time for a new post on the Boer War as this link on my blog is now stuffed with too much info on the South African/British War. I will now add new info and links to this new entry as I lost myself amongst concentration camps and battles and thought to find myself again, this time on board with Churchill! Yes, Churchill even made me ordering this book. I like his way of playing with words and he had a humorous way of putting his hand on paper. He made me smile a few times and I’ve quoted some bits here…he even dreamt about South Africa as the country where he saw his great-grandchildren could grow up…er..South Africa is the most beautiful country in the world..no wonder he thought so too…even Ian in Hamburg thinks so too [see his comments on my About-page]. Churchill also made me smile where he writes about the soldiers and the casualties…and them thinking the Boers were defeated. Ha! England, together with Irish soldiers/Scots/ Welsh/Indian+Australian/NewZealand-soldiers+Canadian soldiers…and they fought this War over three years against an army the size of the population of Brighton, that makes you think! I also have with me another interestesting book…Battles of the Boer War – written by W B Pemberton...an English writer. A great book to read. This book is not written one-sided – as you will find most books written by English writers are, as they see it only from their perspective and colour it the way they want. One must also bear in mind, the Boers had no training in fighting wars, no orderly system was in place, whilst the British had the experience and the advantage of fighting battles was on their side! According to this  Gutenberg-link, about 15000 Boers were actively taking part in the War as soldiers. Enjoy bits from Churchill’s book..click on images to see a larger view. I must also add, this is the first book ever where I read the offensive word which we don’t use in our country – for years now – to refer to a non-white person. It was quite weird reading it – especially in this book. Where Churchill refers to the Karoo, I was really smiling…could picture him thinking what he was thinking. I’ve quoted it here too. On the above link you will find images, poetry and art about the Boer War and thousands of links to other historical sites/links linking to the War. On this link you can read about my great grandad and the role he played during the war and the peace process. His grandad was also on the most wanted-list of the British and there was a price tag of £300 on his head! [cool!] Read on the link more…
On this link you will find more history about the War on the site of Ladysmith-history, also eyewitness-accounts.[I’ve now received my book – see the cover in the next image – which I’ve ordered]
From the book:

The Boer War: Londton to Ladysmith Via Pretoria and Ian Hamilton’s March by Winston Churchill

Churchill’s adventures of the first five months of the War. Churchill was eager for news…At last news came through…Boers defeated, three battles, Penn Symonds killed…
Cape Town – 1 November 1899
We caught the Man Who Knew …setting him halfway up a ladder on the hurricane deck…the man told his story quickly, with an odd quiver of excitement in his voice… then for the first time we heard of Elandslaagte, of Glencoe, of Rietfontein…Tell us about Mafeking…someone else said…It’s a long list of casualties…the best officers in the world…Colonel Chisholme…Sherstone…Haldane…Barnes…and many more…
East London 5th November.

The train, which is built on the corridor system, runs smoothly over the rails, so smoothly, indeed, that I found no difficulty in writing. The sun is warm, the air keen and delicious. But the scenery would depress the most buoyant spirit. We climbed up the mountains during the night, and with the daylight we were in the middle of the Great Karroo, Wherefore was this miserable land of stone and scrub created? Huge mounds of crumbling rock, fashioned by the rains in the most curious and unexpected shapes, rise from the gloomy desert of the plain.
At Beaufort Wes grave news awaiting the Mail and we learnt about the capitulation of twelve hundred soldiers near Ladysmith.

Churchill dreams about South Africa…

Boer soldiers ready for War – click for a larger view

“The war declared by the Boers on 11 October 1899 gave the British, as Kipling said, no end of a lesson’. The public expected it to be over by Christmas. It proved to be the longest (two and three-quarters years), the costliest (over two hundred million pounds), the bloodiest (at least 22,000 British, 25,000 Boer and 12,000 African lives) and the most humiliating war Britain fought between 1815 and 1914.”  – Thomas Pakenham:  The Boer War

 

Image: Life – Women also took part in the war. In this post you will find the Gutenberg-link with photos from Women that played important roles during the war.

The young Winston Churchill

The news article about Churchill’s captivity – in the Telegraph…image: genealogyworld.net – click on the image for a larger view.

 

A lovely chess set! I would love to have this one…

A French Hero…

Image: Wikipedia – Villebois-Mareuil
My blogger-friend, Brandnetel,  blogged today about Villebois-Mareuil and she had us all googled for Private E Brooks in her previous entry –  as a secret mission! haha

From Wikipedia:[link at the bottom of this entry]

George Henri Anne-Marie Victor de Villebois-Mareuil (22 March 1847, Montaigu, Brittany, France – 6 April 1900, Boshof, Orange Free State, South Africa) was a Colonel in the French Infantry, and French Nationalist who fought and died on the side of the Boers during the Second Anglo-Boer War. He was the first of only two Boer foreign volunteers to be handed the grade of Major-General in the Boer Army. The second being his second in command Evgeni Maximov (1849-1904) after the death of Villebois-Mareuil. He took part in Franco-Prussian War – 1871 and drove back the Prussians from Blois.

George Henri Anne-Marie Victor de Villebois-Mareuil was born approximately 30 km South East of Nantes. He was a soldier and author. He started his military education at the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr where he graduated as a Second Lieutenant in 1867. He loved sport and excelled in gymnastics. Shortly after his graduation he left for Cochinchina where he joined the Marine Infantry serving under his uncle Admiral de Cornulier who was Governor of the Colony. He was promoted to full Lieutenant in 1870.

He saw in the Anglo-Boer War the chance to avenge the French humiliation at Fashoda in the Sudan in 1898.
“But she (England) can be sure that this tricolour flag, grabbed from Fachoda and ripped to shreds in London, was brought to Pretoria by French Volunteers, and has taken its place next to those of the Southern Boer Republics to support their independence against the oppressors. She gave us a Hundred Years’ War, and for a hundred years she has robbed the farmers from the Cape. Since then she has violated every peace treaty. Her hatred being even fiercer against the Boer, for there is French blood flowing through their veins.” – F. Chinier.
He arrived in Lourenço Marques on the 22 November 1899. In December 1899 he was appointed to the rank of Major by General Joubert, and fought in the Battle of Colenso. Due to his leadership capabilities he was given the rank of Major-General and commander of all Foreign Volunteers on 17 March 1900.

The average age of his troops was thirty with the youngest being Private Boiserolle who was only 17. He had a lot of respect for the fighting ability of the Germans under his command despite the lack of unity between the different German troops and commanders. He did not have the same convictions towards the Dutch under his command due to their apparent lack of courage and eagerness for battle. They were often referred to by the Boers themselves as lowly drunkards. – B. Lugan.

About the Boers he said:

He summed his thoughts about the Boer as follows: “Noble and of good race for the most, they live on their farm like in the castles of old, free and isolated… These people are standing up in the face of the whole world defying the decline of our too advanced civilizations.” – La Liberté.

Read Here more about the hero – Villebois-Mareuil.

The Gravestone of Villebois-Mareuil. He was reintered at Magersfontein – Photo: Brandnetel

“When is a war not a war?” with “When it is carried on by methods of barbarism in South Africa,” referring to those same camps and the policies that created them.
Read more  here.

image: stanford university

This next book is a must read – [I said to myself]

Sarah Raal, deserves to have had a film made of her life. Born into a prosperous farm family in the Southern Free State outside Jagersfontein, with the outbreak of war her father and four brothers immediately enlisted leaving Sarah, her mother and two small children alone on the farm. On one occasion, when the latter were shopping in Jagersfontein, her mother was denounced for feeding passing Boers and, together with her children, placed in a concentration camp. This left Sarah alone on the farm with her farm workers. After seven months of this, her brothers suddenly appeared seeking sanctuary. Word of this got out, but they all got away before their arrest could be carried out. For a few months Sarah moved from farm to farm but inevitably her luck ran out and she was incarcerated at Springfontein. There she had a run-in with the Camp Commandant that resulted in her being placed in a punishment detail from which she escaped to rejoin her brothers. As the countryside was palpably unsafe for a woman alone, she was allowed to enlist with the commando under command of a Commandant Nieuwoudt. There she took part in a number of guerrilla engagements, coming under both rifle and shell fire several times and displaying considerable bravery during the course of these actions. On more than one occasion she was in actual physical combat with the enemy, narrowly escaping injury, death or capture. She was eventually captured in an ambush and placed in a camp until the end of the war. She later wrote a book entitled Met Die Boere In Die Veld, which was published in 1936 and re-published in English in 2000.

Source: http://rapidttp.co.za/milhist/8/08sepnl.html

September 19, 1899, Wednesday

LONDON, The special dispatches from South Africa confirm the report that the Boers are massing artillery in positions commanding Laing’s Nek. Small Boer detachments occupy positions above Buffalo River.
The members of the Afrikander Bund in Cape Town intend to convene the Bund in Congress to consider the situation.
A Bloemfontein paper reports the dismissal of several Englishman from the Bloemfontein Police Force because of their refusal to promise to serve on the Commando.

Mr. Chamberlain came to London from Birmingham yesterday afternoon and spent the evening at the Colonial Office. While there he received a dispatch from Lord Salisbury, who is at Hatfield House, and sent a special messenger to the Premier.
There has been lively interchange of dispatches between the Foreign, War, and Colonial Offices, but no summons has yet been issue for a Cabinet Counsel.

Long dispatches were sent last evening to the Viceroy of India, Lord Gurzon of Kedleston, and to the British High Commissioner in South Africa, Sir Alfred Milner.
General Lord Garnet Wolseley, Field Marshal and Commander in Chief, returned to London yesterday and immediately repaired to the War Office, where he remained busily employed the greater part of the day.

The Daily Chronicle points out this morning that “the Orange Free State would probably better serve the Transvaal by remaining neutral than by active assistance, because the easiest route for marching troops to Johannesburg and Pretoria lies between Orange River and Vaal River.”

The Cape Town correspondent of the paper says: “It is reported here that Conyngham Greene (British Diplomatic Agent at Pretoria) fears that an attempt will be made to dynamite the British Agency.”

The second edition of The Times yesterday contained a dispatch from Johannesburg, which says: “There is, I am informed, some early coup in contemplation. The quantities of compressed forage forwarded in the direction of Natal border indicate some move on the part of the troops in that quarter. The Government is buying horses freely today.”

Source here:Source

London Oct 21,1901 – a Dispatch from Brussels to the Daily Mail says:

“Mr Kruger has received a report from Mr. Schalk Burger that the greater part of Cape Colony is in open rebellion and that the Boers have armed 15,000 Afrikanders within the last three months.”
Source here: Source
[Schalk Burger is my great grandad]
Images from this brutal war where many South Africans and animals died brutally…animals in the scorched earth policy by the British. Farms were destroyed and set on fire, houses burnt down and sheep butchered like at a butchery.

Rugby 1891 – “The best teams were undoubtedly the Western Provinces, played at Cape Town ; the Griqualand West (to whom the “Currie” Cup was given) at Kimberley” …source:
rugby-pioneers.blogs.com/rugby/2008/09/touring-to-sout.html

Boer Women – image: nzhistory.net.nz

Boer Soldiers -image:nzhistory.net.nz

Boer Women:Image:ictnetwork.co.uk
The Scandal of the Black Camps

A South African visitor to this site has raised the controversy about the imprisonment of Black South Africans in conditions much worse than those for Boer prisoners. Removed from farms or other areas, at least 14 000 Black people are believed to have died in these concentration camps–but for nearly a century the ordinary South African was completely unaware of their existence.

Unlike the Boer prison camps, the Black prisoners were mostly left to fend for themselves, and were not given any rations at all. They were expected to grow food or find work. In a few instances this actually improved their chances of survival because they were able to get out of the camps which were hellholes of infection and disease.
Source:http://users.westconnect.com.au/~ianmac5/exhibit8.html

Image: ToGoTo.co.za

Almost Forgotten Victims – The Anglo-Boer War Camps of Aliwal North

Southbound out of the Free State’s grassy plains, the Friendly N6 Route carries travellers across the great Senqu/Orange River into Aliwal North, gateway to the Eastern Cape.This quietly bustling provincial town was formally founded in 1850 by Sir Harry Smith, then governor of the Cape Colony, who named it in tribute to his 1846 victory over the Indian Sikhs at the Battle of Aliwal. “North” was added to differentiate it from Aliwal South, the old name for Mossel Bay. Fifty years later this hamlet would become the chosen site for two of the many horrific concentration camps of the Anglo-Boer War. Aliwal North’s Northern Post and Border News reported in January 1901 that a native refugee camp had been established at the confluence of the Orange and Kraai rivers for blacks impoverished by the war. The term “refugee” was bolstered by the fact that, initially, blacks entered the camp voluntarily, and also willingly supplied a virtually endless source of manpower for the “labour-strapped” colonial government. Towards the end of January the camp contained just over 200 refugees. At that stage the Aliwal North town council advised the Rouxville Commandant that the council could no longer cope with the Free State refugees – since the camp was a military undertaking, the council would help but would not take responsibility. In February, the council exhorted the authorities to give urgent attention to the poor sanitary conditions in the camp.According to Rev. Kessler, an American researcher on concentration camps, in August 1900 a British Intelligence officer, HR Abercrombie, recommended that defeated Boers, their families and servants should be sent to concentration camps similar to those used by General Weyler in Cuba in 1896/1897. Lord Roberts, the Supreme Commander, did not approve. However, when Lord Kitchener assumed this position, he incorporated the recommendation into his “scorched-earth policy” to end the guerrilla war. He planned to make it impossible for Boer commandos to receive any assistance from their families or the land by burning all their homes, razing crops, slaughtering all the animals and driving all black servants, Boer women and children into concentration camps.Kitchener initiated his campaign in mid-March. Within one month the black inmates had increased to over 2000 and a separate camp was established for them approximately 5 km lower down along the Orange. By May, the arrival of white women and children from the Free State villages of Rouxville, Zastron and Smithfield swelled the white camp population to over 2500; by October, when others were brought from Bloemfontein, the camp reached its maximum of almost 5000.In 1986, a local farmer, Mr Abrie Oosthuizen, suffered a severe heart attack and was given a year to live. Releasing the farm to his son, he retired to Aliwal North where he underwent a heart bypass operation. During his recovery, he found time hung heavy on his hands and he became bored. Then, Abrie enthusiastically started researching the Anglo-Boer War. The result was the publication of his first book, Rebelle van die Stormberge, six years later in 1992. After completing a second book, he turned to the military blockhouses and forts along the Orange River. In all his research, there had always been a gap – the history of the black war refugees: it seemed as if they had simply disappeared off the face of the earth. Until he came across an interesting and illuminating article in a copy of the Northern Post of 1902. It stated that the municipality had planned to construct a turbine pump station but was divided over a suitable site. One group suggested building it below Aliwal North beside the Orange River. The other preferred a higher position beside the Kraai River, since they feared contamination from the graves along these rivers. Eventually the camp superintendent provided proof that the graves were so deep that there was no likelihood of pollution. This controversy indicated that camp graves existed not only in the bend of the Kraai River above the confluence but also along the Orange River right up to Greathead’s Mill, where the pump station stands today. Abrie obtained further proof of a second camp while reading the research of Dr Jan Ploeger, the government archivist, wherein he noted that the black camp at Aliwal North had been moved five miles west of the white camp.Abrie Oosthuizen then heard of a Mr Michael Magetse who helped him identify the place through the fireside stories he had heard from his grandfather, a camp survivor. Abrie found the first camp and the remains of many black graves beside the Kraai River, which were confirmed by the land surveyor of Aliwal North, Mr N van Deventer. After a futile attempt to find the second camp, Abrie located an old map indicating a “native cemetery” five miles west of the first. It was described as Crown Land, ceded to the mayor and town council of Aliwal North in 1912 “on condition that the land hereby granted shall be used as a place of interment for Natives”. The title deed subsequently obtained from the office of the surveyor-general in Cape Town provided irrefutable proof that the one morgen terrain situated in the current township of Dukathole was the oldest formal graveyard for black people. Mr van Deventer had no trouble finding the anchor stones with rusted wire attached to them, indicating the corners of the fence surrounding the “native cemetery”. It is believed to be the first cemetery of its kind in South Africa which could be accurately located.Although a careful record was kept of white deaths, Emily Hobhouse, in her book The Brunt of the War, admits that statistics of black mortalities were scanty. Calculations based on the known number of black mortalities in Free State camps from July to October 1901, indicate that there were at least 250 to 270 black South Africans who died in the Aliwal North camp during those four months alone, mostly from pneumonia, enteric fever and diarrhoea. Conditions in the overpopulated camps had quickly deteriorated, since the little town of Aliwal North with only 800 inhabitants did not have adequate infrastructure to support the sudden influx of camp inhabitants.Two separate and magnificent monuments commemorate Aliwal North’s white victims of war; on one hilltop lies the Garden of Remembrance for 134 British and Colonial soldiers, on the other hilltop, the Concentration Camp Memorial Garden for the 720 Boer women and children who succumbed to the appalling conditions in the camps.A monument has been erected on the picturesque site of the original “Native Cemetery”, along the bank of a river that on its 2000 km long journey brings life and sustenance to vast tracts of our country and many of our people, irrespective of colour or circumstances. The original cemetery is surrounded by thousands of more recent graves extending over an area of at least five morgen. The respect with which this piece of land has been treated for over a century makes it a fitting memorial to those almost forgotten victims.Read the complete story in the June/July issue of ToGOTo

Source: http://www.togoto.co.za/?PID=2&fu=ReadArticle&gid=38&Issue=4

Johanna Brandt, one of four children, was born in 1876. Her Dutch father and Afrikaner pioneer mother greatly influenced her worldview, which eventually made Johanna Brandt a household name. Following the Anglo-Boer War, Johanna emerged as a prolific author, focussing mainly on the Boer War. In later life, however, her eccentric character came to the fore as she explored aspects of natural healing, mysticism and feminism.

Johanna died in 1964.

I am anxious to get this book filled and out of the way … our friend the enemy will come and search our house for documents and then they will carry away this chronicle of my griefs and woes and – joys, lately. What agonies I would endure if this book were to fall into strange hands ! Johanna van Warmelo, 9 February 1902.

When Johanna wrote these words, she was 24 years old and had already experienced helpless anger at the horrors of a concentration camp, the anxiety of working undercover for the Boer Secret Service and the excitement of falling in love. Her diary, secret diary and love diary, combined in this publication, weaves her remarkable experiences during the war together with her everyday life as an ordinary young woman living in an extraordinary time.

The War Diary of Johanna Brandt is an accurate reproduction of Johanna’s three diaries, two of which, the secret diary and the love diary, was originally written using lemon juice. Through these diaries, and with extensive research by Jackie Grobler, we are offered a unique insight into the war that did not allow indecision or disloyalty.

Something about the author:

Jackie Grobler is senior lecturer at the University of Pretoria, Department of Historical and Heritage Studies. He holds a Doctor Philosophiae in History and is the author of three books, co-author of a further ten chapters in books; co-editor of one book; author of 31 biographies in biographical dictionaries and author of many academic journal articles.
He lives in Pretoria with his wife Elize.
Source: http://www.ais.up.ac.za/newsletter/libnewsmay1_08/index2.htm

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Patches

Like my previous entry of yesterday, I was again playing around with [Adobe]Fireworks and used quite a few images from the web to put this one together, that’s why I call it Patches. You will see again I’ve used Samuel Bak’s art in this creation, but also another classic piece of art [in this post at the bottom]. Also, I’ve found Mark Twain’s letters online and if you are ready with your magnifying glass, you can even see a tiny piece from one of his letters in this image. In the next image, I’ve put together bits and pieces from a few of his letters. You can download his lettes in PDF.

 

Mark Twain-patches

Grimm-patches –You can read Grimm’s fairy tales online here on this link.

Chess-love – see the original next

 

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Monday’s [chess] child

I’ve been playing around with [adobe]Fireworks and edited/created this top image…I deleted the woman’s corset in the image, replaced it with these chess pieces from the chess art of Samuel Bak – [see more of his art on my Chess Humour-page] and I added the sort-of-border.
Original image here …the link will open in a new window.

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Read All About It

If you have ADHD – you will find it hard to look at this image, but it might be a good exercise for you to find all the hidden images in this image! If you look at my old blogger-blog you will see some of the hidden images are from the banner-image….click on this image for a larger view and to appreciate what is in the image…original image: courtenaysfineart….and if you go to FaceBook…search for Someone’s Daughter – and read all about it!!

 

Read all about it! Read all about it…Magnus Carlsen…
Norwegian 19-year-old crowned world chess champ

Click on this link and it will open in a new window Magnus Carlsen

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Blues and the moon

I’ve blogged twice before about the colour blue. I do like blue as a colour, but it depends on the shade of course. With one previous entry I’ve also blogged these blue songs in this entry, Afrikaans and English. I haven’t upgraded my blog as yet, I’m not sure if I still want to stick with WordPress as there are lots of blogging-issues with WP which one doesn’t have with Blogger and I consider moving back to my old Blogger-blog! About two months ago I’ve bought the music of Nanci Griffith – her CD called From a Distance and there’s a track on this album called Once in a very blue moon, which I wanted to upload, but due to upgrading-issues…I can’t do so now, so jump on to Amazon’s site and do take a listen to it. I hope your New Year isn’t too blue! Enjoy this blue poem…I think you’ve noticed Samuel Bak’s art – again –  in this collage-image – or is it more Surreal-art – as my chess-friend Dan calls it.

Blue Winter by Robert Francis

Winter uses all the blues there are.
One shade of blue for water, one for ice,
Another blue for shadows over snow.
The clear or cloudy sky uses blue twice-
Both different blues. And hills row after row
Are colored blue according to how for.
You know the bluejay’s double-blur device
Shows best when there are no green leaves to show.
And Sirius is a winterbluegreen star.

Soms …
voel ek blou
en ek gee voor
om nie raak te sien
die gevoelens in jou oë
ek ignoreer jou
vergrote pupille en jou
stem se sagte toon

of verbeel ek my
dat ek dit ignoreer
probeer ek die verlede
net dalk maar… begrawe
dit sou nie die eerste keer
wees…
‘n siklus van ebb en vloed

‘n lang tyd het verby
gegaan sedert
ek jou naam weer neergeskryf het
ek sal geduldig wag
totdat die aarde oopskeur
31/12/2009

This first track is the same as the second, I was a bit silly with Audacity… Also, the first four tracks are only tasters, but Juanita’s track is full length. I recently blogged about Bloubergstrand which links, of course, also to the colour blue!

Blou….by Laurika Rauch

Neil Diamond’s song…

Vicky Leandros…

Juanita du Plessis…

Image: Nasa Science 2009
This next article is of Nasa. I blogged the 1st  July 2007 about Blue Moons and this link is to be found in my blog-entry of 2007 where Nasa tells us about the Blue Moons.

Dec. 29, 2009: Party planners take note. For the first time in almost twenty years, there’s going to be a Blue Moon on New Year’s Eve.

“I remember the last time this happened,” says professor Philip Hiscock of the Dept. of Folklore at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. “December 1990 ended with a Blue Moon, and many New Year’s Eve parties were themed by the event. It was a lot of fun.”

Don’t expect the Moon to actually turn blue, though. “The ‘Blue Moon’ is a creature of folklore,” he explains. “It’s the second full Moon in a calendar month.”

Top image: The full moon of Dec. 2, 2009, over Turan, Italy. Photographer Stefano De Rosa notes that the blue colors are cast by Christmas lights surrounding the pictured church.

Most months have only one full Moon. The 29.5-day cadence of the lunar cycle matches up almost perfectly with the 28- to 31-day length of calendar months. Indeed, the word “month” comes from “Moon.” Occasionally, however, the one-to-one correspondence breaks down when two full Moons squeeze into a single month. Dec. 2009 is such a month. The first full Moon appeared on Dec. 2nd; the second, a “Blue Moon,” will come on Dec. 31st.

This definition of Blue Moon is relatively new.

If you told a person in Shakespeare’s day that something happens “once in a Blue Moon” they would attach no astronomical meaning to the statement. Blue moon simply meant rare or absurd, like making a date for the Twelfth of Never. “But meaning is a slippery substance,” says Hiscock. “The phrase ‘Blue Moon’ has been around for more than 400 years, and during that time its meaning has shifted.”

The modern definition sprang up in the 1940s. In those days, the Farmer’s Almanac of Maine offered a definition of Blue Moon so convoluted that even professional astronomers struggled to understand it. It involved factors such as the ecclesiastical dates of Easter and Lent, and the timing of seasons according to the dynamical mean sun. Aiming to explain blue moons to the layman, Sky & Telescope published an article in 1946 entitled “Once in a Blue Moon.” The author James Hugh Pruett cited the 1937 Maine almanac and opined that the “second [full moon] in a month, so I interpret it, is called Blue Moon.”
 
That was not correct, but at least it could be understood. And thus the modern Blue Moon was born.

Blue moon has other connotations, too. In music, it’s often a symbol of melancholy. According to one Elvis tune, it means “without a love of my own.” On the bright side, he croons in another song, a simple kiss can turn a Blue Moon pure gold.

Source Nasa Science. The link will open in a new window.

Here are a few pics I’ve taken from the blue moon of 31/12/09.

 

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Sneeu Snow Sneeu Snow Sneeu Snow!

17th December about 14:30-ish

18th December about 11am-ish – my car!

I think these images are enough to tell the story…

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Pawns in the rain

Pawn chair?

Image: degine.blogspot – Pawns in the rain?
See this youtube movie how you can use your pawn-chair.

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Afrikaans! Jy is skerp en Lewendig! – Afrikaans! You are sharp and alive!

English readers: The second half of this entry is for you. Afrikaans is the most humorous langauge that I know. If there is a joke about something, it’s always out in Afrikaans first. I work amongst English (Britons) for almost ten years now and can honestly say we have in Afrikaans much more fun and jokes to share and we have jokes about almost anything under the sun. Also, we can joke about everything, we see humour in everything around us – maybe that’s why we’ve survived everything in our country thus far…even with all the problems with Escom — Afrikaans readers…on twitter Kasper said a few days ago…daar is ‘n tyd vir Es-kom en Es-gaan – that was funny. Anyway…Fanus Rautenbach is a legend in South Africa when it comes to humour! He said we all must die one day, but some people are dying according to their careers…and I’m not going to translate it, it won’t have the same impact as only in Afrikaans…I’ve read it and tears were running down my cheeks as I was reading…this is well-said and you can only say it in Afrikaans – and enjoy/appreciate it in Afrikaans…

Do enjoy the article from Time and then, at the bottom, if you think you are smart…try the smart test…but be warned, I don’t think you are as smart as you think you are…[joke] do try and have fun.

Fanus Rautenbach sê: ons moet almal eendag sterwe, maar elkeen sterf volgens sy beroep:

Reisigers gaan heen.
Jagters gaan bokveld toe.
Parlementslede op die groen kussings gaan sag heen.
Die melkman en die posman kom om.
Kokke steek lepel in die dak.

Die horlosiemaker se tyd het aangebreek.
Die valskermspringer ontval ons.
Die tuinier is van die gras af gemaak.
Die melkboer het die emmer geskop.
Die begrafnisondernemer sien sy gat.

Die dominee het die tydelike met die ewige verwissel.
Die ouderling is ontslape.
Die koerantman is direk hemel toe.
Die skeidsregter het sy laaste asem uitgeblaas.
Die dokter se hart het gaan staan.

Die elektrisiën se liggie is gedoof.
Die koster het die doodsklok hoor lui.
Die kleremaker se draad is geknip.
Die Springbokrugby-afrigter kom tot rus.
Skoonmoeder – die duiwel het haar kom haal

How Sharp Is Your Memory? Article: Time

Snowdon uses a longer version of the following quiz to pick up signs of memory loss. You can use it to test your own memory. If you are concerned about the results, discuss them with your physician.

Verbal Fluency
How many animals can you name in 60 seconds?

Word-list Memory
1. Have a friend read the following 10 words aloud:
Leg
Cheese
Tent
Motor
Flower
Stamp
Cup
King
Forest
Menu

2. Try to commit them to memory.

3. Go over the list twice more, each time in a different order. How many can you recall on the third try?

Delayed Word Recall Test
Wait five minutes. Now how many words can you recall?

Word Recognition
1. Ask your friend to write 20 words on separate index cards — the 10 words from the list above mixed in with ten different words

2. Have your friend show you the cards one at a time

3. How many words can you pick out from the original list?

Add up your scores. If the total is less than 29, you may have difficulty with short-term memory. Ask your doctor about doing a more thorough exam.

Image:timtim

How SMART are you? This is fun…be warned…you might not be as smart as you think![hehe] Bill Gates did this test and he scored 3!

Afrikaans is LEWENDIG!

Volg die link onderaan die artikel om die volledige artikel te lees.

Afrikaanse letterkunde floreer. Afrikaanse koerante is gesond. Televisie kook. In staats- en semi-staatsorganisasies het Afrikaans ’n hoër status as die ander inheemse tale.

Belangrikste van alles vir Afrikaans is dat die taal nou ook aanvaarding geniet en gevier word as ’n taal wat op eie bodem ontstaan het. Tog bly die persepsie voortbestaan onder Afrikaners dat hul taal onder beleg is, vandaar die terugveg teen enige vermeende aantasting van die taal.

Sommige van die verdedigers van Afrikaans is werklike liefhebbers van die taal, met hul bona fides in plek.

Daar is egter ook ’n groot deel van hulle wat gemotiveer word deur eng nasionalisme en, durf ’n mens sê, rassisme. Hulle hunker terug na die Suid-Afrika wat in 1994 gesterf het, ’n Suid-Afrika waarin die Afrikaner die opperwese was.

Insoverre ’n mens sommige van die houdings van Afrikaans se verdedigers verwerplik vind, moet jy hul verbetenheid bewonder. As die sprekers van die ander Suid-Afrikaanse tale maar net soveel aandag wou gee aan die beskerming van hul taal as wat Afrikaanssprekendes doen, sou daar min kommer wees oor die ondergang van plaaslike tale.

Ongelukkig is dit nie die geval nie. Suid-Afrika se Afrika-taal-sprekers het besluit dat hul tale nie die moeite werd is om te bewaar nie. In die middelklas word ’n geslag jong Suid-Afrikaners groot sonder die vermoë om hul moedertaal te verstaan, want hul ouers het besluit dis nie belangrik nie.

Daar word teen ’n hewige tempo aan tale weggekalwe. Ons is op pad na ’n situasie waar inheemse tale slegs deur die werkersklas gepraat word – en hul aspirasies veroorsaak dat ook hulle die middelklas begin napraat.

Dit is nie buite die kwessie nie dat Unesco binne die volgende 50 jaar sou kon verslag doen dat verskeie Suid-Afrikaanse tale op die gevaarlys is.

Hiervoor moet die regering heelwat van die blaam dra omdat hy slegs lippediens bewys aan taalgelykheid.

Terwyl elke politikus graag grootbek is oor die viering van ons diversiteit, word min gedoen om een van die kernaspekte van daardie diversiteit te bewaar – ons tale.

Pleks daarvan dat ons Afrikaners veroordeel daarvoor dat hulle trots op hul taal is en daarvoor baklei, behoort die res van Suid-Afrika ’n les daaruit te leer.

Afrikaans behoort net soveel aan my as aan ou wit mans.

Die ander aand beland ek in een van daai taaierige Suid-Afrikaanse gesprekke waarin ek vertel is dis tyd om ontslae te raak van die swart chip op my skouer.

Sekerlik, is ek vertel, is dit 15 jaar ná die einde van apartheid nie nodig om simplistiese frases soos “julle wit mense” in gesprekke te gebruik nie, veral sedert ek tot die middelklas uitgestyg het en niks het om oor te kla nie.

Dalk is dit trouens tyd om my beitel uit te haal en aan daardie chip te begin werk.

Dit is in dié gesindheid van verantwoordelikheid vir my toekoms neem eerder as om in die verlede te leef dat ek Afrikaanse taalstryders kan vra om dieselfde te doen.

Ek het genoeg gehad van hoofsaaklik wit mans wat op en af spring oor “hul” taal wat in die nuwe Suid-Afrika uitgerangeer word – want die meeste Afrikaanssprekendes is en was nog nooit wit nie.

