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

Opening using the London Overground rule and outside zone 1 is indeed a new start.

Nidd having been avoided, a short move to Kinsgbury.

Hmm. We seem a little stuck, but I think I’ve seen a way to break the impasse. A left-handed Swinburne to

Turnham Green

After the rush of the last game we seem to be taking a more measured approach…

I’ll try to shake it up with an elongated swerve to Russell Square.

I’m not copying the Curate’s famed ‘78 play, I’m merely referencing it. You dig?

Having taken part in a game that lasted eleven months, there is something to be said about slow and considered play. I don't know what happened to @andrewofgg who made some important moves, perhaps someone who has a different nom de plume nowadays?

Holloway Road

Oh we dig, TragicMuse. As Picasso allegedly said, good artists copy, but great artists steal.

Turnham Green

Duplicating your own move Maud? It’s bold but allowable!

Ah, Pablo! Such fine moustaches…

Pimlico

Perhaps that makes me a good artist, then, TragicMuse? I shall be even bolder now, with a diagonal pent to

Clapham South

Keeping it clean and simple before the indulgence starts…

A vertical on the Northerly to Victoria (District and Circle lines)

Oh, well done, Muse! I hadn't appreciated that Schneider's Return was in play, but now I look back, there it was for the taking.

I'm going to try a parsed vertical to take us (hopefully without risk of turning inverted) to Finsbury Park

Are we completely sure that the Trumpington Variations are the Ancient Ones? What about the Merovingian Accord? Which I duly invoke to saunter towards Theydon Bois.

It hardly matters now - Theydon Bois will have opened the gates for all southbound switching. Hoorah. Onward to

Euston Square

I think Merovingian is null and void when a Viennese Purview has been created, as is the case here.
Debden, if I may, invoking a good old Directional Murphy.

Debden? Debden! Surely in those circumstances it should have been … no, I won’t say it. I’m sure you were trying your best. From Debden:

Heathrow Terminal 4

To be fair, Maud, there are two schools of thought with a Directional Murphy, and something to be said on both sides. I always feel it is a shame that differences have become so entrenched on both sides.

However.

Greenford

Oh that is a conundrum @baital

I think the aforementioned Viennese Purview limits my play to Zone 1…

Tottenham Court Road.

You saw through me Muse!

I hoped that the mulled wine and general seasonal cheer would have affected your game play! I only hope i remain just as sharp.over the festive period.

North Acton (hoping we can finally put Christmas '03 behind us)

Good evening everyone: wassail, wassail!

I apologise for my lack of recent play but I have been following along and making notes.

As it’s Christmas Eve I believe we are permitted to invoke Dickens Rules so I can think of no better destination than

Chancery Lane

Wishing all players of the game of games, old hands and newbies alike, the merriest of Christmasses. Inspired by a glass or four of the Colonel’s legendary egg nog (made by the housekeeper in the second-best silver horse bucket), I offer you

Grange Hill

I feel able to join today as the tube runs.

South Woodford

Is it Sunday hours, I wonder?

High Street Kensington.

Evening all. Having taken some time to recover from the pre-Christmas festivities and the Christmas festivities, I think I’ll chance my arm with a sidestep to Russell Square

Oh that’s nice, Duck. Slightly dodgy out of holiday season but absolutely permissible at the moment!

I’m going to take my cue from a game I enjoyed during the Christmas of ‘76. We were snowed in, up high on the Tyrol, the Eiswein was flowing freely and the Contessa played Russell Square, just as you have here, dear Duck. I had a moment of inspiration so startling I nearly fell off the banquette…

Ordinarily one would play either East Finchley or West Finchley. But no! It’s there, just waiting to be plucked!

Finchley Central.

[happy sigh]

I shall emerge temporarily from my Betwixtmas absinthe haze to shuffle along to Tufnell Park.

I am very disappointed @PunksVersusBrats at your use of a word not approved by the Council of the game of games. Unless they have met in secret or delegated authority over the 12 days of Christmas to the Major and he has had too much brandy. Or perhaps overindulged at the craft beer place near Tufnell Park, where I did not inquire as the host's penchant for the game.

Camden Town

We should be generous towards PunksVersusBrats; at this time of year, very nearly anything goes, even unorthodox lingo. The game is jogging along nicely, so I propose an inward diagonal to

Kings Cross