Hash #19

Date: Tuesday 29th May 2007
Location: Lustleigh
Weather: sunny, threatening to rain but didn't!

This was our virgin lay this one. Dolittle and Four Sips had been doing it since 9.30 and I arrived at 12 after doing the gym with my two little ones.
I met up with them halfway round the long trail and started blobbing away, too many times for Four Sips liking, but I like to see lots of blobs on a hash. We had good fun laying the trail and got worried about how many injuries we would see at the end of the night.

So to the hash itself. I was very nervous when we were waiting to be called to order. Four Sips explained procedures, it was laid on the right except for where Gurnie had blobbed on the left! Two long/short splits and one regroup. Then we were off. I followed at the back, nothing unusual for me there then. Four Sips had gone back to the pub with the food order so I was left in charge of Syd. He quite happily followed me though wasn't sure where to go on the long/short split. It was funny to see people going off on the checks to see which way people would go and already knowing, but I wasn't letting on, I just stood back and watched and got my breath back. We came to a check and I had to go and do a bit of a short cut to get to the regroup before anyone else. Elmo met me going up as he was coming down and told me that that wasn't the right way, but then he realised who I was and ignored my speeding past him. I raced up the hill as fast as I could, listening to the other hashers shouting Are You? and On On and hoping that they wouldn't beat me. I sped down the road and opened the gate to retrieve the hidden rucksack. I laid out the strawberries, melon and cream and waited for the hash to arrive.
The bugs arrived first and I was fending ants and beetles and midges by the swarmful.
The first hashers arrived and soon the feeding frenzy started....that was the midges not the hashers. Not many people hung around at the regroup and it wasn't long before the plates were depleted of provisions and a very tired looking Dolittle appeared, not that far behind everyone. I think she did amazingly well to keep up like she did, i'd have been about an hour behind I think if I'd tried it.
We packed up the pots and kicked out the regroup leaving the area more or less as we'd found it and then set off to try and get back home. We mulled over how it was going so far and were pleasantly pleased (can you be such a thing) at having the overgrown path beaten down for us. We stopped at the car to get changed and headed off to the pub. We'd decided to treat ourselves to a meal but I could only face soup as I'd been so nervous about it all.
The down downs (we could have guessed it really!) were given to us for laying the trail, I think it was for the Brambles, to Growbag for his 100th hash...well done Growbag and many apologies for the state of your legs, although mine were pretty bad as well having done the laying of the trail in shorts....picture to follow.... the other one was awarded to Zambeze for running so quickly..
Everyone seemed to enjoy it and we did gets lots of thank yous so we can't have done too badly, thank you Four Sips for your guidance and help with this one, we couldn't have done it without you, next time we'll choose the venue but you can still tell us off if we blob too much!!
Till next time, keep safe, remember to pack the cream for next week's rub down and On On.....

From pussycat to princess to policeman!

Yesterday my two sons came upstairs to play before their bath, nothing unusual in that you might say, except for the game that ensued. Theo found a head scarf that was in their drawer that I have in my room, it's a drawer that they can rummage around in, i've found that way I don't get my other drawers messed up and they can have lots of fun discovering what Mummy's got hidden. So Theo puts the headscarf on his head and tells me he is a princess and I have to talk to him and call him Princess Theo, I then find a t-shirt and he puts that on as a dress. Oli then gets togged out the same and i'm running around upstairs conversing with my two sons as Princess Theo and Princess Oli!! Theo then said that he had to do the shopping and off he went to get some bananas and carrots.
Theo then decided he was going to fall asleep for a hundred years until I kissed him back to life, Oli not quite understanding the idea of the game just kept rolling on the floor with his legs in the air. I did do some videoing of this game as I thought I might be able to embarrass said sons later in life when they are bringing their intendeds home to meet the parents...or is that just too cruel!!

Then Theo decides he's going to be a pussycat and tells me that I have to tell him he's a bad cat when he jumps up. (We've not long had a new puppy and she is often told to get down and told not to play with the boys toys, so I think this may be where the idea came for this game) So he jumps up on me and I tell him he's a bad cat, then he starts trying to eat one of his trains so I have to tell him off about that (in playful mode, I hasten to add) Then he lies on his back and says he'd like his tummy tickled. Oli in the meantime is watching with bemused interest and does come and tickle Theo's tummy.

