Hi everyone. A special treat for you, it’s me Gawain writing an update for a change We’ve both been really busy recently; Sue is doing her nannying course which takes up all of her time, whilst I’ve been writing my chesspublishing updates, coaching and recently signed a contract to write a book “How to Beat…

It has been such a long time since I have written (I even tried to get Gawain to write some words but he’s too busy). I have started my course since I last wrote (which is the reason why Gawain is is New Zealand), we’ve played in the Bay Of Plenty Rapid, Gawain did a…

I thought I updated at least once on our trip but I didn’t! Aren’t I bad? And now there won’t be news for a while as Ga’s next tournament is over Easter again in Australia Doeberl/Sydney International Open.  I thought i updated at least once on our trip but I didn’t! Aren’t I bad? And…

Happy New Years! NZ is one of the first countries to see the sun rising across the horizon. We’ll probably be up to catch a taxi for our 6am flight across the Tasman. We spent the last few days having a bbq at a bach the first day was horrible weather, cold, windy and rainy…

[Event "Wellington Open"] [Site "Wellington, NZ NZD"] [Date "2009.12.27"] [Round "1"] [White ""] [Black ""] [CBBWhiteId "*"] [CBBBlackId "*"] [Result "1-0"] [Setup "1"] [FEN "Test"] 1. e4 d6 2. c3 Nf6 3. d3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. h3 c5 7. Nbd2 Nc6 8. Qc2 Rb8 9. Nf1 b5 10. Ne3 b4…

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Gawain doesn’t think Christmas has ended (On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.). We spent Christmas + Boxing Day playing poker and Carcasonne. We’ve eaten way too much including Kapiti Ice-Cream and lots of chocolate. It’s summertime in New Zealand…

It’s Ga’s birthday well it’s 12.11am Dec 11th here (though of course he was born in England). We’re up not just because of that but as he is doing the commentary for the London Chess Classic starting @3am. He’ll be commentating today on Howell-Carlsen, McShane-Kramnik, Ni Hua- Adams and Nakamura-Short. We’ve just been eating awesome…

Another simul done (on Saturday)- this time with much easier opponents. Gawain played school kids rated Under 1400. He won all his games (21) in about 2.30 hours! This morning was another early start for him as he qualified to play in the ICC Gib Telecom Qualifier unfortunatley he lost in the semi finals to…

Gawain will be doing commentary on ICC and the official site http://www.londonchessclassic.com/ 2PM GMT or 3am here! .Carlsen,Kramnik, Short, Adams are some of the big names that will be playing in the closed classic as well as Luke McShane and David Howell as well as an open and Korchnoi. It’s in Central London and though…

Last week we were front page news on The Dominion Post – Wellington’s version of The Times, The Sydney Morning Herald etc except without the 1,000,000+ circulation – this shows what NZ news is like. http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/3090527/Check-mates-plot-their-next-international-move This article was publicity for Gawain’s simul at the Museum Of City and Sea (celebrating 10years) which he played…

It’s been a bit too long since I last updated. Guy Fawkes has just passed (fireworks),we visited Parliament and the Museum of Wellington City and Sea. I’m not a big fan of museums (ones with stuffed animals or bodies… (mannequins) so that wasn’t so fun but Gawain will be doing a simul on the 28th…

We’ve finally found a place (2 weeks ago but we didn’t have internet) that is centrally located on the Terrace quite near the Wellington Chess Club and the Beehive (Parliament). We haven’t visited that yet or Te Papa the museum, but will most likely do so when I have a friend visiting from Denmark in…

We’ve made our way to Wellington via a 13hour bus. We’ve been here for 3days and are searching for a house to rent for the next 9months. It’s been stormy but now it’s nice and sunny (though windy). I found out yesterday there was a 4.8 earthquake on the Richter Scale. Hopefully we won’t have…

After being on 3.5/5 Gawain won his last 4 games to end up on 7.5/9. In the last round he played 3rd Seed Stephen Solomon Solomon,S (2424) – Jones,G (2553) [A57] George Trundle (9), 10.2009 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 g6 6.Nc3 Qxb6 7.e4 d6 8.Be2 Bg7 9.Nf3 0–0 10.Nd2 Nbd7…