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

Your usual Crème de Menthe frappè Maud? Or a Cointreau a la mode?

I’m in an odd mood. The only solution is to take the central line loop.

Fairlop. Always makes me think of an oxbow lake…

You need to be careful with imbibing on the east end of the Central line. It can lead to the Hainault ending, which when last used in tournament play caused no end of consternation.

Woodford.

The eastern reaches of the Central Line seem to be drawing us into their toils, but I am something of a Houdini so I’m carrying us off to Colliers Wood!

Just pour the crème de menthe and Cointreau into a pint glass, TragicMuse, and all will be well.

This next move may look fiendish but skilled players, such as those gathered here, will find a way out:

Morden

A pint of Leslie Green-the perfect cocktail for a late morning perusal of The Board.

Morden you say? I do see what you’re getting at so I think the little played

Boston Manor

This game play is getting a little advanced for me, I have to bring it back to my level with Bond Street

Safe, but a little boring I admit

Llyn, I thought a Hainault ending was a euphemism. Is that just what the deputy minutes secretary wanted me to think?

Baital, you're too modest. That is a very elegant super-inverted Harington indeed.
I can only try Paddington and hope for the best.

Paddington has been a starting point for a game of games on very few occasions. Indeed if there were a compendium of all of the tournaments and the starting location listed, it would hardly feature. I'm not sure if ever Michael Bond the beloved children's author indeed was asked to start a game, fine player he was apparently.

Goldhawk Road

Some very energetic play here recently; I’m struggling to know how to respond, but think I can muster a longitudinal shunt to

Turnpike Lane.

Oh Maud! You are a mischief when you’ve got the bit between your teeth! You know that leaves me with only 2 options and there’s no way I’m taking one of them. Not after the last time. The parrot was never the same, the verger almost brought a case (thankfully dissuaded after a quantity of absinthe and New Berry Fruits), and His Excellency was fortunately distracted by an incident in Kaliningrad.

I therefore take ‘the road less travelled’, as Robert Frost coined it.

Tottenham Court Road.

Dear, dear Robert Frost. He worked so hard to introduce American poets to the game of games. It’s a pity he didn’t do it sooner. Emily Dickinson would have been a gifted player, I am quite sure.

Finchley Road & Frognal

I am so glad @tragicmuse mentioned Kaliningrad, it was my introduction to international level game play. So unfortunate to find out that the Baron wasn't quite the person he claimed to be. But no-one could deny his abilities in the game.

North Acton

Oddly enough there is a story about Michael Bond, a book of Emily Dickinson poems and a wig (ask the chaplain).
Memories of Kaliningrad for me are bitter-sweet, as I'm sure they are for many of us who were at the spring symposium in 2017 and witnessed the ratification of the new petty infringements section. I'll only say I am sometimes not sure whether to be glad or sad that one may not currently visit.
But anyway.

A heel stop to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3

Yes, that story is amusing although, one has to say, slightly unedifying. And as for the 2017 symposium! The duchess described it to me as a fiasco and I fear she was correct.

Osterley

The NDA forbids me to comment…

Goodge Street

Since we're on the subject of 2017, I'm going to dust off a manoeuvre I developed over that week (it was rainy), so it may creak a little, but here goes nothing...
Brent Cross

Ooh. Nicely done. I would have thought Bounds Green in that situation, but now I see why not. Very good indeed.

Tottenham Court Road

Oh. Ah! I see what you did there @ComeIntoTheGardenMaud! You are clever!

Now, I must pre-empt my next play with sincere and heartfelt apologies. Please believe me. I am sorry. However…

Leytonstone

You do understand? Don’t you?

Yes, Maud, I knew you'd understand. I was looking back (quite a way) to the Slovenian Protocol.
Muse, I understand and I have to applaud.
I can only cross my fingers and hope a two-toned Finlandia will save me:
Limehouse

It is not too long until the 90th anniversary of the battle of Cable Street, a street you can view from near Limehouse station. After taking in the view I move to West India Quay DLR.

I've had a g and t which emboldens me to drop in under the guidelines established at the Utrecht conference of '89 with a cheeky

Baron's Court

I understand everything. I repeat, everything. And so I offer a downward Bentham to

Warren Street

Chalk Farm. Obviously. I was sure someone would pop in an inverted double lutz before I could play that one out!

Cin cin!

There was a player in the 11 month game a few years ago who has not been seen since, more is the pity. Unless now or then playing under a nom de plume.

Golders Green in honour of said player.

I've decided I need to rejoin the fray after a very fraught summer and an Italian break.
So back to basics Baker Street!