I check the bath to return and find that Theo is now wearing a policeman's helmet, he sees me and starts bending his knees and going up and down in true TV policeman style saying "Night night" "Night night". I say to him "do you mean evening all sweetie?" to which he innocently replies "I can't say evening all, but I can say night night" I suppress a smile or two and say in all seriousness "then night night it is darling"
Oh the joys of motherhood, three instances in one day where I am delighted and amazed by my children and their wonderful imaginations. Isn't it a shame that we have to lose that when we get older, although some people would say I haven't, which i'm very pleased and proud about.

So in purring princess policeman Theo style i'll bid you all a purrrfectly glorious evening and say "Night Night"

Marathon Training #2

Date: Thursday 24th May 2007

Location: Moretonhamstead to Lustleigh

Weather: Sunny



We decided the next route was going to be Moreton to Lustleigh along a footpath and then the back roads. After a little debate and two car trips we decided it was about 4 to 4 and a half miles long.

We parked my car in Moretonhampstead car park and I went for my toilet break. We set off admiring a car covered in tile mosaics, and then onto the footpath. My legs didn't feel like they belonged to me and I threatened to go back to the car and wait there for the other two but I carried on. Through the footpath to the road, where Syd deposited a nice deposit on the road. Four Sips bravely kicked dirt over it and then kicked it into the hedge, I had offered her a bag but it was a tad too runny for that...(too much information I think i'll carry on!)

So we jogged downhill then the uphill started so we went to a walk with lots of huffing and puffing from myself. We found the next bit of footpath and admiring the views we managed to do a bit of jogging. Over a few stiles and waiting for Syd to be blasted by the electric fence we continued on our merry way. I went to the back of the group which is my usual place to be. As we came out of the footpath and headed for the road we saw a fledgeling on a pile of manure. I commented that it had been told by it's Mum that if it jumped out of the nest too soon it would be in the sh*t and look what had happened. We were undecided as to what type of bird it was, someone said yellowhammer was it? I said it looked like a woodpecker...who knows.

We went out onto the road which i'd been told was 'undulating' not hilly. We then went a steady trot all the way back to Lustleigh, the other two were ahead for most of the way, leaving me with my thoughts and my breathing and trying to keep to a balanced pace. Syd kept popping back every now and then to check I was still part of the group. I was needing a wee again before too long and now it was starting to go downhill but with Four Sips talk of the village nutter I decided to keep my pants firmly round my bottom and clench my bits and wait till I was safe to expose myself. We made it back to Lustleigh an hour and a half later and were given a lift back to the car by Four Sips. We rechecked the mileage, patted ourselves firmly on the back and made a date for the next training. With Tuesday being our laying of the trail day we are just going to try and take it a bit easier now till then.....(with two children, a new puppy and DH at home for the weekend...chance will be a fine thing!)

Till next time...happy running...On On

Marathon Training #1

Date: Sunday 20th May 2007
Location: Stover park
Participants: Gurnie, Dolittle, Four Sips, Syd and Tilly
We met at 8pm at the back of Stover and did a nice brisk walk while chatting about knitting and various other things. Then a few stretches and we were off at breakneck speed...or was that gentle jog. Yes that was more like it, through the woods, over the bridges and then onto the pathway towards the lake. I stopped to admire the view! Then slowly caught up with the others. We passed a few people who were strolling round the lake in the slowly decreasing light, the sun's reflection on the lake was breathtaking and Dolittle commented that we could have had our cameras with us..I was happy carrying my pedometer that isn't working because I can't work out what stride length I need to put in.
Round the wooden walkway and on round the lake, Syd looking longingly at the water and the ducks but he behaved and we continued. Down the children's trail and through the woods again until we were heading back to the car, we had a mini pitstop while we dropped Tilly off who was struggling a bit with our pace. Then off we went again to do the circuit..Dolittle's measurement said we'd done just over 2 miles, mine said we'd done 5!! oh well I was close. We ran past a couple walking arm in arm and a quick hello darling from the chap and we were on our way. We arrived back at the cars feeling quite happy with ourselves, well I was feeling a tad under the weather but not too bad with the running. We decided to make a date when we met on Tuesday at the hashing. (mental note to self, email Tina, i'm sure she'd love to go for a run the night before her holidays!)
So good start to the training...till next time...On On
ps yes Four Sips, I was hoping to blog it all time permitting.....see how fast I can type when under pressure.......cleaning , what cleaning? who said my house was dirty? I can't see any dirt :)