Ek is moeg van die tirades wat aan koerante gestuur word en die patetiese gekerm oor “hul” taal wat in dreigende gevaar is om permanent uitgedoof te word, asof die regering ’n beleid van taal-volkslagting verklaar het.

As dít die geval was, waarom sien ons dan steeds rye Afrikaanse boeke op die rakke van Exclusive Books, Afrikaanse verjaardagkaartjies by die CNA en die voortgesette groei van Afrikaanse koerante?

Waarom bied Johan Stemmet, uitgerus in sy klopse-monderings, steeds Noot vir noot aan – die SAUK se oudste vermaaklikheidsprogram? En waarom saai die openbare uitsaaier elke weekdag ’n sepie genaamd 7de Laan uit as daar dan geen plek vir Afrikaans in die land is nie?

Toe ek hoor dat die F.W. de Klerk-stigting ’n debat oor Afrikaans by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch reël sonder om die universiteit se visekanselier te nooi, het ek dit skouerophalend afgemaak.

Toe gaan kyk ek op die internet en lees koerante soos Die Burger en webwerwe soos http://www.litnet.co.za om uit te vind hoe die taaldebat verander het. Geen verrassing nie – die debat van tien jaar gelede is die debat van 2010. Hier gaan ons al weer, het ek gedink.

Maar ek is ’n eerstetaal-Afrikaanssprekende – my pa se reël was dat ons tuis Afrikaans gepraat het en Engels by die skool geleer het. En ná meer as 20 jaar in ’n Engelse wêreld bestaande uit ’n Engelse universiteit en Engelse werkplekke praat ek steeds Afrikaans.

As ek en my 70-jarige ma buite in die son sit met ons oggendkoffie, haal ons in Afrikaans in. As ek een van my Afrikaanssprekende kollegas in die gang raakloop, stop ons om gou in Afrikaans te skinder. Dis ’n natuurlike ding om te doen.

En ek vind dat daar in my 40 jaar oue hart steeds ’n passie vir Afrikaans is. Daardie passie ontwaak wanneer ek hoor hoe my vyf jaar oue dogtertjie moeiteloos van “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” na “Die Stem” oorslaan.

My dogters praat Afrikaans. Hulle gaan na Engelse skole. Hulle is tweetalige kinders wat nog ’n Afrika-taal ook sal aanleer.

Maar hoewel Afrikaans oral om my is, kan ek nie dieselfde hittigheid en geesdrif as die taalpatriotte optower nie.

Wanneer gaan hulle aanvaar dat, vir baie van ons, hul taalstryd nie gesien kan word sonder ’n politieke konteks uit die verlede nie – ’n konteks wat ons nie deel nie?

As die stryders geweet het wat goed is vir hulle, sou hulle hul visier rig op mense soos ek en die baie swart sprekers van “hul” taal, veral in die Wes-Kaap.

Moet ons nie deel maak van ’n magstryd oor ’n taal nie; maak ons deel van ’n sirkel van passievolle mense wat nodig het om Afrikaans te praat omdat dit deel is van wie ons is.

Vir my dogters het Afrikaans geen magiese kragte nie; dit dra nie ’n geskiedenis wat Voortrekker- en Afrikaner-dapperheid huldig nie.

Afrikaans se redding sal kom deur mense soos my dogter en haar kleinsussie, en die talle ander kinders soos hulle. Omdat hulle geen politieke verbintenis het met ’n taal wat so intiem verweef is met die mag van ons voormalige onderdrukkers nie.

Vir hulle is dit net nog ’n taal wat hul lewe sal verryk deur die skoon en krag wat gevind kan word in die werk van Hein Willemse, Adam Small, Breyten Breytenbach en Ingrid Jonker.

Nie deur rûe styf te maak of deur groot gebare nie en beslis nie deur die geblêr van ou wit mans wat terughunker na vervloë tye nie.

Afrikaans die Taal

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Let’s ride the wind

Cape Town – with its surrounding beaches – is the place to go – for many tourists. If you haven’t been to South Africa, everybody will encourage you to go to Cape Town first.  There are various reasons why people will tell you to go to CT first. Of course I will suggest it too, as it is a touristy city, lots of activities for tourists, beautiful historical sites to visit, beautiful views and Table Mountain to enjoy on a picnic outing. – My next stop for anyone that’s been to South Africa before, will of course be my favourite: The Drakensberg Mountains! There are various hotels in the Mountain range and the most beautiful spots for anyone that loves hiking. Back to Bloubergstrand. If you search Bloubergstrand, you will find the most beautiful pictures, some of which you can see in this entry. Laurika Rauch sings the song  Op Blouberg se Strand, but this time I have the song as sung by Juanita du Plessis. I’ve roughly translated the song for English readers. This song describes some of the activities at Bloubergstrand. I’ve also found a very interesting piece of reading about Bloubergstrand. Do enjoy it.

If you’re in Cape Town and desperate to play chess, do visit the Goodwood Chess club…see their website for a map and details. They exist since 1963.

http://goodwoodchess.tripod.com/

http://goodwoodchess.blogspot.com/

 Organised club league chess is over 100 years old in Cape Town. Cape Town chess club, the oldest in South Africa (founded in 1885) together with Woodstock, Tokai and the YMCA club formed a union of clubs in 1907.

At Bloubergstrand

The waves know where the billows break
They think they’re free
The clouds drift in the sky
but they must ride the winds
It’s early in the day, at Bloubergstrand
The wind will be blowing, the sun will be burning
But it’s cool after the long night
and we greet the day

Choir

Good morning my sunshine
Good morning my child
Let’s jog alongside the beach
Let’s ride the wind
The sun will scorch us
and the rays will burn
But it’s early in the day
At Bloubergstrand

There are lime-washed houses
and old Table Mountain
There are anglers with rod and hat
pestering fish from early on
Daddy says: my child, we must find black mussels
we love the sea, I love my child
Yes, it’s cool after the long night
and we greet the day

Choir

Good morning my sunshine
Good morning my child
Let’s jog alongside the beach
Let’s ride the wind
The sun will scorch us
and the rays will burn
But it’s early in the day
At Bloubergstrand (2x)

Image: New York Times

Op Blouberg se strand

DIE GOLWE WEET WAAR BREEK DIE BRANDERS –
HULLE DINK HULLE’S VRY
DIE WOLKE WENTEL IN DIE HEMEL MAAR
OP DIE WINDE MOET HUL RY
DIS VROEG IN DIE DAG, OP BLOUBERG SE STRAND
DIE WIND GAAN NOG WAAI, DIE SON GAAN NOG BRAND
MAAR DIS KOEL NA DIE LANG NAG
EN ONS GROET DIE DAG
KOOR:
GOEIE MÔRE MY SONSKYN
GOEIE MÔRE MY KIND
KOM ONS DRAF LANGS DIE STRAND
KOM ONS RY OP DIE WIND
DIE SAND SAL ONS SKROEI
EN DIE STRALE SAL BRAND
MAAR DIS VROEG IN DIE DAG
OP BLOUBERG SE STRAND

DAAR IS WITGEKALKTE HUISE
EN OU TAFELBERG
DAAR IS HENGELAARS MET STOK EN HOED
WAT VROEG VISSE TERG
MY PA, SÊ MY KIND, ONS MOET SWART MOSSELS VIND
ONS IS LIEF VIR DIE SEE, EK IS LIEF VIR MY KIND
JA DIS KOEL NA DIE LANG NAG
EN ONS GROET DIE DAG

KOOR ( X2)

Its pristine beaches and modest lime-washed historic fisherman’s houses have been immortalised in song. Its spectacular, classic view of Table Mountain across Table Bay has been captured on countless photographs, postcards and brochures, which are used to lure tourists to nearby Cape Town.

Yet Bloubergstrand (which is Afrikaans for ‘blue mountain beach’) itself has always had much to offer those willing to make the approximately 25 kilometre journey north of the Mother City to pay it a visit and linger for longer than the amount of time it requires to take a snapshot of the mountain.

Incidentally, one would be forgiven to assume that Bloubergstrand’s name comes from that world famous postcard view of Table Mountain, but one would be quite mistaken. The suburb is actually named after Blouberg, a hill located not too far inland from the coast.

The consistent summer winds sweeping across the bay stirs up the waves, making Bloubergstrand a watersport heaven. In fact, Big Bay – home to the annual, recently held Oxbbow Big Bay Classic windsurfing championship event – is arguably the premier windsurfing and kiteboarding spot in the world.

Strollers and shell collectors can be seen meandering up the wild stretch of Milnerton Beach which lies between the city and Bloubergstrand.

But Blouberg’s beaches and ground are blood-soaked. History buffs will be intrigued to know that a small but significant battle was fought here in1806. It was called the Battle of Blaauwberg and it established British rule in South Africa.

During that time, the Cape Colony belonged to the French controlled Netherlands (then called the Batavian Republic). But the sea route around the Cape was important to the British, so in order to prevent that from also coming under French control, they decided to seize the colony. A British fleet was despatched to the Cape in July 1805 to forestall the French troopships sent by Napoleon to reinforce the Cape garrison.

At the time, the colony was governed by Lt Gen Jan Willem Janssens (Blaauwberg House is located in Gen Janssens Str). He was also commander-in-chief of the colony’s military forces. The forces were small and of poor quality and backed up by local militia units.

The first British warship reached the Cape on Christmas Eve 1805, marking its arrival by promptly attacking two supply ships off the Cape Peninsula. When the main fleet sailed into Table Bay on 4 January 1806, Janssens mobilised his garrison, declared martial law and called up the militia.

Two British infantry brigades, under the command of Lt Gen Sir David Baird, landed at Melkbosstrand on 6 and 7 January 1806. Janssens moved his forces to intercept them with the intent of attacking them right there on the beach and then to withdraw to the interior where he had hoped to hold out until the French troopships arrived. He knew that victory against the stronger and bigger British forces wasn’t possible, but he thought the honour of his fatherland demanded a fight.

However, on 8 January 1806, Baird’s brigades reached the slopes of the Blaauwberg mountain before Janssens and his troops did. Janssens halted and ordered his men to form a line across the veld.

The battle began at sunrise. At the onset, Janssens had 2 049 troops. They were far outnumbered by Baird and his 5 399 men. At the end of the battle, Janssens had lost 353 in casualties and desertion. Baird had 212 casualties.

Following the battle, Janssens and his remaining men moved inland to Elandskloof in the Hottentots-Holland mountains.

The British forces reached the outskirts of Cape Town on 9 January. To protect the town and its civilian population from attack, the commandant of Cape Town, Lieutenant-Colonel Hieronymus Casimir von Prophalow sent out a white flag. He handed over the outer fortifications to Baird, and terms of surrender were negotiated later in the day.

However, Janssens, who was still the Batavian Governor of the Cape, still refused to surrender himself and his remaining troops. He was still sticking to his original plan to hold out as long as he could in the hope that the French troopships for which he had been waiting so long for would still arrive and save him.

Eventually, on 18 January, he finally agreed to capitulate. The terms of the capitulation were reasonably favourable towards the Batavian soldiers and citizens of the Cape. In March 1806, Janssens, along with other Batavian officials and troops, were sent back to the Netherlands.

The British forces occupied the Cape until 13 August 1814, when the Netherlands ceded the colony to Britian as a permanent possession. It remained a British colony until it was incorporated into the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910.

Much to our relief, the only battles taking place in Blouberg these days are the ones between the windsurfers, kiteboarders and other athletes.

Source:www.malatabeach.co.za/Info.html

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Have a ball

Alexandra Kosteniuk: The current Woman’s World Chess Champion – see her blog-link on my blog’s sidebar.

 

A nurse playing chess with a patient – WWI

Women at Chess in London
London, June 24 – The fourth round of the International Women’s Chess Tournament, played in this city this evening, was finished with the following results:
Stevenson beat Thomas in a Giuoco Piano after twenty-nine moves. Gooding beat Muller-Hartung in a French defense after fifty-three moves. Bonnefin beat Hooke in a Ruy Lopez after forty-eight moves. Fagan beat Watson in a French defense after seventy-four moves. Finn beat Forbes-Sharpe in a two-knight defense after forty-three moves. Rudge beat Field in a Giuoco Piano after twenty-nine moves. Fox beat De La Vigne in an irregular opening after thirty-one moves.
Appended are the scores up to date: 1897

*Games left unfinished
The New York Times
Published June 25, 1897
Click HERE to read the news article in PDF-format. Links will open in a new window.

Giuoco Piano – Chess Opening – image: Wikipedia

I’m not familiar with this name as a chess opening, I’ve heard/read about many chess openings, but this one was new to me.

The Giuoco Piano is a chess opening characterized by the moves

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Bc5
Instead of 3. … Bc5 it is possible for Black to play 3… Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 ( Two knights defence ) or 3. … Ne7 4.d4 d6 5. h3 Nf6 6.Nc3 0-0 7.0-0 exd4 ( Hungarian defence )

The Giuoco Piano (Italian: “quiet game”) is the oldest recorded opening. The Portuguese Damiano played it at the beginning of the 16th century and the Italian Greco played it at the beginning of the 17th century. The opening is also known as the Italian Game, although that term is sometimes used more generally to describe the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4. The Giuoco Piano was popular through the 19th century, but modern refinements in defensive play have led most chess masters towards openings like the Ruy Lopez that offer White greater chances for long term initiative.

White’s “Italian bishop” at c4 prevents Black from advancing in the center with …d5 and attacks the vulnerable f7 square. White plans to dominate the center with d2-d4 and to attack the Black king. Black aims to free his game by exchanging pieces and playing the pawn break …d5, or to hold his center pawn at e5.

Source: Wikipedia

Another champ…

MRS. HARRISON TRIUMPHS

February 27, 1938, Sunday

 Defeats Miss Lesley in Women’s Title Chess Tourney.  Mrs. Edna Harrison continued her winning streak in the preliminaries for the Hazel Allen championship trophy at the Marshall Chess Club yesterday, defeating Miss Dora Lesley in the seventh round. Mrs. Harrison now has scored 6 1/2 points.

Click here to view the source.

Mar 5, 1986 – Lyudmila Rudenko, the first women’s world chess champion, has died at age 81, the official Soviet news agency Tass reported Tuesday. The news agency said she died Sunday in Leningrad. A native of the Ukraine, she won the first world chess competition for women in 1950, …

was a Soviet chess player and the second Women’s World Chess Champion from 1950 until 1953. Rudenko held the FIDE International Master and Woman International Master titles.

Born in Lubny in the Poltava region of Ukraine, in the Russian Empire, her father taught her to play chess at age 10 although at first she was more serious about swimming. After grammar school, she moved to Odessa and took a degree in economics. Rudenko became the Odessa swimming champion in the 400m breaststroke. Her professional career would be as an economic planner for the Soviet Union, and chess would remain a hobby.

She began playing tournament chess in 1925 after a move to Moscow. She then moved to Leningrad where she met and married scientist Lev Davidovich Goldstein; in 1931 they had a son. In Leningrad in 1929 she began training with chess master Peter Romanowski. She would not reach the peak of international women’s chess until she was about 40 years old.

Source: Wikipedia – Vera Menchik died during a German air raid in Kent.

Lasker and Women …

Among the women fond of chess of this country, mrs J W Showalter has long been considered the champion chess player. At present she is engaged in a little match with Lasker who has to concede to her the odds of a knight. Mrs Showalter has so far won two games, while her opponent has registered an equal number of wins.

Read the NYTimes-article dated 1890’s here.

On this Google-link you will find more links about the history of women in chess to follow up.

 
To explore some chess openings, click on this link from the site of chessgames. To enjoy your chess openings, I have three music files to share with you which you might want to listen while exploring some chess openings. Choose the music to open your chess dance floor and have a ball! The first song is a famous song – Zorba’s Dance. The second, a South African golden oldie – Helloh-A  and Strauss – The Skaters Waltz. I will of course choose the music of Strauss to open my chess dance floor. On rainy days like today, Amazon can be sure of making their money out of me when it comes to music!

Image:chess.com

Zorba’s Dance by Mikis Theodorakis
from the CD: Memories from Greece  – see the youtube-link for the dance.

I once tried to teach this dance to 10 year old kiddies for our class assembly – see this video….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkHfKjwPHXo

Sharon Tany and Billy Forest – Helloh-A

The Skaters Waltz – Mantovani and his orchestra. If you prefer a different Waltz to open your chess ball, enjoy this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJNcomorvjg

The Sicilian Defence: Eduard Gufeld – a book I found on Amazon about openings.

Click here to take a look inside  Modern Chess Openings or to order it from Amazon. The Giuoco Piano (“quiet game”) is even chapter 2 in this book!

Something to do on a rainy day!

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Noddy – BBC and SA

This news article caught my eye immediately. As a qualified library teacher (too), part of my job was to make sure only quality books were available for the kiddies to read in the school’s library. In our schools in South Africa, we used to have catalogues which contained only approved books. Approved books were books approved by Library Subject Consultants/Advisors. There were catalogues sent to the school’s library every three months with the latest approved books. Every book in the catalogue had an approved catalogue-number. You couldn’t have books on your library’s shelves without the approved number written on the title page. Enid Blyton’s books were also banned from our schools as they were seen as books with not much literary value. – It seems to me this is at least one thing the red necks and the boers agreed on. [hehe] Here is the complete article with the link at the bottom.

Enid Blyton banned by BBC for decades: memos

Popular children’s author Enid Blyton was banned from the BBC for nearly 30 years because officials thought her work “lacked literary value”, letters from the broadcaster’s archives showed Monday.

BBC executives turned down the chance to broadcast the plays and books of the creator of Noddy, the Famous Five and the Secret Seven because they were “such small beer” and had been produced by a “second rater”.

In an internal memo dated 1938, Jean Sutcliffe, head of the BBC Schools department, dismissed the work of the woman who went on to become one of the best-selling authors of her era.

“My impression of her stories is that they might do for Children’s Hour but certainly not for Schools Dept. They haven’t much literary value,” she wrote.

“There is rather a lot of the Pinky-winky-Doodle-doodle Dum-dumm type of name (and lots of pixies) in the original tales,” she added, before conceding they were “competently written”.

Two years later, the daily radio programme “Children’s Hour” rejected Blyton’s play “The Monkey and the Barrel Organ” because producers found its dialogue “both stilted and long winded”.

One team member wrote: “It really is odd to think that this woman is a best-seller.”

The released letters show Blyton realised she had been blacklisted.

After being invited to speak on a children’s programme in May 1949, Blyton replied to the producer: “I and my stories are completely banned by the BBC as far as children are concerned — not one story has ever been broadcast, and, so it is said, not one ever will be.”

In 1954, Sutcliffe explained that Blyton should not appear on the popular “Woman’s Hour” programme because the BBC risked becoming “just another victim of the amazing advertising campaign which has raised this competent and tenacious second-rater to such astronomical heights of success.”

Blyton finally appeared on “Woman’s Hour” in 1963, almost three decades after she first pitched ideas to the BBC.

She died in 1968 at the age of 71, but her books remain best-sellers today.

News-link HERE

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Cat-man-do

Nicky – My cat – looked exactly like this cat!
Read on this link HERE  more and see more cat pics and read about all sorts of cat-books. Nicky was a cat like this kitty in this video!

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Lekka Lekka ywe!

English Readers – enjoy the chicken jokes in this post. This post is mainly Afrikaans. There is an Afrikaans song too – about chickens – sung by a Capetonion. I really enjoy this song and the Afrikaans is typical of the Cape Coloureds. I love their accent and the way they express themselves, it’s very unique and very colourful. I have two Afrikaans poems too. When I was at primary school, we learned many poems by heart and these two are still fresh in my mind as I enjoyed the word-play and the way the poets expressed themselves. You do miss out  if you can’t read Afrikaans,  as Blum’s poem  is rich in humour.

So why did the chicken cross the road?

Aristotle:  To actualize its potential.
Julius Caesar:  To come, to see, to conquer.
Rene Descartes:  It had sufficient reason to believe it was dreaming anyway.
Dr. Seuss:   Did the chicken cross the road?
Did he cross it with a toad?
Yes! The chicken crossed the road,
but why it crossed, I’ve not been told!
Bill Gates:   I have just released Chicken XP, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book — and Explorer is an inextricable part of the operating system.
Plato: For the greater good.
Karl Marx:   It was a historical inevitability.
Nietzsche:   Because if you gaze too long across the Road, the Road gazes also across you.
Carl Jung:   The confluence of events in the cultural gestalt necessitated that individual chickens cross roads at this historical juncture, and therefore synchronicitously brought such occurrences into being.
Albert Einstein:  Whether the chicken crossed the road or the road crossed the chicken depends upon your frame of reference.
David Hume:   Out of custom and habit.
Mark Twain:   The news of its crossing has been greatly exaggerated.
William Shakespeare: I don’t know why, but methinks without much ado. William Wordsworth:  To have something to recollect in tranquility.

Jokes and cartoon: Randyshomestead

Peter Emil Julius Blum was born on 4 May 1925 in Trieste, Italy. Blum arrived in South Africa as a child. At this time, he was already able to speak several languages, among others German and Italian. After his studies in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, he took up a position as a librarian in Cape Town.

Blum got married in 1955 to Henrietta Cecilia Smit, who was an art teacher.He wrote and published several articles and poems, which were not always uncontroversial. His success as a poet was first affirmed in 1956 when he won the Reina Prinsen Geerligs Prize for his volume Steenbok tot poolsee (the title being a reference to the Tropic of Capricorn and the southern Antarctic Ocean, relating to the geographical location of South and Southern Africa). Source: Wikipedia

Peter Blum – Image: Stellenboschwriters

Die miljenêr se kombuis

‘n Pellie van my, wa da’ wêk as kok,
het my vandag laat inloer innie huis
vannie ou miljenêr,sy baas. Kombuis?
Jy sou gasê het dis die Duncan-dok!

Tsaaina en messegoed tot anie nok,
Fridzidêrs volgaprop met piekfyn vleis,
Eiers,vrugta en groentes van ‘n soort bok!

Toe sê hy, “Ennie kjeller’s die ena kroeg –
Whisky en brannewyn ,dzien en muskedil.”
Toe sê ek , Wragtie , diè baas is gaseën!

Ga’ hy nou patie skop? Daa’s oorganoeg
Om twintag ouens ‘n week lank te laat smul.
“Nei” , sê hy ,”die baas eet altyd alleen.”

Peter Blum

DIE DUNCAN VAN DIE DUNCAN-DOK

Sir Patrick Duncan het in April 1937 goewerneur-generaal geword. Hy is benoem deur die toenmalige eerste minister, J.B.M. Hertzog.

Hoewel hy in Engeland gebore is, het Duncan die grootste gedeelte van sy volwasse lewe in Suid-Afrika deurgebring, waar hy onder meer as minister van binnelandse sake, onderwys en openbare werke en later minister van mynwese gedien het.

Na afloop van die Anglo-Boereoorlog, waar hy onder lord Alfred Milner ge­dien het, het hy ’n tyd lank as prokureur in Johannesburg gewerk.
Duncan is op 17 Julie 1943 oorlede.
Sy graf is by die Portnet-gebou in die Kaapse hawe en kan deur die publiek besoek word.
http://jv.dieburger.com//Stories/News/19.0.1563301634.aspx
Bronne: http://www.lib.uct.ac.za; http://www.sahistory.org.za.

Dankie aan Skoor en Sigeuner vir al die moeite met die vind van hierdie gedig deur Peter Blum. Op hierdie link van Skoor se blog kan julle die gesprekke gaan opvolg…natuurlik was my brein bietjie verroes ook en het ek hierdie twee gedigte op ‘n stadium gemeng! [hehe] Spesiale dankie aan Skoor vir die pragtige Afrikaanse musiek wat sy aangestuur het en vir Sigeuner se massiewe soektog – haar FBI-agente inkluis! – na die gedig. Talle e-posse het tussen my en Sigeneur heen-en-weer gevlieg en tussen haar besige, dolle, gejaagde  lewe – met kinders en huiswerk tussen-in, het sy nogtans tyd gemaak om ook Sherlok Houms  en haar ondergrondse Mafia agente nader te trek in hierdie soektog![hehe] Dankie Sigeuner! Ek geniet die taal van die Kaapse Kleurlinge en hoe hulle hulself uitdruk – vol humor en ek kan my verluister aan hulle. Geniet die Hoender song van die CD wat Skoor my gestuur het.

Kaalvoet Klonkie – ID du Plessis 

Verflenterde kaalvoet klonkie
Wat groente verkoop in die reën,
Met jou lelike skurwe tone
En jou lendelam hoepelbeen,
Jy kom met jou venterliedjie
Deur die mistige Kaapse straat
En helder sing jy die woorde
Op jou eie koddige maat:

Lekka, lekka ywe,
Laat die ghantang nadderskywe!
Tamaties en ywe vars van die Strand
En baie kiri slam by die huis se kant!

Jy kom uit die deel van die Kanaldorp
Waar die dieners gewapend moet gaan
En die weerlig van `n skeermeslem
In `n donker hoek neer mag slaan.
Miskien kon jy :Bismillah” sê
Vanmôre, omdat in die kas
Wat dae lank so leeg moet bly,
Daar weer `n broodjie was?
Of dink jy al aan Nuwejaar
As die troepe deur Waalstraat stroom
Van die Bo-Kaap na die Onder-Kaap
Langs die stomp van die slaweboom?
Is dit wat jou so laat bokspring
En dans op jou hoepelbeen,
Verflenterde kaalvoet klonkie,
As jy groente verkoop in die reën?
Ek hou van jou vrolike klanke
Waarmee jy die winter tart.
Sing jy hierdie ligte deuntjie
Bo `n somberte in jou hart?
En as jy op na die Boereplein
Met jou boepens-mandjie gaan,
Dan trek jou parmantige liedjie
Deur die strate agter jou aan:

Lekka, lekka ywe,
Laat die ghantang nadderskywe!
Tamaties en ywe vars van die Strand
En baie kiri slam by die huis se kant!

Lekka Lekka ywe!

Chicken art – by Alexis Bester

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A Golden Load

We drove off this afternoon – I wanted to keep my sanity, with all the marking of GCSE Coursework – and took the road down where we live into the countryside. The first photo was taken about 500m from our house and the others – as we travelled down Chartridge Lane. Photo 13 and 14 were taken along the road which I travel daily. I have more pics to share, but thought to spoil you a bit later with more. Seasons in the northern hemisphere change rapidly. Now you see bare trees, now you don’t! We new those lovely colours would be gone by next week and I’m glad I was in time to show you what it looks like during Autumn where we live now. Enjoy the Autumn-poems too.

Die plekkie waar ons bly is nie baie groot nie, maar heelwat groter as wat ek gedink het. Wat klein is, is die besigheidsarea – daar’s nie ‘n verskeidenheid van winkeltjies nie. Wat wel lekker is, is hulle Boeremark op Saterdae. Heerlike vars groente en vrugte is te koop. Ons naburige Amersham – byna 1 myl van hier af, het ‘n groot en lekker Tesco wat 24 uur oop is en hulle hoofstraat word in die week toegemaak en dan’s daar ook ‘n straatmark. Die twee plekkies – Chesham en Amersham – het altwee ‘n baie ou gedeelte wat hulle die “old town” noem. Ek het foto’s geneem van Chesham se old town gedeelte, alhoewel dit ‘n klein gedeelte is, Amersham se gedeelte is groter en ek gaan Saterdag daar lekker foto’s neem om te blog. Albei die plekkies het geboue wat dateer uit Doomsday! Dit skep natuurlik atmosfeer wat jy nie sommer kan beskryf nie. Natuurlik is daar ook hordes villages al om hierdie areas, baie klein. Hierdie Pub in hierdie possie is in so ‘n klein village afgeneem – “The Lee”.

Vroegherfs: NP van Wyk Louw

Die jaar word ryp in goue akkerblare,
in wingerd wat verbruin, en witter lug
wat daglank van die nuwe wind en klare
son deurspoel word; elke blom word vrug,
tot selfs die traagstes; en die eerste blare val
so stilweg in die rookvaal bos en laan,
dat die takke van die lang populiere al
teen elke ligte môre witter staan.
O Heer, laat hierdie dae heilig word:
Laat alles val wat pronk en sieraad was
of enkel jeug, en ver was van die pyn;
laat ryp word, Heer, laat u wind waai, laat stort
my waan, tot al die hoogheid eindelik vas
en nakend uit my teerder jeug verskyn.
Uit Vroegherfs

To Autumn by William Blake

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stain’d
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

‘The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clust’ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather’d clouds strew flowers round her head.

‘The spirits of the air live in the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.’
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat,
Then rose, girded himself, and o’er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

N.P. Van Wyk Louw

Ek kry ’n klein klein beiteltjie,

ek tik hom en hy klink;

toe slyp ek en ek slyp hom

totdat hy klink en blink.

Ek sit ’n klippie op ’n rots:

– mens moet jou vergewis:

’n beitel moet kan klip breek

as hy ’n beitel is –

ek slaat hom met my beiteltjie

en dié was sterk genoeg:

daar spring die klippie stukkend

so skoon soos langs ’n voeg:

toe, onder my tien vingers bars

die grys rots middeldeur

en langs my voete voel ek

die sagte aarde skeur,

die donker naat loop deur my land

en kloof hom wortel toe –

só moet ’n beitel slaan

wat beitel is, of hoé?

Dan, met twee goue afgronde

val die planeet aan twee

en oor die kranse, kokend,

verdwyn die vlak groen see

en op die dag sien ek die nag

daar anderkant gaan oop

met ’n bars wat van my beitel af

dwarsdeur die sterre loop.

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The South African Experience

Wednesday, October 21, 2009              

South African experience

SIR: On Thursday October 1, 2009, the National Chairman of our great party Chief Bisi Akande; the Lagos State Chairman of the Party in Lagos, Chief Dele Ajomale; his wife; the representative of the Governor and my humble self left for South Africa to inaugurate the chapter of our party. Business finished on Saturday October 2 and 3, 2009 in both Pretoria and Johannesburg. We had Sunday October 4 to look around. It was my first visit to South Africa and what I saw stunned me.

Am I in Africa or Europe? Am I in America? Is this another Singapore? Could this be true? Where was Nigeria when South Africa was putting all these structures in place? If the white man did all these in South Africa why were the Nelson Mandelas of this world complaining? If South Africans got their independence on a platter of gold the way Nigeria got hers in 1960, would there have been all these structures I am seeing here today? Impossible! From what I saw on ground in South Africa, it looked as if all the companies and industries all over the world are physically present there. Ah! Nigeria has been left behind. South Africa is the potential and undisputable leader in Africa. Thanks to the white South Africans.

I came to the unhappy conclusion that the mosquitoes that drove the whites away from Nigeria in 1960 did a colossal and unmitigated damage to Nigerians. I again asked myself these questions: How many black Africans did the whites kill before surrendering power to them? How many Nigerians have been killed by Nigerian leaders since they took over power from the whites in 1960? Let us compare the figures. I am sure the supreme prize South Africans paid to have the South Africa I see today will be so infinitesimal compared with what our leaders have killed to remain in power in Nigeria.

What I am saying is that God should have allowed the whites to tarry for at least more 30 years in Nigeria and we would have been better for it. Mandela survived 27 years in prison because the whiteman was a better person. He could not have survived 10 years in prison in Nigeria.

My conclusion after seeing what I saw in South Africa is that the whites left Nigeria in a hurry, and that is why we are suffering today. Had the whites tarried in Nigeria, Nigeria would have been like South Africa today. I want the whites back in Nigeria!

Joe Igbokwe,
Lagos.
News Article here Nigerian Guardian News. The link will open in a new window. Thank you to Brandnetel for the entry-link on her blog. [brandnetel = stinging nettle]

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Are we not all a pawn in their game?

 Bob Dylan Playing chess – Image:hardingsimpole.co.uk

 

Only A Pawn In Their Game – Bob Dylan

A bullet from the back of a bush took Medgar Evers’ blood.
A finger fired the trigger to his name.
A handle hid out in the dark
A hand set the spark
Two eyes took the aim
Behind a man’s brain
But he can’t be blamed
He’s only a pawn in their game.

