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

Oh now, that's just mean Hazel!

You leave me with no other option...

Chalk Farm.

[taps nose] let's just keep it under our berets, shall we chaps..?

It's got to be Barons Court. Obvs.

I like your style @RomanMum so I'm playing a wildcard Upney!

I’m feeling a little frisky, so obviously I’m heading to

High Barnet

This game seems to be developing after the style of the Arthur Biggs school of thought. I wouldn't have gone for the Northern line at this stage in the game personally.

Be that as it may, the best way forward from here is to Turnpike Lane

I think Caledonian Road is a sensible early morning move.

I see what you did there and give you Great Portland Street

Yoicks! Tally Ho!

St James’s Park

Hmmm....

Willesden Junction

The wet afternoon wild card means I can go straight to Tottenham Hale!

The Colonel is quite insistent that, for the sake of balance, we should make an obverse longitudinal shunt to

Arsenal

The London Overground rule helps here, and with its aid gets me to Richmond.

I see football conations creeping in here so in the spirit I give you Fulham Broadway

The Colonel has been whispering in my ear, urging me to play Paxton’s Reverse to

Crystal Palace

His late Lordship LOVED a Paxton's reverse, he played it at the '36 convention, the competition was fierce but he best all comers and took home the trophy. It's still in the great hall. The present incumbent favours a Tintwhistle slide, use of which means I can play Oval.

Ah, the ‘36 convention. The cocktails on the terrace, the jazz band, the dancing, the conflagration when Great Uncle Gawain’s Dior gown was set alight by a rogue spark from the fireworks. We were so lucky that the fire chief was there.

Chadwell Heath

Family legend goes that on that occasion the fire chief was waving his little sparkler around with gay abandon. A combination of spandex and absinthe resulted in a blaze that was seen in the next county.

Fairlop.

Remaining in the 'next county' and playing the closed lines rule I move to Blake Hall.

There is (it has to be said) a lot of abandon at gatherings for the game of games. One looks back at the regional finals in Aberystwyth in ‘77 …

Osterley

Indeed yes, Maud. I understand that it took some years for the local sheep farming industry to recover fully.

Russell Square

Russell Square indeed tsk tsk I'm now going for maximum impact, in order to restore some semblance of order!
Harrow on the Hill

If it’s order (order) you’re seeking, then naturally we must proceed to

Westminster

Some impressive play this evening, certainly an exhilarating example of the game of games!

A sideways lob to Old Street

Oh Maud! 1977 was, well, I've never been able to look at Benedictine in the same way again. Or monks. Or eels, come to that.

How on Earth at I at Tower Hill again? It shouldn't be possible and yet here we are. Are we playing the reverse double rules?

Yes, TragicMuse, the game of games’ signature cocktail of equal parts absinthe, Benedictine, crème de menthe and lighter fuel is not for the weak of mind or liver. I heard on the lowdown that the ambassador is still in rehab.

Poplar