The sport of kings: Mornington Crescent

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Good morning, all. What better way to begin the long weekend than a new game of the ineffable Mornington Crescent? All are welcome - veterans and newbies alike.

To set the tone, I will start with one of my favourite moves - a double shunt to

Kew Gardens

At risk of giving you whiplash…

Earl’s Court.

Whiplash?
I'll give you whiplash! A brisk detour to Lancaster Gate

If it’s whiplash you’re seeking:

Streatham Common

Whiplash? Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Elephant and Castle (Moscow Rules).

The Spanish Inquisition? Let's do a reverse Quixote to Maryland

What a dizzying flurry! How delicious!

Gospel Oak

Yes, such exciting play for a wet Sunday night. I hope to measure up with a move to

Hatton Cross

The North strikes back.
Scunthorpe.

After quite a bit of detailed reading I've found that, amazingly, Scunthorpe IS permitted, at least under the Norman Protocol (and yes I know how some of us feel about that, but Basingstoke 2022 did ratify it, so...)

However, it need not distract me from my longer vision for this round, which was always to be able to use the Parkes Ephemera Rule at some point. Which I can now do.
I say Deptford

Deptford? Interesting move quite clever I think, after much consideration the most logical move I can make( without breaking the Lewes agreement) is Goldhawk Road

Doesn’t break the Lewes Agreement at all, still sailing a bit close to the wind though eh! I like to see a bit of daring in a chap. Most refreshing!

In the spirit of Lewes I venture it presents an opportunity for the Bridlington amendment (1936-78). On which finely argued point once can play Swiss Cottage.

Before the howls of protest might I just say that Bridlington was quite clear and even His Excellency and Les Eminences (grises ou non) have always held that position…

Muse, you are right, but other views have emerged over the years and hardened in some cases into factions, like the Say Good Heavens No! to Bridlington Front, whose reputation one might say precedes them in quite a few ways.
But it's an excellent opportunity for me to put in play the Maximilian Accord and take us to Ilford

I’ve never found the SGHN!TBF persuasive - their credibility was undermined by that unfortunate business with the lieutenant commander, the deputy librarian and the second-best harmonium, where they were very much on the wrong side of the argument.

I’m a little confused by which rules we’re following this week, so I shall go for the safest of safe bets:

Green Park

You're not wrong, Maud. Also by the existence of the Front for Saying Good Heavens No! to Bridlington. They somewhat split their natural constituency. The schism was, I'm given to believe, to do with the adjutant and the curate's elder daughter. I say no more.

Upney

A move to Hornchurch.

Mention of a sketch about the body subsequently known as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (once headed by the late Joseph Ratzinger and then Gerhard Muller) makes me think that most of the participants of said sketch would be or are fine players of the game of games.

For reasons I won’t go into we must take a ride to Hampstead.

Stroll along Well Walk, past the red door, past the Chalybeate Well. Take a stride out on the heath. Have a coffee at The Coffee Cup. Buy cakes at Louis’. Maybe catch a film at The Everyman. Then home to the top-floor flat with the view across all of London, far to the chimneys of Battersea Power Station…

I am invoking the Trumpington variations as I don't want to end up in Nidd so I'm going to suggest Finchley Central

Now we’re truly exploring the intricacies of the Trumpington Variations, the source of so much controversy over the years! Some might say that, from here, I would have to move to, well, you know, but I think that’s a misreading of Trumpington and the intentions behind it so, instead, I’ll make an onward slide to

Arsenal

The north end and indeed other extensions of the 1930s brought new horizons and opportunities for the game of games, the start of new variations and the golden age of the game.

Southgate was one such and I move there.

I tend to go with Rev. Butterworth's interpretation of Trumpington, not least because he uses fewer big words.

Euston Central

The Rev Butterworth was a very wise man. Many say his later elevation to the bishopric was as much to do with his intimate knowledge of the game of games as it was his ecclesiastical demeanour.

Seven Sisters

Trumpington variations are the oldest rules that I can recall, all others spring from there, I think I can safely go to Finchley Road
I do recall that the late Barry Cryer favoured the Metropolitan line so hence my choice of play

I agree @ComeIntoTheGardenMaud. Hopefully we live in more enlightened times and missteps like the one involving the chihuahua and the chasuble would now not be quite so detrimental to the early career of such a talented clergyman.

Staying on the Metropolitan Line,
Chalfont and Latimer

Yes, PunksVersusBrats, that could so easily have been a setback to his career, but (and this has never been publicly acknowledged) the contessa and the admiral both approached the appointments commission, dropped hints about revealing what went on in Chipping Norton in ‘75, and his path was smoothed from then on.

Manor House

Trumpington variations are the oldest rules that I can recall, all others spring from there, I think I can safely go to Finchley Road
I do recall that the late Barry Cryer favoured the Metropolitan line so hence my choice of play