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

Ah, the aroma of ratafia! Like Proust’s madeleine, it transports me back to that summer in Portofino. Surely you recall? The Colonel was in especially sparkling form. Fortified by his early morning swims (he is the consummate athlete) he clinched the semi-finals with an audacious Harrison’s Bypass, not attempted since that rather irregular tournament in Haverfordwest in ‘54, to

Camden Town

<wince>

Oh indeed Maud. Such happier, simpler times. The Colonel did love his swims. Well, until the unfortunate incident rendered him hors de combat.

Piccadilly Circus

I hope none of the Colonel's early morning swims were those which have led the Lido at Parliament Hill Fields to have to deal with more cases of hypothermia as reported this morning, even though I am sure there was a hip flask about his person to reduce the chances.

The closed stations rule comes back into play, to Down Street. Where Churchill had a bunker in wartime with a bath to ease his nerves.

My AI simulation has suggested a new management paradigm that points to an alternative route between stations that, initially at least, would move us safely and quickly to outlying stations such as Amersham.

Hypothermia? Certainly not for a man of the Colonel’s sporting prowess! Cold water holds no terror for him!

If it’s extremities you seek, Jaxhog, let’s move toot sweet to

Upminster

Well, there was all that goose-grease too. Quite the devil to remove from clothing.

Bushey, I think.

Using the unbuilt extension rule takes me via Watford Junction to Croxley. I doubt the Colonel ever swam in the wild ponds nearby.

Nothing like a cold water swim to start the day! Though I doubt the Colonel would approve the modern fashion for dry robes.

Appropriately enough, a Hinksey’s Butterfly to Rickmansworth

I can see the way we are going here so Chalfont & Latimer
I think the Colonel would approve😀

Indeed. The Colonel is the very embodiment of mens sana in corpore sano. <<swoon>> With that thought in mind, let’s take a Demi-Stovold (1994 variant) to

Elephant and Castle

With the aid of the London Overground rule I move to Gospel Oak. An open air swimming pool is nearby, probably one where the odd Dry Robe may be present from time to time.

I used to swim in Hampstead Heath ponds** when I was a mere slip of a girl...
*
Brondesbury*

Heathcliff! It’s me, I’m Cathy, I’ve come home.

Cambridge Heath, that is

ON the lido and cold water swimming theme, it is a short journey to London Fields. Using the London Overground rule.

Unutterably drawn to Hainault. Don't think it has a lido. But such are the whims of Lady Fortune when playing the game of games.

I think we have all, at one time or another, been unutterably drawn to Hainault. I know I have, most recently to Lady Fortune’s masked ball, held of course in the Assembly Rooms. Limitless champagne, dancing til three and a thrilling game of MC, only ending when the Ambassador played an undiplomatic but nevertheless triumphant downward shunt to

Warwick Avenue

Well if you insist on Warwick Avenue I feel compelled to transverse to Queensway

I don't think I have ever played the game of games with Lady Fortune. Unless she is the alleged only person ever to go to East Acton ticket office outside rush hour in the days when it had one.

Let's move to East Acton to see if she is there.

Hmm ….

<strokes chin, considers options>

Ealing Common

And you wouldn’t find Lady Fortune there, I can tell you. She wouldn’t be seen anywhere common.

It's got to be Earls Court then.

I am sure Lady Fortune would feel perfectly at home at the palace. That is to say

Crystal Palace

I'm not so sure that Honor Oak Park would be one the Lady would visit, but let's go there courtesy of the London Overground rule.

After a long think..

Ponders End!

More use of the London Overground rule- Cheshunt