Hash #18

Date: Tuesday 22nd May 2007
Location: Cold East Cross? I think...and i'm too lazy to reach over to the piece of paper to check.
Weather, lovely and sunny.

I went for my usual pitstop behind the wall and hedge and got slightly concerned as I heard some beeping. I envisaged turning round to see someone with a camera pointed at my derriere when I realised that I had put my pedometer on and having dropped it in the grass it was now complaining. PHEW that was close.
Back to the car park to find out about the treasures in store for us. Dogs to be kept on leads through the enclosures, (That will slow some people down, so I might be in with a chance of keeping up tonight, I thought to myself) Two long/short splits and a regroup with jelly babies. Or was that two long/short splits, but stick to the shorts you people with jelly bellies!
Well off we all set and it wasn't long before I was at the back and puffing away quite nicely to myself while the rest of the hash disappeared in front of me. The sun was shining in our faces as we turned down then right and then the dreaded uphill.....puff puff pant pant.
I could see Four Sips darting off into the gorse to try and short cut and thought yes that is what i'm going to do. Several minutes later I was wishing I hadn't bothered as I was caught up in the deepest, darkest gorse maze of nasty prickly bits that would have won the competition for being prickly. My legs complained although with the slower pace my breathing was catching up again.
I got to the path that I should have been on and following the disappearing runners over the horizon and the flour I got them back into view. Hurray I thought it's the regroup, No it was the look outs just checking the people at the back weren't lost. That was me, I hung my head in shame and looked noone in the eye as I puffed my way past and followed the trail again. Doris was behind and Shiggyella with someone else i've forgotten her name...I think it was No Rush but don't quote me on that... well I wasn't the last, well not quite anyway.
We followed paths down and down and then in my sight was the regroup, I just had to negotiate some shiggy and a brook which was quite welcome to help cool me down, my rosy cheeks couldn't take any more blood in them I was sure.
I spotted Dolittle at the regroup and headed for the jelly babies, so my jelly belly secret has not come out then! Then it was On On, through a small tunnel for those brave enough to face Rambo's camera at the other end and over the bridge for those hashers who didn't dare or who were just trying to keep a bit drier for a change. Just to note the hares went over the bridge and following them on up the hill through a bit of woodland I overheard Sweep say to Sooty "You were right, there were some that were stupid enough to go through the tunnel!" I had to smile as i'd been one of them. I caught up with Maverick and we had a moan about the hills and on we went. The car park is over that way Maverick told me as we got to a check so I stuck with him. Dolittle was a brave soul and did both long splits, I sadly had to do the second short as I was feeling a little bit under the weather...someone else just stayed away but i'll not mention her name, think she got into holiday mode too early there...Tina....extra training for you when you return!!
Up the hill we went the cars in our view then we saw the On Home and back at the cars we were. It was a lovely hash, beautiful views. (Still can't beat the Lake District though sorry)
Back at the Old Inn in Widecombe in the Moor for the On Downs and down downs were awarded to erm....let me think. Codpiece for a spectacular fall which Dolittle did witness, Alice for not being able to run even though he'd cycled from Exeter to Tiverton and then onto the hash, and then a shared down down to Eggburt who had slapped someone on the bottom and the recipient of the slapped bottom...sorry can't remember your name. was it something to do with Mud or Sludge?
Dolittle, Four Sips and I tried to organise our next training session and Dolittle and I got the hysterics on the way home as we pondered about our hash next week. Yes we are actually laying a hash next week. so watch this space for the run down of what happened when we got lost, laid the trail wrong and ended up with down downs.
Thanks Sooty and Sweep for a great hash...till next time...(panic setting in already) ....On On

