Once more unto the breach, dear friends: more Mornington Crescent

[MyNightWithMaud]

Now we have had a little pause, in which to mull over the highs and lows of the last game and possibly rethink our strategies, might it be nice to start again?

I've been reflecting on what the vice-consul said in Ouagadougou in '67. She was quite right, after all, and so I shall disregard the naysayers and offer you a Musgrave's Collateral to

Oxford Circus

We must remember that the Vice Admiral was under a lot of strain for very many years, and so it's hardly a surprise that things turned out as they did. In hindsight, that trouble with the Camembert, the glass harmonica and the District Commissioner of Scouts couldn't have been averted.

Moonshine D'Artagnan Antigone Courgette (common name Bonzo) needs a run, so let's go to

Holland Park

Bonzo hopefully enjoyed a run across the park. In honour of the man who penned a lot of his band (the Bonzo Dog Too-Dah band), and playing the closed stations rule, it is off to Snape.

Snape!
Snape!

PAH! YOu have no idea what that means!

Let's take this game to where it rightfully belongs.....

Camden Town...(edgy I know)

Ooh, last time I was in Camden Town was the London squiffling of '87. The Duchess ended up swimming naked in Regents canal, and the penguins who broke free from the zoo were last seen following the Archbishop into a night club. A whole new meaning to pick up a penguin.
A very short skiffle to Chalk Farm

dementedma Those penguins caused havoc in the nightclub, and I know whereof I speak. Some ass gave one of them a double brandy and soda and as the Admiral used to say in the Navy Lark - My word, what a mess!

The memory of it leads me to seek somewhere quiet and restful like Peacehaven.

PS When it's time to draw my pension I will release the negatives of the pictures of the Duchess.

My dear Andrew, you know if you release those photos it'll be off to Venezuela again.
Camden, well that takes me back. You all remember those wild nights in Irene, remind me, was your hair aubergine or magenta in those days? And what was the name of that band that we all joined? I know the NME refused to have it on the cover, so that was exciting. Would have been nice if any of us could actually play an instrument.
From there, I can only segue neatly to Angel.

It was turquoise, Maud; and you know very well that my didgeridoo playing was the marvel of NW1. What a shame the whole enterprise collapsed following that unfortunate disagreement about the circumstances in which one can call a treble Neasden.

My sciatica is playing up again so I can barely limp to

Old St

Ah, the Duchess!!

(taps nose meaningfully)

There's only one place to go after that** malarkey...

Green Park

To mark the passing of our dear Canadian friend, Mr Cohen - bard and quite a handy MC player to boot - I feel we should head for

Winchester

Where we will visit the cathedral and sing hallelujah.

To further remember where many Canadians' ancestors began their journey I move to Southampton

Let's all get off at Fratton.

Well, it won't be the first time you've got off with a sailor, will it, Andrew?

Aldershot

Bloody well played Maud!
If we are going military then up to Edinburgh Waverley for a tattoo...

I think the views over the Yorkshire Dales will be interesting and so off to Settle

No tattoos for me - I am allergic to pain.

But from Settle we must to Down.

Westmeath, of course.

Thank you, dementedma. I was rather proud of that one. Andrew was asking for it. And not for the first time, by all accounts.

I'm still dancing the military two-step, so

Catterick

You want military, you get military. Aldershot it is.

Aldershot twice in three days? Is there a disused station there?

So let's be off to Liss

It was Maud's two-step which suspended Rule 165(iii)(a)(iv), Saints.

Fresh fields and pastures new. Daventry

Enough of this sloppy play! Meandering around the country may well be acceptable for junior players and those who hold no respect for tradition, but I, for one adhere to the original rules and regulations as laid down by Grand Master Archibald at the beginnings of time.
Thus I play a harsh double fletching to St Pancreas and suggest that those who object hurl themselves into theThames and let the rest of us move on!

I shall not haul myself into the Thames but move nearby to Mansion House. Now that the annual speech by our PM is over I feel one can venture there without too much cheap wine and badly fitting suits being in evidence.

All right. I stand corrected. I play a Rogers Reversible (even-numbered model of course) to Brondesbury - and I bet I know who is going to fall into the trap!

Oh dear, I forgot the reversing platform at Mansion House usable by the playing of the 1979 rule.

Time for a morning walk accessible by the trip to Hampstead Heath

Bull and Bush

Harrow and Wealdstone