A South politician preaches to the poor white man,
“You got more than the blacks, don’t complain.
You’re better than them, you been born with white skin,” they explain.
And the Negro’s name
Is used it is plain
For the politician’s gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game.

The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid,
And the marshals and cops get the same,
But the poor white man’s used in the hands of them all like a tool.
He’s taught in his school
From the start by the rule
That the laws are with him
To protect his white skin
To keep up his hate
So he never thinks straight
‘Bout the shape that he’s in
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game.

From the poverty shacks, he looks from the cracks to the tracks,
And the hoof beats pound in his brain.
And he’s taught how to walk in a pack
Shoot in the back
With his fist in a clinch
To hang and to lynch
To hide ‘neath the hood
To kill with no pain
Like a dog on a chain
He ain’t got no name
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game.

Today, Medgar Evers was buried from the bullet he caught.
They lowered him down as a king.
But when the shadowy sun sets on the one
That fired the gun
He’ll see by his grave
On the stone that remains
Carved next to his name
His epitaph plain:
Only a pawn in their game.

Comments from youtube: Remember, he wrote this song at a time when a black man couldn’t serve a white man a burger at McDonalds, or even use the same restroom or drinking fountain. He just called it like it was. The poor white men of those times were just as much victims as the blacks. They were used as pawns in a game. Why does it sound so…familiar?

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Fun stuff – Pret

Fun stuff HERE

Deadlines: 18 and 23 October…4 groups of course work [120 students] and 4 groups of reports – more reports after half term…Is there a life after school?

France to return “stolen” goods to Egypt. Now England needs to return their “stolen goods” to Greece too!

This is a mixed mosaic-collage about a mixed of London-photos… Jasper, as jy hier lees, die klein seuntjie is Jaques – jou vriend s’n – hy moet nou al 2 jaar oud wees! …

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Kamdebooberge Aberdeen

Click on the image for a larger view.

Click HERE for the Camdeboo National Park in South Africa.
The Camdeboo Mountains in the Cape Province of South Africa. Beautiful, isn’t it?! How I love thee….Original Photo HERE also in Google Earth.

Camdeboo-family – image: Sanparks

Camdeboo flowers

Poetry again…at the bottom of this entry you can find the English version of Ingrid Jonker’s poem: Korreltjie Sand (Little grain of Sand)

‘n Gedig deur dr Flip Strydom van die Stigting vir Bemagtiging Afrikaans (SBA) opgeteken in ‘n boek getiteld Versies uit die veld.

Soos ‘n koelteboom in Februarie se karoo (Uit Murraysburg)
Meneer, u vra oor geletterdheid in my lewe?
Wel, ek is ’n Karookind
En geletterdheid is vir my soos ’n koelteboom
In Februarie se Karoo.
Of ’n jaloers buitjie reën wat die stof laat ruik
In die strate van Murraysburg.
Of die doringboomgeur van die Kamdeboo-streek
Daar naby Graaff-Reinet.
Of die treurgesang op ’n Sondagaand
Uit die kerkie op die bult.
Karoomense kyk anders na dinge, Meneer.
(Bron: Die Burger, 16 Augustus 2003) sien ook: cnx.org

Karoo-dorp: Someraand

Die laat-middag het room geword
en treine wat ver fluit
en ’n wit-bont klaas-skáwagter
wat wag-hou op ’n kluit

en rook uit die lokasie rook
en by die dorpsdam sing
en mense in tennisbroekies loop
die koper skemer in

dóér op die nasionale pad
loop motortjies onhoorbaar, hoog;
Oum-Appie-Slagkraal se ou fiets
kom staan, vanself, moeg, voor die oog.

Tant’-Tolie-met-die-kanker kom
sit op die bordienghuis se stoep:
vanaand gaan hoor ons nog hoe sy
Die Here en die uile roep.
~~NP van Wyk Louw
Tristia
Chris Chameleon sings one of Ingrid Jonker’s poems..Korreltjie Sand – Grain of Sand – do enjoy!

Korreltjie Sand – lyrics
korreltjie korreltjie sand
klippie gerol in my hand
klippie gesteek in my sak
word korreltjie klein en plat
sonnetjie groot in die blou
ek maak net ‘n ogie van jou
blink in my korreltjie klippie
dit is genoeg vir die rukkie
pyltjie geveer en verskiet
liefde verklein in die niet
timmerman bou aan ‘n kis
ek maak my gereed vir die niks
korreltjie klein is my woord
korreltjie niks is my dood
korreltjie klein
korreltjie sand
kindjie wat skreeu uit die skoot
niks in die wêreld is groot
stilletjies lag nou en praat
stilte in doodloopstraat
wêreldjie rond en aardblou
korreltjie maak ek van jou
huisie met deur en twee skrefies
tuintjie met blou madeliefies
pyltjie geveer en verskiet
liefde verklein in die niet
timmerman bou aan ‘n kis
ek maak my gereed vir die niks
korreltjie klein is my woord
korreltjie niks is my dood
korreltjie klein
korreltjie sand (5x)

The Original poem
Korreltjie niks is my dood
Ingrid Jonker (1933-1965)

Korreltjie korreltjie sand
klippie gerol in my hand
klippie gesteek in my sak
word korreltjie klein en plat

Sonnetjie groot in die blou
korreltjie maak ek van jou
blink in my korreltjie klippie
dit is genoeg vir die rukkie

Kindjie wat skreeu uit die skoot
niks in die wêreld is groot
stilletjies lag nou en praat
stilte in doodloopstraat

Wêreldjie rond en aardblou
ek maak net ‘n ogie van jou
huisie met deur en twee skrefies
tuintjie met blou madeliefies

Pyltjie geveer in verskiet
liefde verklein in die niet
Timmerman bou aan ‘n kis
Ek maak my gereed vir die niks

Korreltjie klein is my woord
Korreltjie niks is my dood

Read here about Ingrid Jonker where you can also listen to Bitterbessie Dagbreek as sung by Chris Chameleon.

Little Grain of Sand
Grain little grain of sand
pebble rolled in my hand
pebble thrust in my pocket
a keepsake for a locket

Little sun big in the blue
a granule I make out of you
shine in my pebble little grain
for the moment that’s all I can gain

Baby that screams from the womb
nothing is big in this tomb
quietly laugh now and speak
silence in dead-end street

Little world round and earth-blue
make a mere eye out of you
house with a door and two slits
a garden where everything fits

Small arrow feathered into space
love fades away from its place
Carpenter seals a coffin that’s bought
I ready myself for the nought

Small grain of sand is my word, my breath
small grain of nought is my death 

© Translation: 2007, Antjie Krog & André Brink
From: Black Butterflies
Publisher: Human & Rousseau, Cape Town, 2007
ISBN: 9780798148924

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Love remains the light

It was National Poetry Day today in the ukay and I want to share this song by Steve Hofmeyr to celebrate poetry, not just in the ukay, but everywhere. Do listen to the words of this song – beautiful!  Poetry, love and music…touching the strings of my heart.[and of course…chess!]
If you like this song, click here to listen to more songs from a variety of artists and to read a few love poems in English as well as in Afrikaans.

[Sorry, I’ve removed the song due to another site getting people to download it from my site..that is illegal]

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Food for thought

Our Thought for the week at school is: Food for thought. I asked my tutees to search the internet for something to explain the thought of the week. [they do like to work in Power Point to do such tasks and they are quite good at adding animations and all sorts of effects.] I didn’t expect them to know what it means and thought to see what they come up with. [Inductive learning/teaching] A couple thought it means something in the line of healthy food and how to stay healthy, a few others also thought it’s something to do with food. The opportunity was mine to explain to them what it actually means. Co-incidently, I’ve received an email today with some lovely pictures and the subject line of the email says: Food for your mind. That ties in well with our thought of the week and I liked this image and message in particular. Please click on the image to read the food for your mind, it says: Never explain yourself to anyone. The person who likes you doesn’t need it and the person who dislikes you, won’t believe it. This is similar to the one on my side bar saying: Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

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Transformasie

Transformasie

Herfs het my wêreld stadig binnegesluip
omhul in ‘n sluier van rooi en goud
Ek snak na my asem by die aanskoue
van die transformasie – die wonderlike natuur!
Soete doudruppels gly van ‘n grashalmpie
met die verbygaan van raserige eende
Ek dwaal na die warmte van verlore gedagtes
versteek waar stof en tyd dit nie kan vind
Die laatmiddag son op my vel, jou lippe
wanneer weerstand verkrummel
deur jou vingerpunte –
Ek weet, nie lank,
dan sal Winter se koue winde begin waai
maar Herfs se warmte sal my by-bly
Met gedagtes aan jou op die koel Herfs-oggend
koester ek die warm gedagtes aan jou verewig

—Nikita—Aug 2008

Herfs is met ons en dis heerlik om al die wonderlike kleure te aanskou, asook die transformasie wat daarmee gepaardgaan. Ek het verlede jaar my herfs-gedagtes op my “gedigte/poems”-bladsy geplaas en het weer vanmore al die kleure geniet. Dit plaas my weer in ‘n bui net om gedigte te lees en mooi musiek te luister.

Autumn has arrived! This is just my autumn-poem in Afrikaans and I enjoy the transformations during Autumn.
Enjoy the music of Strauss: Village Swallows. I think all the swallows are by now back in South Africa! I can remember a swallow-family under our roof where I grew up on the farm. It was always good to see them returning home and sweet to hear them chirping.

And here’s a little “autumn”-spider!

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Hitler and Lenin playing chess

An etching of a young Hitler playing chess against Lenin 100 years ago

Image:thetelegraph.co.uk

The image is said to have been created in Vienna by Hitler’s art teacher, Emma Lowenstramm, and is signed on the reverse by the two dictators.

Hitler was a jobbing artist in the city in 1909 and Lenin was in exile and the house where they allegedly played the game belonged to a prominent Jewish family.
In the run-up to the Second World War the Jewish family fled and gave many of their possessions, including the etching and chess set, to their housekeeper.

Now their housekeeper’s great-great grandson is selling the image and the chess set at auction. Both items have a pre-sale estimate of £40,000.

The unnamed vendor is confident the items are genuine after his father spent a lifetime attempting to prove their authenticity.

He compiled a 300-page forensic document that included tests on the paper, the signatures and research on those involved.

Experts, however, have questioned its authenticity especially the identification of Lenin who they say might have been confused with one of his associates.

When the etching was made, Hitler was 20 and Lenin was twice his age and the house was where politicos went to discuss things.

The etching is thought to be one of five and shows Hitler – playing with the white pieces – sitting by a window, with Lenin opposite him in half shadow.

It is titled “A Chess Game: Lenin with Hitler – Vienna 1909”.

It raises tantalising questions about what the two men who helped shape the world in the 20th century might have spoken of.

Lenin was already a highly influential Russian figure who in 1907 went into exile once more after the revolution was crushed by Tsarist authorities.

Richard Westwood-Brookes, who is selling the items, said: “This just sounds too good to be true, but the vendor’s father spent a lifetime proving it.

“He compiled a 300 page document and spent a great deal of money engaging experts to examine the etching.

“The signatures in pencil on the reverse are said to have an 80 per cent chance of being genuine, and there is proof that Emma Lowenstramm did exist.

“The circumstantial evidence is very good on top of the paper having been tested.

“Hitler was a painter in 1909 and his Jewish teacher Emma Lowenstramm was the person who made the etching.

“There is some suggestion that when he came to power Hitler protected her and she died from natural causes in 1941.

“At the time, Vienna was a hotbed of political intrigue and the house where this game took place belonged to a prominent Jewish family.

“Lenin at the time was moving around Europe in exile and writing “Materialism and Empirio-criticism”.

“His movements are hazy and it is known that he did play chess and later he certainly wore wigs as a disguise.

“It is also known that Lenin was a German agent and the house was where people went to exchange political views.

“The chess set is clearly the same chess set as that in the etching. It is a box chess set that folds out and the pieces are identifiable – particularly the kings and bishops.

“To my knowledge there are five etchings of this image, but this has the signatures of both men and the artist.

“The provenance is that it has come through the family of the housekeeper who was given it when the Jewish family fled in the late 1930s.

“The family is based in Hanover and it is the great great grandson of the housekeeper who is selling it.

“On all sorts of levels it is an extremely valuable artefact. Even as just an allegorical picture it shows the men playing chess possibly for the world.”

Historian Helen Rappaport, who has just written a book called “Conspirator: Lenin in Exile”, said the etching was probably a “glorious piece of fantasy”.

She said: “In 1909 Lenin was in France and there is no evidence that he was in Vienna.

“In October he went to Liege in Belgium and in November he went to Brussels. He would have visited Vienna before and after that year.

“He liked the place and went there because he travelled around Europe on trains, but he wouldn’t have been there long enough to meet a young Hitler.

“He was also as bald as a bat by 1894 with just hair on the sides of his head.

“And when in exile he was not known as Lenin and instead used a number of aliases.

“The person believed to be Lenin in the etching may well have been one of his revolutionary or Bolshevik associates who was misidentified.

“It may even have been an Austrian socialist with whom he associated in the Second International.

“The Germans did fund the Bolsheviks and gave them millions of marks for the revolutionary effort, but Lenin was not a German sympathiser.

“Although this is totally spurious it is wonderful to bring these two great megalomaniacs together.

“It makes sense retrospectively and the history of art is full of retrospective meetings between people.”

The items are to be sold at Mullock’s auction house in Ludlow, Shropshire, on October 1.

See the News article here

When you see a good move, look for a better one
–Emanuel Lasker

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Ek wonder – I wonder

Ek wonder –

-of die Onderwysbiblioteek op die hoek van Skinner- en van der Waltstraat nog bestaan? En indien nie, het hulle geskuif of toegemaak? Die gebou was ‘n skool –  genoem “Die Staatsmodelskool”. Dit was gesluit gedurende die Boere-oorlog en as ‘n tronk gebruik. Churchill was nog daar as gevangene aangehou!  Daar het ek menige dae gespandeer om die mooiste opvoedkundige videos uit te neem. Daar het ek menige uur gespandeer op soek na bronne vir verdere studies. Hier het ek ook menige stukkende boeke kom aflewer wat herbind moes word of selfs boeke wat geskenk was wat eers deur ‘n span vakkenners gelees moes word en goedgekeur moes word voordat dit in ‘n skoolmediasentrum opgeneem kon word. Slegs goedgekeurde boeke met goedkeuringsnommers kon vir skole aangekoop word. Ek wonder of hulle nog boeke goedkeur! en of skole nou net mag aankoop wat hulle wil. Ek het natuurlik 10 boeke op my X-rak gehad en my medialeiers het geweet dat die X-boeke eintlik nie daar mag wees nie en ons sou dit vinnig in my stoortjie laat verdwyn het as daar inspeksie sou wees. Twee sulke X-boeke was: Die rooihuid in die kassie en Koningskind!

Dan: Die Nasionale Filmoteek – bestaan hulle nog? Dis juis hier waar ons video’s kon uitneem – oor elke denkbare onderwerp en hulle het gedurig nuwe video’s bygekry en hul katalogusse opgedateer.

-of die Onderwysmuseum nog bestaan? Ek dink dit was in Prellerstraat…ek’s nie seker nie. Dit was ‘n baie klein huisie op die terrein van die ou Onderwyskollege in Sunnyside. Die kollege het later na Groenkloof geskuif  en is ook intussen by Tukkies geinkorporeer.

– of die “piesangskil” nog in Sunnyside is – waar dit op die terrein van die ou Onderwyskollege was. Daar het ons baie keer as eerstejaars bymekaar gekom omdat almal geweet het waar die “piesangskil” was. Die “piesangskil” was ‘n monument, reg voor die saal van die Kollege. Dit was in die vorm van ‘n piesang met ‘n “skil”.

-of daar nog na die studente van die OK verwys word as die “Drie Lelies Laer” …haha..ek dink net ouens wat daar gestudeer het sal nou weet waarvan ek praat…op die wapen van die Kollege was drie varkoorlelies…moet nou nie dat ek meer verduidelik nie.

– of mev Rabie en mnr Schutte nog leef? Mnr Schutte was so lief vir die woord “inligtingsontploffing” en mev Rabie het my vreeslik geinspireer met haar liefde vir kinderboeke en hoe sy opgewonde kon raak as ons resensies moes doen en die kriteria bespreek het waaraan ‘n goeie kinderboek moes voldoen en al daardie pryswennerboeke wat ons moes ken! Linda, een van die studente in my groep kon vreeslik geirriteerd raak met mev Rabie, ek wonder waar is Linda vandag! [hehe]

-wat van dr Van der Merwe geword het. Ons liewe Sielkunde dosent in my tweede jaar wat die hele klas se name presies onthou net. Hy het die eerste les by die een kant van die klas begin en jy moes jou naam slegs een keer sê. Na die laaste persoon het hy weer voor begin en hy het almal se name van begin tot einde onthou! Dan, ons Sielkunde dosent in my derde jaar! Sy naam kan ek nie onthou nie, maar hy het voor in die klas gestaan en na ‘n kolletjie agter in die klas gestaar en op een toon die hele tyd gepraat. Die mans het dan – na “row call” – almal een-vir-een oorgeskuif na die ry by die deur en so een-een uitgeglip en die les geslip! Sies! manne! Ons meisie-studente het gesit en giggel en kon nie glo dat hulle so iets sou waag nie..ons was te papbroekig! en die ou het voor in die klas gestaan en voort gebabbel asof hy van geen sout of water weet nie.

–wanneer ek met my liewe skoolwerk gaan begin, want ek soek elke nou en dan ‘n rede om iets anders te doen! Ek wonder sommer oor baie dinge!! Hierdie lysie is maar ‘n sandkorreltjie van my gedagtes!

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Blog-invasion 2

Use your imagination and you will see chess pieces- haha. I can see a King and a Knight and maybe a few dead pawns. Click on this google image link to see more images from the places in Chile  where this image comes from. If you click on page 1 on this link, you will see this particular image.

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Skaak in stories – Chess in fiction

Lord of the Rings chess set

Winnie the Pooh-chess set.

Sometimes you can get kids into chess if they play with themes-based chess sets. Little ones find it funny.  I’ve found a few. These are chess sets with themes based on story book tales and other fictional literature. Please click here to view more or to order one of these sets. On the left bar – of this link – you can click on ‘themed chess sets’ to view even more.

I’ve done an entry about chess in the movies before. On this link you can read my entry about chess in the movies. More than 1700 movies have used chess and it seems to me the movies do love chess! On this link you can read about the chess game in “Alice through the looking glass” and also read about Alice in Wonderland..the real Alice too. On my Chess Humour-page, you can see Steve McQueen and Faye Danaway in the famous chess scene from the movie: The Thomas Crown affair, 1968.

Martie Preller is an Afrikaans writer. I don’t have to say too much about her as you can only look at all her awards and know that she’s one of South Africa’s brilliant writers of fiction in Afrikaans as well as in English. She has published more than 50 books – the titles are on her website too. She also has written the Balkie-series, a very popular series in South Africa available in English too. She has sent me some scanned images from her books where chess is featured. Her own son is also a chess player. I have for you some extracts from her books and in particular from an English story too. This story hasn’t been published as yet and she’s hoping to find an overseas publisher willing to publish her book. The title of the story is: “The face of Ilev”. Near to the end in this story you read about chess.

Please click here for Martie Preller’s website.

Awards
1994: Silver Sanlam Award for Youth Literature for Anderkantland
1996: ATKV Children’s Book Award for Daar’s ‘n spook in my kas
1996: ATKV Children’s Book Award for Jy en Toetenkat
1996: C.P. Hoogenhout Medal for Anderkantland
1996: Sanlam Award for Youth Literature for In die tyd van die Esob
1998: In die tyd van die Esob is added to the Honours Role of IBBY (International Board on  Books for Young People)
1999: Runner-up in competition for short fiction (De Kat & Human & Rousseau)
2001: Alba Bouwer Award for Children’s Books for Die Balkieboek
2002: ATKV Children’s Book Award for Die Balkieboek
2003: Tienie Holloway Medal for Babalela and Lisa het ‘n plan
2004: M.E.R Award for Children’s Literature for Ek is Simon
2006: Tienie Holloway Medal for Diep, diep in ‘n donker bos 

Die hart van Zeebak

I have copied Martie’s quotes as  sent to me. Some in Afrikaans, some in English. Please visit her website for more information and her CV in both languages.

Hart van Zeebak:
Ferdinand en Ben is ‘n tweeling en na ‘n ongeluk is Ben verstandelik gestrem. Ben was die uitblinker en Ferdinand die stiller ou. Na Ben se ongeluk, ignoreer al die maats ens hom natuurlik en skielik is Ferdinand baie belangrik vir almal ens ens. NOU is hy cool.  En hy voel ook hy moet “opmaak” vir Ben wat nou niks meer kan doen nie ens. Ferdinand probeer deal deur met sy fiets in die bosveld te gaan ry ipv om soos sy maats na matriek see toe te gaan. Toe beland hy in die dorpie – waar hy skaak speel en leandra hom kom weglok na ‘n ander planeet. Later kom hy weer terug. Praat weer met die ou man ens. Dus gaan dit eintlik oor skaak en die manier van speel en keuses ens. As ‘n beeld van die lewe ens.

Bladsy 19 – Die hart van Zeebak

“Hy kyk om hom. ‘n Paar tafeltjies met verbleikte rooi-en-wit geruite tafeldoeke. By ‘n tafeltjie in ‘n hoek sit ‘n ou man met ‘n skaakstel klaar uitgepak op ‘n skaakbord voor hom. Die ou man kyk na hom, glimlag en beduie met sy kop na die skaakstel. Hoekom lyk hy so bekend? wonder Ferdinand.

-nog skaakverwysings kan op bladsye 96-101 gevind word.

 

These 3 images are scanned images from her Afrikaans story: Die hart van Zeebak. [The heart of Zeebak]- click on the images for a larger view.

Summary of Esob in IBBY’s catalogus:

“In die tyd van die Esob (In the Time of the Evil) is a science-fiction novel set somewhere in the future after the collapse of civilization.
Against the backdrop of a technocratic regime ma¬nipulated by an evil, coldblooded man and his android minions, each of four young people strives to be the win-ner in a competition that tests their physical, mental and survival skills. The main protagonist, Nina, takes the reader with her on an odyssey of shifting realities and transmuting landscapes that test her belief in reality, the meaning of existence and herself. It is a harsh and frustrating journey during which she has to learn to discern good from evil. In a time of unnatural colonization and brainwashing she has to learn the meaning and value of human emotions.
The book celebrates the strength and endurance of the human spirit. It is structured in a post modernistic way by means of a multi-layered perspective as three different narrators who may or may not be the same person, narrate the story.”

Extract:

THE FACE OF ILEV

by

Martie Preller

– a free translation of
“In die tyd van die Esob”
(In the time of the Esob)
by the author
* “Bose” is the Afrikaans word for “evil” – I spelled it backwards in the original text. The “Esob” is a character in the story. As I could not use “evil” spelled backwards in English, I used the word “Ilev” as the name of this character.
© Martie Preller 2005

We all knew that we were the chosen ones. What we did not know was that that year would be different. Completely different from all previous years.

I knew Daniel, Leonard and Matilda well. I knew their weak points. We had lived together for three years. We had lived and learnt.

The competition in die Training School was fierce. Only the best came out on top. In the first year, there were forty candidates, the next year only twenty and the final year, there were only ten and of those ten, it was undisputed that Daniel, Leonard, Matilda and I would be chosen. We were the best by far.

But the formal announcement had not been made yet. Perhaps I should start my story there: on the day that Zufar and Zandra did the announcement: the day of the fiery red sun.

*****

The amphitheatre glowed in the rays of the red sun. Our two pale round moons hung just above the two dark brown pillars of Odgo, one moon on each side of the entrance to the amphitheatre. The invited guests filled all the seats. The uninvited had to watch the ceremony on their screens.

The Winners of the previous years sat in the front row. They were wearing their red cloaks over their grey tunic suits This was the day, the long-awaited day.

Everyone was quiet. Our people never spoke unless it was necessary. We, the ten of our final year, stood behind the stage waiting for Zufar and Zandra to start the ceremony. We did not speak either, because there was nothing to say.

Daniel kept on throwing his cloak back over his shoulder. Leonard looked as if he was listening to a silent voice, his head slightly turned, with a frown on his face. Matilda was fiddling with her cloak’s tassels. The other six were just standing there. They would not exchange their grey cloaks for white ones. And they knew it.

The drums started rolling. It started as a soft murmur that grew and grew until it filled the amphitheatre with a sound so loud that it filled your head completely and then the drums waned until everything was quiet again. Zufar’s deep voice boomed through the amphitheatre. He talked in his usual staccato way. He irritated me today. When I was young, he was so impressive. Now he was just Zufar.

Then it was Zandra’s turn to speak. Her drawl would not let go of the words as if she wanted to keep them to herself. Her face was half hidden behind a turban that she wore low over her forehead. Zufar and Zandra were reciting the opening words. They too were Winners, long ago and were wearing their red cloaks.

The single shrill note of a trumpet called us to the stage. Everybody’s eyes were fixed on us. It was like that every year. Every year everybody already knew who would be chosen, but still they had to hear it officially from Zufar and Zandra.

We took up our seats in the front row. The trumpets tore the sky with the song of our people. But it was a song without words.

Zufar and Zandra announced our names one by one. Nina. Daniel. Matilda. Leonard. We stepped forward to receive our white cloaks. The silence in the amphitheatre was neutral. I never knew whether they cared or not.

Back in our seats, we dropped the grey cloaks and slung our white cloaks around our shoulders.

The drums rolled again and then the ceremony was over. Tomorrow would be our final preparation day.
———-end of extract of the story from the start.

—-near to the end.
“But now I have a problem.” He suddenly sat upright. “ Do you know the game of chess? No, of course you won’t. It dates from our pre-history. But in the game, you have a white queen and a black queen. But the problem is, although I have really enjoyed talking to you, I am now stuck with two blond queens, and the one will have to go, unfortunately. You have no chance against the other Nina. She is the better of you in all aspects, so I choose her. And I decided that Nina and Daniel would take over the city. A new ruler would be introduced. Nina, with Daniel at her side. But of course not, this Daniel.” He smiled. “And Nina would go down in the annals as the Queen who ruled with an iron fist.” He smiled again. “Now isn’t that a fitting description of Android-Nina?” he asked.
He was right. I stood no chance against Android-Nina. But I can put my hands around Ilev’s throat and squeeze the life out of him.

“And just in case you think you can do something to me, Nina,” he read my thoughts again. “I took precaution. There is a special code that only I know, that must be fed to the Master-Computer every thirty minutes. If that doesn’t happen, the Master-Computer is programmed to destroy the city and all its inhabitants immediately.”

Balkie, a character that features in the Balkie-series written by Martie. This series is available in English and Afrikaans – you can view it on her website.

When you click on “Op die Internet” [on the internet] -on Martie’s webpage,  you will find an Afrikaans newspaper article about Babalela’s travels in London.

Babalela in one of the books as illustrated by andriesmaritz.blogspot.com

If you click on this image, (it is an animated image), you will see the covers of about 7 more books written by Martie. It does take a second or two for the animation to change, so please have patience.

Die storie agter die storie van Vandag is nie gister nie

Ek het jare gelede begin wonder wat het van die karakters geword wat reeds hulle stories met my gedeel het in bestaande publikasies. Ek was seker hulle is daar êrens (in ’n storie-dimensie?) waar hullle voortgaan met hulle lewens. Ek was reg! Hulle het my weer gekry en het weer ’n stuk van hulle lewens met my gedeel. Hulle het natuurlik net ouer geword, soos ons almal, daarom is hierdie ’n roman vir volwassenes.
Die volgende karakters kom weer in Vandag is nie gister nie voor. Al die publikasies is huidig (Augustus, 2009) nog in druk.

Nina, Daniël, Matilda en Leonard

Nina, Daniël, Matilda en Leonard is die hoofkarakters in In die tyd van die Esob (Tafelberg, 1996).

“Die uitsonderlike Afrikaanse jeugboek kan kompeteer met sy Europese en Amerikaanse eweknieë.”
Uca Eiselen

Dit het in 1996 die Sanlamprys vir Jeuglektuur gewen en is in 1997 opgeneem in die IBBY Ererol (International Board on Books for Young People).

Sanlam-prysaanbeveling- op Martie se webbladsy

Die woorde in die tweede paragraaf van die gedeelte wat ek aanhaal uit Petra Grütter se Sanlam-prysaanbeveling vir In die tyd van die Esob het soms by my bly spook:

“’n Mens wil nie te veel van die boek self verklap nie, want dis ’n werklik uitdagende teks, wat ook van die keurders vereis het om hulle dinkmasjientjies in te stel vir nuutlees. ’n Boek soos die verstel die verwagtinge binne die hele jeugboekletterkunde – dit is baken leeswerk.
Wat ’n mens wel kan sê, is dat onvolkomenheid en voorlopigheid ook hier ’n rol speel – want die sentrale karakter, wat ook die wenner word, is ’n onvolkome persoonlikheid, en die getekende skryfster van die boek, wat uiteindelik ook in die teks manifesteer, laat ’n duidelike aanwysing na dat die teks ook nog nie klaar is nie. Dis ’n voorlopige verslag oor ’n buitengewone gebeurtenis, dinamies onvoltooid.”        Ek het in 2000 vir ’n groep leerders by Linden Hoërskool in Johannesburg storiemaakklasse gegee. Hulle het ’n jaar of wat vantevore In die tyd van die Esob in die skool behandel en wou by my antwoorde hê, soos byvoorbeeld: Watter Nina het regtig die boek geskryf? Ek het natuurlik nie antwoorde gehad nie. Hoe moet ek weet? Nou het ek vir hulle ’n antwoord, waar hulle ookal nou mag wees – Nina in Vandag is nie gister nie móét nog In die tyd van die Esob skryf . . .

Ek weet nog steeds nie presies wat Petra bedoel het daarmee nie, maar dit het gevoel asof daar dalk nog iets moes kom – maar wat? In die tyd van die Esob was definitief “voltooid.”

Aanhalings uit In die tyd van die Esob

Bladsy 9

Dit het alles gebeur in die tyd van die Esob. Ons het almal geweet wie gekies sou word, maar wat ons nie geweet het nie, was dat daardie jaar anders sou wees, anders as al die vorige jare. Ek het Daniël en Leonard en Matilda geken. Ek het ge¬weet wat hulle swak punte was. Op slot van sake het ons drie jaar lank saam gebly en geleer.
Die kompetisie in die leerskool was straf. Net die bestes het bo uitgekom. Na die eerste jaar is die aanvanklike veertig kandidate uitgedun tot twintig, en die laaste jaar was ons net tien. En almal het geweet dat ek, Daniël, Leonard en Matilda die bestes sou wees. Miskien sal dit goed wees om ons storie daar te begin, by die dag toe Zufar en Zandra die aankondiging gedoen het, die dag van die rooison.

Bladsy 96

Die skrywer sit haar woordverwerker af en staan stram op. Sy kyk deur die venster. Dis laatmiddag; die reën is verby. “Kom, Leonard. Matilda!” roep sy haar twee steekhaarbrakkies. Hulle kom aangehuppel. Sy sit hulle halsbandjies aan. Sy sluit die voordeur oop. Die hondjies storm uit en trek haar agter hulle aan. Sy lei hulle veilig oor die straat. Die promenade is verlate. Die reën het seker die gebruiklike stappers weggehou
Sy stap af totdat sy die branders kan sien breek op die blinkswart rotse. Dan loop sy aan met die breë sement- paadjie. Daar sien sy horn sit. Op hulle bankie. Sy gaan sit langs hom. Hy glimlag. Twee middeljarige mense op ’n bankie langs die see.
“Is jou boek klaar?” vra hy.
“Amper.”
Sy dink aan toe sy jonk was en hoe deurmekaar alles gevoel net. En sy dink aan hoe deurmekaar alles nou nog is. Wysheid en ouderdom loop nie noodwendig hand aan hand nie.
“’n Mens sien nie met jou oë nie, maar met jou hart,” sê sy.
“Is dit waaroor jou boek gaan?”
“Ek wens ek het geweet . . . Miskien,” sê sy na ’n rukkie. “’n Mens sien nie met jou oë nie, maar met jou hart,” herhaal sy. “Ek dink ek het dit êrens gelees.”
Sy kyk na die grys wolke wat swaar oor die see hang en wonder of iemand haar ook uitgedink het.