Our new arrival

Yesterday we picked up our new puppy. She is a 10week old german shorthair pointer and she is lovely. We have called her Jazz, it was my Mum's suggestion, I suggested Tilda and DH suggested Bonzo or Doodah, Theo suggested Maxi! So Jazz it was the best of the bunch. Jazz is proving, so far, to be a delight and with only the occasional nibble at things she shouldn't be nibbling she is fitting in nicely. Buster has decided the best course of action is to ignore when he can, growl when he can't and hide his head under a bush when that doesn't work, Teasel is delighted with her new playmate and races round the garden with her,. she's already taught her that chewing plant pots is a good game!

Theo loves Jazz and is constantly checking to make sure where she is and that she's got enough toys, Oli is a little bit more reticent...is that the right word? He loves her but only when she keeps her distance, when she gets a little closer he shouts at her.

So as time goes by i'm sure there will be more stories with Jazz and Buster in them.... till then, Woof woof woof!

Mowing the lawn!

Today I mowed our lawn. Not anything unusual about that you might say, but after I had three injuries from mowing the lawn I wondered how many other unusual injuries people could get from a garden implement. Not the cutting fingers, or hitting finger with a hammer type injury i'm looking more for the injuries that you wouldn't normally associate with that particular tool.

I started the mower, we have a petrol mower that takes ages to start especially when you forget to fill it with petrol first, which is what happened once. A kind gentleman who lives up the road was passing and I asked for some assistance in starting it. He asked me if I had filled it with petrol and guess what when I filled it with petrol it started first time, he always gives me a smile now that says "Yep you were the one who doesn't fill a petrol mower with petrol and expects it to start!" But that's another story, I want to return to today's little episode.

So in order of hilarity and pain, injury number one was headbutting the eucalyptus tree backwards. I forgot I'd just ducked to get under the branch and went backwards and hit my head on the tree. That hurt but not for long. Injury number two, I was reversing down the hilly bit of the garden with the mower on and forgot that i'd built a sandpit only a few weeks ago, I tripped backwards on the sandpit, tried to stop myself falling over by putting my hand on the wall, my wrist gave way and I ended up headbutting the wall. Luckily for me the sandpit stopped the mower going over my feet!! That hurt quite badly and my wrist is still a bit sore.

Injury number three and for those of you who know me (DON'T LAUGH!) So the mower is started and I am just about to pull the handle up to move forward, I see something in the grass, is it a bone?, is it a stone? is it a stick? OUUUUUUUCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHH I only managed to trap my nipple in the lever as I pulled it up and gripped it.......luckily I did have my bra on and my top on but it still bloomin' hurt. So now I have the record for the silliest injury caused by a lawn mower. Squashed nipple! Beat that anyone and I will gladly give you the record. My nipple is still a little tender as we speak but as this may be being read by people with children and people of a nervous disposition then I will end this rambling now so as not to offend. Note to self: Leave the lawnmowing to Daddy from now on!

This is the type of lawn mower we have and you can see the handle with the two levers on either side. The front one gets the engine going and the back one moves it forward. That's the offending part of the machine that got me!! Apart from that it's a very nice mower and will eat up most things in it's path.

Hash #17

Date:Tuesday 15th May 2007

Location: Hound Tor

Doris' Bluebell Hash.

Thanks goes to Leslie Othen Photography found at http://www.lesothen.co.uk for the lovely picture of Hound Tor and it's wonderful bluebells.

Tina picked me up and we went to collect Dolittle. Arriving at the car park we saw lots of familiar faces and several new ones. We had a group photo with triplet babies belonging to Mah's Baa and I can't remember the Daddy's name! Then Doris told us that there was no long/short split and it was on on. I did get a tad concerned when we set off and Doris who was behind said something like. "Oh that's good we're on already, that's unusual!" I was going slower than usual today and glad to be hanging back as Doris kept telling Dolittle and I where to shortcut. Maverick was a great help for the shortcuts too. It was a lovely hash with masses and masses of bluebells, it's a place I'll definitely go back to with family and friends. There was a bit of a mix up at one stage and a lot of the hash took the wrong way back and missed the view point and some of the hash. Then it was heading towards home, with Ollie doing a spectacular fast run downhill only to find out the trail was going uphill. I'm glad I didn't follow him, as i was feeling a bit rough tonight with the cold. We finally saw the cars and I turned round to confirm Dolittle was still around and nowhere was she to be seen. Doris caught me up and told me she'd sent her on another short cut and assured me that she would be seen again. Indeed as Tina and I chatted to Growbag she appeared.

