If it's October it must be Mornington Crescent

[MarkWithaC]

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Although of course MC is a game for all seasons, I do have especially fond memories of an October championships in Wales and extracurricular… fun amid the greenery of a National Trust garden.

If I've missed anyone I do apologise; do round up any players you happen to see or hear of.

And I'll start with a lovely little move that the Reverend taught me.
Finsbury Park

A bold opening move on 10/10 indeed. The Anderson rule would usually come into play when the day and month digits are equal, so I see you don't care for convention. But I'm afraid I do, so I'll move us along to Dollis Hill.

Ah, a shiny new vista of a round before us!

Sideshunt to Turnham Green

Kew Gardens to view the autumn leaves.

Still, convention does rather go out the window once one has seen an excellent player like the dear departed undersecretary (Galashiels branch) struck down by such a dreadful illness while still in her prime without ever having attempted the manoeuvre I used there. Carpe diem, say I!
With which, Lancaster Gate, and don't spare the horses.

Ah. Impossible to resist the siren call of a new round of the game of games. StillAtTheRestaurant is quite right to remind us of the exigencies of the Anderson Rule - start as one means to go on and all that - so I shall move to

Theydon Bois

Dear ones, I'm so sorry I've been hors de combat.

I accepted the mission not knowing that it would take so long. They said a short hop
over to the Balkans but that was soon exposed to be a...hmmm, a canard, let's say.

I didn't take nearly enough ceremonial garments either and had to borrow from the Archbish. Luckily he's not as tall as he appears in pictures and was a fairly good fit. I'm not returning the gremial though. It's far too nice!

And I definitely wasn't prepared for such frequent (and somewhat invasive) checking of one's physical suitability for the whole thing. As it was, I have now delivered the package and, well. Let's draw a veil over proceedings. I've probably said too much already!

Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth line)

How thrilling! I've been off MC for a while following the... Incident, but my restraining order has now expired and I'm longing to fling myself back in.

So many options, but I think I'll go long and slide to Battersea Power Station.

If you don't object to a newbie. I have been studying Hardcastles beginners guide and feel that Russell Square would be appropriate in the circumstances

Delighted to meet you, Boredmum24, but you can't be new to the game of games if you're studying Hardcastle! Although she called that tome a beginner's guide, to throw the regulatory committee off the scent, Lady Hardcastle knew that the ploys and strategems she recommended there would only be safe in the hands of experienced players.

Ongar

Muse, all I shall say about that is that I've long suspected the Archbishop of standing on boxes for photos --and I do hope your reputation in Athens has not been
besmirched--

Lady Hardcastle was nothing if not a provocateur, and I'm sure she used to enjoy watching the chaos wreaked. I remember a... fraught weekend at the Rotherham speed trials involving the Reverend's sainted mother, the fairly new floral arranger, and Rule 16:6 (addendum C).

Any road up.

Gospel Oak, externally torqued.

The mayhem that addendum C must have caused over the years.

Hainault

I try to avoid addendums, many players of the game of games don't read them, they are almost treated like small print.

Newbury Park

Back to basics so all I can say is Goodge Street

As it's meteorological autumn I believe the lower temperature contingency applies. Therefore wood green

Ahem. Keeping with the autumnal vibe...

Forest Green (permitted under Anderson's, second Fridays only)

Forest GATE, of course. Autocorrect from my last foray into the lower reaches of league football. Up the Rovers! ⚽️

And on to

Swiss Cottage

With many thanks for the return invitation, sadly absent from the game of games for too long - as the branch line closure of fate was met by the replacement bus service of dooooooom

I see your Swiss Cottage and attempt a lateral (shunted, naturally) to Maida Vale

It's almost wine o'clock on a Friday and I'm feeling a little devil-may-care. I'm going to play a Portuguese obverse movement so now we're at All Saints.

I feel a deviated lateral to Southgate may be in order

Well the new game has certainly got off to a lively start!

Call me a traditionalist, but I’m making Gall’s lateral to West Finchley. Though if Boredmum has been studying Hardcastle then she’ll probably know exactly what I’m about …

Given the wonderful opportunities for expansion and subtle tactics that the opening of the Elizabeth Line has given us (although I know purists may object) I intend to exploit these possibilities to the utmost and hang the consequences.

Slough

Wine has been taken in Jekyll Mansions (sadly we had run out of absinthe) so I shall essay a reverse sweep to

Oxford Circus

Oh really off to a lively start! I feel that a tad of decorum should be introduced at this juncture so (with a great flourish) Chancery Lane

Ooooh, leaves the way wide open for an oblique 9th to Osterley.