Hash #32

Date: Tuesday 28th August 2007
Location: Live and Let Live, Landscove
Weather: Sunny but cool wind
Our little group were depleted in numbers this week with Dolittle enjoying a nice holiday in Cambridge, Corrr!Tina was unwell, so it was Jo and I who headed towards landscove without a map, I had printed one off but left it at home in the kitchen. Inspite of the lack of map and the two van drivers who were wanting us to reverse out of the way we made it to the Live and Let Live pub car park in good time and all in one piece. We gathered into the circle and listened to Stumpy telling us about the trail. One long/short split, the long was 1 mile longer than the short and one regroup and we were to watch out for the chickens on the small farm. Off we set, in my infinite wisdom I decided to do the long. Up the road then cutting into the small farm with the poor chickens being decidedly shaken up by the passing of various legs.
Then it was down through a little orchard and a bog which took quite a few people by surprise with the amount of splattered legs that appeared before me while waiting to go over the first stily. Red Kevin found a gate further down and took that option closely followed by a few more. Then across a stubbly field and onto another stile. The pack was starting to spread out but I was more than pleased with my progress at keeping up so far. Over the next stile, Jo informed me that here was something I could get my leg over, I confirmed that she had indeed meant the stile and not poor Windy who was following me. Onto a road and a sporty type car trying to get past. Then the pack started to disappear, I could see Shortie and Head Down up ahead and as we went up the hill we were chased by a tractor type vehicle carrying some bales on some spikes. I told Jo to go on ahead so I was left to my own devices with a view of the back of the pack. Down a long stony lane with various patches of shiggy and the odd branch ready to grab you if you let it. I met Glass eye and Callum's Mum coming the other way, luckily for me they were walking with leg and arm injuries and I hadn't gone completely wrong. On up to a road and then into some wood. It was getting a bit dimpsy at this point and I thought i'd better get going else I would be getting lost. I soon came upon Shortie and HeadDown through some brambles and on down to the regroup. Stumpy was patiently waiting with the light fading with the jelly babies or were they fruit gums? I wasn't sure but they were very welcome. I had switched my head torch on as there were a few cars about, not on the lane but on the road and glad I was that I had it as it helped us on the last stretch home. The light was fading but a fantastic moon was shining orange through the clouds and as we got closer to Landscove the moon came out and made the run complete. After a section of road and fields we headed off down a footpath, Stumpy and I took the field side as it was easier to negotiate and waited for Shortie. Then once more onto the road before the final footpath on home to the pub car park, a chilled looking Jo was waiting for me and her key to get in her car. A lovely run, 6.3miles on my pedometer!!
The down downs were awarded to Red Kevin for not getting the words to Snow White in time, his excuse was his Talk Talk connnection...Stumpy for laying a very good virgin trail and Yes the last one went to me, Gurnie and what for, what was my misdemeanour? Well it was only because I'd taken a short cut with Hatrack and Maverick last week. Shame on you Maverick for dobbing in your partner in crime....I am still having trouble sleeping with all the caffeine in the coke but i'm sure i'll be alright again for next Tuesday, right off to write the words for Snow White and see if I can't get them to her on time.
So till next time take care and On On xx

Ode to four spiders!

Today I killed four spiders. I did not intend to kill them, I tried to save them but alas by the time I found them they were beyond help and the kindest thing to do was to put them out of their misery. I took the dogs for a walk today just across the road is a not very well used path which is hard to get through and lots of spiders webs. I tried to get rid of the webs before the spiders jumped on me but when I got home I felt a little bit itchy and looking down my top I noticed what I thought was a bit of leaf just poking out of my bra. On closer inspection I found four small black spiders in a rather squashed state inside my bra. How they got in there is a miracle and why they would want to go there is another matter all together. However I do feel guilty at killing four innocent spiders so I have decided to write this poem to remember them by. That way their lives have served a purpose.

Ode to Four Spiders!

