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

Ok....

Fourth Sunday in January, waxing moon, so by my calculations that means I can move to Caledonian Road and Barnesbury.

Caledonian Road always reminds me of housesitting for friends in the 80s, and listening to my cassette of Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout.

The London Overground rule allows me to move to Camden Road, quietly on the fourth Monday.

Somehow I would have thought Prefab Sprout to be bigger in Crouch End, but I must be mistaken. Paddy the lead singer seems the kind of person probably very adept at the game of games.

It’s interesting to speculate on which members of popular beat combos of our time might be devotees of the game of games. I remember in ‘83 when one of the Eurythmics won the Copenhagen championships with a dazzling lateral swerve to Monument - sweet dreams were indeed made of that - but it would be indiscreet of me to name them here and, anyway, I’m sure you recall.

Hammersmith

Interesting move, Maud. I think I can see what you’re up to, but having consulted the tide tables and adjusted my theodolite, I think I can head you off with Putney Bridge.

The tactic of distracting the other players with showbiz gossip is a cunning one that I have had some success with myself. As you may remember from the Limerick quarter finals in 1998.

Ah, Limerick in ‘98. Wasn’t that the tournament where you defeated each of the Rolling Stones in successive heats? But we’re not indulging in showbiz gossip this afternoon so I shall say no more about that and the impromptu jam session with Sir Mick, the Colonel, the papal legate and the rest of the boys. Sweet Georgia Brown, indeed.

Dusting off my own theodolite

Beckton

What happened in Limerick stays in Limerick. Secrets of the Confessional and all that

Great Portland Street.

IYKYK...

I think this is becoming a challenging game. A move to Notting Hill Gate.

Well, talking of Limericks…

Some may think me a peasant
But I find it remarkably pleasant
To grow in fame
At the game of games
With this move to Mornington Crescent!

I trust that none of you will find either this move or the manner of communicating it too outrageous. I think if you cast your minds back you will find that there are precedents.

Marble Arch

Jolly well done, DuckOnABike! Adroitly played and, as you say, there is precedent for poetry in the game of games. I recall that the late Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman was a devotee, although he could never bring himself to play moves to the west of London for fear of arriving at Slough.

Letthecarhuntbegin has kicked off the new game very neatly, so let’s move on to

Oxford Circus

I feel this should be taken slowly Bond Street

Well done @DuckonaBike!

If I may continue the poetic theme with a little haiku...

Mornington Crescent
The game of games we all love
I play Regent's Park

Well I have heard it said that the game of games at its best is pure poetry, but I’ve seldom seen it demonstrated so literally. Well done Tragic. I’m particularly impressed that you got the correct number of syllables in each line too. People don’t always bother with that.

Now I think that last move wasn’t as innocuous as it looked, but I think I know what to do…

Warwick Avenue

I think I must take more care when moving given the open goal I created on the penultimate last game.

So Queen's Park seems a suitable cautionary move. The long game of games in 2016 had quite a few short moves.

Very astute, LlynTegid. Because I’m still enjoying the novelty:

Battersea Power Station

I believe the last Friday of the Month protocol should come in to play, which means the International rules are opened up.

With that in mind...Duomo-Via Vernieri

The international rules! How thrilling! This is the perfect opportunity for a grande jetée to

Musée d’Orsay

@ComeIntoTheGardenMaud hope you did not get lost finding the exit at that station. Nearly as big a minefield as Chatelet-Les Halles.

Using the Paris Metro rule gets me to La Defense.

I went to a ballet at the Chatelet in 1985. Happy memories!

Tuileries

Have you not considered how Brexit may have affected the rules?
Covering all bases therefore I can only go for Temple

I don’t think the rules of the game of games will have been affected by Brexit. Surely one can rise above such vulgarities?

St Pancras International

Deftly done. Now we go on to

Victoria

Has anyone said Abbey Wood yet?

Not for a long time, I think! I feel I should now take the hint and offer a Penhaligon’s Inverse to

Hanger Lane

I feel very much seen now Maud 😀