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

Dramatic move balalake, and enables me to use the Whittington Manoeuvre to Holborn. Ahh, it’s times like this that you know why they call it the beautiful game!

Actually on reflection I’m not sure they do call it the beautiful game. That’s certainly not what the Colonel called it in Gstaad anyway.

We shouldn’t pay too much attention to what the Colonel said in Gstaad. He’d just been dumped from the Olympic bobsleigh team and thought a 72-hour absinthe bender with the Cabinet Secretary was the way to soothe his offended feelings.

Farringdon

I tend to use the phrase the game of games when speaking to those who have never played the game. Yes there are such people, hard to believe, and not just a few residents of some far flung part of south London.

I think Finsbury Park is a suitable stopping off point.

Reverse jeté to

Balham

Absinthe seems to have a long association with the game of games, Maud. I have heard that it makes the heart grow fonder.

Very elegant move, Hexnjagd. May I counter with a lateral swerve to Lambeth North?

May I counter with a lateral swerve to Lambeth North?

Which brings us effortlessly to…

Mornington Crescent!

@DebbieDoesDoughnuts well done, the interchange at Charing Cross was a brave move but successful.

Wow! Well done Debbie - I did not see that coming!

Reminds me of the move made by a brilliant junior civil servant to win the final game at the world championships in Windhoek in 1984. There was a bit of harrumphing from the Colonel, but it was ruled legal and the result stood.
Just out of interest, where were you in November 1984?

Brava, Debbie. A brilliant and unexpected move! Would you care to start the next game?

Well done! I will be honest and say I thought it was near. It is the 5th of November after all.

Fine playing by all. Well done!

Oh well done Debbie! Skilful play, beautiful to watch!

Just out of interest, where were you in November 1984? Not sure but there were tables, dancing on said tables, members of various beat combos in darkest Sheffield. Sadly it was probably the year I was almost excommunicated from the High Council for Being Very Silly and bringing the game into disrepute. Which takes some doing.
A most excellent game my dears.

Oh. What a glorious move to end such an elegant but hard fought game. Well played @DebbieDoesDoughnuts

Hmm. It seems Debbie is being a little coy about starting the next game, so let’s essay an overnight demi-lateral to Balham and see how it goes.

Hmm thats a bold move for the off, I will gently slide to Northwick Park

Ouch! The gloves are off now

Turnham Green

An aggressive start so I'm going to use the Ramsbottom switchback

Alexandra Palace

Really? This side of the New Year? In that case, it has to be a Henderson’s Parallel to

Euston

I am channelling the late great BC, here so Hatch End

BC would certainly approve. That move is reminiscent of his winning gambit at the Düsseldorf tournament in ‘77.

Tottenham Court Road

Interesting application of the Jubilee Principles. I guess you are an adherent of the Newington Butts tenets. Thought you lot died out in the eighties. Off to Vauxhall.

Mill Hill East. Get out of that one.

Shoreditch High Street

A new game! And it’s certainly all kicking off right from the start. I’m going to apply the Langerhans principle and head to South Woodford.

South Woodford is a bit reckless this early in the game. I'm going slow and steady, straight to Waterloo.