If it's October it must be Mornington Crescent

[MarkWithaC]

@LlynTegid

@TragicMuse
@DuckonaBike
@Youngersis1
@ComeIntoTheGardenMaud
@VixenMortar
@GaudeteGaudete
@EmmaOvary
@thankyouforthedayz
@HazelBite
@Itisallgoingtobeok
@Useyourname

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

Fascinating information about dear Noel. Just got back from sherry with the colonel and it may be affecting my judgement however recklessly proceeding to covent garden

Oh indeed, Myrtle. I've often recalled darling Oscar's other quote (either that wallpaper goes or he does) when sitting in the Major's parlour. Whoever advised her to combine maroon and chartreuse was sadly mistaken.

Dollis Hill

Just the thought of maroon and Charterhouse has me horrified!

Theydon Bois

Well, quite! Induces a migraine and quite distracts me from the game of games, which was probably the Major's intention all along.

I'm feeling very mellow this Sunday morning, so a straight Penfold to

Hayes and Harlington

So smooth. I like your style.

I'm going to try a corkscrew whistle-stop shunt to Russell Square.

I think that worked!

Fascinating play. I think this opens the way for a Harrison pivot to Victoria

I like the cut of your jib, Boredmum.

I’m going to go wide to Herne Hill

Wow, DuckOnABike! That's both wide and wild.

Penge West

No further explanation necessary here.

A snappy little burst of play there! Energising.

Pontoon Dock

A lazy amble over to Tottenham Hale.

Perhaps a tad predictable, but one must redress the balance:

Arsenal

Clapham High Street.

Those of you who were at the '85 international conclave in Chamonix will appreciate my homage to that great player, His Excellency, the Ambassador. It was only months later that his Aide de Camp was unmasked as an enemy of the state. I didn't hear so much as a whisper that his, admittedly very fine, moustaches were false. I certainly couldn't tell. His Excellency was never quite the same. Always followed by an air of tristesse...

It was a privilege to attend the Chamonix conclave - so much excellent play, including the introduction of new moves which have since become staples of the game. As you say, TragicMuse, many of us were fooled by the Aide de Camp, although I heard a rumour that His Excellency knew very well that he was a she and had in fact encouraged the subterfuge. Naturally

Swiss Cottage

I'm shocked His Excellency knew all along. He told me that he had nothing to do with it and I pressed him very firmly. But you have reminded me of the Aldwych backstop move that was approved at Chamonix, which means I can move to Barking.

Having only heard rumours of the goings on at Chamonix it's fascinating to get details from those in the know. A gentle stroll to Westminster

I never know what to believe with His Excellency, frankly. He has always been inclined (let us be charitable here) to embellish the truth, although his account of what happened between you and him at Chamonix, MyrtleStrumpet, is not something I can repeat in front of a family audience.

Tooting Bec

The après-ski at Chamonix always leads to the most interesting plays of the game of games.

A petit jeté to Tooting Broadway

He PROMISED he wouldn't breathe a word, Gertrude! I am beyond shocked that he spoke to anyone about it. And I can't go into it either as it might negate the new moves agreed in the Conclave. It took MONTHS to even get them on the agenda, let alone approved.

This is quite disgraceful and frankly it's probably for the best that he's dead because I would otherwise be having SERIOUS WORDS.

I'm going to have to move to Temple, just to recover.

I think we should keep the moves approved at that Conclave as the memory we have of him, rather than the rumours concerning @MyrtleStrumpet .

So I'm going to use one of them, a controversial (but legal) second-degree backtrack to Boston Manor

See! That's what I'm talking about. If the rumours were ever confirmed then the second degree backtrack wouldn't be allowed. We would have missed out on the glorious 2009 northern regional final at Barnsley working men's club, when its unexpected use secured the win for Reginald Dwight (no, the other one) and astonished the watching crowd.

I had to have three brandies to recover, but Reg went on to storm the nationals and take his place in history.

I've come over all nostalgic so I'll use the Conisbrough Dip to Wood Green.

Oh, dear dear Reginald. He looked so perplexed when someone suggested he should play a medley of his hits on the battered old piano in the corner of the club's saloon bar although, after Mother Superior played that downward reverse to Morden, it turned out that Saturday night was indeed for fighting. But that was a long time ago, so

Pinner

With not a little relief (company is wonderful until it isn't, don't you all find?), I return!
There's been some fairly louche play here with repeated stations and the like, but if one goes off-piste and follows non-canonical tomes like the one from the last Ipswich Concordance or Burke's, it is possible to square what seem at first glance like circles.

Before I forget, where IS Maud? I do hope that story about the Antwerp run-offs isn't true.

Belsize Park, anyway, invoking Ambleside double-back rules.

Maud sent a message via the Adjutant-General to say she is unavoidably detained on Mustique, where there is a most diverting MC tournament (strictly unofficial and by invitation only) played after hours at a very chichi beach bar. She may be there some time, she said. So, in a salute to absent friends

Bromley by Bow

Ah. Hum.

Myrtle, dearest. Who told you His Excellency was dead?

Because he was in fine fettle when I saw him at the summer sojourn...and his valet hasn't been in touch, which I'm sure he would - I'm His Excellency's executrix.

This is very concerning. Very very concerning.

While I ponder,
Temple

I'm sure it must be you who is confused, seeing as I moved to Temple in that quoted post and you repeated it in yours. Didn't I see you at the Ambassador's funeral in Westminster Abbey?

Perhaps your memory needs checking?

East Finchley