Ferdinand Daniël en Ben

Ferdinand Daniël en Ben kom albei voor in Die hart van Zeebak (Tafelberg, 2004). Ferdinand is die hoofkarakter wat probeer vrede maak met wat die ongeluk aan Ben gedoen het.
Die boek was in 2005 op beide die M-Net-boekprys (kort formaat) en die MER-prys vir kinder- en jeuglektuur se kortlyste.
Toe die storie van Vandag is nie gister nie begin bymekaar kom, het ek skielik besef dat Ferdinand se Leandra, op wie hy so verlief was in Die Hart van Zeebak besonder baie soos Nina in In die tyd van die Esob lyk, dus, natuurlik was Daniël se name Ferdinand Daniël en ná sy ervaring op Zeebak, het hy verkies om Daniël genoem te word . . .

Resensie van Die Hart van Zeebak in Die Burger: 8 Januarie 2005 deur Mariana Loots

Stel jou voor jou stoutste droom word waar. Die een droom wat jy geweet het nie ’n kans het om waar te word nie. Dit is presies wat met Ferdinand Basson gebeur. Bergaf met sy fiets bevind hy hom een laatmiddag skielik op ’n misterieuse dorp, misterieus en stil.
Hier daag ’n eksentrieke inwoner hom tot ’n potjie skaak, maar iets trek sy aandag: Wie is die pragtige blonde meisie wat hom bly ontglip?
Die Hart van Zeebak is ’n boeiende wetenskap- fiksie-verhaal vir tieners rondom 17 jaar. Die hoofkarakter, Ferdinand, was pas klaar met sy matriek eksamen toe hy deur Leandra, ’n inwoner van Zeebak, na ’n ander dimensie ontvoer word. Maar nie alles is pluis nie. Hoekom is daar so baie dinge wat hom aan sy tweelingbroer, Ben, herinner, voor en ná die ongeluk? En waarheen verdwyn die ou oom en tante by wie hy loseer bedags?
Benewens die nagmerries wat Ferdinand teister, bly volg ’n robot hom en ten spyte van al sy vrae, steek Leandra steeds iets vir hom weg. Daar is egter nie tyd om behoorlik oor hierdie dinge te tob nie: iemand moet Nimron en Supremus se bose planne stuit.
Die skrywer, Martie Preller, bied hierdie bildungsroman op kenmerkende wyse aan: ’n jong held moet verskeie (werklik en nie-so-werklike) hindernisse oorkom om dit waarvoor hy bestem is te bereik. Die roman staan veral uit vanweë die keurige taalgebruik. Preller skram nie weg van die moderne woordeskat nie, maar boet geensins die ryke tradisie van die Afrikaanse taaljuwele in nie. Die aanbod en verloop van die verhaal herinner aan een van Preller se vorige romans, In die tyd van die Esob (1996) Laasgenoemde speel ook in ’n surrealistiese werklikheid af en soos dit hoort, oorwin die goeie uiteindelik die slegte.
Die Hart van Zeebak is ’n opwindende, aksiebelaaide jeugroman wat te midde van alles wat gebeur ook onder die oppervlak kyk.
Deur Ferdinand se ervaringe sien lesers hoe om ook dieper dinge te hanteer, selfs al voel dit deel van ’n ander wêreld. Weer eens ’n roman met die Preller-gehaltemerk.

Aanhaling uit Die Hart van Zeebak

Bladsy 43

“Meneer,” begin hy, “het ons nie vanmiddag skaak gespeel nie?”
Die ou man kyk hom uitdrukkingloos aan. “Jong man,” sê hy. “Daar is baie werklikhede. Hierdie is maar een van hulle. Hy glimlag byna onmerkbaar, steek sy hand uit en streel oor die houtmasker. Wat bedoel hy? Baie werklikhede? Ferdinand wil ’n halfmiljoen vrae vra, en tog kan hy nie aan een dink nie. Wat is dit met hom? Dis sy. Dis die flippen alien wat hom so deurmekaar het. Hy is meteens doodmoeg, asof hy van baie, baie ver gekom het.
“Ek is nou net op pad bed toe,” sê die ou man. “Kom, laat ek jou wys waar jy kan slaap.” Hy stap na die kombuisdeel van die vertrek en haal ’n dik wit kers uit ’n kas en druk dit in ’n diep erdeblaker op die kas. Hy loop met die kers na die brandende fakkel en kantel die kers in die vlamme om dit aan te steek. Dit voel vir Ferdinand asof die ou man die een of ander ritueel uitvoer. Hy doen alles so stadig en presies. Dan flikker die dik wit kers onafhanklik van die fakkel. Met ’n kopknik na Ferdinand beduie die ou man hy moet hom volg.
Ferdinand loop soos ’n slaapwandelaar agter hom aan. Hulle klim op met die wenteltrap, die ou man effens moeisaam – sy een hand sleep oor die reling terwyl die ander die kers dra. Die vlammetjie speel heen en weer soos hulle loop. Dalk is hy soos ’n mot wat homself gaan verskroei in die lig?

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E4 E5….and all the King’s horses

Chess and your personality

[All links in this post will open in a new window.] Have you thought about the chess openings you like and think that it might be that you prefer certain openings – as those openings just feel like it is “you” – like your personality. You feel you associate yourself with certain openings or you feel like you’re in your own “comfort zone” when playing those openings? Well, that’s me. I think I’m that type of player playing most of the time certain openings. The silly quiz I’ve taken said I’m a  King’s Gambit-person, but I stronly disagree. I looked at a few of my chess games and I’m certainly not the King’s Gambit-player-type …in the games I’ve been looking at. In most of the games I looked at, the Indian Opening or Philidors Defence were the most common, but again, I only looked at about 10 of my previous of about 5000 games.  If you take the quiz, you will not be told what type of personality you’ve got, only the type of opening. Click here for the quiz. Bear in mind, this quiz has for sure been drawn up by some wandering, loose pawn-on-the-run and not by an educated Bishop… or a Knight with a black belt…haha…in all of these games’ graphics of my games, I played the colour nearest to you, i.e. the bottom colour. From the next image you can see statistics from the chess site where I played tournaments [this is only half of the statistics – of my games/tournaments] and you can see from the column to the right – the opening played during those games.

Click in the image for a larger view

Brunel University has done a study. Interesting – the chess personalities. Do yourself a favour and read the PDF-document. I’ve quoted a few paragraphs here for you as a taster. Please click here for the pdf on research done by Brunel  about personalities in chess. They used 169 children in their study. I wonder why not 170? That sounds so not right to use an unrounded number…maybe another pawn got away…hehe…

Children who score higher on Intellect/openness and Energy/extraversion are more likely to play chess while children who score higher on Agreeableness are less likely to be attracted to chess. Boys with higher scores on Agreeableness are less likely to take up chess than boys with
lower scores. Considering that girls score higher on Agreeableness, this factor may provide one  of the possible reasons why more boys are interested in chess. Although none of the Big Five factors were associated with self-reported skill level, a sub-sample of 25 elite players had significantly higher scores on Intellect/openness than their weaker chess playing peers.

Chess is an adversarial game where one has to take into account the opponent’s intentions and not just focus on one’s own plans. Chess is also a game where just a small mistake can ruin the efforts of the previous long hours. Hence, players should be more suspicious and orderly than non-players. That is exactly what Avni, Kipper, and Fox (1987) demonstrated – chess players scored higher than non-players on the measures of orderliness and unconventional thinking in the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory In addition, it was found that more competitive players, as measured by the number of games played, were more suspicious than non-players.

We applied the Big Five Questionnaire for Children which measures Energy/extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional instability, and Intellect/openness, on primary school children aged eight to eleven. Our main goal was to find out what are the personality characteristics of children who decide to take up chess, as well as to see whether personality factors can differentiate between strong and weak players. We also wanted to see whether personality factors could shed some light on the issue of the large discrepancies in the participation rates of girls and boys. Based on previous results with adult we hypothesised that children who play chess would score more highly on Conscientiousness but less highly on Energy/extraversion than children who do not play chess. Given that chess is often perceived as an intellectual endeavour, we also hypothesised that Intellect/openness will differentiate between children who take up chess and those who do not. The same personality factors could
be expected to differentiate between strong and weak child chess players.
Since women score higher on Emotional instability and Agreeableness. Two factors previously not shown to be associated with chess skill, it is difficult to have clear-cut predictions as to how these factors are related to gender differences in chess skill. On the other hand, chess has a competitive side where players encounter constant conflicts and confrontations which may be less appealing to children who score more on Agreeableness. Consequently, it is possible that Agreeableness provides clues about
the differences in the number of girls and boys who take up chess as a hobby. Read on the PDF-link the complete research-article.

Some openings and the moves – click on images for a clear view

 Bishops Opening: Philidor counter attack

Indian Opening – C20 – e2d2e4d3 – one of my previous games

 

Indian Opening

e2 d2 e3 d4

 1. e4 e5 2. d3 Bb4+ 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nf3

Another e4 e5-game of mine

 

Fork 1 – oh how do I love thee…let me count my knights! Some people prefer Bishops, other Knights and I certainly prefer to keep my Knights. They do work for me.

Fork 2 – same game as in the previous image

Run! – the sequal continues…old King Cole…

Defeated! A position I never had a player in before or after

This opening is called: Sicilian Dragon, Yugoslav Attack

I do like the dragon, I love the formation of the white pieces…hehe

This next game was featured in the James Bond movie “From Russia With Love.”

Event “URS-ch”]
[Site “URS-ch”]
[Date “1960.??.??”]
[EventDate “?”]
[Round “?”]
[Result “1-0”]
[White “B Spassky”]
[Black “Bronstein David”]
[ECO “C36”]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 Bd6 5. Nc3 Ne7 6. d4 O-O 7. Bd3
Nd7 8. O-O h6 9. Ne4 Nxd5 10. c4 Ne3 11. Bxe3 fxe3 12. c5 Be7 13. Bc2
Re8 14. Qd3 e2 15. Nd6 Nf8 16. Nxf7 exf1=Q+ 17. Rxf1 Bf5 18. Qxf5 Qd7
19. Qf4 Bf6 20. N3e5 Qe7 21. Bb3 Bxe5 22. Nxe5+ Kh7 23. Qe4+ 1-0

 Boris Spassky’s victory over Fischer using the Kings Gambit:-

[Event “Mar del Plata”]
[Site “Mar del Plata”]
[Date “1960.03.29”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Spassky,Boris V”]
[Black “Fischer,Robert James”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Eco “C39”]
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.d4 d6 7.Nd3 Nxe4 8.Bxf4 Bg7
9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.Be2 cxd4 12.0-0 Nc6 13.Bxg4 0-0 14.Bxc8 Rxc8 15.Qg4 f5 16.Qg3 dxc3 17.Rae1 Kh8 18.Kh1 Rg8 19.Bxd6 Bf8 20.Be5+ Nxe5 21.Qxe5+ Rg7 22.Rxf5 Qxh4+ 23.Kg1 Qg4 24.Rf2 Be7 25.Re4 Qg5 26.Qd4 Rf8 27.Re5 Rd8 28.Qe4 Qh4 29.Rf4 1-0

I found this next quote on the chess site..and it was funny

I know some dog lovers who play the Colle.  Some Italians I know play the Sicilian Defense.  I have some Polish friends who play 1.b4.  It seems that bird lovers like to play 1.f4.  Some Catholics I know like the Bishop’s Opening.  I see the Danish Gambit played by a lot of pastry lovers.  I’ve played a few folks from the U.K. and they seem to play the English Opening.  I’ve played a gourmet cook who opens with the Fried Liver Attack.  Anand seems to play the Indian Defenses a great deal.  I’ve played a few drunks who opened up with the Scotch. 

Philidor’s Defense

On the first link you can look at the Philidor’s variations and the second link you can play through some chess games in this opening.

 http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/Openings/lessphld.htm

Chess openings: Philidor’s Defense – games as early as the 1500’s

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessopening?eco=C41

As this next piece of info was on draft for ages, I can’t remember where I got it from, but thought not to delete it anyway.

‘You are Crazy! But Does It Matter?’

Translated from ‘Schaaklezen’ written by Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam. It’s a collection of dutch chess columns.

Show me your games and I tell you who you are. Is it possible to draw conclusions about the nature of somebody’s character when looking at their chess games? A tempting hypothesis, which seems to be as easily proven as it is challenged. The book ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ from David Guterson which has received numerous literary awards in the United States, describes a lawyer who believes his personality is reflected in his chess games. At least you come to that conclusion since he uses his chess style as a business card.
When Nels Gudmundsson for the first time visits Kabuo Miyamoto, accused of murder , he does not want to waste any time talking about why he is the man for the job to defend him, instead straight out he offers to play a game of chess. They draw for colour and the lawyer has white: ‘The old man doesn’t seem to bother to castle at all. He is not faintly interested in the endgame. His strategy is to give up material in the beginning-phase of the game in favor of the position which occurs, give up his pieces to get an undefeatable bind on the board. He won , even though Kabuo saw what he was doing. No fiddling. And the game ended abruptly.’ The reader might now expect he knows how Gudmundsson will set about his defense and also has inadvertently faith in his qualities. When going through two books about the great Akiba Rubinstein which first was released by the International Chess Enterprises, I was wondering in which extend the sober playing style of the Polish genius was a reflection of his excessive desire not to be a burden on his surroundings. various people of his time testified Rubinstein never sat at the board when it was not his move because he was terrified to disturb his opponent. As soon as he pressed his clock , he would stand up, duck under the cord which separated the players from the audience and if possible even hid behind a big plant until it was his move again. This complete effacing of himself and his reluctance against all blatancy is also shown is his games. As Nimzowitsch wrote in his tournament book about Karlsbad 1929: ‘Another characteristic property of Rubinstein is his aversion to melodrama. Hollow bombast and pretentious moves shock him deeply in his soul! All his moves are soaked with a natural elegance , almost contiguous to severity.  His moves are always normal, you could call them ‘ordinary’. Closer study brings to light that these simple, common moves are in fact extraordinary deep.’ This correlation between his nature and chess style produces a fine parallel, which undoubtly contains a core of truth, but sells Rubinstein short. Was his style indeed as sober as Nimzowitch outlined? Maybe so if we compare him to a lot of his contemporaries. Hypermodern and neoR0m@ntic players might consider him pretty boring and dogmatic despite his great strength, nevertheless Rubinstein’s concept of many positions give you the feeling he was way ahead of his time.
Rubinsteins games to this day deserve to attention of every serious chess student. Only therefore alone John Donaldson and Nikolay Minev cannot be praised enough for all the material the put together in ‘Akiba Rubinstein:Uncrowned King’ en ‘Akiba Rubinstein:the Later Years’ On the basis of roughly thousand chess games, many accompanied with annotations and testimonies the reader gets a clear picture of the luster and sadness in the ‘Curriculum Vitae’ of one of the greatest chess players ever lived. thrilling as the wave of success was between 1907 and 1912 , when he stood above everybody else as a tourney player ,so compelling was the turn around after world war one , which amplified his mental state drastically. The expected match against Lasker was cancelled due to that reason.A few years later Rubinstein’s dream to concur the highest title definitely shattered when he was unable to gather the needed money to be able to play a match against Capablanca. More and more he was haunted by ghosts in his head, although he occasionally still showed his enormous talent. He managed to will a strong tourney ahead of Aljechin and Bogoljubov. During tourneys his peculiarities could not be unnoticed, but never it received more then a shrug of ones shoulders. Typical was the reaction of a neurologist from Munchen who examined him at the instance of Mieses Because Rubinstein constantly complained about a buzzing fly crawling on his face during a tourney in San Sebastian. Without hesitation the doctor said: ‘My friend, you are crazy! But does it matter? You are a chessmaster!’ Rubinstein had to stop playing chess in 1932. The rest of his life was totally grief.The Rubinsteins were very lucky they survived world war two in a by Germans occupied Brussels. To make sure he was stationed in a sanitarium for five years.For this act of charitable the family received a sum of 49500 Belgian Franks Once in a while he played chess with his son Sammy, a Master class chess player who still lives in Brussels or with the master O’ Kelly. It was not until 1961 when the relieving death came. Donaldson and Minev tried very hard to establish a honoring for Rubinstein, but a definite tribute their books cannot be called. For this the material needs to be reordered and reproduced and a few gaps need to be filled. This would be very convenient for the binded book which to my enjoyment is available.The will to improve is still there. in version two of the book are many adjustments and corrections. As a tribute to Rubinstein a piece of classic clarity . Even now when someone wants to engross himself in the Tarrash defence can take advantage of the refutation which Rubinstein showed in 1908(!)

White: Akiba Rubinstein
Black: George Sawle

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 e6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 cxd4 Be7 8. Nxd4 Qb6 9. Nxc6!  bxc6 10. 0-0 Be7  11. Na4! Qb5 12. Be3  0-0 13.Rac1 Bg4 14. f3! Be6 15. Bc5 Rfe8 16. Rf2! Nfd7 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Qd4 R7e8 19. Bf1 Rec8 20. e3!  Qb7 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. Rxc5 R8c7 23. Rc2 Qb6 24. b4 a6 25. Ra5 Rb8 26.a3 Rca7 27.Rxc6 Qxc6 28.Qxa7 Ra8 29. Qc5 Qb7 30. Kf2 h5 31. Be2 g6 32. Qd6 Qc8 33.Rc5 Qb7 34. h4 a5 35. Rc7 Qb8 36. b5 a4 37. b6 Ra5 38. b7 and black resigned.

Book cover: Snow falling on cedars

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Countryside walks

This footpath starts about 100m from our house. When walking about 50m down this muddy, slushy footpath, you suddenly get a sight that punches you in your face! You would never expect it, especially after this walk that  literally feels like walking on the farm through a mix of cow pat and mud! Hmm…never mind, I grew up on a farm and that didn’t bother me at all, but we had to walk carefully, as this path is descending slightly and it was very slippery too.

This is the sight that pops-up into your face!  The one moment, you’re in town, the next moment…country side!

As far as you can see, there are little footpaths where you can walk. Many dog walkers walk these paths and you have to keep your eye on the path… I guess you know why!

Gates, all different sizes and types to pass through. I love gates. I love bridges too and mountains and trees and wild life and… but this is not wild life! This is only country life.

The yellow looks beautiful and even more while the sun is setting. I have thought it looks very much like our Kakiebos – Stinking Roger – in South Africa. On the next two images you can see what the Stinking Roger looks like and the name explains everything! You can see what the seed looks like on the next image.

Stinking Roger –  image: DK Images

The yellow flowers from nearby…now you can see why I say it reminds me of the Kakiebos. Have I said Kakie?…I wonder if you know about this word! Well, if you’re English…haha…I don’t have to say more…

Wow, this is a beautiful colour…and you’ve thought I would say something about the bees in the UK? They are massive!

Are you a good spotter? What’s in this image?

Second question…can you tell what’s happening in these two images!?

In South Africa it’s a public holiday as it’s Women’s Day today. Rush to Woollies and spoil yourself with some of these chocs! – and send me some too! If you’re a Saffa reading here..enjoy the day!

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New toy

I was tagged by Boendoe to show my handwriting and the same time I need to tag 5 other bloggers to do the same, but I’ve tagged 8. Also, it was time for a new camera and I spoilt myself with this Sony,  but must add that I haven’t had the time to try it out as yet. I only took a few pics to test it. These images were taken from the garden and I zoomed in till I couldn’t anymore. The camera: Sony Alpha DSLR A200. Oh, of course the names on the list are the students in my tutor group for the new academic year which starts in September in the UK, but new Y7’s, Y12’s and Y13’s will only be joining us in September. Students on this list are a mixed from Y8- age 12 till Y11- age 16. I might have about 7-9 more students.

I’m going to tag the following bloggers to show their handwriting:

the7new7ramanujan*
Norrbu*
Boerinballingskap
Ray*
Kop
mnrmuller
Skoor
Juffer

*English-blogs

 

 

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First Saturday

Two of South Africa’s young chess players are now taking part in the First Saturday Chess tournament –in Budapest – to gain the title of Fide Master. Players have to gain norms to qualify for titles. Both Melissa and Jenine have already the title of Woman International Master. Melissa plays in Tournament A and Jenine  in Tournament B. GM Peter Leko – one of the top players of the GM’s, also gained his title at this tournament in Budapest. If you click on the first image with the logo of First Saturday, you will get taken to the official website of the tournament.

Chess Titles: explained

Grandmaster (shortened as GM, sometimes International Grandmaster or IGM is used) is awarded to world-class chess masters. Apart from World Champion, Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain. Before FIDE will confer the title on a player, the player must have an Elo chess rating  of at least 2500 at one time and three favorable results (called norms) in tournaments involving other Grandmasters, including some from countries other than the applicant’s. There are also other milestones a player can achieve to attain the title, such as winning the World Junior Championship.
International Master (shortened as IM). The conditions are similar to GM, but less demanding. The minimum rating for the IM title is 2400.
FIDE Master (shortened as FM). The usual way for a player to qualify for the FIDE Master title is by achieving a FIDE Rating of 2300 or more.
Candidate Master (shortened as CM). Similar to FM, but with a FIDE Rating of at least 2200.
All the titles are open to men and women. Separate women-only titles, such as Woman Grandmaster (WGM), are also available. Beginning with Nona Gaprindashvili in 1978, a number of women have earned the GM title, and most of the top ten women in 2006 hold the unrestricted GM title.
Source: Wikipedia

Results: Fide Master Norm – Tournament A: Melissa

Round 1: Peter Segelken vs Melissa Greeff —0-1
Round 2: Melissa Greeff vs Andras Zoltan —1-0
Round 3: Zoltan Czibulka vs Melissa Greeff —1-0
Round 4: Melissa Greeff vs Kristof Koczo —1-0
Round 5: Michael Yip vs Melissa Greeff —0-1
Round 6: ***
Round 7: Melissa Greeff vs Jozsef Katona —1/2
Round 8: Rene Rauer Hansen vs Melissa Greeff —1/2
Round 9: Melissa Greeff vs Csaba Schenkerik —1-0
Round 10:Yorick Ten Hagen vs Melissa Greeff —1/2
Round 11:Melissa Greeff vs Lajos Borda —1/2

Please click here to follow the results of Melissa.

Standings after round 11: Top 3 places

1.     Ten Hagen, Yorick      8.5    2150

2.   Greeff, Melissa      7.0    2038

3.    Koczo, Kristof       7.0    2242

 

Melissa Greeff

Janine Ellappen
Results: Fide Master norm: Tournament B – Jenine
Round 1: Jenine Ellappen vs Istvan Mayer —0-1
Round 2: Jenine Ellappen vs Gyula Lakat —1/2
Round 3: Ryan Rhys Griffiths vs Jenine Ellappen —1/2
Round 4: Jenine Ellappen vs Csaba Mezei —0-1
Round 5: Hicham Boulahfa vs Jenine Ellappen —1/2
Round 6: Istvan Mayer vs Jenine Ellappen —1-0
Round 7:Gyula Lakat vs Jenine Ellappen —1-0
Round 8:Jenine Ellappen vs Ryan Rhys Griffiths —1-0
Round 9:Csaba Mezei vs Jenine Ellappen —0-1
Round 10:Jenine Ellappen vs Hicham Boulahfa — 1/2

Please click here to follow the results of Jenine.

Chess games of Melissa Greeff played during the tournament

[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Segelken, Peter”]
[Black “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “B90”]
[WhiteElo “1912”]
[BlackElo “2038”]
[PlyCount “100”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. h3 e6 7. Bd3 b5 8. a3
Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Kh1 h6 13. Be3 Nc5 14. f3 Nh5 15. Bf2 Bf6 16. Nb3 Be5 17. Qe1 Qg5 18. Ne2 Nf4 19. Nxf4 Qxf4 20. Bg1 Bxb2 21. Bh2 Qf6 22. Ra2 Nxb3 23. cxb3 Be5 24. f4 Bc3 25. Qe2 O-O 26. e5 dxe5 27. fxe5 Qh4 28. Rf4 Qg5 29. Rg4 Qc1+ 30. Bg1 Qe1 31. Qxe1 Bxe1 32. Rc2 Rxc2 33. Bxc2 Rc8 34. Be4 Bxe4 35. Rxe4 Bg3 36. Re3 Bf4 37. Re1 Rc3 38. Rb1 Bxe5 39. a4 b4 40. Bb6 Kf8 41. Kg1 Ke7 42. Kf1 f5 43. Re1 Bg3 44. Re3 Rc1+ 45. Ke2 Bd6 46. Rd3 e5 47. Kd2 Rc6 48. Bg1 e4 49. Rd5 Ke6 50. Rd4 Bc5 0-1

[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Black “Zoltan, Andras”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C63”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “1945”]
[PlyCount “77”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O Bc5 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. Nxe5 O-O 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. Bxf6 Rxf6 11. Nd3 Bd4 12. c3 Bb6 13. Nd2 Ba6 14. Qc2 Qf7 15. Nf3 Rf8 16. Nde5 Qe6 17. Rfd1 d6 18. Nxc6 Rxf3 19. gxf3 Rxf3 20. Nd4 Qg4+ 21. Kh1 Bxd4 22. cxd4 Rf4 23. Qb3+ Rf7 24. f3 Qh5 25. Rd2 Bc8 26. Rg2 h6 27. Rag1 Kh7 28. Rg3 Bd7 29. Qd5 Qxd5 30. exd5 c6 31. Rg6 cxd5 32. Rxd6 Bc8 33. Rc1 Bb7 34. Kg2 h5 35. b4 a6 36. a4 g6 37. b5 axb5 38. axb5 Kh6 39. b6 1-0

[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.06”]
[Round “3”]
[White “Czibulka, Zoltan”]
[Black “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “A12”]
[WhiteElo “2087”]
[BlackElo “2038”]
[PlyCount “111”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. b3 Bg4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Be2 Nbd7 6. Bb2 e6 7. Ne5 Bxe2 8.
Qxe2 Nxe5 9. Bxe5 Bd6 10. Bb2 O-O 11. O-O Qe7 12. d3 Rfe8 13. Nd2 Ba3 14. Be5 Nd7 15. Bc3 e5 16. Rad1 a5 17. Nb1 Bd6 18. Qd2 a4 19. b4 Nf6 20. c5 Bc7 21. Qb2 Rad8 22. Rde1 Qd7 23. e4 Nh5 24. g3 Qg4 25. f3 Qg6 26. Rd1 Qe6 27. Kg2 Rd7 28. Qc2 b5 29. cxb6 Bxb6 30. Rc1 Rc8 31. Bd2 d4 32. Na3 c5 33. b5 Nf6 34. Nc4 Ra7 35. h3 Nd7 36. f4 f6 37. Rb1 Bd8 38. f5 Qe7 39. a3 Nb6 40. Na5 Qd6 41. Nc6 Raa8 42. Rfc1 Nd7 43. Qa2+ Kh8 44. Rc2 Bb6 45. Rc4 Rxc6 46. bxc6 Qxc6 47. Rc2 h6 48. Qe6 Qc7 49. Rcb2 Ra6 50. Kf2 Qd8 51. g4 Ra7 52. Qd5 Qc7 53. h4 Ra6 54. g5 Kh7 55. Qf7 Nb8 56. g6+ 1-0
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.07”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Black “Koczo, Kristof”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B12”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “2242”]
[PlyCount “93”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. Be3 Nd7 6. f4 Bxc5 7. Bxc5 Nxc5 8. Nf3 Ne7 9. Nd4 Nc6 10. c3 Ne4 11. g3 Qb6 12. Qb3 Nxd4 13. Qxb6 axb6 14. cxd4 Bd7 15. Nd2 Ra4 16. Nf3 Ke7 17. Bd3 Rha8 18. a3 Rb4 19. Rb1 Rb3 20. Ke2 Bb5 21. Bxb5 Rxb5 22. Rhc1 Kd7 23. Ng5 f6 24. Nxe4 dxe4 25. Rc3 Rc8 26. Rxc8 Kxc8 27. b4 f5 28. g4 Rd5 29. gxf5 exf5 30. Ke3 Rd8 31. Rg1 g6 32. h4 Kc7 33. Rc1+ Kd7 34. d5 Ra8 35. Rc3 Rd8 36. Kd4 Ke7 37. h5 gxh5 38. Rh3 h6 39. Rxh5 Rh8 40. Rxf5 h5 41. Rg5 h4 42. Rg2 e3 43. Kxe3 Ra8 44. Ke4 Rxa3 45. Rg7+ Kf8 46. Rh7 h3 47. d6 1-0
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.08”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Yip, Michael”]
[Black “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “D19”]
[WhiteElo “2045”]
[BlackElo “2038”]
[PlyCount “67”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. Rd1 Qa5 11. Na2 Qxa4 12. b3 Qa5 13. Bb2 Be7 14. Nc3 Qc7 15. e4 Nbd7 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Rfe8 18. Qd2 cxd5 19. Bxd5 Nb6 20. Nb5 Qd7 21. Bc4 Qxd2 22. Rxd2 Nxc4 23. bxc4 Rec8 24. Ne5 a6 25. Nd6 Rd8 26. Rad1 Ne4 27. Nxe4 Bxe4 28. Nd7 Bc6 29. Kf1 Ba4 30. Be5 Bxd1 31. Rxd1 Rac8 32. Rd4 f6 33. Bf4 Kf7 34. Rd5 0-1
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.10”]
[Round “7”]
[White “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Black “Katona, Jozsef”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B42”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “1962”]
[PlyCount “109”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O Nbc6 7. c3 b5 8. Qe2 Ne5 9. Bc2 Bb7 10. f4 Nc4 11. a4 Nc6 12. b3 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Qb6 14. Rd1 Na5 15. Be3 Rc8 16. Ra2 b4 17. Nd2 Qc7 18. Bd3 Be7 19. Rc2 Qd8 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Qg4 O-O 22. f5 f6 23. Qh5 Qc3 24. Qe2 Nxb3 25. Nxb3 Qxb3 26. fxe6 Qxe6 27. d5 Qe5 28. g3 b3 29. Bc4 Bd6 30. Bd4 Qe7 31. Bxb3 Kh8 32. Bc4 a5 33. Rb1 Bb4 34. Qe3 d6 35. Kg2 Re8 36. Kf3 Qc7 37. Bb5 Rc8 38. Rf1 Qf7 39. g4 Bc5 40. Bxc5 Rxc5 41. Rc1 Rxc1 42. Qxc1 h5 43. h3 h4 44. Qc3 Qe7 45. Qxa5 Qe5 46. Qe1 g5 47. Qe3 Qh2 48. a5 Qxh3+ 49. Kf2 Qh2+ 50. Ke1 Qh1+ 51. Kf2 Qh2+ 52. Ke1 Qb2 53. Qb6 Qb1+ 54. Kd2 Qb2+ 55. Ke3 1/2-1/2
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.11”]
[Round “8”]
[White “Hansen, Rene Rauer”]
[Black “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “D18”]
[WhiteElo “1991”]
[BlackElo “2038”]
[PlyCount “69”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Ne2 Nbd7 10. Ng3 Bg6 11. b3 Qe7 12. Bb2 Rad8 13. Qe2 Nh5 14. Rac1 Nxg3 15. hxg3 Bh5 16. Qc2 c5 17. Bd3 Bg6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Rfd1 cxd4 20. Rxd4 e5 21. Rh4 Bd6 22. Kh2 Rc8 23. Rc4 Rxc4 24. Qxc4 Nb6 25. Qb5 Re8 26. a5 Na8 27. Qd5 b6 28. Rd1 Bc7 29. axb6 Nxb6 30. Qc6 Rc8 31. Qb5 e4 32. Nd4 Be5 33. Nc6 Rxc6 34. Qxe5 Qxe5 35. Bxe5 1/2-1/2
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.12”]
[Round “9”]
[White “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Black “Schenkerik, Csaba”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B03”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “2153”]
[PlyCount “101”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 exd6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.
Nge2 O-O 9. O-O Nb4 10. Bb1 Nxc4 11. a3 d5 12. axb4 Bxb4 13. b3 Nb6 14. Qd3 g6 15. Qg3 Bd6 16. Bf4 Bxf4 17. Nxf4 c6 18. h4 Qf6 19. Rd1 Bf5 20. Bxf5 Qxf5 21. Nd3 Rfe8 22. Nc5 Re7 23. Re1 Qf6 24. Rxe7 Qxe7 25. Qg5 f6 26. Qe3 Qf7 27. Re1 Kf8 28. Qe6 Qxe6 29. Rxe6 Kf7 30. Re1 Rb8 31. g4 Nc8 32. Nd7 Ra8 33. g5 fxg5 34. hxg5 Nd6 35. Ne5+ Kg7 36. Na4 Nf5 37. Rd1 Re8 38. f4 Nd6 39. Kf2 Rf8 40. Ke3 Nf5+ 41. Kf3 Re8 42. Nc5 Re7 43. Ke2 Nd6 44. Kd3 Re8 45. Rh1 Re7 46. Ncd7 Ne4 47. Rh2 Nd6 48. Nf6 h5 49. gxh6+ Kxf6 50. h7 Nf7 51. Nxf7 1-0

[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.13”]
[Round “10”]
[White “Ten Hagen, Yorick”]
[Black “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B42”]
[WhiteElo “2150”]
[BlackElo “2038”]
[PlyCount “63”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 dxc6 7. O-O e5 8. Bc4 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Nf6 10. f3 Bc5+ 11. Kf1 O-O 12. a3 b5 13. Ba2 a5 14. Ke2 Ba6 15. Be3 Be7 16. Kf2 Rfd8 17. Nd2 Nd7 18. a4 bxa4 19. Nc4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Bc5 21. Rd3 Bxe3+ 22. Kxe3 Nb6 23. Rc3 Rd6 24. Be2 Kf8 25. Rc5 f6 26. b3 axb3 27. cxb3 a4 28. bxa4 Nxa4 29. Rc2 Nb6 30. Rxa8+ Nxa8 31. Ba6 Nc7 32. Bb7 1/2-1/2
[Event “First Saturday 09 July FM-A”]
[Site “Budapest”]
[Date “2009.07.14”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Greeff, Melissa”]
[Black “Borda, Lajos”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B28”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “2070”]
[PlyCount “124”]
[EventDate “2009.07.04”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Bd6 8. c4
Qc6 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Re1 O-O 11. h3 Qc7 12. Be3 b6 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. Rad1 Rad8 15. b3 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Bb4 17. Qc2 Qe5 18. Bd3 Nc5 19. f4 Qc7 20. Rf1 Nxd3 21. Qxd3 Rfe8 22. Na4 Bc6 23. Qb1 Bxa4 24. bxa4 Bc5 25. Qc1 e5 26. Nb3 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 exf4 28. Bxc5 bxc5 29. Re1 Re6 30. Qd2 h6 31. Qf2 Ne4 32. Qc2 Ng5 33. Rxe6 Nxe6 34. Qe4 Ng5 35. Qd5 f3 36. gxf3 Qg3+ 37. Kf1 Nxf3 38. Ke2 Ng1+ 39. Kd2 Qf2+ 40. Kd1 Qe2+ 41. Kc1 Qxa2 42. Qd8+ Kh7 43. Qd3+ g6 44. Nxc5 Ne2+ 45. Kd1 Nf4 46. Qe4 Nxh3 47. Qd4 Ng5 48. Kc1 Qa3+ 49. Kd1 a5 50. Ke2 Qf3+ 51. Kd2 Qc6 52. Kc2 Qg2+ 53. Kc1 Qf1+ 54. Kb2 Qe2+ 55. Kc1 h5 56. Nd7 Qe1+ 57. Kb2 Qb4+ 58. Kc1 Qa3+ 59. Kb1 Ne6 60. Nf6+ Kh6 61. Ng8+ Kh7 62. Nf6+ Kh6 1/2-1/2

http://ratings.fide.com/view_pgn.phtml?code=16488

While we’re on the topic of girls….Natalia Pogonina is a Woman Chess Grandmaster. She’s a WGM’s I’ve only discovered a few days ago! She’s written a book about women and chess. On any chess site, there are always threads in the forums about the question: why are there less women playing chess, or: why are there less Women Chess Grandmasters, etc. etc…it’s endless…all the different topics. It’s good to know that the men like to talk about us, it shows that they have at least something to talk about…haha… Chess is a game for people who can use their logical mind and if they can’t reason in a logical way too, well, then I have a few questions to ask too. I think the reasons are straightforward and we don’t have to argue about it or start any conversations about this topic. Men should really start accepting the reasons. Some of them even enjoy to put women down, maybe to feel better about themselves and their own shortcomings?  Do make an effort to read what Natalia says. I’ve also GM Yelena Dembo’s site-link for you. Click on the images of the GM’s and you will be taken to their sites. Links will open in a new window.

