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

Maud, the cheque was for an entirely innocent temporary lease of a flat in Highbury Islington for the Professor.
Are the Northern Line renegades so terrible? I will invoke the Tardis Exception (many planets have a North) and rematerialize near
Watford Gap.

So you say, Vaguelyclassical. So you say.

Baker Street.

The game's afoot.
.Shadwell.

[sharp intake of breath] oh OUCH!

Temple

Kingsbury
Nice and simple.

So is Queensbury.

Not as simple as it looks, though, is it, Llyn? (I think you were at the last Eastbourne conclave?)

A reticulated Smythson to Liverpool Street

<<polite throat-clearing>>

Not to hassle people, but I think this is quite an exciting juncture. Would hate to see things fizzle out here.

I have been carefully considering. One can’t rush these things.

However. On careful reflection, taking all things into consideration etc etc…

Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3

Beat that and stay fashionable…

I must have a look a like as I was not at the Eastbourne conclave.

Hounslow East.

I've never been concerned about being fashionable.

I do apologise, Llyn; in my defence, I only thought I spied you once, and it was late on the last day and the legacy secretary had been fairly generous with the Chambord.

I will make a Sergeant's Feint to Willesden, which is again not fashionable, but does allow the sort of corner play that we were otherwise in danger of blocking ourselves off from.

Oh, so it’s frisky Friday, is it? Such fun.

Bank

if it’s frisky it must be Farringdon

And with the three hour rule, onto

ColliersWood

I have missed being able to play the incorrectly named stations rule which must be played within three turns. Which of the Willesden stations it was we may never know.

Using the tram and walking interchange rules I move to Wimbledon Park.

I consider myself thoroughly castigated!
I'm going to very carefully move to Penge West (diamond formation).

Oh, thank you, LittleBitofBread! I’ve been waiting for weeks for the opportunity to play an elongated lateral to

Beckenham Junction.

You don't see one of those every often these days! I remember the old assistant conductor used to favour them, Gawd rest him (in Broadstairs, I mean; I don't believe he's shuffled off this mortal coil, just had to put a bit of space between himself and the incident after the Ring Cycle that time).

Finsbury Park

The Thameslink rule does have its uses and the last move was one of them. I am going to see the outer reaches and move to Oakwood.

I have always lived by ‘What happens in Bayreuth stays in Bayreuth’ @LittleBitofBread unforch the assistant conductor did not…Broadstairs is the least of it!

Happily, opportunity offers me the chance to play a pringle! Tufnell Park.

A Pringle? Nicely done, TragicMuse! And so on to

Balham

Indeed, Muse, what one hears about Dresden that year after the symposium curls one's hair.

An upended Murphy to take us to Pinner

I had to keep my hair short to avoid the curling…

Barnet! Hohoho!

Ah, Muse, it's the incomplete station rule! It comes for us all eventually.
I was gearing up to attempt something rather high-wire, but this allows me to play a less risky squared-off peloton and take us to Victoria.

Oh dammit!

High Barnet!