Dan Taylor

After ten years, I now have the time again for Chess. And like relearning to play piano, I’ve had to go through the old books I had from childhood. Here above are some photos from the excellent Junior Chess puzzles, which as well as captivating conundrums, also deserves praise for the occasionally very excited language the authors use. I’ve hopefully captured a couple of examples above which do attend the drama of chess with the seriousness it deserves, but elsewhere Bott and Morrison offer “It must move away to a more friendly square – but where? Although the White Queen may move to a number of squares, there is no safe haven. The Queen is trapped!” There is much talk of violence and deathly skewers for impressionable youth.

I worry a lot about our poverty, but of all places – Croydon – brought to me that things are going well. We may not be able to afford next year, but I’ve now met others with far worse situations. I want to travel back to Stockholm and Berlin, see other places. When I want to travel, I know I am feeling something. Things are ok. I want to write about John Gray, a curious figure who seems a little overlooked, but will wait to enrol next week when I can get a copy of his recent selected writings. I hope things are fine with you reader. Will post some fashion tips from Michel De Montaigne tomorrow.