I am sat in the Air Conditioned Computer Suite at Jeff's school. It beats the heat. The school is very nice indeed. A modern swimming pool, lovely walkways and playing areas, and good quality equipment. But this is an International School and your average school in Ghana does not meet this standard. Remember Mrs 'G' and her profound comment regarding the Slate. As a fatalist I know that everything happens for a reason. Jeff introduces me to one of his British Colleagues, he mistakes me as coming from the North of England, I explain that I am Welsh. Jeff has a small chess set on the side at home and I had already decided a gift that I am posting to Africa. Perception is reality, but never make an assumption, as you will often get it wrong. I thought Jeff dabbled, and I shirked his offer of a game as I didn't want to embarrass my host in anyway. It turns out Jeff has an ELO rating. A pretty good one at that, well at least his colleague does. But then again those that play chess understand the variations in the grading systems and that some countries have weaker ELO ratings but stronger players. The quality of the pool of players is what matters and regular weekend tournaments tend to hone your skill. An English 1900 player is a very strong player especially if he is in practice. A decade ago, chess was big in my life. Now my family are, and to a lesser extent and in a different way so are my friends. At one time I organised the largest Chess Club in Wales and donated equipment and my time to schools throughout Ceredigion. I was also a qualified International Chess Arbiter, and this is probably why I turned towards being a football referee in the late 90's. But like chess that is also back in a former life. Jeff's colleague wants to meet, and I was polite. But this is Africa, time is short and I would rather sit with Jeff and Tamara, Michael and Patricia, Mrs 'G' and Cudjo, Alice et al., and let them all win than play a competitive game with a stranger. Now that's a change, because in the past I would have let no one win. Ask my girls, and Jodi played for Wales. It certainly is a small World.
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