David Flewellen
@davidflewellen.bsky.social
Chess player (ECF rating: usually 1600+; Club: Epsom; County: Surrey). Bristol Rovers supporter. PL/EFL 43/92. Fan of bands like Depeche Mode, the Manics and The Cure. Political views: wanting the world to be a better place for all of humanity.
After a run of dreadful results, #BristolRovers have sacked manager Darrell Clarke. Everyone still associated with the club ought to be deeply ashamed of themselves for the part they’ve played in reaching this point. As it stands, they don’t deserve my time, attention, money, or affection.
December 13, 2025 at 6:53 PM
After a run of dreadful results, #BristolRovers have sacked manager Darrell Clarke. Everyone still associated with the club ought to be deeply ashamed of themselves for the part they’ve played in reaching this point. As it stands, they don’t deserve my time, attention, money, or affection.
Seeing a news story about a Bristol C*ty football ultra who has sadly died from injuries sustained in a fall from a lamppost. I’m trying my best to be a better person, and part of that is showing empathy in a tragic situation - even in a case where my viewpoints are so diametrically opposed to his.
a cartoon character in a devil costume is standing in front of a grave
ALT: a cartoon character in a devil costume is standing in front of a grave
media.tenor.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Seeing a news story about a Bristol C*ty football ultra who has sadly died from injuries sustained in a fall from a lamppost. I’m trying my best to be a better person, and part of that is showing empathy in a tragic situation - even in a case where my viewpoints are so diametrically opposed to his.
Headed home early from an away trip this evening with my team losing 4-0. This would have happened if I had gone to watch #BristolRovers at Barnet, but instead it happened in the chess match in which I played for Epsom 3 at Richmond. My 200+ point rating disadvantage had me on the back foot.
December 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Headed home early from an away trip this evening with my team losing 4-0. This would have happened if I had gone to watch #BristolRovers at Barnet, but instead it happened in the chess match in which I played for Epsom 3 at Richmond. My 200+ point rating disadvantage had me on the back foot.
I have pity for the community to which he has to give 200 hours of service to.
December 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I have pity for the community to which he has to give 200 hours of service to.
Reposted by David Flewellen
This is precisely what Trump looks like
December 7, 2025 at 2:39 PM
This is precisely what Trump looks like
Gradually rediscovering my chess mojo after my rating took a hit earlier this year. Played some county chess today - mine was one of seven Surrey U1650 wins in a 11-5 thumping of Middlesex U1650. My live rating has now snuck back over 1600 for the first time in many months.
December 6, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Gradually rediscovering my chess mojo after my rating took a hit earlier this year. Played some county chess today - mine was one of seven Surrey U1650 wins in a 11-5 thumping of Middlesex U1650. My live rating has now snuck back over 1600 for the first time in many months.
My 2025 year of listening to music lines up pretty well with my actual music taste.
December 5, 2025 at 11:37 AM
My 2025 year of listening to music lines up pretty well with my actual music taste.
Dutch and Chess are my main areas of learning. Maths is just to farm XP, although the magic square puzzles are good for calculation and pattern recognition skills.
December 2, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Dutch and Chess are my main areas of learning. Maths is just to farm XP, although the magic square puzzles are good for calculation and pattern recognition skills.
I’m going to see My Bloody Valentine tonight. They’re a band that passed me by when I was younger, and I only got into them a couple of years ago. I’ve always been a fan of alternative music, and they struck me as being an archetype of the genre that somehow eluded my ears for decades.
November 25, 2025 at 11:53 AM
I’m going to see My Bloody Valentine tonight. They’re a band that passed me by when I was younger, and I only got into them a couple of years ago. I’ve always been a fan of alternative music, and they struck me as being an archetype of the genre that somehow eluded my ears for decades.
Won my first #chess game of the season this evening. Earlier this year, a local international master recommended to me that I stop playing a particular opening. My rating then plummeted. Tonight I decided to break the promise that I made to him (that I no longer play it). Result: easy win.
November 10, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Won my first #chess game of the season this evening. Earlier this year, a local international master recommended to me that I stop playing a particular opening. My rating then plummeted. Tonight I decided to break the promise that I made to him (that I no longer play it). Result: easy win.
Not just an ex-footballer… an ex-football manager too. I can’t see any sort of pathway for Joey Barton to make any sort of legitimate future living from football, and that’s exactly how it ought to be.
November 7, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Not just an ex-footballer… an ex-football manager too. I can’t see any sort of pathway for Joey Barton to make any sort of legitimate future living from football, and that’s exactly how it ought to be.
I live in a town that could hardly be described as big (or even medium-sized) but it’s certainly big enough to be hosting a screening of the #DepecheMode movie #DepecheModeM. Can’t be missing it when it’s right on my doorstep, so here I am about to watch it.
October 28, 2025 at 7:17 PM
I live in a town that could hardly be described as big (or even medium-sized) but it’s certainly big enough to be hosting a screening of the #DepecheMode movie #DepecheModeM. Can’t be missing it when it’s right on my doorstep, so here I am about to watch it.
Today’s #BristolRovers game at Crawley was rather crap. Not even Tom Lockyer’s return was able to lift the mood. Lucky for me I was partly distracted by a Zoom meeting that lasted for 5 hours and only wrapped up a few minutes ago.
