When nothing else will do - Mornington Crescent anyone?

[NicolaMarlowsMerlin]

Feels like we could all do with a robust tournament round about now. May I start?

I know this is cheeky, but I’ll begin with...

...Osterley

When there is a stall I am right that one is allowed to play thus?

Croxley Green Light Maintenance Depot

Maintenance Depots- there is indeed a new one on me. With the extension rule as well. I think we better return to Croxley in case the Adjudication Panel of 1977 reconvenes to discuss that, as it could get messy.

Hyde Park Corner

Tricky, but not insurmountable

Willesden Junction

I was thrown by Qullink’s reuse of Hyde Park Corner within 5 moves, but I think that’s OK under the Gossop Dispensation as the station has more than 4 exits.

I’ll attempt a double oxer to Kentish Town West

The London Overground rule (was it named after the Wombles?) can help us here, and via Gospel Oak and Upper Holloway get us with the aid of the interchange rule to Archway. Not sure if the local cafe with the lovely lemon polenta cake is open for takeaways but better find out. Normally I would ask Maud for one of her finest fondant cakes as were supplied in the 1991 tournament, but in these times not an option sadly.

Very relieved that my understanding of the Gossop Dispensation is correct, DuckonaBike! Was half expecting a shunt towards the diagonal in response. I confess to bring somewhat hazy on Gossop when it comes to moves around Croxley...

Bayswater

The Gossop Dispensation is, well, indispensable if you have broken your lorgnette and struggle to read the screen on these handheld telephonic apparatuses of which the young people are so fond - so easy, alas, unintentionally to repeat a station when the screen is a blur and there’s nobody to read it to you on the parlourmaid’s afternoon off.

But I’m feeling frisky so

Paris Gare du Nord

Good heavens Maud. Or rather, sacre-bleu!

Chatelet-les-Halles

Indeed, Maud!

Bravo on that quick évitation, DuckonaBike. I'm a newcomer to the Paris game, so must play it safe with

Bagatelle

I’ve had word from Fifi. The audacious play he has witnessed here over the last few days has tempted him out of retirement and so he asks us to meet him at

Berlin Alexanderplatz

I have never met Fifi and decline on this occasion. And return to London St Pancras

It’s nice to be back on familiar territory after that excursion. I’ll play it safe with a move to

Brent Cross

I will avoid the temptation to shop and move the short distance to Edgware.

Burnt Oak.

Oh good lord, I completely forgot that Burnt Oak hands are high, didn't I? Hope the move can stand since we're still in November.

Well, that puts the Northern Line into nibbings until the weekend, but I think we’ll get by.

Arnos Grove

I think we should stay in north London for a while and enjoy 1930s suburban architecture. So Southgate here we come.

Good plan nosswith. Let’s head to

Cricklewood

And don’t worry Quillink, that was an easy mistake to make.

COCKFOSTERS! TEE HEE HEE

How very childish BaldandWild.

Bushey

(Stop sniggering please)

Oh dear, oh dear

Let us proceed to that bastion of probity

East Croydon

I've been on MN a while but I do t know how to play... are there rules anywhere?!

A cautious progression after my last schoolboy error:

Debden

goldpendant more experienced players will be able to point you in the direction of the latest rules and regional variations (there is now a Stovold app, I believe?)

MN is an supportive environment for beginners. No pedantry here! I encourage you to familiarise yourself with the basics and jump in.

Thanks for putting us back on the straight and narrow there Maud, I got a bit carried away. And we don’t want a repeat of Stockholm in 1971. Before my time, but I’ve heard the stories.

Let’s keep things respectable with Parsons Green