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

I agree, TragicMuse. It really is quite exhilarating. I hope you’ll understand the intention behind

Sloane Square

Negotiating the variety of junctions around Earl's Court is as tricky as some of the moves made in the 1981 tournament I referred to earlier, which is perhaps why it got so heated.

High Street Kensington

I have to remind myself that 1981 was not canon. Some of the suggestions were more unexpected than one might expect from gentlemen of the cloth. The Dean was most…well, you know his little ways. Their Eminences, on the other hand, treated the whole thing like a makeshift conclave. I did not appreciate the smoky fug at all. And I had to be most insistent that my best frock was not suitable to do double duty as a cassock. I may be a daughter of Rome but even I was shocked at that batch. They were a tricky lot.

Tottenham Court Road

One has heard some eyebrow-raising things about Their Eminences in that period. The last curate but one in particular heard a jaw-dropping story about one individual, which he would only tell if you brought round a bottle of Armagnac. I must say it was worth the investment.

Anyway, I'm keeping it fairly simple.

Bank.

So am I in these tricky times- Mile End.

I’m going to spin it up a little…

West India Quay

And a transverse to

Tower Hill

I was wondering if somebody was going to take advantage of that cotillion! Lovely play.
Euston, on an octagonal.

A move west to Great Portland Street.

I once went to a little soirée with a retired Sgt Major in Great Portland Street. The evening started off so auspiciously - the air was scented with frangipani from a lovely froth of plumeira, the stars were shining, there was a frisson of anticipation although that could have been the static electricity in the air... And then a parrot swooped down and attacked him in the Little Portland Street.

Memories, memories - which calls for a diagonal dosido to Cockfosters.

It's no more than he deserved...

Ah, yes, the Sergeant Major. One must remember never (I repeat, never) to accept an invitation to admire his medals. Her Ladyship has still not fully recovered.

Bayswater

I am on a jaunt.

The Sergeant Major once invited me to feel his iron cross. I feigned a swoon.

Waterloo.

Lambeth North which I hope would meet with approval from the said Sergeant Major.

Yes the Sgt Major gets around so it seems - but I do think he has one of those unlimited Oyster cards on account of his advancing years.

Speaking of unlimited things, it's been a while since I have visited the fleshpots of Leicester Square - but why not, it's the end of a Bank Holiday weekend!

I like your style, Arlanymor. Let us attempt a spliced Wilkins from the Square to the

Oval.

Did you see what I did there?

I see you Gertrude. Oval indeed! You minx!!

And I riposte with a triple salchow to Goldhawk Road

Oh, it’s a very long time since anyone called me a minx. I recall a long ago cocktail party on Mustique, when the Rear Admiral and I were on very cordial terms. Hello sailor!

North Greenwich

I think I was there, Gertrude, if it's the occasion when a group of the Monégasques got perhaps a little overenthusiastic about the Screwdrivers and dear Hans had to be called to intervene?

A whipped turn to Epping, anyway.

Yes, that was the occasion.

Poor, dear Hans. Last seen in a backstreet speakeasy in Baden Baden, trying unsuccessfully to persuade the Graf and Gräfin (who were both distinctly under the weather, after a few too many schnapps) to join him in the game of games.

Wathamstow Central

Hans did lose his way somewhat after that summer in Surrey, didn't he? The poor man. I hope he at least has some pals, whether real-world or online, to play MC with him. It never fails to offer comfort, in my experience.
(The policing and indeed the legitimacy of the online form of the game is a subject for another day).

Warren Street, latitudinally.

People play the game of games online? Surely not. It’ll never catch on.

Euston Square

I think it's a passing fad too, like the notorious Swiss Variation. Although (if certain well-placed individuals are to be believed) that did also have to do with the goings-on at the Institute.
Any road up, I'm playing a modulated fifth to Harlesden

The Bakerloo line must have been part of the inspiration when the game of games was first played in 1907. Even though its alleged purpose of enabling it to be easier to get the Marylebone Cricket Club seems strange given no one realised that the said MCC hadn't played in Marylebone for a few generations by then.

Hatch End.

Oh OH! Canary Wharf, obviously!

I can only counter with Westminster!