WGM Yelena Dembo
If you click HERE you can play through her best games.

WGM Natalia Pogonina

On June 5, 2009 WGM Natalia Pogonina and Peter Zhdanov got married – she a Women’s Grandmaster, he a successful IT-specialist and debate expert. Peter is also Natalia’s manager, together they are writing a book called “Chess Kamasutra”. Today they share with us their views on the perennial topic why women are worse at chess than men, and take a look at the future of women’s chess.

“They’re all weak, all women. They’re stupid compared to men.
They shouldn’t play chess, you know. They’re like beginners. They lose every single game against a man.There isn’t a woman player in the world I can’t give knight-odds to and still beat.”
Robert James Fischer, 1962, Harper’s Magazine

Chess is often divided into men’s chess and women’s chess. The classification is quite relative, since women can participate in tournaments for men, while men can’t take part in women’s events. This discrimination has always been a subject of heated discussions. So, is it true that men are better than women in chess, and if so, then what are the reasons for that?
Genes?
Chess is an intellectual sport, physical strength is by far not the key factor there. Endurance is also not a factor, because women are probably even more enduring than men.

Some say it’s about the level of testosterone that affects competitiveness – men are more likely to be trying to excel at something than women. However, if we look at the percentage of so-called “grandmaster draws” among women and men then we’ll see that women’s fighting spirits are definitely higher. You may say that it’s an exception from the rule, but we still doubt that it’s the high level of testosterone that makes top women players good at chess.
 
So, maybe women are just less smart than men? According to multiple studies, on the average the answer is “no”. Then what’s the problem?

Historical reasons
Women have started playing chess professionally long after men. Nowadays the number of professional women chess players is growing, but the proportion is still incomparable. There are very few women in chess, so they have meager chances to enter the world chess elite.
 
Look at the top-300 list of chess players and count the number of women there. If you don’t miss anyone, you’ll find only three of them. Almost one to a hundred, “great” ratio, isn’t it? A few more illustrative figures: according to FIDE’s website, there are 20 female players who hold the GM title to 1201 male grandmasters (about 1 to 60), 77 female IMs to 2854 male (about 1 to 37), 239 WGMs and 7 female FMs to 5400 male FMs (about 1 to 22). Side note: notice the downward trend?

Upbringing and social stereotypes
The other important issue is that in order to become a top chess player you’ve got to study chess diligently from early childhood. Parents (who have a large influence on their children’s choice of hobbies) deem chess as a strange pastime for a girl, and also do not appreciate the fact that their daughter will be spending a lot of time with male adults or teenagers (especially when leaving home to play in tournaments).

Roy Gates (Southern California, USA) recalls:
I think that there’s definitely some cultural/sociological bias at work that has made it more difficult for women to excel in chess. I realized a few years ago (after it was pointed out to me by an ex-girlfriend) that I was taking a much more active role in my nephew’s chess education than I was with my niece despite the fact that she was more eager to play/learn and seemed to take to the game much quicker. I had subconsciously not taken her interest in chess seriously and was mortified when I realized I was helping to perpetuate the myth that boys are better chess players.

Michael Ziern (Frankfurt, Germany) adds:
It is hard to convince parents to send girls to tournaments along with their male club colleagues. Parents are often afraid to allow their 10 or 12 year old girl to travel around with a group of boys and young men. If girls play fewer tournaments, they do not improve so quickly and lose interest. In order to solve this problem, my club cooperated with clubs from neighboring towns to have greater groups of girls who could share rooms in youth hostels, make friends etc. with some success.

Moreover, serious chess studies require substantial investments (coaches, trips etc.), while it’s a well-known fact that women chess players can’t make a decent living playing chess unless they’re at the very top. That’s why parents discourage their daughters’ interest in chess – what’s the point of wasting so much time on a dubious activity?
 
When Natalia was twelve she even had to move to another city to get access to good coaching and financing – life in Russia in the 90s used to be tough for anyone, not to mention chess players. So she and her coach could hardly find money for the chess trips and had to carry heavy bags full of chess books with them and sell the volumes in order to compensate the expenses.

Psychology
This factor seems to me to be the most important. A stereotype exists in chess that women are no match for men. It is based on statistical data. That’s why many female chess players are taught from early childhood that they’ll never make it to men’s level. TV and books are also trying to convince them that it’s unreal. But all this is a myth! The first woman to break it was the incredible Judit Polgar, the greatest woman chess player of all times.

Different priorities?
 What if women are just not interested in chess? Could it be one of those activities that appeal to men more than to women (like playing PC games, fighting, shooting, cussing etc.?). There was even an amusing hypothesis that chess is for immature and weird people, so women (who tend to mature faster than men) don’t take up such a strange occupation.
 
Robert Tierney (Binghamton NY, USA):
Adding my two-cents here, I think the question is phrased wrong.  “Why do women play chess worse than men” is an improper question, framed in a male-dominated area with a male-dominated history.  Since everyone (here) seems to agree that women are quicker learners than men, and mature quicker than men, perhaps they are too intelligent to spend more time at something that is just a game, as Morphy stated several times.  Maybe the question should be, are men too stupid or too immature to quit obsessing on chess?  Then maybe we wouldn’t have this topic getting abused over and over again.  “Chess is a sign of lack of intelligence”–now wouldn’t that be a kick in the head?

Different tastes and priorities are probably part of the answer, but they are also closely connected with the other reasons. For instance, priorities are largely affected by social stereotypes and upbringing, so if (theoretically) we change them (e.g. encourage boys to play dolls and girls to study chess), we may see a completely opposite result.

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South African Open Chess Championship 2009

 CHESSA: Click on Chessa’s logo – first image in this post –  and it will take you to the official site of Chess South Africa. The link will open in a new window. Click here to follow some of the games live on Chesscube. If you are not registered on Chesscube, it will take you a few seconds and you can watch live games. You can click on “play” to register. Games start 18:30 and 9:30 local time. The final round on Saturday – 11th July – starts at 11:00-16:00 local time. To follow the games, you need to go to the SA Open-room on Chesscube (on the chatroom-list). Enjoy!

Images: SAOpen2009.com

In Cape Town, the South African Open 2009 is taking place, it started yesterday. Players from all over the world are taking part.  GM G Jones (ENG), GM D Komavor (UKR) and a few FM’s and IM’s are taking part too –  from countries other than South Africa. Exciting news: Ryan van Rensburg (2106) (SA) drew a game against  GM Dimitri Komarov (2530) (UKR).  Ryan has also beaten IM Watu Kobese (2493) (SA) in round 7 and in round 8 he drew a game against IM MABUSELA, JM (2244)! Ryan drew in round 9 his game against IM P Wang (2453) and in round 10: Ryan drew his game against FM NP van der Nat (2322) and also,   FM CCA De Villiers -2179- (SA) drew against GM G Jones-2550-(ENG).

GM A Simutowe (Zambia) is the winner of the SA Open 2009. Please click HERE for the final results. The link will open in a new window. Visit the next link to see some photos of the players.

https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/sa-open/

GM Amon Simutowe from Zambia. He gained his third norm (rating of 2500) and qualified as a GM, the first for Africa, south of the Sahara. Please click here to play through his games on chessgames.com. The link will open in a new window.

From Chesscube: The South African Open is being contested by 208 with the following nations being represented in the field: AUS, ENG, EB, EK, FRA, GER, HUN, KEN, MAW, MOZ, NAM, NWP, NZL, RSA, UK, UKR, WP, ZIM. With 2 GM’s, a handful of IM’s, and a couple of FM’s/CM’s in the field, you are for sure to see good chess. There are 3 games being played live exclusively to ChessCube of SA Open. To watch these games all you have to do is go into the SA room and you can watch straight away. Games are commencing at 9:30 and 18.30 each day – local time.

In a world first for chess, some of the matches will be played online. This is a format many internet chess players have been waiting for – an online event being played simultaneously over 2 continents, yet officially recognized and rated by FIDE!

From Melbourne, Australia, behind the computer screens will be GM Gawain Jones (GBR, ELO 2550), IM Puchen Wang (NZL, ELO 2453), IM Mirko Rujevic (AUS, ELO 2282), and IM Leonid Sandler (AUS, ELO 2332) on standby. On the other end of the computer terminal at Cape Town, South Africa, will sit their opponents. The South African opponents will be paired each round, as will all the other players, using the Swiss Pairing system. This means that three different South African players will play online every round.

“Having these players compete in the tournament from another location using the Internet is a world first. Each Australian player will use a computer to connect to ChessCube and play their game, and will be supervised by the arbiter on that side. Similarly the players paired against them in Cape Town will play their games online using a computer, and will be supervised by an arbiter on this side,” commented Mr. Mark Levitt, founder of ChessCube. FIDE rated event over the internet! FIDE have agreed to officially rate the games played over the Internet.
ChessCube powering the community and the SA Open
ChessCube as a playing platform has been bringing innovative ideas into online chess playing for the last couple of months, turning into one of the busiest and most populated web chess servers with player peaks reaching over 3000 players online simultaneously, and a growing base that has eclipsed half a million users. The platform has turned into something that the chess world has been missing at previous online chess communities – it is a place where one can socialize and have fun at the same time.

Now ChessCube are taking a step further and create a tournament, part of which will take place online, and will be officially recognized by FIDE.- source: chessdom

All links in this post will open in a new window. You can also find the link to the official site of the SA Open 2009 on my blog’s side bar.(top)

At the same time, the African Youth Chess Championships are taking place in Cape Town too. This is a very first for Africa and South Africa has been fortunate to be chosen to host the tournament. Please follow this link to follow the results.

Schedule – please click on the image for a larger view

Click here for the Official site of Chess South Africa – Chessa – This championship started in Cape Town yesterday.  The venue is Wynberg Boys High School in Cape Town. Click here for the venue-details.
Chess Cube is a South African chess site to publish the results and you can follow the results/pairings on this link, another site where you can play chess online too. I’m quite sure you will be impressed with the interface of Chess Cube. Click here to play chess on chesscube. Chess Cube is also the site which the English Chess Federation uses for playing chess. You will find different chat rooms on Chess Cube for different countries too, so, have your chat in your language if you wish!
Chessa chess calendar. Follow this link for all details of chess tournaments in South Africa throughout the year.

Top 40 Chess players in South Africa, Anzel Solomons (F) is in position 41 with a rating of 2043
On this link you can see the complete list of the top 100 chess players in South Africa as by 28th April 2009.

RESULTS: SA OPEN 2009

Results of the first 13 players in round 1. Please click HERE for pairings in round 2 and you will find the menu to more results on the top menu-bar.

On these  3 images you can see the scores of the first 38 players after round 2. On the official site – link in this post and on my side bar – you will find links to more results and the pairings. Click on the images for a larger view.

SA Open 2009: Results round 3 – top 14 players

SA Open 2009: Pairings round 4 – top 13 boards

SA Open round 4: results – top 14

SA Open : Pairings round 5 – Top 14 boards

SA Open: Results round 5 – Top 14 players

SA Open: Results round 6 – Top 14 players

SA Open: Results round 7 – Top 14 players

SA Open: Results round 8: Top 14 players

SA Open 2009: Results round 9- top 14 players

SA Open 2009: Results Round 10 – top 14 players

SA Open 2009: Results round 10: Position 15-28

SA Open 2009: Results round 11 – Top 14 players

Chess games of participants  during the SA Open via the internet on Chesscube

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.03”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Smit, L”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “1848”]
[ECO “C45”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. d4  exd4 4. Nxd4  Bc5 5. Nxc6  bxc6 6. Bd3  d6 7. O-O  Ne7 8. Nd2  O-O 9. Nb3  Bb6 10. c4  Be6 11. Kh1  f5 12. Qc2  fxe4 13. Bxe4  h6 14. c5  dxc5 15. Nxc5  Bd5 16. Be3  Qc8 17. Rfd1  Bxe4 18. Qxe4  Nd5 19. Rac1  Re8 20. Qc4  Kh8 21. Bd4  Qf5 22. Re1  Nf4 23. Re3  Rxe3 24. fxe3  Nh5 25. Rf1  Qg6 26. Kg1  Rd8 27. b4  Rd5 28. Nb3  Kh7 29. Rc1  Bxd4 30. Nxd4  Re5 31. Qxc6  Qd3 32. Qc2  Rxe3 33. Qxd3+  Rxd3 34. Nb3  Rd7 35. Rc6  Nf4 36. Ra6  Nd3 37. b5  Re7 38. h4  Re1+ 39. Kh2  Re2 40. Rxa7  Nf4 41. Kg3  Nxg2 42. Nd4  Rb2 43. Rxc7  Rxa2 44. b6  Rb2 45. b7  Ne3 46. Nc6  Nd5 47. Rd7  Rb3+ 48. Kf2  Nf6 49. Re7  Nd5 50. Rd7  Nf6 51. Rf7  Kg6 52. Re7  Nd5 53. Re6+  Kf7 54. Rd6  Rxb7 55. Nd8+   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.03”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Wang, P”]
[Black “Akande, T”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2453”]
[BlackElo “1830”]
[ECO “C88”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. Bb5  a6 4. Ba4  Nf6 5. O-O  Be7 6. Re1  b5 7. Bb3  d6 8. c3  O-O 9. h3  Bb7 10. d4  Re8 11. Nbd2  Bf8 12. d5  Ne7 13. Nf1  h6 14. N3h2  c6 15. dxc6  Bxc6 16. Qf3  Ng6 17. Ng4  a5 18. a3  a4 19. Ba2  Bd7 20. Ng3  Nh4 21. Nxf6+  Qxf6 22. Qxf6  gxf6 23. Nh5  Bg7 24. Bxh6  Bh8 25. Rad1  Ra6 26. Be3  Bxh3 27. gxh3  Nf3+ 28. Kf1  Nxe1 29. Kxe1  Re7 30. Ke2  Kh7 31. Ng3  Bg7 32. Nf5  Rd7 33. Rd5   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.03”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Rujevic, M”]
[Black “Swanson, D”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2282”]
[BlackElo “1818”]
[ECO “C18”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 c4 8. Qg4 g6 9. h4 h5 10. Qf4 Nc6 11. Nf3 Nce7 12. Ng5 Nf5 13. f3 Qc7 14. g4 hxg4 15. fxg4 Ng7 16. a4 f5 17. exf6 Qxf4 18. Bxf4 Nxf6 19. Be5 Ke7 20. Be2 Bd7 21. Bxf6+ Kxf6 22. Rf1+ Nf5 23. gxf5 1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Lewis, M”]
[Black “Jones, G”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “2038”]
[BlackElo “2550”]
[ECO “A57”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. c4  c5 3. d5  b5 4. cxb5  a6 5. b6  g6 6. Nc3  Qxb6 7. e4  d6 8. Be2  Bg7 9. Nf3  O-O 10. O-O  Bg4 11. Nd2  Bxe2 12. Qxe2  Nbd7 13. Kh1  Qc7 14. Nc4  Nb6 15. Bd2  Nxc4 16. Qxc4  Nd7 17. f4  Rfb8 18. b3  Rb4 19. Qe2  Rb7 20. Rac1  Nb6 21. Nd1  a5 22. Bc3  a4 23. Bxg7  Kxg7 24. b4  Nd7 25. a3  Qb6 26. bxc5  Nxc5 27. Rc3  Qb5 28. Qxb5  Rxb5 29. Nf2  Rb3 30. Rfc1  Rab8 31. g3  Rxc3 32. Rxc3  Rb3 33. Rc2  Rxa3 34. e5  Rb3 35. exd6  exd6 36. Kg2  a3 37. Ra2  Na4 38. Nd1  Rb2+ 39. Nxb2  axb2  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Vermaak, F”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1953”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “B12”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c6 2. d4  d5 3. e5  c5 4. dxc5  Nc6 5. Nc3  e6 6. Nf3  Bxc5 7. Bd3  f6 8. exf6  Nxf6 9. Bg5  O-O 10. O-O  Bd7 11. Qe2  Qc7 12. Bh4  Rae8 13. Rae1  a6 14. Bg3  Qd8 15. Ne5  Nxe5 16. Bxe5  Re7 17. Nb1  Be8 18. Bxf6  Rxf6 19. Nd2  e5 20. b4  Bxb4 21. c4  e4 22. Bc2  Qc7 23. Rc1  Qf4 24. Nb3  Rh6 25. g3  Qf5 26. f4  Qh3 27. cxd5  Bb5 28. Qg2  Bxf1 29. Rxf1  Qxg2+ 30. Kxg2  e3 31. d6  Rxd6  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Cruywagen, J”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1931”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “C77”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. Bb5  a6 4. Ba4  Nf6 5. d3  b5 6. Bb3  Be7 7. O-O  d6 8. c3  O-O 9. Nbd2  Na5 10. Bc2  c5 11. Re1  Re8 12. Nf1  Bf8 13. Bg5  h6 14. Bd2  Nc6 15. Ng3  g6 16. a4  b4 17. h3  Be6 18. Bb3  Bxb3 19. Qxb3  Rb8 20. c4  Bg7 21. Be3  Nd7 22. Nh2  Nd4 23. Qd1  b3 24. Bxd4  cxd4 25. a5  Nc5 26. Ne2  h5 27. f4  Bh6 28. Rf1  Rb7 29. Rf3  Ne6 30. g3  Rf8 31. Kg2  Kh7 32. f5  Nc5 33. Nc1  Qg5 34. Ne2  Kg8 35. Nf1  Qd8 36. Qe1  gxf5 37. exf5  f6 38. Nd2  d5 39. cxd5  Qxd5 40. Nf1  Nxd3 41. Qb1  e4 42. Rf2  Nxf2 43. Kxf2  e3+ 44. Kg1  d3  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “3”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Van Der Nat, N”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “2322”]
[ECO “B23”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nc3  Nc6 3. f4  g6 4. Nf3  Bg7 5. Bb5  Nd4 6. O-O  a6 7. Bd3  d6 8. Nxd4  cxd4 9. Ne2  Nf6 10. Kh1  O-O 11. Nxd4  Nxe4 12. Bxe4  Bxd4 13. Qf3  Rb8 14. c3  Bg7 15. f5  b5 16. d4  Qc7 17. Bg5  b4 18. Rae1  h6 19. Bd2  bxc3 20. bxc3  gxf5 21. Qg3  Kh7 22. Rxf5  Bxf5 23. Bxf5+  Kh8 24. Qh3  e6 25. Bd3  Rfe8 26. Bxh6  f5 27. Re3  Bxd4 28. Rg3  Qh7 29. cxd4  Rg8 30. d5  Rg6 31. Rxg6  Qxg6 32. dxe6  Qxe6 33. Be3+  Kg8 34. Bxf5  Qe7 35. Be6+  Kg7 36. Qh6#   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “3”]
[White “Wang, P”]
[Black “Mabusela, J”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2453”]
[BlackElo “2244”]
[ECO “A05”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. Nf3  Nf6 2. c4  e6 3. Nc3  c5 4. g3  b6 5. Bg2  Bb7 6. O-O  Be7 7. d4  cxd4 8. Qxd4  Nc6 9. Qd3  O-O 10. Rd1  Qc8 11. Bg5  Rd8 12. Rac1  h6 13. Bf4  d5 14. cxd5  Nxd5 15. Nxd5  Rxd5 16. Qb3  Rc5 17. Rxc5  Bxc5 18. a3  Ne7 19. Qd3  a5 20. h4  Nd5 21. Be5  Qe8 22. e4  Ne7 23. b4  axb4 24. axb4  Bxb4 25. Bxg7  Kxg7 26. Qd4+  Kh7 27. Qxb4  Ra4 28. Qxb6  Bxe4 29. Rd8  Qc6 30. Qb2  Ng8 31. Ne5   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.04”]
[Round “3”]
[White “Rujevic, M”]
[Black “McCallum, B”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2282”]
[BlackElo “1614”]
[ECO “B62”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nf3  d6 3. d4  cxd4 4. Nxd4  Nf6 5. Nc3  Nc6 6. Bg5  e6 7. Be2  Be7 8. O-O  O-O 9. Ndb5  Ne8 10. Bxe7  Qxe7 11. f4  a6 12. Nd4  Nxd4 13. Qxd4  Bd7 14. Rad1  Bc6 15. Bf3  e5 16. Qe3  Nc7 17. f5  Rad8 18. a4  b5 19. a5  b4 20. Nd5  Bxd5 21. exd5  f6 22. Be2  Rb8 23. Rf4  Qf7 24. Rg4  Kh8 25. Qd2  Qd7 26. Rxb4  Qxf5 27. Rb6  Qe4 28. b3  Rxb6 29. axb6  Nb5 30. Bxb5  axb5 31. Ra1  h6 32. b7   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Amini, D”]
[Black “Jones, G”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1675”]
[BlackElo “2550”]
[ECO “E71”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. c4  g6 3. Nc3  Bg7 4. e4  d6 5. h3  O-O 6. Nf3  Qe8 7. Be2  e5 8. dxe5  dxe5 9. Be3  b6 10. O-O  Bb7 11. Qc2  c5 12. Nd5  Nc6 13. Nc7  Qb8 14. Nxa8  Qxa8 15. Nd2  Nxe4 16. Bf3  Nxd2 17. Qxd2  Rd8 18. Bd5  Nd4 19. Bxb7  Qxb7 20. Kh1  f5 21. Bg5  Rd7 22. Rad1  f4 23. f3  Rd6 24. Qe1  Qa6 25. Qe4  h6 26. Qa8+  Kh7 27. Be7  Rc6 28. b3  Rc8 29. Qd5  Nf5 30. Qd7  Rg8 31. Rf2  Kh8 32. Qe6  Qc8 33. Qxc8  Rxc8 34. Rd8+  Rxd8 35. Bxd8  e4 36. fxe4  Ng3+ 37. Kh2  Be5 38. Rf3  Nxe4 39. Kg1  Bd4+ 40. Kh1  Be5 41. a4  g5 42. Kg1  Kg7 43. Rd3  Bd4+ 44. Kf1  Kg6 45. a5  bxa5 46. Bxa5  Ng3+ 47. Ke1  Kf5 48. b4  Ke4 49. Rf3  Nf5 50. bxc5  Bxc5 51. Bd2  Nh4 52. Rb3  Nxg2+ 53. Kf1  Nh4 54. Bb4  Bd4 55. c5  Kd5 56. Rd3  Nf5 57. Ke2  h5 58. Rd1  g4 59. hxg4  hxg4 60. Bc3  f3+ 61. Kd3  Bxc3 62. Kxc3+  Kxc5 63. Ra1  Ng3  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Phiri, R”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “2145”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “D86”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. c4  g6 3. Nc3  d5 4. cxd5  Nxd5 5. e4  Nxc3 6. bxc3  Bg7 7. Bc4  c5 8. Ne2  O-O 9. O-O  Nc6 10. Be3  Bd7 11. Rb1  cxd4 12. cxd4  Rc8 13. Bd3  Na5 14. d5  b6 15. Ba6  Ra8 16. Qd3  Bc8 17. Rfc1  Bxa6 18. Qxa6  Qd7 19. Qd3  Rac8 20. Bd4  Bxd4 21. Qxd4  Qd6 22. Rc3  e5 23. Qd3  Rxc3 24. Qxc3  Nb7 25. f3  f5 26. Rd1  fxe4 27. fxe4  Nc5 28. Qe3  Rf7 29. Nc3  a6 30. Rf1  b5 31. Rxf7  Kxf7 32. Nd1  Nd7 33. h3  a5 34. Qf2+  Ke7 35. Qh4+  Nf6 36. Nf2  h5 37. Qg5  Kf7 38. Nd3  Nxe4 39. Qxe5  Qxe5 40. Nxe5+  Kf6 41. Nc6  a4 42. a3  Nc3 43. d6  Ke6 44. Ne5  Kxd6 45. Nxg6  b4 46. Nh4  b3 47. Nf5+  Kc5  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Peretz, L”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1875”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “A48”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. Nf3  g6 3. Bf4  Bg7 4. Qd2  O-O 5. Bh6  d6 6. Bxg7  Kxg7 7. Nc3  c6 8. e4  Bg4 9. Ng5  Qa5 10. h3  Bc8 11. Be2  h6 12. Nf3  Nbd7 13. O-O  e5 14. Rae1  Re8 15. Bc4  Re7 16. a3  Nf8 17. Re3  Qc7 18. Rfe1  a5 19. Nh2  b5 20. Ba2  b4 21. Ne2  Qb6 22. dxe5  dxe5 23. Ng3  Be6 24. Bb1  Rd8 25. Qc1  bxa3 26. bxa3  Red7 27. c4  Qc5 28. Rc3  Rd2 29. Rf1  Bc8 30. Nf3  R2d6 31. Kh1  Ne6 32. Nxe5  Qxe5 33. f4  Nxf4 34. Rcf3  g5 35. Qe1  Rd2 36. R3f2  Rxf2 37. Qxf2  Qd4 38. Qf3  Be6 39. e5  Qxe5 40. Qxc6  Rd2 41. Be4  Nxe4 42. Nxe4  Rc2 43. Nd6  Nh5 44. Ne8+  Kg6 45. Qf3  Ng3+ 46. Kg1  Nxf1 47. Qd3+  Qf5  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “C69”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. Bb5  a6 4. Bxc6  dxc6 5. O-O  Bg4 6. h3  h5 7. d3  Qf6 8. Be3  Bxf3 9. Qxf3  Qxf3 10. gxf3  Bd6 11. Nd2  Ne7 12. Rfb1  g5 13. Kf1  f6 14. b4  Ng6 15. Ke2  Nf8 16. a4  Ne6 17. Nc4  Kd7 18. c3  Rhg8 19. Na5  b6 20. Nb3  Kc8 21. a5  b5 22. d4  Kb7 23. Nc5+  Bxc5 24. bxc5  Rad8 25. Rd1  Rge8 26. dxe5  fxe5 27. Rxd8  Rxd8 28. Rg1  Rg8 29. h4  g4 30. fxg4  hxg4 31. h5  Nf4+ 32. Bxf4  exf4 33. h6  g3 34. Kf3  Rg6 35. Rh1  g2 36. Rg1  Rxh6 37. Rxg2  Rh3+ 38. Kxf4  Rxc3 39. e5  Rxc5 40. e6  Rc2 41. Ke3  Rc1 42. Kd2  Rh1 43. f4  Rh8 44. f5  Kc8 45. f6  Kd8 46. Ke3  c5 47. f7  Rf8 48. Rg8  Ke7 49. Ke4  c4 50. Ke5  c3 51. Rxf8   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.05”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Wang, P”]
[Black “Simutowe, A”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2453”]
[BlackElo “2481”]
[ECO “B28”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nf3  a6 3. c3  d5 4. exd5  Qxd5 5. d4  Nf6 6. Be3  cxd4 7. cxd4  e6 8. Nc3  Qa5 9. Bd3  b5 10. O-O  Bb7 11. Re1  Nbd7  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.06”]
[Round “6”]
[White “Simutowe, A”]
[Black “Jones, G”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2481”]
[BlackElo “2550”]
[ECO “B22”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. c3  d5 3. exd5  Qxd5 4. d4  Nc6 5. Nf3  Bg4 6. Be2  cxd4 7. cxd4  e6 8. Nc3  Qa5 9. Be3  Nf6 10. Qb3  Qb4 11. Qxb4  Bxb4 12. h3  Bh5 13. O-O  O-O 14. Rac1  Rfd8 15. Rfd1  Nd5 16. Kf1  Nxe3+ 17. fxe3  f6 18. Ne4  Bf7 19. Nc5  Bxc5 20. Rxc5  Nb4 21. a3  b6 22. Rc4  Nd5 23. Kf2  Be8 24. e4  Nf4 25. Bf1  Bb5 26. Rc3  Bxf1 27. Kxf1  f5 28. Re1  Rd6 29. g3  fxe4 30. Rxe4  Nd5  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.06”]
[Round “6”]
[White “Masango, S”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “2130”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “D91”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. c4  g6 3. Nc3  d5 4. Nf3  Bg7 5. Bg5  Ne4 6. cxd5  Nxg5 7. Nxg5  e6 8. Qd2  h6 9. Nf3  exd5 10. e3  O-O 11. Bd3  c6 12. O-O  Qe7 13. e4  dxe4 14. Nxe4  Be6 15. Rfe1  Nd7 16. Qf4  Rad8 17. h4  Kh8 18. Qg3  Qb4 19. a3  Qb6 20. Nd6  Bxd4 21. Rxe6  Bxf2+ 22. Qxf2  fxe6 23. Ne4  Ne5 24. Qxb6  Nxf3+ 25. gxf3  axb6 26. Be2  Rf4 27. h5  gxh5 28. Kf2  h4 29. Rg1  Rdf8 30. Ke3  h3 31. Rh1  Rh4 32. Rh2  Rf5 33. Bf1  Rfh5 34. Nf2  Re5+ 35. Ne4  Reh5 36. Nf2  Kg7 37. Rxh3  Rxh3 38. Bxh3  Kf6 39. Ne4+  Ke7 40. Bf1  Rh2 41. Nf2  Rh5 42. f4  e5 43. fxe5  Rxe5+ 44. Ne4  Rh5 45. Nf2  Kd6 46. Ne4+  Ke5 47. Nf2  Rg5 48. Nd3+  Kf6 49. Nf2  Rg1 50. Ke2  h5 51. Bh3  Rg7 52. Bc8  Ke5 53. Nd3+  Ke4 54. a4  h4 55. Nf2+  Kd4 56. Kf3  Rg3+ 57. Kf4  Rg7 58. b4  Kc4 59. a5  Kxb4 60. axb6  Kb5 61. Ne4  Kxb6 62. Be6  Kc7 63. Ng5  Kd6 64. Bc8  b5 65. Nf3  Rg8 66. Bf5  Rh8 67. Kg4  Rg8+ 68. Kf4  Rh8 69. Kg4  h3 70. Kg3  Rg8+ 71. Kf4  Rf8 72. Kg4  c5 73. Nh2  c4 74. Be4  Rh8 75. Kf3  Kc5 76. Ke3  b4 77. Bf5  b3 78. Kd2  Rf8  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.06”]
[Round “6”]
[White “Rujevic, M”]
[Black “Mabusela, J”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2282”]
[BlackElo “2244”]
[ECO “C11”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e6 2. d4  d5 3. Nc3  Nf6 4. e5  Nfd7 5. f4  c5 6. Nf3  Nc6 7. Be3  cxd4 8. Nxd4  Bc5 9. Qd2  O-O 10. O-O-O  a6 11. Nb3  Bb4 12. a3  Be7 13. Ne2  b5 14. Ned4  Nxd4 15. Bxd4  Nb6 16. Qa5  Rb8 17. Nc5  Nc4 18. Qxd8  Rxd8 19. Bd3  Na5 20. Rhe1  Nc6 21. Bf2  a5 22. g4  a4 23. c3  d4 24. cxd4  Nxd4 25. Ne4  Bb7 26. Nd6  Nb3+ 27. Kb1  Bxd6 28. exd6  Bd5 29. f5  Bf3 30. fxe6  fxe6 31. Be2  Be4+ 32. Bd3  Bf3 33. Be2  Be4+ 34. Bd3  Bf3  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.07”]
[Round “7”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “C03”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e6 2. d4  d5 3. Nd2  dxe4 4. Nxe4  Nd7 5. Nf3  Ngf6 6. Nxf6+  Nxf6 7. g3  b6 8. Bb5+  Bd7 9. Bxd7+  Qxd7 10. O-O  Bd6 11. Qe2  O-O 12. Bg5  Be7 13. c4  Rfe8 14. Rad1  h6 15. Ne5  Qc8 16. Bxf6  Bxf6 17. Nc6  e5 18. dxe5  Re6 19. Qf3  Qe8 20. exf6  Qxc6 21. Qxc6  Rxc6 22. Rfe1  Rxf6 23. Rd7  c5 24. h4  h5 25. Kg2  a5 26. f4  g6 27. Kf3  Rc8 28. Red1  Re8 29. Rb7  Kg7 30. Rd3  Re1 31. Rb3  Ree6 32. Rd7  Rd6 33. Rd3   1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.07”]
[Round “7”]
[White “Makoto, R”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2157”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “A05”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. Nf3  Nf6 2. d4  g6 3. g3  Bg7 4. Bg2  O-O 5. c4  d6 6. O-O  Nbd7 7. Nc3  c6 8. h3  e5 9. e4  Re8 10. Re1  Qc7 11. Be3  a5 12. Rc1  Qb8 13. Qd2  b5 14. dxe5  dxe5 15. cxb5  cxb5 16. Nd5  Nxd5 17. exd5  Bb7 18. d6  Nf6 19. Rc7  Ne4 20. Qd3  Ra6 21. Ng5  Rxd6 22. Qxb5  Nxg5 23. Rxb7  Nxh3+ 24. Bxh3  Qd8 25. Rd7  Rxd7 26. Qxd7  Qxd7  1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.08”]
[Round “8”]
[White “Komarov, D”]
[Black “Jones, G”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2530”]
[BlackElo “2550”]
[ECO “A48”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. Nf3  g6 3. c4  Bg7 4. Nc3  O-O 5. e4  d6 6. Be2  e5 7. O-O  Nc6 8. d5  Ne7 9. b4  c6 10. Nd2  a5 11. bxa5  Qxa5  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.08”]
[Round “8”]
[White “Wang, P”]
[Black “Mosethle, K”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2453”]
[BlackElo “2169”]
[ECO “B90”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nf3  d6 3. d4  cxd4 4. Nxd4  Nf6 5. Nc3  a6 6. Be3  e5 7. Nf3  Qc7 8. a4  b6 9. Be2  Bb7 10. Nd2  d5 11. Nxd5  Nxd5 12. exd5  Bxd5 13. O-O  Be7 14. Bf3  Bxf3 15. Qxf3  Nc6 16. Qg3  O-O 17. Bh6  Bf6 18. Ne4  Qe7 19. c3  Kh8 20. Nxf6  Qxf6 21. Be3  Rab8 22. f4  e4 23. f5  h6 24. Rad1  Rfd8 25. Rxd8+  Rxd8 26. Bxb6  Rd2 27. b4  Rd3 28. Qf4  Rxc3 29. Qxe4  Rb3 30. Bc5  Rb2 31. h4  Kh7 32. Rd1  Nxb4 33. Bd4  Qd6 34. f6+  g6 35. Qe7  Qd5 36. Bxb2  Qxd1+ 37. Kh2   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.08”]
[Round “8”]
[White “Rujevic, M”]
[Black “Solomons, R”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2282”]
[BlackElo “1921”]
[ECO “B23”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nc3  a6 3. a4  b6 4. Nf3  d6 5. d4  cxd4 6. Nxd4  Nf6 7. Bd3  e6 8. O-O  Be7 9. f4  Qc7 10. Qe2  Nbd7 11. Bd2  Bb7 12. Rae1  Nc5 13. Kh1  O-O 14. b4  Nxd3 15. cxd3  Rac8 16. Rc1  Qb8 17. Qf2  Rfe8 18. Nc2  Ba8 19. Ne3  d5 20. exd5  Nxd5 21. Ncxd5  Bxd5 22. Nxd5  exd5 23. Bc3  b5 24. a5  Qd6 25. Qb2  Qg6 26. Rf3  Qd6 27. Rb1  Bf6 28. Bxf6  Qxf6 29. Qxf6  gxf6 30. Kg1  Rc2 31. Rf2  Rec8 32. g4  R8c3 33. g5  Kg7 34. h4  Kg6 35. f5+  Kh5 36. gxf6  Kxh4 37. Re1  Kg5 38. Rxc2  Rxc2 39. Re5  Kxf6 40. Rxd5  Ke7 41. Kf1  Rb2 42. Rd4  h5 43. Rh4  Rd2 44. Rxh5  Rxd3 45. Rh6  Rd6 46. Rh4  Kf6 47. Rh5  Ke5 48. Ke2  Rf6 49. Ke3  Rxf5 50. Rh8  Rf6 51. Rb8  Kd5 52. Kd3  Re6 53. Rf8  f6 54. Rf7  Ke5 55. Ke3  Rd6 56. Rf8  Rc6 57. Re8+  Kf5 58. Rb8  Ke5 59. Re8+  Kd5 60. Kd3  f5 61. Rf8  Ke5 62. Rb8  Rc4 63. Rb6  Rxb4 64. Rxa6  Ra4 65. Ra8  Kf4 66. a6  Kf3 67. a7  f4 68. Kc3  Rc4+ 69. Kb3  Rc7 70. Kb4  Rb7 71. Kc3  b4+ 72. Kb3  Kf2  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.09”]
[Round “9”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Mabusela, J”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “2244”]
[ECO “C07”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e6 2. d4  d5 3. Nd2  c5 4. Ngf3  Nc6 5. exd5  exd5 6. Bb5  Bd6 7. dxc5  Bxc5 8. O-O  Ne7 9. Nb3  Bd6 10. Re1  O-O 11. Bg5  Qc7 12. Bh4  Nf5 13. Bg3  Nxg3 14. hxg3  a6 15. Bd3  Qb6 16. Re3  h6 17. Qd2  Nb4 18. Nfd4  Nxd3 19. Qxd3  Bd7 20. Nf5  Bxf5 21. Qxf5  a5 22. a4  Rac8 23. Rd1  d4 24. Nxd4  Qxb2 25. Rb3  Qa2 26. Rxb7  Bc5 27. Nb3  Bb4 28. Rxf7  Rxf7 29. Qxc8+  Rf8 30. Qc4+  Kh8 31. Nxa5  Qxc4 32. Nxc4  Rc8  1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.09”]
[Round “9”]
[White “Van Rensburg, R”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2106”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “D11”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  d5 2. c4  c6 3. Nf3  Nf6 4. Qb3  g6 5. Nc3  Bg7 6. g3  O-O 7. Bg2  dxc4 8. Qxc4  Be6 9. Qd3  Na6 10. O-O  Nb4 11. Qd1  h6 12. Re1  Nbd5 13. e4  Nxc3 14. bxc3  Qa5 15. Qc2  Qh5 16. Rb1  b5 17. Ne5  Ng4 18. Nxg4  Bxg4 19. Qd3  Rad8 20. f3  Be6 21. Qc2  Bc4 22. Qf2  f5 23. exf5  Qxf5 24. Ba3  Rfe8 25. f4  Bd5 26. Rb2  e6  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.09”]
[Round “9”]
[White “Quirk, T”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “0-1”]
[WhiteElo “1495”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “B01”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  d5 2. exd5  Qxd5 3. Nf3  e5 4. Nc3  Qe6 5. Bb5+  c6 6. Ba4  Bd6 7. O-O  Ne7 8. Re1  f5 9. d4  e4 10. Bg5  O-O 11. d5  Qg6 12. Bxe7  Bxe7 13. Nd4  Rd8 14. Nce2  Bd6 15. f4  cxd5 16. Bb3  Bc5 17. Kh1  Nc6 18. Nb5  Qf7 19. Qd2  a6 20. Nbc3  Be6 21. Rad1  d4 22. Bxe6  Qxe6 23. Na4  Bb4 24. c3  dxc3 25. Qe3  cxb2  0-1

