The inevitable return of Mornington Crescent

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

As winter approaches and the nights draw in, one’s thoughts naturally turn to wholesome, homely entertainment. Instead, though, I invite experienced players and novices alike to join me in a game of Mornington Crescent.

To keep the pace gentle, I’ll begin with an inverse Lepton to

Seven Sisters

from

not form

I think given what is an invalid move as no station called Fleet Street has ever existed or been planned, we go back to Farringdon. The 1996 Down Street tournament decided that after an invalid move, the next one could only be one stop. So Barbican it is.

The Colonel and I have just shared a bottle of crème de menthe so, feeling now somewhat disinhibited, I shall move to

Parsons Green

I rather imagine that @FatOaf has been on a heady cocktail of creme de menthe and absinthe with a cocktail silverskin onion. Very erratic play, poor poppet.

I propose the Reverse Isambard to Paddington.

I'm employing the diagonal stride to Taplow.

The Arch-Bish is particularly fond of a diagonal stride. He calls it his "MC Hammer move". This finger-on-the-pulse attitude is what makes him so popular with the youth. They love to see his ecclesiastical ring...

I’m going to be honest here. I think some of you are making the rules up as you go!

we should be sticking to the 1997 standard rules as agreed in the Arcadia conference.

Sheildinch

Golly @FatOaf, have you had a few sherries?

@AutumnsCrow I know exactly what you mean. I have sent several of the staff down to restore order and close it up for winter. The attention will return to dressing our town house for Christmas. We have the Farthingstone-Smyths staying with us for the festivities.

With said festivities in mind, and having spent some time shopping here today, my next move is to Bond Street.

I think it’s unfair to criticise FatOaf’s alcohol consumption. The game of games tends to attract gourmets and bon viveurs so it’s not unusual for players to partake of a tipple or two and, as mentioned before, many a thrilling tournament has been held in Lulu’s Speakeasy.

So it’s off to

Mansion House

Well this raises just a few questions. Not least the strength of the sherry some players are imbibing.

However I can see that as we are past St Crispins Day we can now discount the old ruling that we don't want to discuss again

Tufnell Park

Imbibing at certain times of day is very easy in Tufnell Park given the range of options before embarking on the east face of Dartmouth Park Road.

One stop again to Archway.

Oh! I have just realised that it's the last Thursday of the month and it's before noon. That opens up Balham

Ah, the gateway to the south. Let’s have some fun with this (not that the game of games would ever not be fun):

East Croydon

I got some inspiration on the Victoria line last night so I am offering up
Finsbury Park
I think I can slip that in within the 1997 Standard Rules

Sadly missed most of the last game, so I would love to rejoin for this one.

Having had rather a good lunch, I’m feeling a bit daredevil so I propose a reverse Prince Albert to Goodge Street.

Goodness me! You’re certainly back with a vengeance, DuckOnABike. Nobody’s attempted that since Tierra del Fuego in ‘76, and the less said about that the better.

Russell Square

That means...

Caledonian Road.

So we've unlocked the Road Rules of 1984. In that case I play Camden Road. I repeat NOT Camden Town. Camden Road.

Oh in that case! Petticoat Lane!

Tragic I don’t believe there is a Petticoat Lane station, so I fear that one is hors de categorie. Can I put us right with Whitechapel?

I’m confident that, as connoisseurs of the game of games, you’ll appreciate the subtlety here:

Aldgate East

Oh goodness, there you all are. Glad to know the Colonel is fairly safe, though if he’s on the creme de menthe hide any tutus and Gracie Fields records. Mater still refuses to have his name spoken and has been using his marble bust to tee off from the terrace. And that’s five major countries he’s banned from.
I think I shall play safe with a Shepton-Mallet double twist, boring but steady to Swiss Cottage.

Welcome back into the well-upholstered bosom of the MC community, OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow. I do hope Mater has recovered after that unfortunate contretemps in Claridges with the principal violinist, the pineapple and the disputed move on the DLR, but let’s not dwell on that.

Cutty Sark

Nice move Maud! I can see what you’re trying to do there, but I think I can thwart you by employing a Duckworth Lewis move to Canada Water

Sorry to hear that about the marble bust of the colonel, OhWhatFuckery. I hope you at least managed to get the chutney off it after the unfortunate incident.

Apologies. There was a smidgeon of a mix up earlier which prevented me from taking my turn — but once I spoke with the chief Constable they all agreed there was nothing to be gained from being kept in there a second night and I am now able to rejoin. I think my solicitor will manage to smooth everything over. I do feel a little sorry for the owner of the other fountain though.

anyway. A sprightly Inverse Bazalgette gets us to

Sloane Square

I would expect the chief constable to take a relaxed view. After all, who was it who covered the marble bust of the Colonel in chutney? It’s been an open secret at force HQ for years, but she can hardly be expected to arrest herself.

Lambeth North