Cheers gents 👍. I am glad you enjoy… ok, enough … time to pay, put the phone down and explore some natural beauty.
The Five Knights of Lockdown
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I thought you have made them! (another maker in the forum!), by the way, tomorrow ask the waiter if he is able to draw you a pawn in the café!
I have my own story about chess connecting people.
First of all sorry for my bad english, I need to wait unti friday night to be concentrate to write something a bit long.
It was in my first dates with a girl, I just met her a few days before and need to do the things right (you know...). We went to a nice bar into one of the most famous neighbourhoods of my city, the bar was (and currently is) surrounded by shelves full of games, board games and more. There was only one free table and we went for it. While talking and trying to impress the "lady" It ocurred to me to pick the game that was closer to me, and it was...a chess board! I haven't played for at least 30 years that game, and another oportunity was given to me that moment. But, what I have to do now? try to win, maybe she is very good in chess, maybe she doesen't like to lose...I didn't know so...We started the game. I check mated her twice (she had a little idea how to play....then....) at that moment I had a contradiction, I was very happy to realise I'm still able to win someone but, on the other side, I won her...and is not interesting on your first dates...The fact is that she did like the game and was interested in continue playing so I was able to get something to do together.
And into this story is where my nickname was born. To understand it I need to explain something about languages: The spanish translation of "check" is "jaque" and in my language is "escac", but my language (catalan) is pretty similar to spanish and sometimes we can say catalan words like bad translated spanish words.
In one moment of one of the two games she did check my king and said: JAC !! (meaning "escac!" but doing a direct translation of the spanish "JAQUE!") I started to laugh and I think I'm still laughing. At that point we always say JAC instead of ESCAC when playing, so, following this logic, check mate will be converted to JACMAT, that's the reason why I'm Jacmater. That's my story.
BTW: the chess connection worked and she is now my girlfriend. 
Mar 11, 2022
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#85
@jacmater, what a brilliant story. Thanks for sharing! If I remember, tomorrow I will ask the barista to test his art on a pawn. 😉👍
Mar 11, 2022
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#86
First off.....There is definitely a certain "something" about that set Powder......Unusual and a basic charm....It can be taken out and about with no worries about a blemish,which would bother me if I ever took out my chess herd.
Mac....Loved the story! I had a similar story revolving around a girl and my tennis addiction years ago.....The thing is,I let her win even though I was an advanced player.
I was wild about her,ever since I laid eyes on her.I mean totally arrow through the heart "wild"!
I was working a coat check room at a party and she was the last person to check in.
Love at first sight for me,but not for her....Drats!
She's now my wife.
Mar 12, 2022
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#87
@jacmater …. First coffee of the day…the barista is still half asleep but kindly took my (your) request in good grace … he attempted a knight … 😉😊… have a good day.👍
Mar 12, 2022
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#88
It's kinda like looking at clouds. After a while you can see all sorts of things! 
A duck with ear muffs!
Mar 12, 2022
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#89
@GrandPatzerDave …Indeed, I saw something that I could not then unsee … so I convinced myself it is a horse …
Mar 12, 2022
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#90
Powderdigit wrote:
@GrandPatzerDave …Indeed, I saw something that I could not then unsee … so I convinced myself it is a horse …
What else is in that coffee?
Beautifully designed pieces. I think a nice chess set is like a nice book . . . You can be entertained by simply looking at it and observing its intricacies.
Wow! A knight with a bulbous base! Mr. @MCH818 is sure to like it! Haha! 
@Powderdigit, wait, so we have Bidermeier coffee house, Vienna coffee house and now Melbourne coffee house style. Correct?
Mar 13, 2022
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#94
afternooneveryone wrote:
I prefer the rustic fifth set
Yes, it is one of my favourites too! That is a 1972 Phillipines set as offered by @EfimLG47 (Holger Langer) … a number of us here are delighted with that beautiful set.
And Holger, I am out of Melbourne (but still in the state of Victoria), so let’s run with Victorian Coffee House … 😊😉👍.
Powderdigit hat geschrieben:
afternooneveryone wrote:
I prefer the rustic fifth set
Yes, it is one of my favourites too! That is a 1972 Phillipines set as offered by @EfimLG47 (Holger Langer) … a number of us here are delighted with that beautiful set.
And Holger, I am out of Melbourne (but still in the state of Victoria), so let’s run with Victorian Coffee House … 😊😉👍.
Marc, noted. Victorian Coffee House is not only more appropriate, but also sounds better! Let me just go get one myself...
Mar 13, 2022
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#96
Holger, should you make it to these fine lands, I’ll be the first to buy you a coffee, beer or wine. We can toast in honour of your book - it seems people are starting to get delivery of your fine work, which is great! Well done again on that venture. 👍
Mar 13, 2022
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#97
@Squire321 - totally agree. It’s lovely to play OTB with your pieces but sometimes it is simply pleasurable to pick up and admire individual pieces or swap sets around the home to give you subtly different views.
Great thanks, they’re all beautiful but that one especially in my eyes 🙏
Powderdigit hat geschrieben:
Holger, should you make it to these fine lands, I’ll be the first to buy you a coffee, beer or wine. We can toast in honour of your book - it seems people are starting to get delivery of your fine work, which is great! Well done again on that venture. 👍
Mark, thank you very much. You had your share in it. Naturally, the Europeans are the first to receive the book as the shipping times are a matter of 2-3 days only. The first reactions to my book were very positive. Looking forward to many more opinions. It will be reviewed in one of the next issues of the Chess Collector Magazine and I was told there is a good chance that there will also be a review in the American Chess Magazine.
Ah, the "Silhouette Set" may grow to have some charm for you after all...