Game anyone?

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I am not a sportsperson and the last game that I ever played was golf. To me I regarded it more like a social outing rather than a game where I only enjoyed the beginning and the end of it.

In the beginning all the energy and excitement came out shining with so many things to achieve. But along the way as the strokes got weaker and the ball was lost in sight; all the interest and excitement had gone down the drain.

Pressures mounted as I was the only one left behind struggling just to hit the ball in whichever way and in whatever style I can. To make it worse behind me there stood another flight that couldn’t wait to hit their ball - if given permission I think they would want to it straight at my head to knock me unconscious so that I could be out of their way.

I have tried to love the game but I just couldn't find the interest in it. It was always alright in the beginning but in the middle it was more like a torture than a game.

I said it earlier that I liked it in the end because in the end all of us in the group will have our drinks and relaxation commenting on our achievement and mistakes in the game played earlier. As for me I always tried to avoid that kind of talk.

And the thing is whoever got the least points in the game will be the one to pay for the drinks. Not much anyway. But lucky me I never had to pay because my team players are all friends and they played just for the fun of it.

Before that I used to play badminton and tennis also in a group of friends. But now those days have long gone and may never come again. Of course there are thousand of excuses to give as to why I don’t play these games anymore.

But now I am left ‘sportsless’. The only form of exercise that I care to do is a slow walk around the neighbourhood or the nearby sports complex.

I know this is bad for me because my age is catching up. Soon a walk to the clinic may no longer be because of a common flu or a slight fever. And judgding by the body weight which has far exceeded the standard acceptable scale, I may be looking at a very gloom future.

Of course if you ask any doctors they would give hundreds of advices of what to do and not to do. It is always easier said than done so to speak.

But at this very moment I don’t have any plan or idea of a suitable game or sport that may be good for me – not too harsh and not too easy. Once I have been advised not to strain myself by jogging because who knows those veins and blood vessels may explode causing irrepairable damage and perhaps loss of life. Talk about an advice!

But I do take all the views and advices seriously. And I am very aware of the necessity of having a healthy lifestyle. This is no laughing matter.

So I am now putting my thinking cap on and I will choose if not invent a type of game that is not only suitable for me but also interesting enough for me to play over and over again.

Personally I feel swimming would be good for me but to get in a pool with a suitable swimming trunks on me - at my size may offend others. So I may choose the ocean instead but who swims in the ocean? The last time I was there at the beach, there were less people in the water. Everyone was busy playing beach football and making sand castles. And those who did go in the water prefer to stay afloat like a hippo in the African rivers.

Yes I did try to swim but only a couple of strokes. Maybe I need to practice more or maybe this body need some overhauling first like – losing some weight.

So, having said all the above it is not that I don’t have any game to play. At the moment I do.

And this is not a physical game rather a mental one. No I am not talking about mind game where you go and stalk people around you for whatever reason there is.

I am talking about a game known as Chess. Yes. Now I am addicted to it so so addicted. I can’t remember when or how I started playing chess but I do remember that this was the only game that you could play with anybody who knows how to play it no matter how old or young or how big or small they are. And you can play it for hours.

Now with the internet, the game gets even better with online chess where you can play for hours and for free with anyone from all over the world. It sounds exciting indeed and at the moment I am really hooked on it.

Of course if you do read this and you have no clue about chess you wouldn’t understand what I am talking about. It is just like talking a different language altogether.



Now the best part is my daughters are learning to play it and when I asked why - they say because they like it and the game is interesting. That’s good enough reason for me.

So my advice to them is – practice, practice and practice a lot. And don’t expect to win because the more you lose the better you get. Yes this is how I learn to play chess and the reason I think that I am good at it.

So for those of you who are interested to know, just drop by and visit this link to have a look. Who knows maybe we will meet each other.

Until then.

@ the Office.

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