A pre-festivities sharpener of Mornington Crescent?

[MarkWithaC]

Unfortunately I was absent for the thrilling climax to the game yesterday, and offer belated congratulations to LlynTegid. It's not often you see that move deployed with such laser-like accuracy.
A last hurrah before we all disperse for our traditional mid-winter break? (I'm for the Canaries this year with the curate and his new-ish special friend, a dear young man).
I'll start us off with a good invigorating Hudson's Cast: Goodge Street.

I'm happy to admit I did have to look that one up in the appropriate almanack, Maud. It's a deep one. Impressive.
I'm going much more simple, although with a nod to the same family of moves: Monument (with spiral X).

Hmm. Tricky. Hard to predict which way things will go here.

<consults astrological chart>
<casts tarot cards>
<slaughters goat, reads entrails>

Goldhawk Road

Hmm. I think we’ll have to summon the stable lad to clear up the entrails.((winces)) Let’s take a peaceful and vegan Wadsworth to

Waterloo

Was anyone there at the May banquet in 2019 when the stable lad had one Cinzano too many? I wasn't present (breakaway tournament in West Wittering), but some of the accounts are eyebrow-raising to say the least.

A Junction Pass to Harlesden.

That really wasn’t the stable boy.

Lambeth North

No?

Euston Square

Oh, come on. Everyone knows Dame Millicent had to retire with a migraine (ahem) just before the stable boy arrived at the table, wearing a very obvious wig and exactly Dame Millicent’s shade of rouge. But I digress:

Warren Street

Could have actually been Dame Millicent – she does have a penchant for a wig herself, at least if one believes what the viscount says when in his cups...

Barking

My point exactly. Dame Millicent never missed an opportunity to dress as one of her several alter egos and she and the stable boy were never seen together.

Grange Hill

Ah, no, I meant her penchant for the Regency-style barnet, complete with heaving bosom and stuck-on beauty spot.
If you ever manage to corner the curate after his evening brandy (ies), ask HIM about the Dame and the stable boy being in the same room together and he may well tell you something rather different...

A Vertical Shunt to Elm Park

The east end of the District line, so favoured by early players of the game of games as some trains used to go all the way to Southend.

Turning back and with the aid of the Jubilee line I move to Canada Water.

Llyn, was it perchance you under a nom de plume who wrote that dazzling history of MC in, I think, about 2013? Only available at select outlets, obviously; one never saw it in the likes of WHSmith (what would hoi polloi do with it?).
Your knowledge and something about your style somehow makes me think of it. I cherish my copy. I had hoped for a signed one, but alas the event I had planned to attend was cancelled. It was never made quite clear why, although there were vague references to some cove called Jeffrey Bernard, whoever he may be.

I can't safely play the obvious, can I, with that parallel having been introduced?
I'll make an Eckhardt's Connection to take us to Covent Garden instead.

Sadly @MarkWithaC Covent Garden is temporarily closed...

Going back a space as required by the 1932 rules (amended), I have to take a west meridian.

Gunnersbury.

I thought closed stations still stood, unless there's a Peripheral in play, which I don't think there is at the mo?
But anyway, nice move.
Brondesbury Park (second vector).

@MarkWithaC I am not the author of that said history. Wish I was able to write such a wonderful tome.

Gospel Oak using the London Overground rule.

It’s a bitterly cold evening - quite reminiscent of the infamous opening of the southern loop gambit. A triumphant move to South Ealing

Ah, those were the days, bluewotsit. ((dabs away a nostalgic tear with her lavender-scented handkerchief))

Arnos Grove

That was quite a party, that opening, as I (hazily) recall. I've never looked at Mrs Orpington-Smyth in the same way since.

Now, correct me if I'm barking up the wrong tree (and no, Barking is not my move), but I think that if I bring the Lateral Thump into play I can say…
…
MORNINGTON CRESCENT!

Good heavens Mark, that was very dramatic! Tremendous panache. Congratulations!

I believe that you should have the honour of beginning the next game?

Thank you, Duck, you're very kind. I must say that congenial conditions prevailed throughout that game; and, in the way of the very best rounds of the Game We Love So Much, when one looks back one can see exactly how it was going from fairly early on, like a magnificent Swiss watch (that conjunct of Shadwell and Hainault! It takes the breath away).

So. I've been longing to have a go at this one for some time, ever since the Rear Admiral and his companion (as I believe one is to term it) demonstrated it at the last-but-one autumn concord:

Colindale

Starting at a station outside zone 1 is an unusual move, but I will make the second move of this game a simple one- Golders Green.

I am away in parts Magyar and am employing local tourist rules. Allowed under the 1916 wartime amendments.

Astoria.

Gosh. I’m struggling to keep up here, but believe I can counter with

Wien Volkstheater

Call me a stick-in-the-mud, but I play only stations in the Smoke (I do admire Muse and Maud's flair, don't get me wrong; is that a Bartleby's Run you've employed for that Astoria move, Muse? Wonderful stuff).

Back in my safe place:
Chancery Lane (semi-diagonal)

Come on daddy-o. You need to get hep to the beat and join the cool cats on the international scene, playing le jeu des jeux.

Solférino