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

That is certainly one way of putting it, Muse.

Tooting

Before there are the usual Easter weekend engineering works, better make a move back to the Underground via the bus rule to Tooting Bec.

Invoking the Good Friday Protocol. Charing Cross.

Oh you are on the button there @Vaguelyclassical! I was born in Charing Cross Hospital so it always has a special resonance for me.

Surely the next logical move is Tufnell Park…

A-ha! A Differentiated Fourth to Epping.
Always wanted to play that one.

@TragicMuse I'm so envious that you can enfold your own birthplace within the games of games. I see little chance of even a Flattened Midlands Imperative getting us to Stoke-on-Trent. Well, back to the fray: I think a gentle saunter to Covent Garden--perhaps the mezzo soprano will be in the champagne bar? ..

If there’s champagne, it’s almost certain the mezzo-soprano will be there.

Old Street

I once made the mistake of changing trains onto the Great Northern line there. A strange underground world I ventured through that seemed like a 1960s horror film set. No chance whoever designed that was a player of the game of games.

Elephant and Castle

It is even scarier, @LlynTegid, when one actually tries to exit that station and find the right street in the Upper World. I think Daedalus's rogue nephew was responsible.
Let's do a googly to Oval.

Sorry, was recharging my MC tablet.

In honour of Easter Sunday and the Archers Omnibus I’ve saved up a rare double of

Kenton / Hatch End

I did toy with South Kenton, but remembering what happened in 76 I thought better of it.

Happy Easter, players!

Gosh that was quite the googly @Vaguelyclassical I'm in awe, I wouldn't have considered it at this juncture, but it totally works!

And @VegimalCrudite 's delightful play does put us in an interesting position, doesn't it?! And I believe the most Easterly of options is to stack my wild card with a Baker's Dozen and take us swiftly to Victoria, from where the left-footers among us can pop into the Cathedral to make our devotions.

An early move on a Monday to go westwards to Turnham Green.

Such lovely Easter rhythms. I believe the only possible move now is a Northern Drift to Hampstead.

Ahhhh! ‘appy ‘ampstead! Place of my childhood, home of my heart! If I had the money I’d have a house there…

It is but a short jaunt to Golders Green.

Not a long jaunt to Colindale either.

Well, a few days ministering to old connections in the wolds and I come back to see I'm being comprehensively outplayed!
I shall soldier on even in the face of my own inadequacy.
Hornchurch is all I can come up with, using Perchère's Oblique, obviously.

Yes, things here are becoming very tense. I sense that the end is nigh - in this particular tournament, if not in the world at large - but sadly the best I can manage is a longitudinal splice to

Theydon Bois

I don't share your pessimism @ComeIntoTheGardenMaud .

So I move to Loughton.

You are most prescient @ComeIntoTheGardenMaud

Mornington Crescent!

The Hornchurch-Theydon Bois-Loughton triple has caught out many a player…well, Theydon Bois will do that in a multitude of combinations really. But here it gave me the lateral on a distaff and I was able to use my Northern brogue.

Oh brava, TragicMuse! A lateral on a distaff! A Northern brogue! How original. Please do start the next game.

Thank you Maud!

Let us start anew at…

Bayswater

Well played indeed, Muse! Virtuosic.

Kilburn Park, if I may.

Probably the quietest station I have ever known be the beginning of a game. Moving to Queen's Park as I do is a thriving hotpot by comparison.

I am shocked, shocked, I tell you! I disappear for a couple of days (obviously to the Royal Opera House champagne bar with the mezzo-soprano) and when I emerge, a Northern Brogue is unfolding triumphantly :(well done our lass TragicMuse) and we are starting anew. So, with a faint air of studied sulkiness I will suggest a pas de bourrée to Angel.
.

Oh come now, Vaguelyclassical, be of good cheer. Games played at this stratospheric level and lightning pace usually end in a dramatic flourish. Even the mezzo-soprano would agree.

Green Park