Spider Spider in the bush

what's it like to be in no rush

Spider spider in a web you lie

waiting for some poor old fly

Spider spider in the tree

what's it like to eat flies for tea

spider spider in the tree

i bet you wish you'd never met me

Spider spider your web was swished

on a line like a trout you were fished

Spider spider you found my top

I bet you wished that was where you'd stopped

Spider spider my bra you found

slipped inside it without a sound

Spider spider 1, 2, 3 and 4

Sadly splattered, you are no more

THE END

Hash #31

Date: Tuesday 21st August 2007

Location: Manaton church car park

Weather: warm, cloudy but some sunshine

We arrived in plenty of time and sat in the car watching other hashers getting out before we decided to make our move. There were a few announcements and then over to Sixpack for information on what to expect. There was a long/short split and a regroup and two triangles warning of a road and a bog. I felt quite energetic tonight and wanted to see if I could run all the way round, unfortunately fate played another hand and that didn't happen. I hung back to help No Rush getting Callum? over the stile which another dog had done it's doodooh's on. Then hung back to help them under a gate. By which time most of the hash had gone on ahead so I stayed with No Rush and we made good progress. We bumped into "twister" i'm not sure of his name but he injured himself doing the twist. On we went through the woods and on, I could see Hatrack and Maverick in front and decided i was far enough away from everyone to have a wee, I was just finishing when Floss appeared. He'd got lost and gone over the river thinking some foam was some flour, I didn't laugh because i'd made that mistake but as I wasn't in the mood for a soaking i'd continued up the path to find the proper flour trail. Hatrack and Maverick were deciding to do a short cut when I caught up with them and as the light was fading and I hadn't got my torch I decided that I would join them. We walked up a hill following the indirect route to manaton. Then Floss appeared again, he said he was too far behind the others so thought he'd join us. He jogged on in front and Hatrack decided that walking on a path was far too easy so we followed him off into the woods and got deeper and deeper into bracken and brambles until Maverick found a gateway that led into someone's back garden. That someone was out in the garden and her dog took exception to 3 strangers arriving from out of nowhere. I'll never forget the look on her face as Maverick asked her the way to the church with Hatrack appearing with his new hat donated by Rambo earlier on, a lady's hat with beads on. She explained to Maverick that she couldn't really direct us to the church as there weren't any paths in that area but if we went down her garden and out of the side gate then we would be back on the road.

This picture was taken of Maverick and Hatrack disappearing into the undergrowth somewhere around Manaton. Now I'm glad I carry my phone with me!

On the road I was entertained with stories from Hatrack and Maverick about times that they had been lost before. It was a very good adventure and I had lots of fun. I even got back to the car park before Growbag!

Then it was on to the Kestor Inn for the On Down. Down Downs went to Josh who was being named Sucker for losing his shoe, Brown Clown as it was his last hash with Ashburton, Sixpack for laying the trail and Bog Down for being caught by her partner Almost when she'd fallen in the or nearly fell in the mud.

A very enjoyable evening and thanks for the memories Hatrack and Maverick....till next time On On x

Hash #30

Date: Tuesday 14th August 2007
Location: Hembury woods
Weather: had been raining, think it was dry
I very nearly didn't make it tonight as DH was late home and the boys weren't sleeping but I drove myself down to Hembury woods at top speed, only to take the wrong turning when i was there. I arrived just as the circle was in progress so I didn't really hear how many long/short splits or where the flour was laid and I certainly didn't feel like running after a very hectic day and dash down there.
I fell in line at the back of the pack and gradually fell further behind as we started to go uphill. I eventually caught up with Maverick and nearly caught up with some others as well. Then it was the regroup and after jelly babies by the river I continued. I ran with Dolittle and Corrr!Tina for a very short way then let them get ahead as we started to run uphill again. It was soon On Home and I was glad to get back. It was a lovely hash I just wish i'd been feeling a bit more energetic and a bit more awake to have enjoyed it more.
Back to the Tradesmans for the On Down and I can't remember who had down downs. Cinderfella for his driving, and i can't remember anymore.

