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

I don’t know whether to be glad or not that I missed it. The Adjutant had whisked me away to his pied a terre in the 17th arrondissement. That was before I found out about his rum goings-on at Le Hot Club and had fled, nursing my broken heart. And wounded pride.

As always with matters of the heart I retired to Morden. And was glad of it.

With the aid of the walking rule and the tram rule I move to Wimbledon.

Underground or overground Llyn?

I think I can take us back to Golders Green

It was indeed a memorable evening at Le Hot Club, TragicMuse. Dancing the dashing white sergeant, the adjutant caught his epaulettes in the dowager duchess’s lace jabot, or at least that’s what the court deposition said. I understand your distress.

Roding Valley

You’d be surprised at the omnipresence of lace when one is broken-hearted @ComeIntoTheGardenMaud And jabots. They were simply everywhere that year. Everywhere.

I was never again able to look at Chantilly lace. Or entertain thoughts of Nottingham.

Time does heal, so with fabric in mind, Goldhawk Road.

@VegimalCrudite strangely London Overground does not go to Wimbledon, and none of the lines have been given names after the original eco-warriors. The so-called Liberty line is so small I think the Tomsk line would have been a better name.

Latimer Road.

I am wearing my best lace mantilla today, TragicMuse. It goes so well with the mulligatawny breeches and is so useful when one wants to be inconspicuous and to blend into the background. I shall thus make my way to

Shepherd’s Bush Market

Tending to One's Topiary is I believe not quite what the title may suggest to the innocent of mind. I'll only say that long ago, when I attempted to order it from the local library in a genteel suburb on a family trip, it took some fairly persuasive talk to persuade the chap in charge not to call the constabulary.

Nine Elms on the assumption that, after that Dortmund a few moves ago, the Metropolitan is high.

Edited: typo. Friday fingers. (not another book by the aforementioned author, no).

Low on energy, and low on Wombles.

short waddle to Shepherds Bush

Very strange moves going on here, to have any success of keeping on "track" each move must be carefully considered and I urge you all to take time and ponder over your possible moves.
I think we all lead such busy lives and with the festive season fast approaching sometimes the use of sagacity when playing the game of games is the last thing on our minds!
That said, after careful consideration the wisest move at this point is Notting Hill

I play the incorrect name rule which if played within three moves takes us back to the last correctly named station, Shepherd's Bush.

Pondering for a split second to move to Holland Park.

True @HazelBite but I've noticed that things always get a bit fin de siècle in the run up to the solstice.

Following Strumpington's Leyline takes us to Seven Sisters.

Since ‘96 we’ve had to move to Battersea Power Station from Seven Sisters. Don’t blame me, it’s the rule.

Hmmm, I think I'll take the option of the '97 Vancouver Amendment, brought in after the '96 rule to mitigate some of the complexities.

WarwickAvenue

Up the Bakerloo line to Stonebridge Park it is then.

A simple Vortex to Hornchurch

And we’re off!

Cockfosters

Ahem. I can’t. I just can’t.

MORNINGTON CRESCENT.

it was the vortex on the obverse.

Well played Tragic! Very well played indeed!!

Brilliant Tragic. Not seen a move like that for many a year. I hope you’re sitting down.

Oh, brava, TragicMuse! Such an elegant move. I feel quite overcome. <<reaches for lavender-scented linen handkerchief>>

Thank you all. It was such a brilliant game, one for the annals, I think.

I shall open proceedings with an old favourite. Known variously as His Majesty’s Gambit, The Syracuse Convention, or Milady’s Parlay, I have seen this opener at many a Levantine embassy soirée and always fancied using it in our own leafy environs.

Finchley Road & Frognal

Have at it, friends…

You are spoiling us, TragicMuse.

Swiss Cottage

Theres only one way to go now, very little thought required on this one, just to avoid Nidd Stanmore