Should I continue on with this blog, I will introduce mental challenges with prizes to be won for the lucky person. The top prize is going to be a car and most likely that will be a tough challenge like solve mate in 1 but a real tough mate in one. The sort where someone with a FIDE rating of 1200 needs half a minute on the clock to find it and someone with a FIDE rating of 2200 needs an hour easily. I will have other prizes, like packets of crisps, pen sets, cheese grater, ironing board, ant killer, and even a chocolate fireguard. I should add that if your rating is over 2800, you can’t play.
More details to follow
Mark, you could be onto a nice little earner here. Just charge people one pound to enter and pocket the profit
Take their money and destroy your website in the process. Never look back.
I’m going to hold an AGM on October 1st. I shall chair the meeting no one else is coming. Only one topic will be announced and that will be ‘Should I keep this site going or scrap the bastard it.
The meeting will last around five seconds and a vote will be put to decide matters. I shall begin proceedings when I am on the toilet.
I’m not sure if I’ve said before but I loathe this site and what it’s become. It used to be such a nice and simple site with lots of links. Now its the ravings of a madman usually or if not lots of obscure stuff that no one can be bothered with -even the person that wrote it. It really has gone down the drain this site and it’s a shame. The person controlling it likes to think he is so funny and his site is full of entertainment. He needs to go back to the funny farm. It’s not funny its sad. It’s not entertaining its dross and it should be stopped now! Maybe more people should come to the AGM
For some reason, I have lost track of time this morning…
Admittedly, there are times when I don’t know which direction this blog is going in. I note that I don’t take myself so seriously all the time and that there is a rawness with the writing when there isn’t much else. Other than that what can I say except I am not speaking to anyone and writing is my main form of communication.
I’m going to start adding more comments to posts in Reddit. You get replies often, they enable me to become supercilious -almost like a boss figure. To inflate my ego- I will act like some sort of demi-god on that site and just talk down to everyone…maybe then I will get some followers. Then I might have a following and be thought of as the chosen one. This will bring new confidence and meaning to my life. This is the plan. From now on, when it comes to Reddit – I am right all the time -so say I.
Do you really want to know who and what I am? Do you really? I’d think twice if I were you because you will not like what you read. I should know because I have to deal with the aftermath all the time -and it isn’t easy, far from it! Trust me -it’s best you don’t but I can throw some pointers your way anyway. I am brilliant at sitting in a dark room by myself or detached from those in and around me. There, I listen on to the AC only, my mood low, usually, but not too low and passion to write as strong as ever. I don’t go out. I have no social life. I don’t talk to anyone other than myself and am good at making myself laugh. Some long days, writing is my primary form of expression. Too bashful to speak to anyone if not drunk or sedated. And do you know some of the content of this site really has not gone down well back home! There are people who want nothing to do with me whatsoever, whilst others pull up some old post and ask me what’s going on there! I get ‘Hey Mark nice to see you again…hey er Mark, what’s going on with that post you published about Bedfordshire!’ I am creative and playful but reckless at times, and much content on this blog has backfired and caused fall outs. And when I think I am being funny, the writing is most often not up to scratch also.
I will tell you who I am, I am a Luton lad, a Bedfordshire boy. That is me, its in my blood and I am proud of both what goes on back home and what went on back home long ago, and yes at times I do knock up decent material! I am considered ‘the local historian’ when it comes to my home county, as a number of posts have established this, and I have been congratulated for them in person on more than one occasion.
Let me tell you that I am an academic but I am adrift of academia, and on this site I am more playful than serious, purely because it entertains me.
You know what I am really: I am yet another amateur player that likes to post content on line for various reasons. I don’t stand out and I don’t try to market my site either. I don’t use tags to link my site to search engines and I don’t care who comes and goes because I write for myself only.
Do you know that away from this site my life is most unwonted in terms of the path I have blindly gone down and where I am right now. My life isn’t easy but its not hard either. I am a loving father and that keeps me going strong.
Let me tell you more in terms of persona: I have weaknesses I struggle to cope with so much and an inability to learn from my own mistakes. If I told you all that has happened you would wonder how on earth I can still be alive and fully functioning. To say I have pushed my luck at times is one almighty understatement. On two occasions whilst cycling I had accidents which so nearly took my life away and caused me enormous suffering. If I told you to count the number of broken bones THEN ADD fractures THEN ADD parts of bone missing THEN ADD collapsed veins THEN ADD areas of damage to the nervous system THEN ADD blood clots THEN ADD stitches THEN ADD seizures THEN ADD external injuries, it all adds up to 286! And that’s just from two accidents, amongst many others!
