A new desire formed in my consciousness about 4 months ago. I was reading a distinctly average romance and felt very inspired by the intelligent use of chess strategy to describe the relationship between the main characters. I finished the book and thought naff plot, intriguing game!
After a few enquiries I found a willing teacher in the infamous Sven Hardini (hmmm I'm slightly suspicious that he may be teaching me just so he can beat someone for a bit). I set about looking for a board and pieces (gulp - expensive) and even debated buying a travel set just to get me started. Hardly conjures up images of whiskey, cigars and a battle of wits, more tea, biscuits and clumsy fingers that knock the board askew. It was within this dilemma that Operation Chess Mate was born.
If I wish to learn the ways of the force, why not construct my own light saber as training!
Many young apprentices are required to work to earn their training (wax on, wax off) so why not use our creative juices to build our own board and pieces! This is how I found myself making clay bishops while Sven got far too excited cutting would with his jigsaw.
We've yet to varnish and glue the board, and name our pieces, but everything is progressing nicely. Right now we're thinking of biblical names; Abraham and Moses (Kings), Esther and Ruth (Queens), Elijah and Elisha (Bishops) and so on and so forth. We debated using Jesus but felt that that piece would unduly bias the game.
Am ridiculously proud of my (ahem) beautiful creations, and though we may not have the most elegant set in the world, I will mourn each lovingly made pawn taken in the game. If making the boards been this much fun I can't actually wait start actually playing. I hope I have the smarts to rise to the challenge...
NB. I'm having a long weekend at my parents; great food, beautiful countryside, lots of laughter... I can actually feel myself relaxing...