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.10”]
[Round “10”]
[White “De Villiers, C”]
[Black “Jones, G”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2179”]
[BlackElo “2550”]
[ECO “E76”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. d4  Nf6 2. c4  g6 3. Nc3  Bg7 4. e4  d6 5. f4  O-O 6. Nf3  Na6 7. e5  Nd7 8. c5  c6 9. Bxa6  bxa6 10. Be3  Rb8 11. O-O  Rxb2 12. Qa4  Nb8 13. Qa3  Rb7 14. cxd6  exd6 15. Ne4  d5 16. Nd6  Qe7 17. Bf2  Rb6 18. Bh4  f6 19. Rae1  Be6 20. Re3  Qd7 21. exf6  Bxf6 22. Bxf6  Rxf6 23. Ne5  Qd8 24. Ng4  Bxg4 25. Re8+  Qxe8 26. Nxe8  Re6 27. h3  Rxe8 28. hxg4  Re2 29. Rf3  Rb1+ 30. Kh2  Rbb2 31. Re3  Rxg2+ 32. Kh1  Rge2 33. Rxe2  Rxe2 34. Qd6  Re8 35. Qc7  a5 36. f5  gxf5 37. gxf5  Rf8 38. f6  Rxf6 39. Qxb8+  Kg7 40. Qxa7+  Kg6 41. Qxa5  Kf5 42. Qc7  Rh6+ 43. Kg2  Ke4 44. Qe5+  Kd3 45. Kf2  Rh1 46. Qe3+  Kc4 47. Kg2  Rb1 48. Qe2+  Kc3 49. Qe3+  Kc4 50. Kf2  Rb2+ 51. Kf3  Rxa2 52. Kf4  Ra8 53. Qe7  Kxd4 54. Qb4+  Kd3 55. Qb6  Ra4+ 56. Ke5  Re4+ 57. Kd6  Rc4 58. Qb1+  Kd2 59. Qxh7  d4 60. Qh2+  Kc3 61. Qe5  Kb3 62. Qe4  Kc3 63. Qe1+  Kc2 64. Qe2+  Kc3 65. Qe1+  Kc2 66. Qe2+  Kb3 67. Qd3+  Kb4 68. Qb1+  Kc3 69. Qa1+  Kd2 70. Qb2+  Ke3 71. Qb6  Rc2 72. Ke5  c5 73. Qh6+  Kd3 74. Qg6+  Kc3 75. Qg1  Kc4 76. Qg8+  Kc3 77. Qg1  Kb2 78. Ke4  Rc3 79. Qf2+  Kb3 80. Qf7+  Kb2 81. Qf2+  Ka3 82. Qd2  Kb3 83. Qd1+  Kb2 84. Qe2+  Kb3 85. Qb5+  Ka2 86. Qa6+  Kb1 87. Qb5+  Kc1 88. Qf1+  Kd2 89. Qf2+  Kd1 90. Qf1+  Kc2 91. Qe2+  Kc1  1/2-1/2

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.10”]
[Round “10”]
[White “Komarov, D”]
[Black “Wang, P”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2530”]
[BlackElo “2453”]
[ECO “A11”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. c4  c6 2. Nf3  d5 3. e3  Nf6 4. Nc3  e6 5. d4  Nbd7 6. Qc2  b6 7. Bd3  Bb7 8. O-O  Be7 9. b3  Rc8 10. Bb2  dxc4 11. bxc4  c5 12. d5  exd5 13. cxd5  Nxd5 14. Nxd5  Bxd5 15. Rad1  Bf6 16. Ba6  Bxf3 17. gxf3  Rc7 18. Bxf6  Qxf6 19. Bb5  Ke7 20. Bxd7  Rxd7 21. Qe4+  Qe6 22. Rxd7+  Kxd7 23. Qb7+   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.10”]
[Round “10”]
[White “Rujevic, M”]
[Black “Mare, M”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2282”]
[BlackElo “1828”]
[ECO “C33”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. f4  exf4 3. Bc4  Qh4+ 4. Kf1  Nc6 5. Nf3  Qh5 6. d4  d6 7. Bxf4  Bg4 8. c3  O-O-O 9. Nbd2  Nge7 10. d5  Ne5 11. Be2  N7g6 12. Be3  f5 13. Nd4  fxe4 14. h3  Bxe2+ 15. Qxe2  Qh4 16. Bf2  Qh6 17. Nxe4  Nf4 18. Qd2  Nxd5 19. Qxh6  gxh6 20. Kg1  Be7 21. Rd1  Nf4 22. Nf5  Rde8 23. Nxh6  Nfd3 24. b3  Ref8 25. Bg3  Nf4 26. Kh2  Nfg6 27. c4  Bh4 28. Rhf1  Bxg3+ 29. Nxg3  Rxf1 30. Rxf1  Rf8 31. Rxf8+  Nxf8 32. Ne4  Nd3 33. Nf5  Nc1 34. Nc3  Kd7 35. Nd4  c6 36. g4  Ne6 37. Nf3  h6 38. Kg3  Ke7 39. Ne1  Kf6 40. h4  Nc5 41. Kf3  N1d3 42. Nc2  Ne5+ 43. Kg3  a5 44. Nd4  Nf7 45. Kf4  Nd3+ 46. Ke3  Nde5 47. Ne4+  Ke7 48. Kf4  Ng6+ 49. Kg3  d5 50. cxd5  cxd5 51. Nf5+  Ke6 52. Nc5+  Ke5 53. Nxb7  a4 54. bxa4  d4 55. Nc5  Kd5 56. Nb3  Kc4 57. Nfxd4  Nd6 58. a5  Kb4 59. a6  Nc8 60. Nc6+  Ka3 61. a7  Nb6 62. Nbd4  Kxa2 63. Nf5  h5 64. gxh5  Nf8 65. Nce7  Kb3 66. Nd5  Na8 67. Nf6  Kc4 68. Kf4  Kc5 69. Kg5  Kb6 70. h6  Kxa7 71. h7  Nxh7+ 72. Nxh7  Nc7 73. h5   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.11”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Jones, G”]
[Black “Simotowe, M”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2550”]
[BlackElo “2110”]
[ECO “C42”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nf6 3. Nxe5  d6 4. Nf3  Nxe4 5. c4  Be7 6. Nc3  Nxc3 7. dxc3  O-O 8. Qc2  Nd7 9. Bd3  Nf6 10. Be3  c6 11. h3  Qa5 12. Bd4  Re8 13. b4  Qc7 14. O-O-O  g6 15. Rhe1  Nh5 16. Qd2  Be6 17. g4  Ng7 18. Qh6  f6 19. Ng5   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.11”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Wang, P”]
[Black “De Villiers, C”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2453”]
[BlackElo “2179”]
[ECO “B30”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  c5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. c3  d5 4. exd5  Qxd5 5. d4  Bg4 6. Be2  e6 7. h3  Bh5 8. c4  Qd6 9. d5  exd5 10. cxd5  Bxf3 11. Bxf3  Nd4 12. Nc3  Nf6 13. Be3  Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3  Be7 15. O-O-O  O-O 16. Bf4  Qa6 17. d6  Bd8 18. Rhe1  Ba5 19. Kb1  Bxc3 20. Qxc3  Nd7 21. Re7  Qa4 22. Qf3  c4 23. Rd4  Qb5 24. Rd5  Qc6 25. Rd4  Qb5 26. a4  Qxa4 27. Bh6  gxh6 28. Rg4+  Kh8 29. Rxd7   1-0

[Event “SA Open”]
[Site chesscube.com]
[Date “2009.07.11”]
[Round “11”]
[White “Meintjies, J”]
[Black “Rujevic, M”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “1915”]
[BlackElo “2282”]
[ECO “C77”]
[Time “1:30:00”]
[TimeControl “1½ hours + 30”]

1. e4  e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. Bb5  a6 4. Ba4  Nf6 5. d4  Nxe4 6. Qe2  Nd6 7. dxe5  Nf5 8. Qe4  g6  1/2-1/2

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Hounslow today

I was in Hounslow this morning. I was glad I went early as it’s another boiling, hot day today. I ventured quickly through the shops as I knew the sun will start baking down on me and then it’s no pleasure to wander around looking for a bargain or two. All the shops have their specials and it’s quite a good time – now with the credit crunch – to shop as you will even find items marked down 50-70%. This road is only a pedestrian zone, but buses do travel through here for shoppers, which is nice and convenient. I usaully park in Treaty Centre – see the last image – as it’s quite central and you can access all these shops within a few minutes walk from the centre. We normally buy at Tesco’s groceries – and sometimes you find some clothing you like too – Tesco is not in Hounslow, it’s in Osterley, where we live. Osterley is about 5 min drive from this shopping centre and also, Osterley is a small area, part of Isleworth! –very confusing, I know!haha ..Hounslow is also the borough we live in.

On one image you will see Holland and Barret – that’s where we buy our vitamin-supply and all sorts of dry fruits and bars, always fresh. This area is quite leafy and there are a couple of benches where shoppers can relax and have their daily meetings with their friends. (some on their mobiles!) Normally this place is as busy as an ant’s nest! You don’t want to go here on a Saturday, it can get too busy – for someone like me not having too much patience with people not really knowing what they actually want to buy. I also go to this centre when I need to top-up my perfume…at the bottom image, you can see Beauty Base. Debenhams sells a variety of stuff including kitchenware. Come rain!

Die Treaty sentrum is ons naaste inkopie-sentrum, maar ook nie baie ver nie, is Ealing Broadway wat ook baie lekker is om inkopies te doen, alhoewel ons min daar uitkom. Tesco het gewoonlik als wat jy wil hê, selfs klere, maar jy kry mos nie altyd alles wat jy wil hê by een plek nie, daarom sal ons af en toe London toe gaan of Richmond toe gaan. Richmond is om en by 20 min (met verkeer) van ons af en net so heerlik om inkopies te doen, hulle het ‘n groot verskeidenheid van winkels. Twickenham is ook om die draai by ons, maar ek was nog net vir ‘n ete in ‘n Chinese Restaurant daar, nog nie regtig na die winkels gaan kyk nie. As jy ‘n heerlike omgewing soek om te bly, dan is Osterley regtig die plek om te bly. Dit is ‘n vinnige 3-5 min se stap vanaf Osterley stasie – wat op die Piccadilly lyn is – die lyn wat ook Heathrow toe gaan. Van hier af na sentraal London, ry jy per trein so 3/4 uur, dis nou met al die stoppe tussen-in en as daar geen oponthoud op die treine is nie. Gewoonlik is die diens goed op die Piccadilly lyn, maar druktyd kan dit nogal erg raak en kom vertragings tog voor, maar darem nie daagliks nie. Gelukkig hoef ek nie meer op die “Underground” te reis nie, ek dink ek het genoeg gehad van die vier jaar wat ek dit in-en-uit gedoen het. Mens raak bietjie moeg vir dit, maar dit bly ‘n gerief. Jy’t geen spanning van verkeer en verkeersopeenhopings en ompaaie wat jy moet neem as jy op ‘n besige snelweg is waar daar ongelukke was en afritte gesluit moet word. Dit kan nogal ‘n nagmerrie wees. Ons het nou byna vyf jaar hier in Osterley gebly en verhuis na Amersham oor ‘n maand. Google die naam en sien hoe mooi daardie omgewing ook is. As jy planne het om in London te kom bly, moet jy baie mooi seker maak in watter area jy wil bly, want daar is areas waar jy liewer nie wil bly nie, dalk nie eers ook daar naby wil wees nie. Een so ‘n area is Peckham. Met die skoolhouery in London-laerskole – aflos wat hulle hier Supply noem, het ek baie areas leer ken en so die skole ook. Jy wil baie beslis nie jou kinders in daardie skole ook hê nie, nie eers vir ‘n uur nie.

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Twenty-one forty

It’s summer in the northern hemisphere, 30th June 2009, 21:40. The church clock is quiet. All clear! Silence has been spilt! Night has slowly arrived. Next door’s cat keeps watching, unaware of an intruder invading its “personal space”, trying to zoom into its comings and goings. Then, telling the intruder to back off, kitty cat disappears on the other side of the roof, spoiling a moment’s excitement.

Dis een ding waaraan ons gewoond moes raak. In die somer, veral hierdie tyd van die jaar, word dit eers na tien uur donker. Julle kan op hierdie foto’s sien dat dit skemer is. Terwyl ek hier tik is dit 25 voor 11 en nou eers amper regtig donker. Maar als gebeur oornag hier. Baie gou is die somer verby en maak ons weer gereed vir die bitter koue wat enige tyd vanaf Oktober toeslaan. Verlede jaar het ons ‘n gematigde herfs gehad – wat Oktober tot Desember is. Die skole se termyne word ingedeel volgens die seisoene. Dus, die eerste termyn word van Autumn-term gepraat, dan is dit Spring en Summer begin na April-vakansie. Waar’s winter? Nee wat, jy praat nie van winter in hierdie land nie, dis al klaar erg dat dit so koud kan word, dus word winter sommer oorgeslaan! hehe… ons het drie termyne, maar in die helfte van elke termyn het ons ‘n week “vakansie”, wat die termyn darem soort van draaglik maak. Die breukie word “half term” genoem. Dit kom ook net betyds, soos ek altyd sê dat naweke net betyds kom. Jy voel die week wil net-net te lank raak, dan’s Saterdag op jou. Hier is die skooldae ook vreeslik lank, met die dat middagete by die skool genuttig word. Laerskole begin meestal 5 oor 9 en eindig op die laatste 3:30 – afhangende van hoe lank die middagete is. Hoërskole probeer die middagete slegs ‘n halfuur maak, wat meebring dat die meeste skole dan in die omgewing van 3:15 klaarmaak. Een groot rede vir die kort middagete is om allerhande “gevegte”  wat moontlik kan uitbreek, te verhoed. Dit gee kinders net genoeg tyd om hul eet-breuk te hê en ‘n kort geselsie in te pas. In sommige rowwe skole kan selfs ‘n halfuur ete menige  Onderwyser ‘n hoofpyn besorg. Sommige skole probeer ook soveel as moontlik klubs gedurende etenstye te hê sodat die kinders aktief en konstruktief besig gehou word en sodoende probleme uitgeskakel word, of verminder word. Natuurlik gaan ek die nuwe akademiese jaar by my skool met ‘n skaakklub begin. By die skool moet elke Onderwyser op ‘n Woensdagmiddag -na ete- een of ander aktiwiteit vir die leerders aanbied en elke leerling moet daardie uur aan iets deelneem. Ek dink dis ‘n puik idee. Bitter min skole doen so iets om kinders aktief te kry by een of ander sport of aktiwiteit betrokke te kry. Vra my oor sport in skole hier…en ek vertel jou dat dit ‘n groot grap is, in vergelyking met ons skole in SA. Nou praat ek ook nie eers van ‘n “sportdag” wat skole gewoonlik hierdie tyd van die jaar het – om kinders “besig” te hou. Dis genoeg brabbel vir eers, ek groet! Terloop, ek het eerskomende Maandag sportdag by my skool. Verlede jaar het ek my verbrande arms geblog! Die jaar sal ek weet om my baie dik met sonroom te smeer, ten spyte van die wolke!

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Die sterre gee nuwe krag

Ek het ‘n vorige inskrywing gehad van die 1916-Huisgenoot en drie publikasies daarmee saam. Jy kan die link aan die einde van hierdie inskrywing vind en die publikasies in PDF aflaai. Hierdie gediggies in hierdie inskrywing kom almal van die drie publikasies en ek plaas hulle onveranderd. Hier kan jy vergelyk en sien hoe Afrikaans as taal ontwikkel het. Ek hou veral van die laaste gediggie waar die Boer beskryf is gedurende die oorlog.

Diep in ‘t hart

Diep in ‘t hart verborgen,
Onbewust en stil,
Onder smart en zorgen,
Woont een heil’ge wil.

Wonen moog’likheden,
Die geen tijd nog weet,
Kracht voor eenwigheden,
Leniging voor leed.

Dieper zult gij kennen
Eens, dit wonder hart,
Dat aan leed moet wennen
En aan wrede smart.

Dieper zult gij graven
In uw hartegrond:
Bronnen zullen laven
Uw versmachte mond.

Weet in ‘t nederdalen
Vindt ge diep-ontroerd:
Wat uit smart en kwalen
U tot beter voert.
R.v.D.

Huweliksgebooie

Ek hoor klanke in die toekoms –
klanke nes van huwliksklokke
Tongelonge- vreug en blijdskap
weergalm in die tempelnokke.

Mannekrag en vrouweskoonheid
word verbind om één te lewe,
om één pad van voor- en teenspoed
op te gaan en voort te strewe.

Als die één sig wil verloen
om die ander toe te eie,
dan het hul mekaar tot trouwpand-
dat dit tot geluk gedije!
PIET

De Vlam

O vlamme, vol mysterieglans
In ‘t grillig weven van uw lijnen,
O, glanzend sehone lichtekrans.
Die duisterheden doet verdwijnen,
Vol sproke is uw lichtgetril.
Geheimnisvol uw ganse wezen,
Waar gij in donk’re nachte, stil
En levend komt omhoog gerezen.

Ik zag uw zachte, milde gloed
In ‘t oude kerkje. ‘t Eeuwig branden
Van Gods groot harte deed weer moed
M’ in ‘t harte dalen en mijn handen,
–Die lang vergeten hadden in symbool
Het smeken van het harte weer te geven —
Ze vouwden zieh… Mijn ziel ontstool
Een bede zich om licht en leven.
R.v.D.

Op moed verloor se vlak

Jij vra mij: Is jij dapper?
En hoop jij nog te win,
Hoe hoog ook stijg die donker wolk,
Hoe klein die kans, die moed hoe min?
Jij vra mij: Is jij dapper?
En is dit naar jouw sin?

Ek antwoord: Nee, nie dapper!
Ek is te sleg en swak,
Ek weet, die taak is al te groot:
Mijn hart is bijna hoop ontbloot.
Ek dool op Moed-verloor se vlak,
Ek antwoord: Nee, nie dapper:
Ek is halfpad mak.

Jij vra mij: Glo jij seker,
Dat God sal uitkoms gee?
Ons het so baje hard geveg
En moed en hoop en krag is weg
Daar is geen hoop op uitkoms, nee!
Jij vra mij: Glo jij seker?
Met oë blind van wee?

Ek antwoord: Skijn die sterre
Vir altijd dag en nag
Hoe kan jij ooit die son se skijn
Bespeur, als skemerlig verdwijn?
Hoe kan jij ooit die daglig wag?
Ek antwoord: Man, die sterre,
Die gee mij nuwe krag!

Ja, ek was op die vlakte
Waar mense moed verloor:
Daar het ek in mijn siel gebewe
Daar baje dinge aangehoor;
Maar ek is uit die vlakte
En bo sijn skaduws oor.
C. Louis Leipoldt

Die Verkenner
(Naar die Duits van Fritz Lienhard)

Daar onder blink ‘n witte lijn:
Die vijandstente! Die gewere staan
In hopies. Sidderende sonneskijn
Hang oor die krans; die windjies kom en gaan
En laat die sand oor pad en vlakte stuiwe.
Die kop lê doodstil! Net ‘n akkedis,
Wat rads en ritslend deur die bossies roer,
Soek wildverskrik ‘n skeurtjie om te rus.
En dan ‘n perdekop, geblaas, gesnuiwe —
‘n Hoed en Mauser — oor die klippe loer
Twee oë– dan weer weg. Dit was ‘n Boer!
J.F.W.G.

Op hierdie link kan jy ou Huisgenote van 1916 in PDF-formaat aflaai en nog meer “vroeë” Afrikaanse gedigte lees wat in die ou Huisgenote verskyn het.

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Easy and safe

Banking is getting more sophisticated by day…and safer…safer? You still have to be careful when withdrawing money at these machines..Today in 1967, the first automatic teller machine was used in the UK…and ten years later in South Africa…and now it’s getting even more sophisticated.

Bank pioneers biometrics
Article By: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:06
In a first for the South African banking industry, Capitec Bank is pioneering a new biometric identification system to provide increased security for client transactions and lower banking fees.

A revolutionary paperless identification system, biometrics refers to the digital identification of a person through their personal characteristics. This can include fingerprint scanning, face recognition, voice recognition and iris identification.

Riaan Stassen, Capitec Bank CEO says, “The sophisticated yet simple biometric device that we are implementing in our branches is an example of how we strive to use innovative technology to drive down costs while enhancing security and offering clients greater peace of mind. The biometric devices allow immediate verification and instant account access, in real-time, assuring clients that only they can transact on their account.”