I will tell you who I am, I can be hot-tempered and I can be moody. I am anti-social and lacking in friends. I have no savings and will die poor. I have no retirement plans and no secure future. I can’t do my job properly and I live in isolation. I am haunted by loneliness and afraid of death. I have nothing really going for me. I am divorced twice and struggle to make things work domestically. I have few interests and even fewer hobbies. My family don’t want me around. I have fallen out with so many and often for petty reasons. I have lost friends and partners dear to me. I am over weight and prone to depression. Sometimes I drink. Sometimes I take other things. I have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and I am on medication for it. I suffer from a lack of self-control. I am in my 50s and in debt…and lastly, I’m crap at chess.
Did I want my life to turn out like this? No I bloody didn’t! Christ almighty: What a question to ask! There’s so much wrong with it it’s a bloody joke. I can’t fix it anyway, so on we go whether I like it or not.
There, and so do you want to be like me? I thinketh not. Be you and don’t be anyone else… … … … … … … … … … … … … …actually come to think of it, as far as bloggers go, I am up there at the very top of the food chain, and there are many reasons why.
Known to be Luton’s most handsome chess player and also Bedfordshire’s most handsome chess player, I have a way with people and words which keeps me in the limelight. And when centre stage I always put on a good show. Everyone loves me and people want to talk to me all the time. They want to know what the secret is to making such fantastic websites and why I am so good at chess as well as many other things.
Most days I barely get a minute to myself, what with signing autographs and having my picture taken. I rarely stop for lunch as I don’t have time, and I always want to stay trim and lean. Women are always after me -they never let up. I get hundreds of phone calls everyday -it’s all rather hectic!
This is all down to being such a brilliant chess player -as I am. On many occasions, people have stopped playing to come and watch my game, so amazing are some of my moves. Well it’s true I am not titled but it’s not that I am no good, it’s…erm I don’t know what it is . Everyone wants a slice of the action and it’s non-stop. How I find time to run this blog I don’t know, I really don’t…
Okay, I own up. I am not the greatest writer in town. Yes it’s true. Perhaps you are unconvinced at my turn of style there? Was it too transparent? In which case I shall settle the issue with a series of recent photos in which you can see either I am both exceptionally handsome and exceptionally handsome or alternatively none of those horrible aforementioned things or alternatively my funny side, or perhaps all that before to varying degrees!. But to see all that you must promise me you read the captions and buy into them and not because I poured my heart and soul into them, and not because they were written off the cuff but were somewhere between the two somehow! Failure to do so could leave me marooned, ship-wrecked and without a vessle for the passage onwards and I just know you wouldn’t want to leave me like that (nor deny what a cracking sense of humour I oftentimes have).
The ‘good father in action’ pose.The ‘I bloody well ain’t in debt’ pose.The ‘me not prone to depression’ -promise look.The’he honestly does have self-control’ look.The ‘definitely has friends and lots of them’ look’.The ‘has so many interests’ pose.Er…‘the not moody look’.er the let’s play chess lookThe ‘life has actually gone how I wanted it to’ look.The ‘he never drinks beer’ look.The ‘ tis; not haunted by loneliness’ look.The ‘he never ever ever takes drugs’ look.The ‘he’s not been distanced by family, friends and partners’ look.Note on the pics -they were all taken in and around Bangkok, usually when Mark was going into the city to buy drugs helped out in a charitable event! And Mark would like to confirm -he cannot be anymore handsome than he is in the pics.
Disclaimer: these words were not written by me, they were, er, written by someone else I don’t know who. He says ‘You’ve had a good look at those images and read the captions, and so it remains beyond all doubt that this McCready fellow is a jolly good chap and a real catch for the ladies.’ He continues ‘There’s absolutely nothing wrong with him at all and I know should because, er well because, er…because there isn’t and that’s the end of the matter! If you want to believe all that claptrap about him being this, that, and the other, and it all no good well then that’s up to you (editor’s note: why don’t you just delete it all you muppet!) Now, I am a jolly good fellow too…despite what some editor might suggest and countless others. But all those aside and to finalize matters: a picture says a thousand words and there’s just no denying how handsome this chess player is, and yes okay maybe there is quite a bit wrong with him afterall but that doesn’t take away from that fact that he is a very handsome chess player and, after countless failed relationships, he is available now. There is an email below for the ladies (no fat ones please!.None with a boss eye and none with bandy legs. None over the age of 40 also and bloody well make sure they’ve got some money)’
(edtor’s note: I’m not sure this is as amusing as you like to think it is Mark! Creative yes but not so amusing perhaps?)
