It was the annual reunion of our old university gaming group. It had been thirty years since we first met in the old Masonic temple in Liverpool University. Since then life had scattered us across the country. Jobs and family had also played their part. However, the one thing that always drew us back to each other was gaming. We looked forward to getting out the dice and character sheets and continuing the game that we had started all those years ago.

We had a ritual. Every year we would head to somebody's house. Spouses and kids would be sent packing for the weekend. Then we would go back to our student days. Forty-eight hours of straight gaming. This year, however, was different. After graduating, one of our group had ended up working in the United States. While we had kept in touch, he had never made it to a reunion - until now. So we had agreed to meet in London, at a small pub in Camden. As we made our way into London, the texts came thick and fast, giving a running commentary on our progress.

AT PADDINGTON. WILL CHANGE AT KING'S CROSS.

JUST GOT INTO HEATHROW. PICCADILLY LINE RUNNING SLOW. SEE YOU IN A BIT.

I'M AT WATERLOO.

MANAGED TO PARK AT STANMORE. GOT SHAUN WITH ME.

It looked like we were all in the game, then. I updated my progress: COMING IN FROM BLACKHEATH. SEE YOU SOON.

As my train made its way north, I watched the suburbs give way to the old warehouses of South London. When Tower Bridge came into sight, I pulled my phone out of my pocket. BE AT LONDON BRIDGE SOON.

COMING INTO BAKER STREET. MAYBE I CAN MEET YOU GUYS COMING DOWN FROM STANMORE?

NO DICE (!) - STUCK AT DOLLIS HILL. WILL CATCH YOU AT CAMDEN TOWN.

TRAINS FINE ON NORTHERN LINE.

LUCKY YOU. PICCADILLY LINE IS RAMMED.

I changed onto the Underground, dodging through the crowds of tourists at the ticket barriers trying to figure out their Oyster cards. Just by the escalators, a station official was scrawling something on a whiteboard. I stopped to check what was happening. I didn't want anything to mess up our meeting - not this year.

The news wasn't good. According to the board, there had been an incident in Camden and the station would be closing until further notice. There was no guarantee that the others would hear about it, so I had to tell them. I tapped on my phone: CAMDEN TOWN SHUT. MEET AT CLOSEST STATION?

The answer, when it came back, made me groan: MORNINGTON CRESCENT!