Used extensively in Europe, the US and Australia, the introduction of biometric identification by Capitec Bank is a local industry first. Using fingerprint and photographic recognition, the system is used in-branch when a client opens an account and any time they need to liaise with a consultant thereafter. “Recognising a client through their fingerprints fosters credibility. So, if for example a client’s card is stolen, the fraudster cannot transact in the branch and their money is safe,” adds Stassen.
Read the complete article on this link: here

The 40 years of the ATM
Mon, 02 Jul 2007 09:46
Forty years ago Reg Varney, a popular British comic actor, changed the face of banking by becoming the world’s first cash machine customer at Barclays Enfield branch in North London. 

On Wednesday, 27 June 2007, the cash machine, ATM, or more colloquial ‘Hole in the Wall’ celebrated its 40th birthday.

The original machines, described as mini-banks, were designed to allow customers access to cash 24 hours a day, outside of the restrictive opening times of banks during the 1960s.

Help U Auto Tellers

The machine was designed to dispense £10 against a special paper voucher which the customer inserted into the machine, followed by a unique four digit personal identification number, or PIN code, in much the same way as today.

By the end of the 1960s, there were 781 cash machines across the world, although South Africa was yet to introduce this innovation to the banking public.

The first two ATMs in South Africa were installed by United — a forerunner of Absa — at its Johannesburg branch in 1977. The terminals, called ‘Help U Auto Tellers’, enabled customers to make deposits, withdrawals and certain account enquiries with the use of a transaction card and PIN.

Bath invention

By the mid-1980s, there were approximately 700 ATMs in South Africa, the fifth largest amount in the world behind the USA, Japan, UK and France.

At the end of 2006, there were approximately 13 000 ATMs in South Africa, while globally there were 1.64 million ATMs worldwide, which is expected to grow to two million by 2010.

The cash machine was invented by John Shepherd–Barron, a managing director of De La Rue, whilst relaxing in his bath one day. He presented the idea to Harold Darvill, chief general manager of Barclays, who committed Barclays to buying the machines immediately. The machines were developed jointly by De La Rue and Barclays and swiftly moved from conception to installation within 24 months in order to beat the competition.

Going strong

Shepherd-Barron, the inventor of the cash machine, said: “I am delighted that the cash machine is still going strong. I remember back in 1965 that I would always take money out of my bank on a Saturday morning. However, one Saturday I was one minute late at my bank and it was closed. I had to ask my local garage to cash my cheque.

“That night I started thinking that there must be a better way to get cash when I wanted it. I thought of the chocolate vending machine where money was put in a slot and a bar dispatched – surely money could be dispensed in the same way.

“Within two years my idea had become reality and we opened the first cash machine at Barclays Enfield.”

Any time, anywhere

John Warren, head of cash machines for Barclays, said: “The cash machine, more than any other banking innovation, has had a major impact on the way we all conduct our lives, not just our banking. Forty years ago, cash was only available from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday and Saturdays from 9am to12.30pm, and, as cash was king, queues outside branches on a Saturday morning to get weekend money were common. Now you can get money any time, anywhere.”

Although famed for its convenience, of the 1.6 million cash machines worldwide, the most remote is at the McMurdo station at the South Pole, serving a small permanent base of scientists.

First published on www.itinews.co.za.

Source:http://mymoney.iafrica.com/banking/164885.htm

Image: wikipedia – Reg Varney

Today -27th June 1967 – the first Automatic Teller Machine was used in the Uk. Read on the link the complete article.
http://encyclopedia.tfd.com/Automatic%20Teller%20Machine

Update: 22nd May 2010

This news article is about John Shepperd-Barron who died in his native Scotland.

Click on the image for a large view.

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Gulliver visits Osterley Park

 
Osterley House

I have blogged about Osterley Park before, you can see beautiful images on this link – images from a different part of the park. Links will open in a new window.

Twentieth Century Fox movies started with the shooting of Gulliver’s Travels and some of the scenes will be shot in this grand mansion in Osterley Park. It is not the first time this extravagant mansion is used in a movie. I think it is Pride and Prejudice  where it was used too. The crew were at “rest” on Saturday, as you can see on the images down in this post. They’ve put up notices to apologise for the inconvience they cause visitors to the park whilst shooting, but I think I will enjoy watching them, but guess I will have to camp in front of the mansion!

In the out buildings, you will find the history of Osterley Park and the house, a small restaurant selling also delicious scones and the National Trust Gift shop.

Follow this link to see who else stars in this movie.
History:

Sir Thomas Gresham, commercial agent and financial adviser to Elizabeth I, bought the manor of Osterley in 1562 and by 1576 replaced the existing farmhouse with ‘a faire and stateley brick house’.  

For a man of the city, Osterley not only represented somewhere green and tranquil, but also a source of income. Described as ‘a most fertyle place for wheate’ the estate had ample water. Gresham established one of the first paper mills in England here.

Nicholas Barbon acquired Osterley in 1683. An opportunist, he used Osterley as security to raise a large sum of money. He died in debt and in 1713 Osterley went to Sir Francis Child in payment of his loan.

Apprenticed to a London goldsmith at the age of fourteen, by a judicious marriage Sir Francis found himself the partner and then sole owner of the firm. By 1698 he was Lord Mayor of London and had expanded his business into banking with the creation of Child’s Bank.

The flowering of Osterley
Over the next two generations, the family’s wealth and position grew. In 1761 Robert Adam, the most fashionable architect of the day, was commissioned by Sir Francis’s grandson, another Francis, to modernise the house. He transformed it into what you see today, remodelling the outside and designing the interiors and a great deal of the furnishings. His vast portico makes a particularly grand statement of classical refinement.

The unity of design was carried through into the park by Francis and, on his death in 1763, by his brother Robert Child. They redirected rivers to form a chain of sinuous lakes through the Park, and created a drive which brought people in a tantalising loop before finally arriving at the House.

Not active as an MP or in running the bank, Robert Child spent a great deal of time at, and money on, Osterley. His wife was equally involved and she lived on at Osterley for 10 years after his death.

By the beginning of the 19th century, Osterley was no longer a main residence and, apart from a few brief periods of occupation, would not be so again. In 1923, the 9th Earl of Jersey inherited Osterley at the age of 13.  He opened the house to the public in 1939 because he said, ‘he did not live in it and …many others wished to see it’.  In July 1939, the Georgian Group held a great ball at Osterley.

During the War, the house was occupied by Glyn, Mills Bank to whom Child & Co had been sold in 1924.

In 1949, Lord Jersey achieved his aim of ensuring that Osterley ‘will be maintained and shown off in the way I consider it deserves to be’. He gave the house and the central core of its landscaped park to the National Trust. The house remains, in essence and detail, much as it was in the middle of the 18th century.

Continue reading on this link –of the National Trust- more about the house and see some beautiful images in their gallery about the house!

Family-outing on the pond!

Fox movies’ notice to apologise

 The stairs are covered to prevent damage by the crew.

Beautiful architecture – read on the National Trust-link more about it.

A watchful eye!

 

 

 
History: a sneak peek

Restaurant with delicious tea and scones

 
National Trust Gift shop

Osterley House – from a different angle

Paradise for walkers and bikers or even if you want to fish!

Quiet during the day or when the weather is cooler, this part of the park is my favourite as you can sit and relax with the twitter of the birds around you without your thoughts being disturbed.

From here you’re heading  to a pleasant spot where you can enjoy the peaceful, undisturbed views on the following images.

Sometimes you’re lucky to see some water birds diving into the water to catch a fishy meal.

Or playful doggies after their balls!

This tree has almost been “up-rooted” by wind and weather – Birds love this tree.

From here you can go left/right, but both ways take you back to the front of the park – only if you want to go, you can always take another turn off  to the right and follow a path which you will see on the link of my previous entry.

movie news: empireonline.com/news

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If you’re a dad!

 
The greatest thing a FATHER can do to his children, is to love their mother.

– Anjaneth Garcia Untalan

If you’re a dad, have a wonderful day today!

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London Chess Classic 2009

Please click on the image for a larger view

 

The Chess Player- 1954: Andy Warhol

This early drawing has a surreal quality created by the larger-than-life chess pieces and study of a face, surrounding the young man playing chess. In his later work Warhol would continue to play with scale, enlarging objects and people to increase their iconic status. The colour in this image was possibly completed at one of Warhol’s colouring parties, hosted at the fashionable Serendipity 3 café after it opened in 1954. He would encourage his friends – some of whom would have helped him create the original illustrations – to colour the works with an inventiveness that adds to their whimsical nature. This process looks forward to the production methods of Warhol’s legendary studio, the Factory, in the 1960s.

Art of Warhol here. The link will open in a new window.

David Howell

ENG

2613

The 8th Player in this tournament is David Howell

Cream of world chess to play in new London tournament.
London Chess Centre is proud to announce a world-class chess tournament to be held in London in December, 2009. The event will be an elite eight-player all-play-all in the most prestigious tournament in the capital since former world champion Anatoly Karpov won the Phillips and Drew Masters in 1984.

Since then, despite London hosting three world title contests, there has not been a tournament in which England’s leading players could lock horns with the world’s best on home soil. The December 09 tournament will be the first in a series of events designed to reinvigorate UK chess and promote the game and its undoubted educational benefits in schools and communities.

The tournament will be FIDE Category 19 with an average FIDE rating of 2700 and a minimum prize fund of €100,000. The eight players will comprise of three English and five world-class Grandmasters from abroad. Included in the prize fund will be a €10,000 Brilliant Game award along with separate prizes for each victory with the White and Black pieces. Matches will be covered live online where fans will be able to vote for Game of the Day.

The tournament has applied for membership of the prestigious annual Grand Slam of Chess which culminates in Bilbao and boasts a €400,000 prize fund.

The games will be under Classical Chess time control; 40 moves in two hours, 20 in the subsequent hour then an additional 15 minutes plus an increment of 30 seconds a move until the end of the game. The tournament will further benefit from the use of Sofia Rules which disallow early draws. Players will receive three points for a win and one for a draw.

Source:
http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html#london09

Click on the image for a larger view for the Olympia Conference Centre at spot marked as A.

Contact Malcolm Pein (IM) Director London Chess Centre:

Chess Centre: 020 7388 2404 (London)

New London tournament to be in the Olympia Conference Centre.
I am delighted to announce that the London Chess Classic 2009 will be staged at one of London’s most prestigious venues; the Olympia Conference Centre. Olympia will provide excellent facilities including a 400 seat soundproof auditorium, two commentary rooms and multimedia presentation. There will be ample space for Open, weekend and Speed Chess tournaments plus junior training which will run alongside the main event from December 8th-15th inclusive.

The London Chess Classic 2009 will be the highest level tournament in London for 25 years and will be the first in a series of events designed to increase enthusiasm for chess in the UK and promote the game and its undoubted educational benefits in schools and communities. It is also our objective to bring the world championship to London in the Olympic year 2012.

England’s four leading Grandmasters; Michael Adams, Nigel Short, Luke McShane and David Howell will be pitched against a world class field that includes a former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and 18 year old Magnus Carlsen ranked world number three and widely seen a future holder of the world crown. One of China’s finest players; Ni Hua and the US Champion Hikaru Nakamura, complete the field.

Spectators will be treated to live commentary on the games from Grandmasters and will be able to play tournament or informal games all day. Ticket information will be available in September. For those who cannot attend there be will live coverage and commentary on the games on the internet.

Contact Malcolm Pein (IM) Director London Chess Centre:

Chess Centre: 020 7388 2404. E-Mail: info@chess.co.uk.

Maybe, just maybe, I’ll get a chance to meet some of the Grandmasters in London – if I’m lucky! Meanwhile, the Scots want their Chessmen back!
THE BRITISH Museum has put a set of elaborately carved chess figures at the heart of a new gallery despite demands that they be returned to Scotland.

The 82 Lewis Chessmen, which are between 800 and 900 years old and made from walrus and whale ivory, were seen in a Harry Potter film and inspired the children’s TV series Noggin The Nog.

Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, wants them repatriated to Edinburgh to be reunited with the rest of the set discovered on the Outer Hebrides in the early 19th century.

Just as the Greek government wants the Elgin Marbles in London to be returned to Athens, Mr Salmond claims it is “unacceptable” for the British Museum to have 82 of the figures while the other 11 are in the National Museum of Scotland.

Read the entire article here.

…and from South Africa: -click on the image for a clear view

Cartoon: wonkie.com

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Liewe Maan

My moon-cinquain

Moon
mysterious secretive
sliding rotating floating
Lonely in the night-sky
Satellite! [c]N 15/6/2009

Maan
misterieus geheimsinnig
glimmend sluipend kruipend
Alleen, verdwaald in die Sterre-hemel
Satelliet! [c]N15/6/2009

My eerste cinquain  en dis baie maklik as jy die reëls volg om jou eie te skryf. Eerste reël: ‘n naamwoord/onderwerp, reël 2: twee byvoeglike naamwoorde wat die naamwoord beskryf, reël 3: drie werkwoorde relatief tot die naamwoord in reël 1, reël 4: vier woorde (gevoelens) of ‘n kort sinnetjie oor jou naamwoord/onderwerp, reël 5: een woord of ‘n sinoniem wat die naamwoord opsom. Skryf en geniet jou eie!

Painting: http://www.nzartforsale.com/3/miscellaneous2.htm

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Blues with Alice

My blog is now 2 years old – taking in account the start at blogger before the move to WordPress – and I want to celebrate it with some blues music of Katie Melua… Far away…Also some chess! I’ve come across this beautiful Alice in Wonderland Chess set and was wondering if someone could buy it as a pressie for me – a blog pressie…haha…I apologise, I had to remove the movie I had uploaded here due to problems it caused for some people in their web browsers. I have the music file of Katie to listen to.
Read on this link on my blog about Alice and my visit to the Old Sheep shop in Oxford. You can also read about the chess game in Alice on this link. The link will open in a new window.

Alice Liddell… Alice’s name in real life was Alice too… in case you didn’t know it!…uhm…

Lewis Carrol…alias …Charles Dodgon

Alice Pleasance LIDDELL (1852-1934), inspired L. CARROLL for Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. She was the daughter of the Dean LIDDELL, manager of the Christ Church College from 1855, which he supervised in a tough way. L.CARROLL met her in 1856. In 1862, Lewis and a friend of his offer a boat walk to 3 LIDDELL sisters, during which he established the guidelines of the stories that Alice will ask him to write. But in 1863, L. CARROLL and the LIDDELLS parted.
Read more on the link I’ve given about Alice.

See this link for more info about this chess set.

Read on the given link in the top of this post more about this game.

Sir John Tenniel: Alice Queen of hearts

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Romancing the Knight!

James Last: Tenderly

Sweet People: Summer Dream

It’s Saturday night…that time of the weekend and guess what…no, you can look at this entry and I don’t have to ask you to guess! Classical music and all the other ingredients!… how romantic to have a game of chess with your “knight” and the music is playing, chocolates nearby, glass of South African red wine…hmm… I always say chess, chocolates and classical music go together, but don’t forget the red rose too! I was given Pinotage Cinsault as a present a few weeks ago and it’s quite nice red wine!

 Have you tried to play chess with classical music on your ears and you have your partner opposite you staring in your eyes..hmmm… I forgot! It’s Saturday (k)night…wonder if the moon is out there, suddenly I have to go!

James Last: Elizabethan Serenade

James Last: Lara’s theme from Dr Zhivago

Sweet People: Barcarolle

Image:www.redwine.co.uk

SA red wine

Red wine increases the female sex drive
March 24, 2009
Lucy Shaw

Red wine increases the female libido, research has found. According to a study carried out by the Santa Maria Nuova Hospital in Florence, drinking one to two glasses of red wine a day increases female sexual desire.

The study investigated 789 Italian women aged between 18 and 50. Drinking red wine not only helps to release inhibitions, but also has a direct effect on sexual activity.

Women who drink one to two glasses of wine a day were found to be more sexually active than those who abstain. Dark chocolate, which is rich in antioxidants, has a similarly positive effect on the female libido.

Whoops! I found this article link on douglasgreen.wordpress.com’s blog

These chess graphics are from games I finished quite awhile ago. Sometimes I  save a certain chess position with the intention to blog about the game, but for the past 8 months my time was very little to blog chess games in detail. If you’re a chess player, I’m quite certain you will be able to “read” these graphics. The last image is from a tourney I finished in April. I played white in the game and thought it was a good win. Actually, in all the games, I played the colour nearest to you when you look at the games.

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My Sarie Marais

Sarie Marais (Mare) 1868

This audio file is Sarie Marais played by the Royal Marines
Any South African knows this song very well. If someone from South Africa doesn’t know this song, then he pretends his a South African- hehe. Sarie Marais is a song which runs in your blood if you’re a Saffa. Interesting to know that the British Royal Marines have adopted it…even the French! Near to the bottom of this post you can find the link to the Royal Marines’ site and I’ve found the translation of this song in English/French too. I grew up in the Transvaal, but the Eastern Transvaal, which is now called Mpumalanga and I will always sing…”bring me back to my dear Transvaal”! I have the history of Sarie Marais in Afrikaans and if you want it translated, give me a shout and I’ll do it in a week’s time. At the bottom of this post, you will find a link to an entry about Die Huisgenoot…uit Toeka se dae!

http://www.geocities.ws/paulmare69/stories/sarie_marais.htm

Sarie Marais Rose – image: sariemarais.com

Sarie magazine, first published in 1949 under the title, Sarie Marais

Image: sarie.com…the first Sarie published 6th July 1949! volg die link na Sarie-webadres. The link to Sarie’s site will open in a new window.
http://www.sarie.com/lees/artikels/waar-het-sarie-haar-naam-vandaan-gekry

Sarie is 60! Image: sarie.com

Sarie on the web! at sarie.com

Susara Margaretha (Sarie) Maré
Die eerste dogter van Jacob Philippus Maré en Cornelia Susanna Jacoba Erasmus was Susara Margaretha. Sy is op die plaas Eendraght, Suikerbosrand, distrik Heidelberg, gebore op 15 April 1869. Haar pa was Jacob Maré, wat later ‘n lid van die uitvoerende raad van die Transvaal geword en na wie ‘n straat in Pretoria genoem is.

Hierdie is dié Sarie Marais (eintlik Maré) wat in die wyk van die Mooirivier gewoon het, ook bekend as Tant Mossie, volgens die SA biblioteek se katalogus-inskrywing AP.1998-227.

Haar ouers was Voortrekkers, en het hulle in die omgewing van die Suikerbosrand gevestig. Die dorpie Heidelberg het toe nog nie bestaan nie. Die grootste konsentrasie Voortrekkers het hulle in die wyk Mooirivier bevind, waar die dorp Potchefstroom aangelê is.

In hierdie tyd was daar vyf wyke in Transvaal:

Mooirivier (Potchefstroom)
Magaliesburg (Rustenburg)
Marico (Zeerust)
Ohrigstad
Zoutpansberg (Pietersburg).
Suikerbosrand was in die wyk van Mooirivier geleë, wat gestrek het vanaf Potchefstroom tot die huidige Wolmaransstad en Makwassie.

Toe sy 16 jaar oud was, het sy vir Jacobus Petrus Toerien, ‘n verslaggewer van Di Patriot van die Paarl, ontmoet. (Hy was toe in Pretoria om ‘n onderhoud met haar pa te voer). Hy het onder die skuilnaam Jepete in “Ons Kleintje” geskrywe in sy hoedanigheid as subredakteur van “Di Patriot”. Hulle is getroud en het 16 kinders gehad, van wie net 8 grootgeword het.

Hy het by Amerikaners wat in Transvaalse myne gewerk het die liedjie Sweet Ellie Rhee gehoor, wat sy oorsprong in die Amerikaanse Burgeroorlog gehad het en deur Septimus Winner (Alice Hawthorne) geskryf is. In die tydperk tussen die Eerste en Tweede Vryheidsoorloë het Jepete die woorde vertaal en só sy vrou, Sarie Maré, verewig. Die lied het ook nie aanvanklik al die versies en presies dieselfde woorde gehad het as wat ons vandag ken nie. Maré het later weens ‘n drukfout Marais geword.

 

Teen 1899 was Sarie Marais reeds ‘n treffer in Pretoria. In die Anglo-Boereoorlog het dit nie net gewild by die Boeremag geword nie, maar ook by ander soldate. Dit het later wêreldbekend geword omdat duisende Suid-Afrikaanse soldate dit in die Eerste en Tweede Wêreldoorlog gesing het.
Die gewildheid het het só gegroei dat die Britse Royal Marines dit as regimentsmars aangeneem het. Hul opleidingskip heet ook Sarie Marais. Dit is ook die regimentsmars van Paraguay se seinerskorps. Die eerste Suid-Afrikaanse seiljag se naam was ook Sarie Marais en duisende besoekers het al in die Durban-hawe op die Sarie Marais-plesierboot gevaar. Die eerste Suid-Afrikaanse rolprent se naam was Sarie Marais. Sarie, sustertydskrif van Die Volksblad, heet ook na haar. Tot hotels en woonstelblokke is na haar genoem.

Op die eerste internasionale radio-uitsending tussen Suid-Afrika, Brittanje en Amerika op die verjaardag van mev. Isie Smuts, vrou van die destydse premier, generaal Jan Smuts, het die sangeres Gracie Fields Sarie Marais gesing.

In die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het ‘n buitestasie van soldate in Noord-Afrika die naam “Sarie Marais Calling” gehad. Die Suid-Afrikaanse weermag is steeds lief om die mars op parades te speel, terwyl die Franse Vreemdelinge-legioen dit ook gebruik. Dit is ook die amptelike lied van die Girl Guides in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) wat dit aan die begin van die vorige eeu by die Boerekrygsgevangenes daar gehoor het. In die jare dertig van die vorige eeu is dit verkeerdelik op die Olimpiese Spele in Amerika as Suid-Afrika se amptelike volkslied gespeel. Duitsers het ‘n pienk roos met die naam Sarie Marais gekweek, waarvan voor die Pantserskool in Tempe, Bloemfontein, geplant is.

Inligting: sien die geocities-link soos hierbo aangedui.Daar word beweer dat “My Sarie Marais” se “oorsprong” is van die Amerikaanse liedjie:

Sweet Ellie Rhee

Sweet Ellie Rhee, so dear to me
Is lost forever more
Our home was down in Tennessee
Before this cruel war
Then carry me back to Tennessee
Back where I long to be
Amid the fields of yellow corn
To my darling Ellie Rhee.

My Sarie Marais

My Sarie Marais is so ver van my hart,
Maar ‘k hoop om haar weer te sien.
Sy het in die wyk van die Mooirivier gewoon,
Nog voor die oorlog het begin.

Koor:

O bring my trug na die ou Transvaal,
Daar waar my Sarie woon:
Daar onder in die mielies by die groen doringboom
Daar woon my Sarie Marais,
Daar onder in die mielies by die groen doringboom
Daar woon my Sarie Marais.

Ek was so bang, dat die kakies my sou vang,
En ver oor die see wegstuur;
Toe vlug ek na die kant van die Upington se sand
Daar onder langs die Grootrivier.

Koor

Die kakies is mos net soos ‘n krokodillepes
Hul sleep hou altyd watertoe.
Hulle gooi jou op ‘n skip vir ‘n lange lange trip
Die josie weet waarna toe.
Koor

Verlossing het gekom, en die huistoe gaan was daar,
Trug na die ou Transvaal,
My liewelingspersoon sal seker ook daar wees
Om my met ‘n kus te beloon.

Koor
English translation:

Sarie Marais

My Sarie Marais is so far away from my heart,
But I hope to see her again.
She lives in the district of Mooiriver,
Since before the war began.

Refrain:

Oh, take me back to my dear Transvaal,
To where my Sarie lives:
There down by the maïsfields near the green thorn tree,
That’s where my Sarie lives.
There down by the maïsfields near the grren thorn tree,
That’s where my Sarie lives.

Refrain:

I was so scared that the English would catch me,
And send me away accross the sea;
That’s when I fled in the direction of the sandflats near Upington,
There down by the Orange River (formerly Great River)

Refrain:

The English are just like crocodiles,
They always drag you down to the water.
They trow you on a ship for a very long trip,
Only the Lord knows where to.

Refrain:

Liberation came, and it was time to return home,
Back to my dear Transvaal.
The person I love will certainly be there,
To reward me with a kiss.

SARIE MARAIS was also adopted by the French Army

Sarie Mares

Chant d’amour Sud-Africain du XVIII° siècle, il est chanté dès 1946 au peloton d’Extrême-Orient. A partir des années 1970, il s’impose comme chant de marche à l’EMIA.

O Sarie Mares, belle amie d’autrefois
En moi tu demeures vive.
L’amour est plus fort que la pluie et que le vent.
Qui peut arrêter son élan ?

Oui, je veux revoir, dans mon vieux Transvaal,
Ma ferme au toit de chaume.
Où le parfum du miel, et des conifères embaument.
L’air pur est clair comme un cristal. (bis pour les deux derniers)

O Sarie Mares est bien loin de mon coeur
Mais je crois en son amour.
Car c’est entre ses bras que j’ai connu le bonheur.
J’irai la revoir un jour. (bis pour les deux derniers)

Quand j’étais petit, je croyais qu’un démon
Venait me ravir ma maison.
Mais lorsque je fus grand, ce fut une horrible guerre
Qui m’emmena loin de mes terres. (bis pour les deux derniers)
http://www.nationalanthems.us/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1136108511

Sarie Marais
Arranged Sir Vivian Dunn
This march was adopted by the Royal Marines in 1953 as the offical march of the Royal Marines Commandos and is played after the Regimental March on ceremonial occassions. This recording is taken from the CD ‘The King’s Squad’ by the Band of HM Royal Marines Commando Training Centre and features the Adjudant giving that famous order “Royal Marines, to you duties… quick march”

http://www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/audio/Index_audiomp3.htm

Helmut Lotti – Sarie Marais – with a perfect Afrikaans accent!

 Royal Marines Commandos – Sarie Marais

On youtube you can watch the French version too.
And Sarie Marais in the movies!

Op hierdie volgende link kan jy lees oor die Huisgenoot uit Toeka se dae! Die link sal in ‘n nuwe bladsy oopmaak.
https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2009/01/17/from-ye-olde-and-not-so-old/

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My state of mind

This image was sent to me via email with a couple of other beautiful photos. This depicts the state of my mind!

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Playing chess may well help child diagnosed with ADHD

Image: pda.88000.org/wallpapers/12/World_Chess_Game.jpg

I’ve blogged before about Dyslexia, Hyperactivity, Chess Research and also about the Irlen Syndrome. Irlen Syndrome is an eye condition that relates to Dyslexia. All the links about these topics are at the bottom of this post and all links  will open in a new window. If you’re Afrikaans speaking, then you will find Juffer’s entry about severe low muscle tone interesting or click here to read about it in English, it’s also called hypotonia. Some children with low muscle tone sometimes find it hard to stay focused on activities in class and therefore have concentration problems. You do get different degrees of low muscle tone.

Image: edcollins.com/chess/chess-comic
I’ve had parents with children in the lower grades in Primary School whose children were diagnosed with ADHD. They’ve heard or read that chess is one solution to solving concentration problems. Yes, it is, but if your child has no interest in chess or he’s not motivated, why would you bother to burden him/her to learn the game to improve his concentration?  I can’t see the point as those children will not concentrate on the game and will only attend the chess club because: “my mum/dad said I have to“. You’re really not doing your child any favour of  forcing him/her into chess, nor the teacher that has to produce the results!  Parents also expect the results within a short period of time and sometimes don’t understand that it’s not possible…and if it doesn’t happen in that short period of time…they don’t believe that chess is good for their child’s concentration. Of course you will reap the fruit if you’re child is interested/motivated! I’ve had one little boy and he ended up playing chess for Gauteng Junior Chess…but not with my help only…it was more his coach of course, but at least his dad gave me the credit for getting him enthusiastic about the game…hehehe..What I also found interesting each year, (when starting with a new group – especially if they were Grade 1/Grade 2 ) I could immediately identify the little ones with concentration problems and could then point them out to their teachers and that helped them to know who needs support in that field quite early on.

I have an article for you to read and a couple of links. On the two links – near to the bottom, you can read more about ADHD too, but I would like to advise you to follow my blog-links first as you might find more useful information/links than the two near the bottom.

Playing chess may well help child diagnosed with ADHD
Parenting by Dr. Marilyn Heins
Tucson, Arizona | Published in the Arizona Daily Star: 07.22.2007

I recently was introduced to our neighbor´s 8-year-old grandson, who has been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The child has been extensively evaluated by medical practitioners, pediatricians and psychologists, and he has been on medication for five weeks.

I´m still reading up on this matter, and I saw some of your articles. However, before I was aware of his diagnosis, I was told that he had a problem sitting still and concentrating for any length of time. I immediately suggested that he be exposed to the game of chess, because my experience is that playing this game improves concentration and thought processes, and builds self-esteem. Some time ago, I also read a doctoral thesis from South Africa that dealt with chess as a tool to help children with learning difficulties.

I´ve been teaching this boy to play chess for about two weeks, and he´s able to sit still for up to two hours while playing. I´m pleasantly surprised by his grasp of the game and his thought processes. Do you have any views on teaching chess to children with ADHD? I´d also like to know whether one can overstimulate a child with playing chess, and if so, what´s the maximum time this child ought to be playing the game?

The relationship between chess and acquiring math, reading and critical-thinking skills is fairly strong. One study showed critical-thinking skills improved by seventeen percent in students taking chess classes, compared with five percent for other classes. Chess also teaches patience and courtesy while waiting for your opponent to make a move. I think one reason playing chess can enhance learning is that the child realizes chess, unlike other games dependent mostly on chance, demands skill and a plan to win. This makes winning such a game so much fun that kids may want to translate skills and planning to other areas, such as schoolwork.

There are no real data, but there are lots of anecdotes about chess improving concentration and focus in ADHD kids. And this can translate into better school performance. Indeed, professional chess players in international tournaments are tested for Ritalin, a drug that improves focus, just as athletes are tested for bodybuilding steroids. However, some children with ADHD become more distracted with the stress of competing, so parents can´t assume that chess is a panacea for everything.

The best thing about chess is that it provides attention from an adult and time away from TV! Both factors benefit all children, whether or not they have ADHD. When you think about it, zoning out in front of a television set is the direct opposite of focus. You just figuratively inhale what the network presents, commercials and all.

My father taught me and all his grandchildren how to play chess. For me, it was a very precious time. I knew my father played postcard chess with a brother who lived across the country. (These were the days before cheap cross-country flights and long-distance calls, so my father and uncle did not often meet.) My dad kept one chessboard set up for this cross-country game and looked forward to his brother´s next move.

I knew this game was special for my father, and it was a great honor when I was considered knowledgeable enough to move Uncle George´s men on the board. Playing a game of chess with my father was a great treat. Winning was like being awarded an Oscar.

I don´t play chess anymore, and neither do my children, but it taught me a lot about thinking ahead and planning a strategy. Chess also taught me something about family ties and the importance and joy of imparting the skills you´ve learned — whether they be chess or cooking or fishing — to your child.

It sounds as though the boy you´re teaching is taking to the game of chess very well, and it´s improving his ability to concentrate, which I hope will translate into better school performance. There´s no danger of overstimulation — either the child will stop playing or the adult can tell from the child´s behavior and body language that it´s time to stop.

Dr. Marilyn Heins is a pediatrician, author, newspaper columnist, lecturer, wife, mother, step-mother, and grandmother.
She has written over 800 parenting columns published in the Arizona Daily Star. Resource : http://www.internationalchessinstitute.org/ChessAndADHD.asp

 

On this link you can read about chess  in schools as a subject in different countries.

The next PDF-link will open in a new window too and you can read about it or even save it on your pc for some midnight reading before you turn the lights out…and of course if I didn’t like chess and need to learn this wonderful game, I would love to have a chess set like the one in the next image! That will get me into chess..haha…

https://chessaleeinlondon.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/chess-and-content-orientated-psychology-of-thinking.pdf

Image: ursispaltenstein.ch/blog/images/uploads_img/art_chess.jpg

Great chess players are great thinkers

Read on the next two links about ADHD.

http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/lens/article/?id=75

http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/lens/article/?id=74

Links on my blog..for you to read more…
On this link you can read about the Irlen Syndrome and HERE about Dyslexia and Hyperactivity…and HERE about Chess Research…and education…that was carried out a few years ago. Even South African female chess players agree about the benefits of playing chess. The news article is in Afrikaans unfortunately.