Questionable alter-ego cameo: yes well it’s me at my usual best with a few silly remarks here and there -all of which is a load of old tosh -so say I. (and me)
This words, they um finishings now. You lookings at postings of another there please. I be good I be. I be good I be. This one I know about it ;Man on fire, he makes things burn’…is that it? asdfoiguhnarcissismiufahiouahfuyao Me a writer be but me be a tired man naughty boy and not as funny as he thinks he is…
Afterword
I’ve read this post three times now, and there’s much to be said for it. Let me tell you, this McCready fellow. he’s as good as they get and that’s all there is to it. If you read his posts and visit his site, then you are on the right track. And so this post is a little tough on the eye but so what…
(McCready speaks) The person I loved the most as a child was taken from me when I was only 18. I will never recover and will always long for her, no matter how many more years pass. Deep at the core of my being is depression, and that’s that…I am lonely all too often and nothing can be done. I have no one to talk to, there is no one here. All I have is you, my precious audience. Thank you for just being there. Please don’t listen to all the lies. I am useless, hopeless, and everyone’s waste of time. I am dying oh-so slowly, then I will stop. It will be okay because I don’t belong in this world, not anymore.
There comes misery
There comes sorrow
There come woe
There comes tears
There comes old age
There comes death
Final Remarks
There’s too many contributors and too much going on in this post. It’s bloody hard to follow but follow it you can. It’s quite funny in places but a bit silly also. Creativity levels are high but a step taken back suggests there is something in play here that requires attention. No not narcissism but something akin. Not a bad post but quite tiring in its own little way.
Last words You leave me speechless at times. Fervour aside, what are you playing at here? Bit self-indulgent isn’t it? Does my head in reading the thing now straighten up please Mark. You’ve had your fun, let’s move on.
A Rejoiner Well, I must admit I have read this post quite a few times now and I can’t really work out what its about. It’s not about anything. It has moments of humour and some honest words but I am starting to wonder what the actual point was. Original yes but a bit pointless.
Half-crazed resumption
I thought I’d said too much but I haven’t said enough. There’s an entourage in play and it slows me down. If you read between the lines, the message is clear. There is a lot of weight on my shoulders and I am feeling it as I type. There are a lot of things they don’t tell you back home, bloody good and all. We could say I am in a pickle but that’s not quite right. There is someone around here who is always on top of things. I know what I am doing most if not all of the time. But there is this weight on my shoulders. If only I were as handsome as I like to make out -oh boy, things would be a bit different then. Mark, do you know the message is clear in this post. There is no escaping it. You had your fun but now it’s time to move on.
…on what this site initially became…on what this site is now becoming…on what this site cannot become…
On what this site initially became…
…once upon a time, the chess-related musings of an adrift academic were bound playfully and electronically in this online journal of sorts. They grew and grew as the decade did too. I kept on because I love to write whether I had much to say or not; therefore, being read by others was usually of little or no importance, comparatively speaking. Content was based on personal thoughts and experience on various topics with no intended audience borne in mind. With topics broadening, my own take on things always shaped the narrative I constructed: I often thought I was insightful but never that I was right. Sometimes imagination gave rise to originality: and of that I have always remained proud. I often introduced humour, believing that I am funnier than I really am. Sometimes, I found my own style antithetical to the conservatism I believe chess is plagued by -oftentimes that has put a gracious smile on my face… .
On what this site is now becoming…
…this site is now becoming a collaboration of chess in Bedfordshire: much more so of the past than the present -that has become the dominant trend. I document the history of chess in Bedfordshire as much as I can, and as time has passed I have become more thorough and resourceful. However, I am not a trained historian as my background lies principally in philosophy but yes it is true I did study some modules on history as both an undergraduate and a post-graduate too; furthermore, I have trained myself up, particularly in terms of postmodern history. Since 2015, I have only read history and historiography as well as those philosophers who have been so influential on postmodern history, such as Nietzsche (whom I once wrote a 19,000 word dissertation on, entitled: Can the Will to Power be Found in The Birth of Tragedy?), also Richard Rorty and Foucault and I suppose certain structualists such as Claude Levi-Strauss too. Regarding postmodernism, mostly I keep to Hayden White, Keith Jenkins and Alan Muslow.
