My day :
I wasn’t able to phone ahead to Chris (I fell asleep on the train coming in) so I had a pint in the Pride Of Paddington waiting for him (3pm?). Once he arrived, we decided to stay for one more….
Then on to the 'Wargrave Arms' – slightly overwhelmed by people on the introductions.
And from that point onwards, I decided to see how many pints of Guinness I could throw down my neck before time was called.
The result was predictable.
I am proud to say, even though many of you have known me in person for only a short number of hours, for most of those I was completely loaded. 🙂
-Russ
PS. And yes, I did have a 'quick' game, but lets not discuss that further.
PPS. If anyone does have photos, message me, and we can arrange to publish them on the site somewhere.
Originally posted by RussI didn't feel up to writing a personal review before, but here goes:
My day :
I wasn’t able to phone ahead to Chris (I fell asleep on the train coming in) so I had a pint in the Pride Of Paddington waiting for him (3pm?). Once he arrived, we decided to stay for one more….
Then on to the 'Wargrave Arms' – slightly overwhelmed by people on the introductions.
And from that point onwards, I decided to see how many pints ...[text shortened]... anyone does have photos, message me, and we can arrange to publish them on the site somewhere.
Got there an hour and a half late because my girlfriend was pampering me for being great onstage the night before (we work on a reward system you see). I knew a small group of the guys from my gig on Friday (thanks to Freddie, Matt, James, Mark and anyone I've forgotten). I also immediately recognised RC and Angie, but was totally surprised by Boris, whom, like many others agreed, was nothing like I expected. Colette was lovely and really fun to play on the same team as when we did that double board malarky. Russ - total respect for forking out on food and drinks - and Chrismo turned up later to much cheering. Bambee and Matt Hortin, I didn't really chat to you, which was a shame, I hope you'll make next year's. And was nice to meet Peakite and everyone else whose names I have forgotten, or whom I was not introduced to.
I had to leave early due to a bout of alcohol poisoning, thanks to O'Neils pub in King's Cross, which was a shame as I would have loved to stay for tapas and more drinking. Al in all, I totally enjoyed it and I think we should hold another one next year, though I reckon we should hold it in the summer this time, say August? That way we can take advantage of beer gardens, the long summer evening and the lack of cold.
Salute! All who rperesented!
EDIT: Oh and Shav played my CD in the pub and embarassed me greatly, thank you for that, I hope your genitals shrivel to the sixe of currants.
Originally posted by marinakatombBest team chess moment : Boris announcing to the pub at large "Free pawn, anyone?"
The chess highlight for me was when we played 4 man team chess where you give your team mates the pieces you've taken in your game, while recieving pieces they've taken. At one point i had 4 rooks, 3 bishops (all black bishops!!) two queens. There's nothing like having mate in one to find your opponent puts a pawn on the board and all of a sudden you're loosing a Queen instead!! 😀
'What I Did On Saturday' by M. J. Respect aged 17 1/2
So. The sun beat down with unrelenting harshness on the plains of South Africa as I stepped out of my front door in wintry Hertfordshire. Somewhere, the sound of a contented zebra's snort could be heard. But not here. The train from the sleepy, bustling town of Sawb was longer than it was wide and taller than it was squat. As I rode into London I pondered the words of Douglas Jerrold: "The only athletic sport I ever mastered was backgammon", and was sad to think that he had missed out on the incredibly anaerobic sport of chess. I was going to meet the colossi, the elephantine god-like people of redhotpawn whose thumb and forefingers I am not worthy to put my bishop between. marinakatomb, jayd, freddie2004, , Mayharm, angie88, shavixmir, starrman, bambee, collette, the slow pawn and many others, including that enigmatic man (or beast) that we all worship in our cultish internet weirdo fashion, yea it was him, Russ!
And I did. And it was good. I really liked it. And I got a slightly psychotic (possibly, but quite sexy anyway) Slovakian girl's email address (email address?! what is the world coming to? I really am a nerd). And I took photos of Freddie (wu ha ha Ha). And I want to thank you all for a really good time, and especially James for organising it, Russ for buying us all drinks and food and being a generally fantastic man (or beast), and Chris and Collette for allowing me to beat them at chess, without which, of course, (with the internet) we would have not all come together and had such a brilliant day.
Originally posted by mosquitorespectI'm suprised he let you take pics of him. 😕
'What I Did On Saturday' by M. J. Respect aged 17 1/2
So. The sun beat down with unrelenting harshness on the plains of South Africa as I stepped out of my front door in wintry Hertfordshire. Somewhere, the sound of a contented zebra's snort could be heard. But not here. The train from the sleepy, bustling town of Sawb was longer than it was ...[text shortened]... of course, (with the internet) we would have not all come together and had such a brilliant day.