Hash #22

Date: Tuesday 19th June 2007
Location: Fingle Bridge
Weather: Dry after lots and lots of rain
We arrived in Fingle Bridge and parked up, we saw some familiar faces and some not so familiar and got out to wait for the instructions. After a group photo on the bridge we were told that there was one long/short split that the hash wasn't going to be short and that it was going to be hilly.
I wasn't feeling in the fittest of moods tonight with hardly any sleep all week and tummy upsets and suchlike but thought i'd give it my best shot. We set off along by the river and it wasn't too bad. With a hint or two from Ollie we headed on upwards towards the sky. And up we went and up some more. I radiated to the back of the pack as is usual and watched people disappearing ahead of me. I had a bit of a panic with my breathing at one point and with the help of Four Sips and her breath using your stomach I did manage to inhale the breath I needed and gained some control. It was just before that point that I was wondering what on earth I was doing trying to move quickly uphill...I couldn't even pretend that I was jogging at that point. Just when I was about to give up all hope of ever reaching the top the hash turned off to the right and downhill. Hurrah I cried only to be disappointed a little while later when it headed uphill again. I was in close proximity to Four Sips and Puffball which was quite heartening then lo! what sound through yonder trees do I hear? Oh Yes 'tis the one and only Growbag and his trip trapping feet, running UPHILL!!!! As he sailed past with his jolly hello I felt decidedly unfit, but peculiarly spurred on to make more of an effort. I felt slightly better about life when Ruff Puff and Grasshopper (I think) were spotted behind. Ruff Puff pulled a face as he passed as if to say 'this is hard work tonight'
I waited for the rest of the longs to pass me but there was a gap and then as I was descending down a rocky path I heard a strange barking sound behind. I turned to see Sneezy and another hasher (apologies I didn't take note who you were!) They passed then it was a little while before Mr Maa's Bah....sorry don't know your name....came by through the woods and the many hurdles of logs and tree trunks that lay in the way.
Down we went, and down back to the side of the river. I was starting to feel rather tired at this point but plodded on, then eventually spotted the re group. With beer and chocolate I decided to abstain and had a peach ring sweetie thing which hit the spot for the last little plod to On Home. It was at this point that I felt my shorts and realised there was something on them so I raised my leg to get a better look through steamed up glasses and nearly wiped out Head Down with my knee. I apologised profusely but there was no harm done....The trail led us to cross the river and I did try and got nearly halfway but with all the rain over the last few days it was running fast and I was worried I might be swept away, so I reluctantly turned round and crossed the bridge with everyone else.
Back to the car to get changed, then to the pub. We chatted about our training and the runs we are doing. Then the down downs, I was awarded one for my assault on Head Down but thankfully Elmo stepped in at the last minute and did it for me, I need to get a badge made with can't drink alcohol for medical reasons.....but thank you Elmo you saved the day and I won't forget that in a hurry, a true gentleman. The other down downs were awarded to JJ who had had a birthday the day before and to Ruff Puff for keeping his new shoes clean for a run the following day.
Ollie was awarded a down down in his new tankard as he is leaving the area and moving to Worcester a week on Monday. I will be sad to see him go, he is another gentleman and in the words of Bridget Jones we will be losing one of our top people! Take care Ollie, keep in touch and I look forward to running with you sometime in Worcester, when I can work out where it is...never any good at geography.
So thanks for a good, long, hilly hash till next time, keep safe, keep running and On On

