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

I think Rayners Lane is appropriate for a Friday afternoon.

Still scratching my head to recall a game starting at the station between Euston and Camden Town- was it the 2003 tournament?

Llyn it's such a deliciously rare occurrence that one almost believes it can't happen! Such a frisson of danger! Reminds me of the excitement I felt when Frederic, our first footman, was somehow always passing the mounting block whenever I was about to mount up on Thunder, my first pony. It quite put me to the blush. *
*
Frederic was eventually transferred to the island estate after several of the housemaids were found in a delicate condition. The Contessa was most displeased.

And on matters equestrian, Hyde Park Corner.

Flicking through the archives, there is precedent. The 1921 Paris Internationale was started like that, by the then Prince of Wales. I asked the Colonel about it (from a safe distance- St Petersburg) and he recalled he was almost arrested for treason as he hung him by his ankle from the viewing gallery of the Tour Eiffel. pardoned by the king, as “what did the silly arse expect?”
A secondary sashay is called for to Angel.

Good heavens, OhWhatFuckery. I’m glad nobody responded so violently on this occasion.

A sidestep to Highbury & Islington, I think.

Ah, young Frederic. I heard he ended his career as under-butler on the Rear Admiral’s estate in the Scottish Highlands, where the foul weather and scarcity of visitors meant that (apart from the inexplicable yet constant depletion of the whisky stocks) he led a blameless life.

Waterloo

I think we can go to admire the tallest building in London (I think) by going to London Bridge

Moorgate. It's quite windswept at the weekend. But no less valid, for all that...

All I can offer is Embankment (even more windswept)

Interesting choice, leading me along the District line to Barons Court.

And so controversially (but, I think you will agree, necessarily) on to

Kew Gardens

Entirely necessary Maud. No way round it really.

On chilly days such as this, we would always gather in the library. Grandpère would allow us to play songs on the gramophone and we'd play Snapdragon!

Memories of the ancestral pile and I shall play Mansion House.

I think time for Aldgate.

It’s Sunday evening, so let’s keep it simple with a quickstep to Tower Gateway.

I like your style, DuckOnABike. Let’s move boldly and decisively to

Kensington (Olympia)

Of the moves available I am inexplicably drawn to Monument. It's not my usual style of play but what is life if one doesn't take the occasional foray from one's path?

Using the many escalators and steps and hoping I don't get lost, I go from Monument to Bank and on to Leytonstone

Whereas I am drawn (like the late, great TBT when he was a Goodie) to

Cricklewood

Well I'm putting the cat among the pigeons and taking us all to Bank

Woah steady on HazelBite! If you’re not careful you could send us all to Nidd!

Trying to get things back on track with an oblique breakaway to Victoria

((Polishes pince-nez)) An intriguing move, DuckOnABike, and very well-executed. I think it enables a Langton’s Transverse to

West India Quay

I awoke this morning with thoughts of the Brompton Oratory.

West Brompton seems timely.

Another songwriter who was very much a part of the 1980s soundtrack has died, Terry Hall, may he rest in peace.

He hailed from Coventry, so it seems appropriate to move to the nearest station to Coventry Street, which is Piccadilly Circus.

Ah, yes, the sad loss of Terry Hall. I recall that, when the convocation met in 1983 to revise and consolidate the rules of the game of games, critics of the more radical revisions suggested (cruelly and libellously) that the lunatics had taken over the asylum.

Chadwell Heath

Indeed yes, Maud. There will always be those resistant to change. I remember when the young Duchess of Argyll and Bute suggested that it might be possible to drop the restriction on using the Interchange Rule after dark. The collective intake of breath could be heard all over the building.

Liverpool Street

Hammersmith! I think that works after Liverpool St given that that was preceded by Chadwell Heath?