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

Apologies, it has been a rather exuberant few days. After this move I shall refrain from play until I sober up or I find the Major's missing toupé, whichever comes first.

St. James' Park

Found the toupé, it was on my aunts bureaux next to my uncle’s pen.

Since it’s possibly Thursday I thought I’d be safe with a loop towards Bethnal Green .

Oh thank goodness @VegimalCrudite, I was racking my brains to remember what happened to it after that final round of strip mahjong. I was worried that Mrs Tibbles had carried it away to play with!

Hackney Wick

Is that Mrs Tibbles the pedigree Persian cat, or Mrs Euphemia Tibbles, the scout master’s paramour? Either seems possible in the circumstances.

Balham

I was referring to the cat, but they were both in attendance. Euphemia was enthusiastically admiring the Major's postiche over the drinks trolley, so that might be the answer to that little mystery. I gather that the scoutmaster had had to retire early after a woggle-related mishap.

Which reminds me that I can now use a Sidewinder Clovehitch to take us to Crystal Palace.

Indeed. Sadly, there have been quite a few woggle-related mishaps, which is perhaps why the scoutmaster has never progressed beyond the preliminary rounds of recent MC championships. And it’s a grievous mistake to allow Euphemia anywhere near the drinks trolley, as anyone who was there in Reigate with the string quartet will recall. Onward to

Beckenham Junction

The tram and London Overground rules get us to Peckham Rye. Where the heritage is being restored, so perhaps a future venue for the 2031 tournament whose venue is yet to be decided.

If cats could speak they would make good players I think.

My cat has a fine resting bitch face. She’d shank you if you mis-played. I think she would allow Green Park at this juncture.

I suspect this is true of many cats, Tragic.

It’s New Year’s Eve, so I’m going to let rip with a Godolphin Fling to Ealing Broadway

Hyde Park Corner. IYKYK.

Oh, I do know, TragicMuse, but I promised not to tell and an MC player’s word is their bond.

An eastward Hepworth to

Limehouse

East just before the Eastern Christmas, well played @ComeIntoTheGardenMaud .

So Canning Town it is.

Admirable restraint @ComeIntoTheGardenMaud and followed by such a neat deflection by @LlynTegid.

New year, new start etc. I hope you were all suitably armed with the coal and so on for first-footing.

It is incumbent on me to play Jokers Wild and that means a hefty swerve to…

Wembley Park. No deviating to the Ikea returns desk.

I have a piece of coal at home which dates back to the 1980s, from a then working coal mine. I wonder if our Maths teacher who arranged the trip ever played the game of games, if he did I think he would have been a good player.

Preston Road.

I don't know where one could buy coal these days. The one year DD got coal instead of Christmas presents - having achieved the 'naughty' list, rather than the 'nice' list - Father Christmas had to use a charcoal BBQ briquette.

Happy memories! Well, happy for me, possibly not for DD.

Mile End

I trust your child, Baital, was not too traumatised by the coal. Perhaps you distracted her with a hearty session of the game of games? It’s never too soon to start. Speaking of which:

Walthamstow Central

Open sesame!

Marble Arch.

Well, chaps! It has been outrageously long. All I can say is, if the retired adjutant ever suggests a mini-cruise to you, make sure you ascertain his precise understanding of the term 'mini'.
And his precise understanding of the words 'a few drinks' at the final-night shindig.
Still, it was nice, or at least surprising, to see another side to the church organist. I just hope and trust that the dry-cleaner and the chicken farmer both have some space in their schedules and a sense of humour.

Any road up.
Superb play all round, as ever. I'm particularly impressed at how you all navigated in the wake of that Oslo Forward a few moves ago.
I'm going to say Lloyd Park. I think the downdraught rule of thumb allows it.

Ah, LittleBitofBread! How delightful to see you again! I received an invitation to that mini-cruise, but knowing as I do how the retired adjutant behaves when anywhere near the international date line (he really does misconstrue the meaning of the word ‘date’ in this context) I made my excuses and declined. I’m relieved you escaped, presumably unscathed.

Following your adventurous spirit to the south:

Beckenham Junction

You are more sensible than I, Maud, or at least you have a better memory (I have experienced the adjutant's holiday persona before, but perhaps I buried it in my subconscious).
Yes, I am unscathed, well, largely. I can't quite face eggs Benedict or a feather duvet at the moment, but we'll leave it at that.

Morden

On the day of the fourth round of the FA Cup I feel Wembley Park is a sensible move.

Ah!

Leyton, using a descant

Use of the tram rule, how interesting and unexpected. I went to Lloyd Park on my first ever tram journey in London, bought an ice cream and went back to East Croydon.

Leytonstone, somewhere nowhere near a tram.

Hmmmm, I’ve never seen much potential with Leytonstone, but I think I know what you’re thinking and I like it!

Taking the long view I think it’s got to be Blackfriars.

Llyn, I was going for a Doubled-Back Brompton, but I do see what you mean about the tram rule. Food for thought for if that move comes up again in future and there's no recourse to semi-dots as there was in this case.
I'm going to say Tooting Bec