I went round to my side of the car to get changed and heard Tina commenting to Karen about her trousers, not really listening I then heard Karen saying what size did you get, to which Tina replied "Oh, I got a size 8 in my cropped ones!" at which Karen replied "Yes these are size 10 but probably needing taking in at the sides as they are too big!!" So I returned to pulling on my size 12/14 trousers and grinned and said "thanks guys you really know how to make a girl feel good about herself.!" I was going to go to the down downs with Four Sips who is more my kind of size!! It did make me smile though. The On Down was at the Kestor Inn and the down downs went to...Doris for the hash, Ruff Puff for doing a Ruff Puff in Rick O'Shea's face...by accident i'm hoping, to erm someone for returning after being away for a long time, sorry I didn't get his name, Almost Lightening for erm doing something, what did he do? Can't remember and for K from Torquay who on his second hash was named Master Bates, oh and Head Down for being on the tele talking about rats.

The hilarity continued in our little corner when we were trying to organize a run training session, I said I needed to get one of those wheel things that builders and architects use for measuring distances and Four Sips said she would run behind me with a notebook writing down how many yards we'd done, then Tina and Dolittle were going to have some string to measure it. Four Sips is going to then convert this onto a graph so we can produce a lovely chart of our run.......well it was funny at the time.

Another good, fun evening, thanks Doris for a great hash, till next time On On....

Wet through running!

I, along with three friends have decided to participate in a marathon. Not just yet but I am doing the Race for Life 5km run in July, may be doing a 5 mile run in July and a 10km race in August then the half marathon in September, heading for the marathon.
With the others busy working or helping at cycle events, I decided that i'd do a sneaky practice run.
I had been shopping with my husband and two sons, had got my running shorts on and we went to Teigngrace and i got out of the car with Buster. The idea being that my husband in the warmth of the car would drive for 3miles and stop and wait for me, while I ran or jogged or plodded or dragged myself to him.
I set off well and was quite pleased with my efforts, we had to stop for Buster to relieve himself as he was attached to me with the lead round my waist jobbie. I saw the car and thought 'wow that was quick' only to be told that i'd only done 2 miles and he'd just stopped to check out where I wanted to go as he was heading for the A38 and didn't want me running down there.
So we turned down a lane and I continued running, I had to stop to let a lorry past but kept on jogging and did really well, I even tackled the flooded road which was about 3 inches deep, splash splosh splash. I did get a bit worried because I thought i'd done the extra mile and still no sign of the car, but finally it appeared and glad I was too, for it was raining quite heavily at this point.
Wet, bedraggled, muddy and tired I came home, happy in the fact that I might be able to keep up with the others on our first official training next weekend.

Hash #16

Date: Tuesday 8th May 2007

Location: Combestone Tor

Weather: wet and a little bit cold and windy.

Picture from Drakhir at Photobucket.com. Thankyou

We found the car park with no problem tonight, just Dolittle and I. We parked in the puddle that everyone else had avoided, my theory being that we were going to get wet anyway so why not start wet. I did my usual trip to spend a penny behind the rock before hearing the instructions for the night. The trail had been laid ten days before, it wasn't three marks and on, there was a long/short split, a very short and something else that was lost in the wind and the rain. We all set off nearly in the wrong direction but was corrected by the hare No Handle. Down we ran through the wet ferns and grass looking for the sawdust which was aplenty. I was one of the back stragglers as is usually the case and thankfully so, No Handle tipped us the wink at the first check so we didn't go running off any further downhill just to come back up again.