October 25, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Today’s #BristolRovers game at Crawley was rather crap. Not even Tom Lockyer’s return was able to lift the mood. Lucky for me I was partly distracted by a Zoom meeting that lasted for 5 hours and only wrapped up a few minutes ago.
The English Chess Federation’s AGM is this afternoon, and I’m due to attend on behalf of my county. There’s also the matter of Bristol Rovers playing nearby (at Crawley Town), with Tom Lockyer’s return to the Gas being such amazing news. How can I possibly be in two places at once?
October 25, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The English Chess Federation’s AGM is this afternoon, and I’m due to attend on behalf of my county. There’s also the matter of Bristol Rovers playing nearby (at Crawley Town), with Tom Lockyer’s return to the Gas being such amazing news. How can I possibly be in two places at once?
I cannot believe the extent to which the New York Giants have just bollocksed up a 19-0 lead at the start of the 4th quarter to be trailing 30-26 at the end of this game except I totally can believe it. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
October 19, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I cannot believe the extent to which the New York Giants have just bollocksed up a 19-0 lead at the start of the 4th quarter to be trailing 30-26 at the end of this game except I totally can believe it. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
County #chess season started today. My Surrey U1650 team scored a tense 9-7 win at home against our Kent counterparts. They were the only team to beat us last season, but we avenged that loss in the 2024/25 national final, and again today.
October 4, 2025 at 11:05 PM
County #chess season started today. My Surrey U1650 team scored a tense 9-7 win at home against our Kent counterparts. They were the only team to beat us last season, but we avenged that loss in the 2024/25 national final, and again today.
Reposted by David Flewellen
the Command & Conquer series is 30 years old today we so have an excuse to share this iconic moment with Tim Curry
September 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
the Command & Conquer series is 30 years old today we so have an excuse to share this iconic moment with Tim Curry
A remarkable man. Spookily, just a couple of days ago, I Wikipedia-link-hopped to his page. A principled man who was also a great athlete in his day.
September 26, 2025 at 12:05 PM
A remarkable man. Spookily, just a couple of days ago, I Wikipedia-link-hopped to his page. A principled man who was also a great athlete in his day.
That half-time lead for #BristolRovers only lasted a few minutes, and the Gas will probably be the happier of the two teams to end up with a point from that game. I’m heading home now from Colchester.
September 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
That half-time lead for #BristolRovers only lasted a few minutes, and the Gas will probably be the happier of the two teams to end up with a point from that game. I’m heading home now from Colchester.
#BristolRovers leading 1-0 at half time here in Colchester. Arguably scored a bit against the run of play, but both teams have played decent football so far. Now to work out how long it’s been since I’ve been at a game where the Gas have been in the lead.
September 20, 2025 at 2:53 PM
#BristolRovers leading 1-0 at half time here in Colchester. Arguably scored a bit against the run of play, but both teams have played decent football so far. Now to work out how long it’s been since I’ve been at a game where the Gas have been in the lead.
In recent years, my away trips to Essex have usually involved playing county chess for Surrey. Not today, though. I’m off to Colchester to watch #BristolRovers. 43/92 -> 44/92
September 20, 2025 at 9:07 AM
In recent years, my away trips to Essex have usually involved playing county chess for Surrey. Not today, though. I’m off to Colchester to watch #BristolRovers. 43/92 -> 44/92
I’d like to think that Boris Johnson misread this as “Etonian airspace” and crapped his pants.
Nato intercepts Russian fighter jets on ‘reckless’ violation of Estonian airspace
Nato intercepts Russian fighter jets on ‘reckless’ violation of Estonian airspace
Italian air force heads off three MiG-31s over Gulf of Finland amid increased tension on alliance’s eastern border
Nato has intercepted three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets that violated Estonia’s airspace over the Baltic Sea in a 12-minute incursion, calling it proof of Moscow’s “reckless” behaviour.
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, accused Moscow of an “extremely dangerous provocation” and said the latest Russian violation of Nato’s eastern borders “further escalates tensions in the region”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 19, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I’d like to think that Boris Johnson misread this as “Etonian airspace” and crapped his pants.
I binge-watched Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping last night. Found it fairly enjoyable, but not particularly groundbreaking. The trouble with sketch comedy is that Key & Peele have set the bar unsurpassably high in terms of writing, performance and production values.
September 17, 2025 at 1:17 PM
I binge-watched Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping last night. Found it fairly enjoyable, but not particularly groundbreaking. The trouble with sketch comedy is that Key & Peele have set the bar unsurpassably high in terms of writing, performance and production values.
Breaking news: Shatner outlives Kirk.
September 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Breaking news: Shatner outlives Kirk.
There are two people I’d love to see swap jobs for a while. Imagine Grant Bowler narrating a gorgeously-shot wildlife documentary, while on another channel David Attenborough talks us through people trying to get through Australian border security.
September 8, 2025 at 10:53 PM
There are two people I’d love to see swap jobs for a while. Imagine Grant Bowler narrating a gorgeously-shot wildlife documentary, while on another channel David Attenborough talks us through people trying to get through Australian border security.