Undo or Save Changes?

The UK is now heading towards "life after lockdown", as we are seeing daily or weekly changes to the lockdown rules and things are heading back towards 'normal'.  Schools are partially re-opening; you can get Drive Thru McDonald's (if you're prepared to queue); zoos and parks will be re-opening soon, and the two-metre rule could be relaxed to just one metre.

So, as the worst of the pandemic is over (and I know this is debatable), what will you do in the post-lockdown world?  Undo, or save changes?

Would you prefer to go back to things the way they were?  Exactly as they were?  Back to the office commute; the school run; the weekend dash to the supermarket?  The cinema, the theatre, football matches?  Don't misunderstand me, a lot of 'normal' was good, while other aspects have benefited from the change.  Do we all need to pile into our cars and drive to an office several miles away, or can we work from home?  Have Zoom, Skype and Teams been able to substitute for face-to-face meetings (with colleagues, customers, friends and family)?

Would you like to preserve some of the changes?  Is working from home suiting you?  Do you miss the school run?  Yes - me, I do.  Have you had to support local businesses more, because queuing outside the supermarket and round the car park hasn't appealed to you?

I'm not saying lockdown has been all good.  It has, quite honestly, been a struggle.  Human beings aren't designed and built to be isolated - "it is not good for a man to be alone" - and I am eager to see my friends and family face-to-face, with a hug and a handshake.  The underlying tension of, "Will I catch it?  Will I transmit it?  Will I be a serious case?" has certainly helped me focus on staying in lockdown, but as lockdown is easing I will be delighted to see people I've missed.

What have I learned?  On one occasion in about week 4 or 5 of lockdown, I was encouraging my children, saying, "We'll find things to do, we'll have lots of activities, we can do this, or that...." and so on, and one of them replied, "Dad, you're really cheerful, aren't you?" Maybe I'm more optimistic than I thought I was (and I know I can usually find the bright side).  I'm also less of an introvert than I believed.  

So: things I will be delighted to undo:

- not seeing friends and family (I will be doing this more, offline and online)

- not going to church. I have really missed meeting my church family

- not going charity-shopping. It's one of my favourite going out activities

- not shaking hands. If you're reading this, I owe you at least a handshake

- depending on social media for contact

Things I will be saving:

- spending more time looking after my neighbours 

- spending more money on local businesses instead of supermarkets

- a more patient approach to online shopping (yes, Amazon is fast, but I am preferring to wait and buy from other sites, or even local stores who've moved online).

So: undo, or save changes?

 

Reckless Chess, Part 2

My online Blitz Chess games seem to be developing a pattern, and it's a trend which is suiting me very nicely.

1. e4   e5
2. Nf3  Nc6
3. Bc4  d6
4.  0-0  Bg4
5. Re1 Nf6
6. h3  Bh5
7. g4  Nxg4

This is now the second time I've been able to pile in with this king-side sacrifice, and it's going fairly well.  Clearly it's wrong-footing my opponents, but it removes two of the three pawns in front of his king, and gives me a some entertaining games playing with my queen in front of his king:

8. hxg4 Bxg4 
9. Re3 Nd4 



Piling on the pressure, and developing my pieces while White's pieces stay in their starting positions.

10. c3 Nxf3+ 
11. Rxf3 Bxf3 
12. Bxf7+ Kxf7   

13. Qxf3+  Ke8 

Maybe my opponent thought a counter-sacrifice would work, but all he's done here is give me more material - I'm now ahead by the exchange and a pawn - and he's kindly opened the f-file.

14. d4 Qh4  - direct Chess at its most fun.
15. Kf1 Be7 
16. dxe5 Rf8 
17. Qe2 

Black (me) to play, played dxe5 and missed Qh1#

17.   ....   dxe5 (missing Qh1#)
18. Qb5+ c6 
0-1

The threats piling up around the white king include Qxf1# and if Qe1 then Qh1#.  There's also cxQ if White doesn't move his Queen.

As I said, I am enjoying the sacrifice on the g4 square, and so far it's reaping its benefit against people trying to play some form of Fried Liver Attack, with Nf3 and Bc4.

More to follow, I'm sure!