Thursday 22 April 2010

Theme Thursday - Draft / Draught


When my chidlers were growing up, the four of us would play board games - their choice from what was on the shelf, be it draughts, scrabble, fiddle-sticks, dominoes or rummikub - Uno included. Sandwiched in between dinner and reading on the couch, this was fun. A loaded word 'fun', involving as it does a degree of whimsy, and playfulness, and a decided absence of seriousness.

Under the lid of the Spear's Draughts box (dated MCMLXXXIII and manufactured in the UK), the last line of the instructions declaims:
'Single men, whilst moving forward, can capture Kings.'
This would appear to be a statement worthy of contemplation, and a certain fraying of the edges to release myriad meanings.


A member of the Theme Thursday community

27 comments:

Magpie said...

What a delightful walk down your memory lane. Thank you for sharing. I love the second photo. Seriously beautiful.

TheChieftess said...

Very fun shots and memories!

Clytie said...

Beautiful memories, beautiful photos!

jabblog said...

Marvellous - and food for thought, too.

Ineke said...

what a great shot!

Lois said...

Beautiful post! I had almost forgotten about rummikub. I used to love that game!

Virginia said...

Love both shots Julie. You have a way my friend.
V

Joan Elizabeth said...

I like this top shot. Fascinating story from the inside cover.

Brian Miller said...

what a cool line in the instructions to highlight and it does send the mind a wandering...we love to play games in our house...only not monopoly...it gets me in trouble. happy tt!

Ann said...

Good DOF, your lens handles macro much better than mine.

Kris McCracken said...

It won't be long before my two rope me into Draughts.

I can't wait!

Julie said...

So long as they don't rope you into a game called 'Barricade'. my son used to love that. He played Road-runner to my Bugs. He would loiter just before safety at the other end of the board, and pop my tors off to begin-agin.

C.M. Jackson said...

beautiful shots and wonderful memories--great post! Happy TT!

brattcat said...

Both shots are beauties, Julie. We still play word games in our house...our current favorite is bananagrams. We sometimes play a quick game as dinner is simmering, whilst sipping a glass of wine. There never were any single men in this house, thus I suppose I bred no King catchers.

Julie said...

Ah, but I took this more laterally, BC. 'Single men' I read as individuals. And therefore, it was ordinary people cf powerful people. Hence, never taking a backward step was important, too.

I will find out about bananagrams. I already know about sipping wine.

Jaime said...

very nice. that top photo is great

brattcat said...

Haha. Which of us was being literal and which lateral?

Marka said...

Board games are usually fun and always interesting.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

awesome theme Thursday post,
your post highlights,
lovely photo!

Katherine said...

Julie I share similar memories to yours...playing uno, monopoly, draughts, chinese checkers, snakes & ladders and so many more.
Really enjoyed your post & the memories it evoked! thanks!

Nanc Twop said...

Nice theme post.

And now I'm off to look up 'fiddle-sticks', and 'rummikub' - these TT posts are always teaching me something new!

diane b said...

great shots as usual. I tried to teach a kid to play draughts at school and I couldn't remember the rules and we didn't have the box wit rules printed. How dumb am i?

järnebrand said...

Beautiful pics. It's wonderful how you share your memories with us like this. :) I love to play board games with family and friends...
Great TT. Love/ Jo.

Harnett-Hargrove said...

Thanks for stopping in at my place.... you have a beautiful blog(S!) -J

Dreamhaven said...

Board games while camping was a great way to pass the time on rainy days. Happy TT

Marla said...

Made me think back on my own life. Thanks Julie for another great post.

Baino said...

Love the quote! I have an old draught board somewhere but haven't played it for ages.