Off we went, it was a good pack this evening and I must admit I felt a little breathless as I tried to keep up. Ollie sped past enquiring after Buster and Teasel and I managed a sentence before having to concentrate on running and breathing again. Sneezy went for a paddle in the river. Then we were onto the Long/Short split. I followed the longs, don't ask me why, but I did manage to keep up ok. Then it was another long/short split and I decided I would do the short back to the car, but I couldn't find it, there were no marks so I returned to the longs with Gary Glitter, Dolittle and another lady with a dog. We followed the trail to a check, then followed what we thought was the right trail, then got lost, so retraced our steps, wandered around looking for more marks, went back to the check, retraced the way we had gone originally and found another check. Then we got a little bit more lost. We could see the cars in the distance to our right and the longs in the distance to the front, so we headed in the general direction of somewhere in between and finally found the trail. I hasten to add Gary Glitter was the hare and we still got lost!!! We did have a laugh though and tried to see what it would take for us not to tell the RA for a down down. We finally collided with the longs and headed back to the car park. It was still raining and we got changed very quickly before heading to The Tradesmans Arms in Scorriton.

The down downs were awarded to Rambo for holding up a milk tanker, to No Rush for doing a hash on her own with her dog after it had had an altercation with another dog and I think it was Floss for doing a spectacular fall. Dolittle got the pleasure of doing the words and also got the giggles, less lemonade with that orange next time please barman!!

With talk about our impending attempt at doing a half marathon we drove home and there ended another enjoyable evening out.

Till next time and the Bluebells with Doris.....On On

Hash #15

Date: Tuesday 1st May 2007
Location: Sharp Tor, near Dartmeet.
Weather....lovely and sunny
Tina came to pick me up and we went to Dolittle's, transferred into her car then set off towards Sharp Tor with map in hand. We were a little concerned when our destination seemed to be heading us towards "Private farmland, no parking!" and realised that the map had told us a little porky when we ended up at the farm, with farmers wife on the other side of the gate looking a tad menacing, although it could have just been the light!
We saw a car park full of cars in the distance and followed our noses and found the right place. We stood waiting for our instructions from Grasshopper who we'd not come across before but we gathered he'd been out in the himalayas. I needed a wee so ran off to use a bush before we set off, I thought i'd hidden well until I looked to my left and saw my nice long shadow showing up on the hill!! Then back to listen to the instructions that the hash had been laid the night before there had been rain and the flour on the sheep dodos was now brown and the flour on the rock was disguised as lichen....hmmm.
Dolittle and Tina went on ahead and I plodded slowly on my way, the pack kept together for quite a bit of the start, the lack of trail might have had something to do with it. Then it was up and up and up (puff puff puff) I caught up with Four sips and Sid and Shorty and up we went. The views were fantastic, the setting sun was breathtaking and the moon coming up was pretty spectacular too. Dolittle and Tina missed the Long/Short split, thankfully I didn't and I continued on round and up to the regroup, where I was a bit perturbed at the disappearance of my two buddies. They were soon there though, slightly more out of breath than myself but then they had run nearly twice as far. We continued on and all of us missed the next Long/Short split but Grasshopper was at hand to direct us back towards it. Tina and Dolittle decided to continue with the Longs. I was again quite happy to be sticking to the shorts. (I'll rephrase that. I wasn't actually sticking to the shorts, yes it was quite warm but I haven't had THAT problem for a little while now!!!!) I was again, quite happy to continue with the shorts. We plodded towards the wall and road and saw a deer cross a field. Well worth missing the shorts for.
We found the road and with Grasshopper's words echoing in our ears, "when you get to the road there are plenty of arrows" we searched and searched. Eventually we found one arrow and set off. Uphill again and in the right direction. The light was starting to fade when we saw the sign for On Home and thankfully Grasshopper left us a trail to follow. Back at the car park, I waited for Dolittle and Tina so we could make our way to the On Down.
Exeter Inn at Ashburton was the venue. I can't remember who got the down downs...I know i'm pretty rubbish on that score. I think it was Hatrack for bumping into someone's car, Glasseye for following Maverick down the wrong road, erm and can't remember the others...if anyone else remembers perhaps you could post a comment. We introduced ourselves to K who was a virgin and seemed to want to come back for more.
All in all it was a good hash, good company and lots of fun.
till next time which in reality is tomorrow night (YIPPEE she shouts )
On On