Tell me why I don’t NOT like Mondays? Ha ha, no need to since the question is rhetorical.
It’s because on Monday next week I thought I’d saunter off down to some place called London and mill about in The British Museum. There, I shall meet former Luton player Nick McBride, and together we’ll have a look at the Lewis Chessmen.
https://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/news_and_press/statements/the_lewis_chessmen.aspx
McCreadyandChess 
Mondays vary for me… I used to like them a lot, but these days , work being less than exciting , I mainly enjoy the Mondays that are holidays 🙂
The British Museum is another thing entirely, and always enjoyable.
Like you, I no longer live in the UK, although I am geographically not too far from it, but until last year, my visits back to Luton were 100% family.
However, last year, I decided to be very wicked, and flew in, took the train to London and spent a day there before heading to Luton for the mid evening.
Minor guilt, but soon cured. A great time spent in the Wallace Collection admiring an incredibly diverse mixture of stunning paintings and fascinating arms and armour, plus a British Museum visit to see the more amazing Lewis chessmen. Well worth it. I’ve been twice since and always spare time to admire the chess pieces and the Sutton Hoo treasure as well.
Did you know that Noggin the Nog was inspired by the Lewis Chessmen ? More specifically by their faces.
One creator, Olive Postgate said. “What impressed us was that , far from being fierce and warlike, it was clear that these were essentially kindly , non-belligerent characters, who were thoroughly dismayed by the prospect of conflict”
I made a complete set using those moulds and resin-casting when I was about 12 ( with some Dad-help too). I wonder where they are now ?
Enjoy the BM,an awesome museum, and by the way, in the Islamic Room ( I think its called that ) which is downstairs near the back entrance, there are also examples of chess pieces from the east. To my mind not the equal of the Lewis ones, but interesting none-the-less.
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Thanks for the tip there, I will have a look in the room that you mentioned. Have always loved The British Museum. Been so many times but barely covered half of it, seeing as the place is so big. Nice to hear your family are from Luton.
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