Hash #21

Date: Tuesday 12th June
Location: Ivybridge
Weather: Sunny/cloudy/nice!
Tina, Dolittle and I arrived at Ivybridge and set off to find the car park. We found a car park and no hashers. Then Ruff Puff arrived along with a few others and he went to find the rest of the hash. He found them in a car park just through a gap so we left the cars and joined the group to find out what was in store for us tonight. Two long/short splits, one regroup the trail is laid on the right and On On was up the road. We went through Ivybridge for a little way before finding the path that went up and up and up and up a bit more and up a bit more. Most of the hash had long since passed me and I was a little relieved to see a few up ahead. I ended up having a lovely chat with Bogdown as we walked up and up and up. We finally reached the top and had some lovely views all around. We entered a big cow meadow and saw the Long/Short split. I chose the short as I was pretty puffed from coming uphill and following a ridge in the field and the flour, I even followed a few sheep's wool markings, (I must get my eyes tested again!) Then it was on right and the longs caught us up. Growbag and Ruff puff whizzed past me and said a quick hello. Seeing them go past always seems to give me my second wind and I go a little bit faster. I like that moment just before they pass because for just a few seconds I'm at the front of the pack. It wasn't long though before most of the hash had passed me again. Going through boggy areas and over stiles meant the hash stayed reasonably close together. Sneezy commented on my new camelbak water pack and asked if I was a camel at the front as well, I turned round to show him my "two front humps" Hmm nuff said guvnor!
On we went to the second long/short split and I found out that Tina and Dolittle had missed the long/short split the first time and taken the long. There was me thinking they were just getting in a bit of extra training. So through the woods to the regroup, which was very pleasant setting and we had a paddle in the river. Ruff Puff and Cinderfella were having a swim with Rambo snapping away on his camera. Can you snap on a digital camera? It would probably be more of a chip than a snap I suppose. Glass Eye and Sneezy got in and started a water fight at which point, I chickened out and got myself out onto dry land. Then it was on on through more woodland and over some hurdles and jumps to the On Home. I got my third wind and managed to run nearly all the way back, but then it was down hill.
Into the car park and getting changed in front of the bemused youth of Ivybridge who obviously haven't ever seen adults getting their kit off in car parks before. Then it was on to The Bridge Inn for the On Downs. The down downs were plentiful tonight. The first went to Tina who was named not as No Show which was classed as boring and too dull, (that had been my poor attempt at a name) Cinderfella came up with Corrrtina and someone else shouted Concertina. Corrrtina won the day so from now on Tina is Corrrtina, with 3 r's for good measure! Elmo got one for having a wee in what he thought was a good place only to find that it was where the longs were returning so several of the longs got more than they bargained for and poor Elmo gets another down down for attempting to relieve himself in private, Twilight who was a visiting hasher from Yorkshire had a down down but as she was driving she nominated Ruff Puff for dobbing Elmo in. Hullaballoo had one for a great hash. I think that was it but there might have been one more, so apologies but I was sitting in the corner and couldn't see round it to remember.
Then it was home time, we walked back to the car, I had a little race with Growbag but with his very long legs and my very short ones it wasn't much of a competition and I of course won! NOT! Thanks Hullaballoo for a good hash. Till next time....On On

I miss my Dad

MY DAD

Three years ago on Tuesday my first son was born, Three years ago on the 11th June which is Monday my Dad died. He died 6 days after i'd given birth. The emotions at the time were very hard to deal with and most of them suppressed with the need to look after a very tiny baby, I was a new mum with no Dad of her own around to share in the delight of her child. Every year since it's been really strange and hard and each year it seems to get harder. Is this normal? Or is it just that I am now getting stronger so those buried emotions can at last be explored, visited and tears shed?


Theo has his birthday and it's so wonderful to see how he is growing into this exciting little person who can interact with his world and show me things that I forget to look at. The excitement of a tiny spider on his hand, the joy at being able to count (well almost...1,2,8,9,10 so we're getting there) the way he smiles, talks, walks everything about him is good. Then after Theo's birthday and it hit home to me yesterday why i'd been so irritable and low and tired. Yes it was because it's been a very busy few days with parties to organize and visitors and friends to see but I realised again this morning when I finally burst into tears in the shower that tomorrow 3 years ago, I lost someone very precious to me and he isn't here to share in this wonderment, in this excitement. I know he's around in his own way but it's not the same. I miss my hugs, I miss him telling me to "Stay calm" I miss him being strong, I miss his cheeky smile when he's up to mischief, I even miss him telling me to be quiet when he's watching Emmerdale and I interrupt at the best bit! I miss seeing him walking up the road from the post office after collecting his paper, I miss him picking me up from work, I miss everything about him.