Update: September 2009 -On this next link you can read about chess research that was done in Germany.

http://clevergames.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/games-news-chess-and-education-in-germany/#comment-264

Drie van Suid-Afrika se skaak-Groot-5. Carmen de Jager (19), Daleen Wiid (17) en Ezet Roos (17) was in van die topvyf-posisies wat die junior vroue tydens die Afrika- junior skaakkampioenskap onlangs in Bronkhorstspruit verower het. Foto: Leon Botha.
Kliek op hierdie link vir die oorspronklike artikel. Die link sal in ‘n nuwe bladsy oopmaak.
http://www.news24.com/Beeld/Suid-Afrika/0,,3-975_2450553,00.html 

5 SA vroue is Afrika se junior skaakkampioene
Jan 08 2009 08:48:07:700PM  – (SA)
Leon Botha

Suid-Afrika het die vyf topposisies vir vroue verower tydens die Afrika- junior skaakkampioenskap wat die afgelope week in Bronkhorstspruit aangebied is.

Melissa Greeff (14) van Kaapstad, drie Pretorianers – Ezet Roos (17), Daleen Wiid (17) en Carmen de Jager (19) – en Nicola Alberts (17) van Port Elizabeth het onderskeidelik die eerste vyf plekke voor die neuse van hul mede-Afrikane opgeraap. Altesame 12 lande, waaronder Libië, Angola, Botswana, Kenia en Uganda het aan die kampioenskap deelgeneem.

Ezet, Daleen en Carmen speel al bykans tien jaar lank saam skaak. Hulle het al in 2001 in die Wêreld-jeugskaakkampioenskap saam deelgeneem.

“Die lekker van skaak is om iemand se brein te klop,” verduidelik Ezet.

“Skaak leer jou baie meer oor die lewe as net die spel. Jy leer om geduldig te wees en om te konsentreer. Dit leer jou ook uithouvermoë en om altyd ’n oplossing vir probleme te vind; met skaak sit jy heeltyd met ’n probleem voor jou.”

Daleen vertel dat die meeste vroulike spelers verdedigend speel. “Die belangrikste is om jou skaakstukke op die bord te ‘ontwikkel’, die koning veilig te kry en dan vir jou opponent se swak punte te kyk.

“Maar jou gemoedstoestand speel ook ’n rol. Soos jy daar (by ’n kompetisie) instap, gaan jy klaarmaak; wanneer ’n mens af is, waag jy net minder kanse.

“In skaak moet jy ’n plan hê. Dit moet so ’n agtskuifplan wees. Jy moet ook meer as een plan reghou. As jy byvoorbeeld voor twee moeilike keuses staan, leer skaak jou om die situasie te ontleed. Skaakspelers dink in detail; ons is nie impulsief nie. ’n Mens moet ook skaakfiks bly en gereeld speel,” sê Daleen.

“Die ander Afrika-lande se skaakspelers is sterk spelers,” meen Carmen, “maar hulle het nie genoeg diepte nie. Skaak is egter baie groot in Afrika.”

 

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The Playe of Chess

I’ve come across this interesting information. I hope you will also enjoy the first Chess book that was published in English. I’ve found a couple of interesting links for you too, hoover over the links with your mouse  and you will see what you’ll get to look at. The links will all open in new windows. What I also found interesting about the book is that Caxton explained every single pawn separately and not pawns in general. You will see on the different pages where he wrote about the pawn, he mentioned e.g. “the fourth pawn before the King”…etc. This is “olde” English…so I guess a bit “different” to read. I’ve only uploaded a few pages for you, on the link you will find all the others. It’s worth to follow all the links if you’re really interested in this book.

lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=rbc3&fileName=rbc0001_2005rosen0558page.db&recNum=108

The first book printed in English
The first book which Caxton produced in the Low Countries was The Recuyell of the Histories of Troy, translated by himself from the French original of Raoul Lefèvre. He had begun the translation in 1469, taken it further at the behest of Margaret of York, the Duchess of Burgundy, continued the work in Ghent, and completed it in Cologne on 9 September 1471. This was the first book ever to be printed in English.

The book is a collection of stories very loosely based on the tales of the Trojan Wars. Caxton aimed for a court readership. Stories of war, knightly exploits and love were popular courtly reading. To ensure that his book also looked appealing to his readers, he had a new typeface created, closely based on the handwriting used in manuscripts made for the Burgundian court. In all probability the type was created by Johann Veldener, who had also made Caxton’s Cologne type. While in the Low Countries he printed another book in English, The Play of Chess. It was also translated by Caxton himself, from Jean de Vignay’s French translation of Jacobus de Cessolis’s Latin original. This is Caxton’s first dated work, finished 31 March 1474. The Play of Chess was another text popular at the Burgundian court, an allegory of fixed social structures where each rank has its allotted role. This book was dedicated to George, Duke of Clarence, the brother of Edward IV and, perhaps more importantly, of Margaret of York, who promoted the cause of her favourite brother, the ‘false, fleeting, perjured Clarence’, as he is described in Shakespeare’s Richard III. Not surprisingly, given Clarence’s fall from grace, the dedication does not appear in the second edition of the book dated c.1483.

portico.bl.uk/treasures/caxton/firstbook.html

www.worldchesslinks.net/ezi02.html

De Ludo Scachorum was first translated into French in 1347. In 1474, 2 years before it was printed in French, William Caxton translated the text from the French (of Jean de Vignay) into English and printed it under the title, The Game of Chess.
The Game of Chess was the second book printed in the English language. The first book, also printed by Claxton was The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye, also translated from French (of Raoul le Fèvre) and also in 1474. Caxton printed almost 100 books, and of these 20 were translations from French or Dutch into English.
The Game of Chess has the second distinction of being the first book to be reprinted! The second printing of the book in 1483 had an interesting sidebar. It was printed in Westminster. The first edition was printed in Bruges where Caxton had been politically involved in the local merchant’s association. He had ingratiated himself with Margaret, the Duchess of York, the sister of King Edward IV – in fact it was under her urging that he translated The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye to begin with. The book was dedicated to Edward’s son and Margaret’s brother – George, Duke of Clarence by his humble and unknown servant, William Caxton. Claxton set up a press in Westminster in 1476 and, when in 1483 he reprinted the book, he praises the book in the dedication for it’s moral value and …woodcut illustrations but doesn’t mention George who happened to have been beheaded for treason in 1478.
sbchess.sinfree.net/printing.html

16th Century Chess Literature

By the beginning of the 16th century, the new Queen and Bishop were well accepted in Spain and the option of moving the pawn 2 squares on the first move was common – as demonstrated in the Valencian poem Eschacs d’amor which was written probably around 1490. This is a manuscript, not a printed book but it’s importance lies in its revelations not in its influence. Castling and Queening of pawns were still in the future but for all intents and purposes, modern chess had arrived. Eschacs d’amor is very important historically because it contains the first recorded instance of a chess game using modern moves. The poem was a joint effort among three Valencian poets: Francí de Castellví, Narcís Vinyoles and Bernat Fenollar who each play the part of Mars, Venus and Mercury respectively in the 576 lined poem. In the poem Mars is playing Venus for her love in a game of chess while Mercury arbitrates. All three of these men were active members in the literary and chess circles in Valencia and because of that a lot is known about them and because a lot is known about them, this work is a key element to understanding the origins of modern chess. The game itself was probably manufactured for the purpose of the poem.

The game contains 21 moves for white and 20 for black – a ply count of 41. The poem contains 21 stanzas: Mars with the red pieces, has 21 stanzas; Venus with the green pieces has 20; Mercury, the arbitrator, also has 20 stanzas; there are 3 introductory stanzas – totaling 64 stanza (9 lines each, totaling 576 lines).
The Game
[Event “Scachs d’amor”]
[Site “Valencia”]
[Date “1490.?.?”]
 [White “Castellvi, Francisco -Mars”]
[Black “Vinoles, Narcisco -Venus”]
[ECO “B01”]
[PlyCount “41”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8
4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3
7. Qxf3 e6 8. Qxb7 Nbd7 9. Nb5 Rc8
10. Nxa7 Nb6 11. Nxc8 Nxc8 12. d4 Nd6
13. Bb5+ Nxb5 14. Qxb5+ Nd7 15. d5 exd5
16. Be3 Bd6 17. Rd1 Qf6 18. Rxd5 Qg6
19. Bf4 Bxf4 20. Qxd7+ Kf8 21. Qd8#
1-0

To play through the game, please click HERE and it will open in a new window.

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Caïssa

Image: caissa.com

Image: Chessville

Caissa is the “patron goddess” of chess players.

She was created in a poem called Caïssa written in 1763 by English poet and philologist Sir William Jones.

Scacchia ludus was the basis for the poem written by William Jones in 1763.  While Scacchis may have been the first Goddess of Chess, Caïssa is certainly the most famous and sustaining. In the poem Caïssa, Mars becomes infatuated with a nymph named Caïssa but she does not return the favor and is in fact a bit repulsed by the God of War. Not one to give up the fight, Mars enlists the aid of an ally, Euphron, the God of Sports and Games. Euphon creates the game of chess and designs a beautiful and elaborate board and chess set for Mars to give to Caïssa. In the poem, Mars gains Caïssa’s attention this way and teaches her how to play. As the game progresses, Caïssa’s resistance wears down and in the end, Mars wins more than just the game. But Caïssa wins eternal fame.

…fram’d a tablet of celestial mold,
Inlay’d with squares of silver and of gold;
Then of two metals form’d the warlike band,
That here compact in show of battle stand;
He taught the rules that guide the pensive game,
And call’d it Caissa from the dryad’s name:
(Whence Albion’s sons, who most its praise confess,
Approv’d the play, and nam’d it thoughtful Chess.)
Mars then presents the game of chess to Caissa in an attempt to win her affection.

For chess players, Caissa is often invoked as a source of inspiration or luck, e.g. “Caissa was with me in that game.”

Image: sbchess.sinfree.net

Caissa is also spelled Caïssa.

Caïssa is quite frequently referred to in chess commentary. Garry Kasparov uses this reference now and again, especially in his epic volume My Great Predecessors. It is used as a substitute for being lucky – “Caïssa was with me” – especially in unclear situations, for example in sacrifices. Caïssa as a concept has also been explored by some who seek the evidence of the sacred feminine in chess. The first (Russian) computer program that won the World Computer Chess Championship (in 1974) was also named Caïssa.

On this next link – which will open in a new window – you will also find a bit of info about Caïssa and a link to mythology-images.

http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/Caissa.html

Source of the poem: click HERE to view the site.

The poem is based on Scacchia ludus (‘The Game of Chess’) written in 1510 by Marco Girolamo Vida– an Italian poet and later Bishop of Alba – where the nymph is called Scacchis. Jones also published an English language version of the poem.

CAISSA
or
The Game at Chess- a Poem.
(written in the year 1763, by Sir William Jones)

(pronounced ky-eé-sah)

Of armies on the chequer’d field array’d,

And guiltless war in pleasing form display’d;

When two bold kings contend with vain alarms,

In ivory this, and that in ebon arms;

Sing, sportive maids, that haunt the sacred hill

Of Pindus, and the fam’d Pierian rill.

Thou, joy of all below, and all above,

Mild Venus, queen of laughter, queen of love;

Leave thy bright island, where on many a rose

And many a pink thy blooming train repose:

Assist me, goddess! since a lovely pair

Command my song, like thee devinely fair.

Near yon cool stream, whose living waters play,

And rise translucent in the solar ray;

Beneath the covert of a fragrant bower,

Where spring’s nymphs reclin’d in calm retreat,

And envying blossoms crouded round their seat;

Here Delia was enthron’d, and by her side

The sweet Sirena, both in beauty’s pride:

Thus shine two roses, fresh with early bloom,

That from their native stalk dispense perfume;

Their leaves unfolding to the dawning day

Gems of the glowing mead, and eyes of May.

A band of youths and damsels sat around,

Their flowing locks with braided myrtle bound;

Agatis, in the graceful dance admir’d,

And gentle Thyrsis, by the muse inspir’d;

With Sylvia, fairest of the mirthful train;

And Daphnis, doom’d to love, yet love in vain.

Now, whilst a purer blush o’erspreads her cheeks,

With soothing accents thus Sirena speaks:

“The meads and lawns are ting’d with beamy light,

And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight;

Whilst on each bank the dewdrops sweetly smile;

What sport, my Delia, shall the hours beguile?

Whall heavenly notes, prolong’d with various art,

Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart?

At distance shall we view the sylvan chace?

Or catch with silken lines the finny race?”

Then Delia thus: “Or rather, since we meet

By chance assembled in this cool retreat,

In artful contest let our warlike train

Move well-directed o’er the field preside:

No prize we need, our ardour to inflame;

We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame.”

The nymph consents: the maids and youths prepare

To view the combat, and the sport to share:

But Daphnis most approv’d the bold design,

Whom Love instructed, and the tuneful Nine.

He rose, and on the cedar table plac’d

A polish’d board, with differing colours grac’d;

Squares eight times eight in equal order lie;

These bright as snow, those dark with sable dye;

Like the broad target by the tortoise born,

Or like the hide by spotted panthers worn.

Then from a chest, with harmless heroes stor’d,

O’er the smooth plain two well-wrought hosts he pour’d;

The champions burn’d their rivals to assail,

Twice eight in black, twice eight in milkwhite mail;

In shape and station different, as in name,

Their motions various, not their power the same.

Say, muse! (for Jove has nought from thee conceal’d)

Who form’d the legions on the level field?

High in the midst the reverend kings appear,

And o’er the rest their pearly scepters rear:

One solemn step, majestically slow,

They gravely move, and shun the dangerous foe;

If e’er they call, the watchful subjects spring,

And die with rapture if they save their king;

On him the glory of the day depends,

He once imprison’d, all the conflict ends.

The queens exulting near their consorts stand;

Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand;

Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride,

And thin the trmbling ranks from side to side;

Swift as Camilla flying o’er the main,

Or lightly skimming o’er the dewy plain:

Fierce as they seem, some bold Plebeian spear

May pierce their shield, or stop their full career.

The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent,

Fill the next squares, and watch the royal tent;

Tho’ weak their spears, tho’ dwarfish be their height,

Compact they move, the bulwark of the fight,

To right and left the martial wings display

Their shining arms, and stand in close array.

Behold, four archers, eager to advance,

Send the light reed, and rush with sidelong glance;

Through angles ever they assault the foes,

True to the colour, which at first they chose.

Then four bold knights for courage-fam’d and speed,

Each knight exalted on a prancing steed:

Their arching course no vulgar limit knows,

Tranverse they leap, and aim insidious blows:

Nor friends, nor foes, their rapid force restrain,

By on quick bound two changing squares they gain;

From varing hues renew the fierce attack,

And rush from black to white, from white to black.

Four solemn elephants the sides defend;

Benearth the load of ponderous towers they bend:

In on unalter’d line they tempt the fight;

Now crush the left, and now o’erwhelm the right.

Bright in the front the dauntless soldiers raise

Their polish’d spears; their steely helmets blaze:

Prepar’d they stand the daring foe to strike,

Direct their progress, but their wounds oblique.

Now swell th’ embattled troups with hostile rage,

And clang their shields, impatient to engage;

When Daphnis thus: A varied plain behold,

Where fairy kings their mimick tents unfold,

As Oberon, and Mab, his wayward queen,

Lead forth their armies on the daisied green.

No mortal hand the wond’rous sport contriv’d,

By gods invents, and from gods deriv’d;

From them the British nymphs receiv’d the game,

And play ech morn beneath the crystal Thame;

Hear then the tale, which they to Colin sung,

As idling o’er the lucid wave he hung.

A lovely dryad rang’d the Thracian wild,

Her air enchanting, and her aspect mild:

To chase the bounding hart was all her joy,

Averse from Hymen, and the Cyprian boy;

O’er hills an valleys was her beauty fam’d,

And fair Caissa was the damsel nam’d.

Mars saw the maid; with deep surprize he gaz’d,

Admir’d her shape, and every gesture prais’d:

His golden bow the child of Venus bent,

And through his breast a piecing arrow sent.

The reed was hope; the feathers, keen desire;

The point, her eyes; the barbs, ethereal fire.

Soon to the nymph he pour’d his tender strain;

The haughtly dryad scorn’d his amorous pain:

He told his woes, where’er the maid he found,

And still he press’d, yet still Caissa frown’d;

But ev’n her frowns (ah, what might smiles have done!)

Fir’d all his soul, and all his senses won.

He left his car, by raging tigers drawn,

And lonely wander’d o’er the dusky lawn;

Then lay desponding near a murmuring stream,

And fair Caissa was his plaintive theme.

A naiad heard him from her mossy bed,

And through the crystal rais’d her placid head;

Then mildly spake: “O thou, whom love inspires,

Thy tears will nourish, not allay thy fires.

The smiling blossoms drink the pearly dew;

And ripening fruit the feather’d race pursue;

The scaly shoals devour the silken weeds;

Love on our sighs, and on our sorrow feeds.

Then weep no more; but, ere thou canst obtain

Balm to thy wounds, and solace to thy pain,

With gentle art thy martial look beguile;

Be mild, and teach thy rugged brow to smile.

Canst thou no play, no soothing game devise;

To make thee lovely in the damsel’s eyes?

So may thy prayers assuage the scornful dame,

And ev’n Caissa own a mutual frame.”

Kind nymph, said Mars, thy counsel I approve;

Art, only art, her ruthless breast can move.

but when? or how? They dark discourse explain:

So may thy stream ne’er swell with gushing rain;

So may thy waves in one pure current flow,

And flowers eternal on thy border blow!”

To whom the maid replied with smiling mien:

“Above the palace of the Paphian queen

Love’s brother dwells, a boy of graceful port,

By gods nam’d Euphron, and by mortals Sport:

Seek him; to faithful ears unfold thy grief,

And hope, ere morn return, a sweet relief.

His temple hangs below the azure skies;

Seest thou yon argent cloud? ‘Tis there it lies.”

This said, she sunk beneath the liquid plain,

And sought the mansion of her blue-hair’d train.

Meantime the god, elate with heart-felt joy,

Had reach’d the temple of the sportful boy;

He told Caissa’s charms, his kindled fire,

The naiad’s counsel, and his warm desire.

“Be swift, he added, give my passion aid;

A god requests.” – He spake, and Sport obey’d.

He fram’d a tablet of celestial mold,

Inlay’d with squares of silver and of gold;

Then of two metals form’d the warlike band,

That here compact in show of battle stand;

He taught the rules that guide the pensive game,

And call’d it Cassa from the dryad’s name:

(Whence Albion’s sons, who most its praise confess,

Approv’d the play, and nam’d it thoughtful Chess.)

The god delighted thank’d indulgent Sport;

Then grasp’d the board, and left his airy court.

With radiant feet he pierc’d the clouds; nor stay’d,

Till in the woods he saw the beauteous maid:

Tir’d with the chase the damsel set reclin’d,

Her girdle loose, her bosom unconfin’d.

He took the figure of a wanton faun,

And stood before her on the flowery lawn;

Then show’d his tablet: pleas’d the nymph survey’d

The lifeless troops in glittering ranks display’d;

She ask’d the wily sylvan to explain

The various motions of the splendid train;

With eager heart she caught the winning lore,

And thought ev’n Mars less hateful than before;

“What spell,” said she, “deceiv’d my careless mind?

The god was fair, and I was most unkind.”

She spoke, and saw the changing faun assume

A milder aspect, and a fairer bloom;

His wreathing horns, that from his temples grew,

Flow’d down in curls of bright celestial hue;

The dappled hairs, that veil’d his loveless face,

Blaz’d into beams, and show’d a heavenly grace;

The shaggy hide, that mantled o’er his breast,

Was soften’d to a smooth transparent vest,

That through its folds his vigorous bosom show’d,

And nervous limbs, where youthful ardour glow’d:

(Had Venus view’d him in those blooming charms,

Not Vulcan’s net had forc’d her from his arms.)

With goatlike feet no more he mark’d the ground,

But braided flowers his silken sandals bound.

The dryad blush’d; and, as he press’d her, smil’d,

Whilst all his cares one tender glance beguil’d.

He ends: To arms, the maids and striplings cry;

To arms, the groves and sounding vales reply.

Sirena led to war the swarthy crew,

And Delia those that bore the lily’s hue.

Who first, O muse, began the bold attack;

The white refulgent, or the mournful black?

Fair Delia first, as favoring lots ordain,

Moves her pale legions tow’rd the sable train:

From thought to thought her lively fancy flies,

Whilst o’er the board she darts her sparkling eyes.

At length the warrior moves with haughty strides;

Who from the plain the snowy king divides:

With equal haste his swarthy rival bounds;

His quiver rattles, and his buckler sounds:

Ah! hapless youths, with fatal warmth you burn;

Laws, ever fix’d, forbid you to return.

then from the wing a short-liv’d spearman flies,

Unsafely bold, and see! he dies, he dies:

The dark-brow’d hero, with one vengeful blow

Of life and place deprives his ivory foe.

Now rush both armies o’er the burnish’d field,

Hurl the swift dart, and rend the bursting shield.

Here furious knights on fiery coursers prance,

but see! the white-rob’d Amazon beholds

Where the dark host its opening van unfolds:

Soon as her eye discerns the hostile maid,

By ebon shield, and ebon helm betray’d;

Seven squares she passed with majestic mien,

And stands triumphant o’er the falling queen.

Perplex’d, and sorrowing at his consort’s fate,

The monarch burn’d with rage, despair, and hate:

Swift from his zone th’ avenging blade he drew,

And, mad with ire, the proud virago slew.

Meanwhile sweet smiling Delia’s wary king

Retir’d from fight behind the circling wing.

Long time the war in equal balance hung;

Till, unforseen, an ivory courser sprung,

And, wildly prancing in an evil hour,

Attack’d at once the monarch and the tower:

Sirena blush’d; for, as the rules requir’d,

Her injur’d sovereign to his tent retir’d;

Whilst her lost castle leaves his threatening height,

And adds new glory to th’ exulting knight.

At this, pale fear oppress’d the drooping maid,

And on her cheek the rose began to fade:

A crystal tear, that stood prepar’d to fall,

She wip’d in silence, and conceal’d from all;

From all but Daphnis; He remark’d her pain,

And saw the weakness of her ebon train;

Then gently spoke: “Let me your loss supply,

And either nobly win, or nobly dir;

Me oft has fortune crown’d with fair success,

And led to triumph in the fields of Chess.”

He said: the willing nymph her place resign’d,

And sat at distance on the bank reclin’d.

Thus when Minerva call’d her chief to arms,

And Troy’s high turret shook with dire alarms,

The Cyprian goddess wounded left the plain,

And Mars engag’d a mightier force in vain.

Strait Daphnis leads his squadron to the field;

(To Delia’s arms ’tis ev’n a joy to yield.)

Each guileful snare, and subtle art he tries,

But finds his heart less powerful than her eyes:

Wisdom and strength superior charms obey;

And beauty, beauty, wins the long-fought day.

By this a hoary chief, on slaughter bent,

Approach’d the gloomy king’s unguarded tent;

Where, late, his consort spread dismay around,

Now her dark corse lies bleeding on the ground.

Hail, happy youth! they glories not unsung

Shall live eternal on the poet’s tongue;

For thou shalt soon receive a splendid change,

And o’er the plain with nobler fury range.

The swarthy leaders saw the storm impend,

And strove in vain their sovereign to defend:

Th’ invader wav’d his silver lance in air,

And flew like lightning to the fatal square;

His limbs dilated in a moment grew

To stately height, and widen’d to the view;

More fierce his look, more lion-like his mien,

Sublime he mov’d, and seem’d a warrior queen.

As when the sage on some unfolding plant

Has caught a wandering fly, or frugal ant,

His hand the microscopic frame applies,

And lo! a bright hair’d monster meets his eyes;

He sees new plumes in slender cases roll’d;

Here stain’d with azure, there bedropp’d with gold;

Thus, on the alter’d chief both armies gaze,

And both the kings are fix’d with deep amaze.

The sword, which arm’d the snow-white maid before,

He noew assumes, and hurls the spear no more;

The springs indignant on the dark-rob’d band,

And knights and archers feel his deadly hand.

Now flies the monarch of the sable shield,

His legions vanquish’d, o’er the lonely field:

So when the morn, by rosy coursers drawn,

With pearls and rubies sows the verdant lawn,

Whilst each pale star from heaven’s blue vault retires,

Still Venus gleams, and last of all expires.

He hears, where’er he moves, the dreadful sound;

Check the deep vales, and Check the woods rebound.

No place remains: he sees the certain fate,

And yields his throne to ruin, and Checkmate.

A brighter blush o’erspreads the damsel’s cheeks,

And mildly thus the conquer’d stripling speaks:

“A double triumph, Delia, hast thou won,

By Mars protected, and by Venus’ son;

The first with conquest crowns thy matchless art,

The second points those eyes at Daphnis’ heart.”

She smil’d; the nymphs and amorous youths arise,

And own that beauty gain’d the nobler prize.

Low in their chest the mimic troops were lay’d,

And peaceful slept the sable hero’s shade

I think Caïssa was with me in this game…haha.. I played against one of my all time favourite players. We always have five games going at any one time and I always try to save my Knights. In this end position, you can see why I do save them whenever I can. I know most players prefer Bishops, but I always prefer my Knights! See the pgn-file which I’ve copied here to look at.

Now, for another all-time-favourite…the music of Ravel…the ostinato from Bolero, though I do apologise for the funny sound you will hear.

Boléro became Ravel’s most famous composition, much to the surprise of the composer, who had predicted that most orchestras would refuse to play it. It is usually played as a purely orchestral work, only rarely being staged as a ballet.

The Chess game.

1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 d6 3.Bc4 Qe7 4.Nc3 Be6 5.Nd5 Qd7 6.Nxc7  Qxc7 7.Bxe6 Nf6 8.Qf5 fxe6 9.Qxe6  Be7 10.Nf3 Nbd7 11.Ng5 O-O-O 12.Nf7 Rhe8 13.Nxd8 Kxd8 14.d3 h6 15.Qf7 Rg8 16.O-O g5 17.Qb3 Nc5 18.Qc3 b6 19.b4 Na4 20.Qxc7  Kxc7 21.c4 Nc3 22.Re1 Kd7 23.Bb2 Na4 24.Ba3 a6 25.Rab1 Nc3 26.Rb2 b5 27.c5 Na4 28.Rc2 Rc8 29.Re3 dxc5 30.bxc5 Bxc5 31.d4 exd4 32.Rh3 h5 33.Bxc5 Nxc5 34.e5 g4 35.Rg3 Nfe4 36.Ra3 h4 37.f3 gxf3 38.gxf3 Ng5 39.f4 Nf7 40.Rh3 Nh6 41.Rxh4 Nf5 42.Rh7  Kc6 43.Rh5 Ne3 44.Rd2 Rg8  45.Rg5 Rxg5  46.Kf2 Rg2  47.Ke1 Kd5 48.Rxg2 Nxg2  49.Kf1 Nxf4 50.Kf2 Kxe5 51.h4 Ne4  52.Kf3 d3

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What if

Image: crystalphoenixgallery.com..’blue rose’

What if life is a dream, are we the imagination of ourselves?

What if
I figure out how to be arrogant
and land on an angel’s mantle
to dial the word love
and play hide and seek
in the shadows of your breath

What if
I figure out how to keep my distance
and play merry tunes
alongside the river banks
on my wooden flute
while capturing your soul in my mind

What if
I figure out how to surf your mind
and make bed in your memories
with your thoughts as my pillow
and play my xylophone tunes
on the solitary hills
of your everlasting trust

What if
I figure out how to take
occasionally rides
on petals of love
and drink a cup of sunlight
in the chambers of your heart
where thoughts of love
may prevail
and my mind gets entwined
instinctively forever
with your courageous spirit
What if!

–©Nikita–29 November 2008

image: rafaelhenrique.com

Roger Wittaker: I don’t believe in if anymore

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French Knitting-Tolletjie Brei

Do you know what French Knitting is? Do you know the “how” of French Knitting! Well, a couple of English people in London didn’t know about it…and one or two said they know about it, but have never done it and would love to do it. Here’s two of my pics where I started it only to show them… we used to do that in our school in SA with the Grade 3 children. Whenever they were finished with their work and had nothing else to finish, they could get their French Knitting from the chair bags (for non-Saffas reading here…a chair bag slips over the back of the chair and the school children put all sorts of stuff in there, e.g. pens, diaries, colouring pencils etc. but some of them would even put their sandwiches in there and forget about it…and then it goes rotten! hehe..I used to let them check their chair bags on Fridays). They loved the French Knitting and even the boys were keen to doing it…for some it was a bit tricky but once they started to get the hang of it..it was easy peasy. I’ve found a site and copied the info here for you to know what it’s about and how you can start your own. A few years ago we bought some kit – like what you see on 4th image, but it didn’t last long. I prefer the good old fashion way of French Kitting! Has your child got fine motor problems…let him/her do some French Knitting!

Tolletjie breiwerk is baie goed vir kleintjies om te doen, dit het ook sy voordele in vir die kind wat so bietjie fynmotoriese-koördinasie-probleme het. Soms kry jy die kind wat fyn-motoriese probleme ondervind wat ook hiermee probleme ondervind, maar sodra hulle dit baasgeraak het, kom daardie probleme ook sommer gou uitgestryk, daarom glo ek dat dit ‘n goeie terapeutiese manier is vir kinders met fynmotoriese probleme om hulle daarin te help. Kinders wat fynmotoriese probleme het, het soms ook ‘n handskrifprobleem. Arbeidsterapeute skryf gewoonlik verskillende oefeninge voor en ek dink hulle kan tog ingedagte hou dat hierdie ook iets is wat ouers kan probeer, maar, nie alle ouers het die geduld/tyd om met die kind te gaan sit en tolletjie-brei te doen nie! Stel tog bietjie voor by jou kinders/kleinkinders se skool dat die onnies bietjie dit met die kinders moet doen.

Image: willowfabrics.com

Image: toyday.co.uk

“French Knitting Reels”
Equipment: Wooden cotton reels
4 x Panel pins about 1 to 2 cm long
Hammer
Poster paint and paintbrushes
Spray varnish
Wool & crochet hook
Method: Paint the wooden cotton reel with a *cool* pattern, and when the paint is dry, spray varnish the whole reel.–(you don’t have to!) Then hammer in the 4 panel pins at one end of the reel, to a depth of 3-4mm, in the shape of a square. This completes the knitting reel. Now for the knitting!

1. Make a *slip-knot* with one end of the the wool around one of the pins, push the short end down through the hole in the middle of the reel, then wind the long end of the wool once around each of the remaining pins, turning the reel as you work.
2. When you reach the first pin, turn the reel so that a *row* of wool is just above the previous loop on the pin.
3. Using the crochet hook, pick up the loop on the first pin and slide it **over** the wool just above it. Turn the reel so that the next pin is facing you.
4. Repeat the last action “indefinitely*, or until the “piece of knitting” is long enough to make an article with when sewn together..or have fun! Source: http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/net02833/sewing.htm update: this site doesn’t exist anymore! – sorry!

Another GREAT video here – http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/fashion/french_knitting/117595

image: knitforvictory.blogspot

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Wednesday

Monday’s child is fair of face.
Tuesday’s child is full of grace.
Wednesday’s child is full of woe. …so have some tea!
Thursday’s child has far to go.
Friday’s child is loving and giving.
Saturday’s child works hard for a living,
But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.

I was in the hostel during the first term of the start of Secondary School…and on Wednesdays, we used to say…today is DVPV-day…in Afrikaans it says “Dank Vader Poeding Vandag“…(English….Thank God Pudding Today)…hehehe…that’s only if you were in the school hostel you would say that…lol! but as it’s Wednesday today…and according to this rhyme…Wednesday’s child is full of woe…Enjoy a cup of tea with me…and aint these flowers beautiful!?

Image:thisoldhouse.com

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Mtel Chess Rounds 7, 8, 9 and round 10