A Summer Birthday

Last Tuesday, the ballerinas of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” enjoyed an evening dinner, held in the pizzeria “Orto del Cigno” (“Garden of the Swan”) along the Arno’s edge, to celebrate both the end of the dance year and the upcoming birthday of Viola. On the occasion, Mado Flynn gifted both Letizia and Viola with the latest creation from her summer collection: an eyelash yarn pochette — especially precious for its particular workmanship.

You know what they say, Edna — a tiramisu a day keeps the doctor away

Artwork © Richard Jack (@jack_3dstudio)

Dancer’s Diet

The social dinner of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” was held on Tuesday evening, July 30, 2024, under the most strict observance of the dietary guidelines for dancers.

Autumn in London

It was announced today that even the second season of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (TechM GCL), scheduled from October 3–12, 2024, at Friends House in London, United Kingdom, will feature four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), alongside the cream of women’s world chess, including the World Championship Challenger 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí). For further details and information, click here.

The trouble is, Edna, that such a scarecrow not only scares the birds away but also any of your suitors who may be interested to know you better

Artwork © AxolootlVR

Through the Eye of the Needle

So, Edna, you’re telling us that you got engaged to a scarecrow, just because you suffer from ornithophobia?

Artwork © Yuna Rengoku

Happy Hour

Our latest friend shows us the way to enjoy a Sunday summer afternoon at home. Photo: Mado Flynn.

L.A. Woman

The two-week working holiday of four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) all along the coast in California has finally come to an end, leaving an indelible memory in all those who enjoyed the privilege of her presence, and especially the young scholars of the King’s Land Chess Education Centre, for the benefit of whom she held a number of masterclasses and lectures in both the King’s Land Centre headquarters in Fremont and Pleasanton.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) as a most royal queen, was the guest of honour of the summer camps of the King’s Land Centre. Photos: King’s Land Centre (KLC) via Phoenix North America Chinese Channel.

And yet, Edna, as they perfectly know — the more one watches CCTVs, the worse one’s perspicacity progressively gets

Artwork © oompaloompadoopity2

Dystopia(n) Matters

Yay, Edna! They are just looking forward to throwing another summer at your feet!

Artwork © CRAZY ONE — Déco/Atelier/Toile/Graphisme/Evénement (@crazyonegraffiti)

Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

On Being a Teacher

A Match in the Making

Just one week until the grand opening of the 2nd FIDE World Rapid Team Championship (and 1st FIDE World Blitz Team Championship), scheduled to be taking place from August 1–6, 2024, in Astana, Kazakhstan, with both her and his majesties 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Magnus Carlsen to play together in the same team!

In just a few days, Edna, you’ll knock them all out, have patience

Artwork © Bea Sellwood (@_.artbybea)

Life of Pi

A drone view shows fishing boats being moored at a port as Typhoon Gaemi approaches, in 连江县 (Liánjiāng County) of 福州 (Fúzhōu), 福建省 (Fújiàn province), China. Photo via 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency) via 中国日报 (China Daily).

Yep, Edna, they should begin to say their prayers — and as humbly as they may! — because justice always comes sooner or later

Photo © jess // funko pops & foods (@lensedbyjess)

Day of the Locusts

Yet, Edna, to say it with Eoin and Polly, the longer the wait, the bigger the hug

Artwork © cookiemonster_______ (@cookiemonster_______)

40 Minutes

The Rhodes Trust Podcast · Roads Less Travelled with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

Roads Less Travelled with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) The Rhodes Trust Podcast, October 4, 2022 In this episode of Roads Less Travelled, host Sophie Ryan speaks to 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), the queen of chess.

Frankenstein Underground

A punk translation of Leopardi’s “Times of trouble demand not tears but counsel”.

To be sure, Edna, they may endorse whoever they want, but in the end what counts is what you are going to do with them after you endorse yourself

Artwork © Trasegorsuch

From CV to Shortlist

As they say, Edna, it takes a loser to make a winner

Artwork © TylersScribbles (@tylersscribbles_)

Lose to Win

Paper Moon

Pawns in the Park by New York City-based editorial illustrator Victoria Tentler-Krylov made the cover story of The New Yorker, June 17, 2024.

More or Less

About Time

“Enjoyed while walking back to the gate in Schiphol airport, after a long delay”. Caption and photo © Bridget Perkin via BBC.

You know, Edna, it is a little like when parents say — home is not a hotel!

Artwork © Bocchi-base

Hotel California

After giving peace a chance, and making a triumphal journey through Russia a couple of weeks ago, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is now taking the United States by storm, with sold-out seats all over the California coast, where she is scheduled to hold masterclasses and lectures for the King’s Land Chess Education Centre in Fremont and Pleasanton.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) on her first stop at King’s Land Centre (KLC) summer camp in Fremont, California, United States, July 15–18, 2024. Photos: King’s Land Centre (KLC).

To be sure, Edna, Matisse would’ve taken her at her word if he heard but once her latest MV

Artwork © Deviant Promo

The Blue Window

Indeed, Edna, to quote George Alfred Henty, “The higher one looks the higher one goes”

Courtesy of laylaa (@fablayla)

A Universal Language

A Balkan terrapin takes time to share its enjoyment of nature with a dragonfly. Photo © Tzahi Finkelstein.

Nothing is left to chance, Edna. If the car had to stop suddenly, the insurance company would take care to send a tow truck free of charge to take it to the junkyard

Artwork © chrissyp123

Leaves and Flowers

Invitation Will you give me your hand in the moonlight, you are leaves... Under open sky. Over the yawning precipice. Like leaves, you and I. Trembling in the wind and quickly gone. Come... Tarjei Vesaas, 1953 English translation by Fritz König and Jerry Crisp

齐白石 (Qí Báishí), Sparrow on a banana leaf, 1930. Courtesy of WikiArt.

Encounters on the Silk Road

Today Mado Flynn gifted our dear friend 林丽丽 (Lín Lìlì) a Captiva Natura from her collection.

What can you do, Edna? Life is only a journey: some go, some come; some go back, some come back. Fortunately, not everyone wants the same thing!

Artwork © lupsart (@lups_0317)

Hide and Seek in The Big Apple

Stanislavski In Rehearsal

Yeah, Edna, Monday is the day of the Moon — no address needed cos you know when and where to show up

Photo © Adam (@adam.dollmania)

The King-hunt

In a conversation with a RIA Novosti correspondent, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) shared her point of view with regard to the World Chess Championship 2023. “As a Chinese player, I was very happy that 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) managed to win the title. After all, winning a World Championship match is the dream of any pro player. His achievement is especially important for the national federation, since this is the country’s first world men’s title. I hope that this will enhance the popularity of chess in China and will also encourage more young players to work dedicatedly and represent our country with dignity, bringing more medals and honours”, said 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). “At the same time, from a chess viewpoint, his match with Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi was very dramatic, and I could feel through it all the cruelty of such a showdown, with deep emotional moments. If we talk only about the level of rivalry in the match, then the result could have been anything. But, in my opinion, it is also obvious that Magnus Carlsen still remains the strongest player in the world”.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) signing autographs to her fans in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Photo: Sergey Sergeevich Moiseev.