When I was in the shower this morning I thought about the last time I saw him and how I wanted desperately to say goodbye, to say Dad I may never see you again and I love you so much and I hope that you will be ok and that you aren't scared and that soon you won't be in pain. I wanted to hug him and kiss him but he wouldn't let me because he didn't want to pass anything on to me or the baby. To the last he was selfless, he was thinking about me, but how I regret not having that last hug, that last kiss. All I had was a strong hand that had grown weak in my hand. All I could do was press it to my mouth as hard as I could to try and convey what I was wanting to do and say. I think deep down I know he knew what I was trying to say, you don't get close to someone like that and not have a connection that means they know what you mean without words.


I'm sorry for putting this on the blog, but it's difficult to talk to people about it, some wouldn't believe that after 3 years I still feel so sad about it all, some don't have the words to say in return, DH didn't know what to say this morning when I tried to tell him. Good Old Ruth who is so strong can cope with anything, isn't coping too well again, so I thought i'd write some of it down and get it out of my system. I have good friends who I could talk to about it and maybe I will one day.


I miss you Dad, I love you still, I try to keep positive but sometimes I need to look back, I need to remember the sadness because it's the sadness that reminds me how deeply affected I was by you, how important a person you were to me, I will work through the emotion, now the boys are older and I can get a few minutes to myself I can release it. I'm hopeful in time that this time of year I can smile and think of the good times and know that you are in a better place, you are not in pain and that you are here with us, protecting and caring as you always did.



My Mum and Dad and one of his huge parsnips!

Apologies to all reading this, I try and make people laugh or smile with my blog but sometimes, just sometimes I need to do this to keep me a little bit sane....and I do feel a bit better now so thank you..

ps I realised that I'd got my dates muddled up when I first wrote this so i've now changed it.

Hash #20

Date: Tuesday 5th June
Location: Hound Tor
Weather: Sunny
We arrived at Hound Tor after i'd been picked up by Dolittle. There were lots of hashers already there and more arriving, I think the nice weather is bringing them out. We were called to the circle to be given the news that there were four Long/Short splits and one Regroup with sweeties. On On was up the hill towards Hound Tor itself. Then onwards a bit more then I got confused as to where I was but we went towards the horse jumps which I'd remembered from Doris's Bluebell hash. The shorts did get a bit lost there as the flour was hiding, it was there we just didn't look hard enough for it. Then over the road, I saw the shorts disappearing after the longs and wondered what was going on as I was convinced the Long/Short split was there and the flour was leading me elsewhere. Sweep followed me and we were soon heading onwards. Then the flour disappeared and I asked Sweep what they were following as i'd gone to do a check and got left behind a bit, she said they were following a hare so I followed them.
I did ask for a hint at the next check and was soon disappearing along into private land, can't remember what it was called, sorry! It was very lovely down there though, some ponies and ducks and sheep and then down into the bog. I did get a bit worried when Sixpack was jumping up and down on top of the bog saying look it's not very stable is it......I was directly behind him and convinced that I would soon be being found 150 years later and being called the Bog woman of Dartmoor!
Gladly we continued upwards and upwards towards somewhere high and to the regroup. Dolittle and I offered to help an injured hasher...I can't remember his name either apologies again....but he soon recovered and swept past us on our way back towards Hound Tor. We went down into the valley which was nice and cool and were able to cross the river which cleaned my legs and trainers beautifully.
Then on up back towards Hound Tor, huffing and puffing and admiring the views, I got talking to the virgin I think she was called Angie but knowing my brain she was called Dawn or something else altogether.
We pushed each other on and she said I was like her own little Miss Motivator, bless her. We high fived it into the car park and went to get changed.
We went to the Kestor Inn for the On Down. The Down downs were awarded to, (here we go, braincell in gear, who were they awarded to?) Ruff Puff for erm for erm for something or other, was it something about shoes? I'm not sure. Cinderfella for not helping someone with their gas troubles, Head Down for not paying for her meal last week, although she nominated Sneezy for taking her out in his new (old) car and breaking down in it and then she had to push. Elmo I think had one as well did he? I think i'm just making it up. If you want the real low down and everyone's proper names go to the Ashburton Hash House Harrier website and it will tell you there.
It's Friday and i've had a few hours sleep since going out on this hash. So till next time....thanks for a good, long hash Slackbladder and Ballboy....On On..