Some friends and former playing partners back home describe me as the ‘go to guy’ for the history of chess in Bedfordshire. This compliment says more about the lack of interest in the subject than my own endeavour. As mentioned, I am too adrift from academia to feel chuffed by it. Rather, I tend to lament that my historical research, like my chess, just isn’t what it should be. Even though I may well have a broad understanding of Bedfordshire chess history courtesy of the volume of research put into it, all of which began in 2014, this is not something I am particularly proud of. Nonetheless, out of courtesy compliments are graciously received. If the truth be told, I just see it as my job and only that – after all someone’s got to do it and no one else is that interested!
Amongst the many others, I have created three categories: ‘Bedfordshire Chess’ and ‘History of Bedfordshire Chess’ and ‘Luton Chess Club’. This website is slowly moving towards a consolidation of those (all of which can be found in one of the toolbars to the right).
On what this site cannot become…
…I like to be both creative and amusing when I can be, factor in that playfulness has been an ever-present factor, the content of this site should be thought of as multifarious. It could be said I continue to enjoy undermining the conservatism I believe chess is underpinned by even after all these years, and often try to use humour to do it still, believing I have got better at it. Consequently, despite the general direction its going in, this site cannot only be about Chess in Bedfordshire and nor will it be. It may become noted for that yes -in fact that’s been the case for years already even by established historians, archivists, and whoever else. External factors aside, this site is titled McCreadyandChess. I cannot, nor will I not, remove my own personal thoughts and experiences of chess from the posts of this site -especially if I think they are funny or original for they constitute my writing at its very, very best. In addition, the number of categories alone tells you that breadth of content is important to me. I am proud of my site, it is identity conferring and that is how it shall stay -end of story. All you really have are: ‘Some thoughts on the beautiful game’, which, incidentally, just happen to be my very own; nothing more, nothing less, take of it whatever you please… .
A side note on how to read old Tom Sweby's columns
Not perhaps, but quintessentially, Old Tom Sweby is best thought of as a passionate devotee to the newspapers he wrote for. He was well read and knowledgeable of the Bedfordshire chess scene and well beyond, given that he was the president of the S.C.C.U. once upon a time. He was generally well-respected and rubbed shoulders with many, if not all, of those eminent within British chess circles. It would, however, be a critical mistake to see his column is primary source material entirely. That it is not. You will also find secondary source material quoted too, and the reliability of that is not quite as Tom hoped. Given that he wrote for decades, this is to some degree inevitable, and after all we are all prone to error whether we realize it or not. Thankfully, with regards to old Tom Sweby, they are infrequent and for the most part old Tom continued to document events and developments in the Bedfordshire league from the get go as best he could but, of course, everything lies open to interpretation. Despite this, and generally speaking. this does indeed make him informative and thus worth reading. Dare I say his columns constitute a narrative describing the latest developments, match reports and changing nature of the Beds league...he knew his audience and wrote according. This manifested itself over decades but brevity was always in play courtesy of the restictions imposed by writing a column. Should you wish to read a in instrumental figure of the Beds' league post WW2, you are quite welcome to peruse what has been posted here... . :-) I should, however, point out that as the decades wore on he gradually moved on away from narratives concerning the Bedfordshire league towards affairs both historical and international. The reasons for this are multifarous, old age was a predominante factor presumably, however, the bottom line is with regards to how the Bedfordshire chess scene developed post WW2: old Tom Sweby is your go to guy. He wrote more about chess in Bedforshire than anyone else did but given he was a Lutonian and writing for a Luton newspaper there is both bias and greater coverage of his hometown than the rest of the county.
Gallery
I’m either 10 or 11 here
1982, myself versus Brian from Sunderland.
At the Thai Junior chess championships. My daughter of course.
Pattaya 2011
2011
Thai Junior Championships
2008
2011
Around 2011
2011
Pattaya 2009
2011
Kuwait 2008
2012
2012
2011 BKK Chess club
2011
2011 Thai Open
2011 Thai Open
2013 approx
Around 2014
2010
2012
Around 2011
2011
2011
2013
Around 2011
Around 2011
2020
2011
2008
2011
2013 or thereabouts
2010
2017
2014?
2010
2024
2024
2024
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