Sidmouth Festival Run 2007

Date: 12th August 2007

Location: Sidmouth

We arrived in Sidmouth at about 10am and found Dolittle and her family just getting out of the car. We walked to Connaught gardens admiring the hill that we would be ascending in an hours time or so! We did the toilet break and then after fuelling up on banana and water we ventured up to the start line. B and J arrived in time to see the start.

Dolittle and I did a warm up job up the first bit of the hill and back down all the way to the toilet again, bouncing all the way to get out as much as we could. Then it was back to the start.

After a count down of 5 we set off.

This picture was kindly borrowed from the Sidmouth Runners Website http://basic1.easily.co.uk/030012/007016/asrcnews.html

I'll add some more taken by us when I get them from Mark and his camera!!

I was determined not to be the first person to start walking up the hill so struggled on until I saw at least two people walking up. We slowed down through the gateway then onwards and upwards. I saw the notice 100m to the summit and thought phew. I made it and then over the road, nearly being knocked down by a 4x4 driver reversing out of the car park, I went onto the common. I thought to myself well no more hills this should be a good run. I saw a lady in white in front of me and thought i'd keep within eyesight of her so I wouldn't be too far behind as by now I was nearly the last, although I'm not sure at this point in time if I was or not.

From the common we entered some woodland, bulverton plantation I think it's called. That was better a bit of a cool breeze, a bit of shade and onwards I went. The marshalls were spaced out nicely so I was able to do a bit of daydreaming as I ran along. Then onto the golf course for a short moment, it was at this point that some of the front runners were coming back towards me and I got slightly confused as to where I was supposed to be going but managed to ask the way and carried on round the woods. A light rain started and that was very welcome and i began to enjoy myself. Then I saw more hills, although nowhere near as steep or as long as the first one. I tried to run up as many as I could using my arms and standing up straight technique. I'm getting slightly better at hills now so all this practising must be paying off somewhere along the line. Then it was back through the golf course and the last 3km to home. It was mainly downhill from there and back along the way we came, the last 1km was definitely downhill and I did a nice sprint finish again without falling head over heels downhill. I nearly overtook my friend in the white t-shirt but thought that might seem a bit off (plus I didn't want to trip up and look like a doughnut in front of everyone)

I was informed that I'd done it in 1hour and 29 minutes so i'm being reasonably consistent with my times. Looking on the website I did it in 1hour 26 minutes!! So that's even better. I must admit I'd not been looking forward to doing this race, with bad nights and busy days I was worrying my stamina wouldn't hold out, but i'm pleased to say that in spite of the hill at the start and the other ups and downs it was a very pleasant race and I spent some time enjoying it for once.

So till next time....On On xx

Hash #29

Date: August 7th 2007
Location: Cott Inn, Dartington
Weather: rainy but stopped raining when we got there and it was lovely sunshine.
The hash started downhill on the road and I was feeling quite energetic for a change. The trail went where we'd been on the Totnes 10k on the SUnday before but just backwards, but it was nice to go at a more leisurely pace and enjoy the views. Going up through the woods then back down again we encountered Shorty with bloody knees after having a fall, my water pack came in handy to help her wash the dirt out and after that I stayed with her and Head Down, Stinkhorn and another lady, through the woods and across the meadows to the regroup and the pixies by the railway line. From the regroup, headdown, stingray, shorty and I walked back to the pub following the rest of the trail and had a nice chat about all sorts of things. I did feel that I should be running but in some respects I think walking was harder than running as it took longer. Shorty seemed to be ok when we got back so hopefully she will soon be healed.
Dolittle and J were waiting for me to get back which was very kind of them and Dolittle waited while I got changed then we went into the pub. The down downs were awarded to Misshap who was named due to his bad day, Maa's bah for saying what are those flowers or something like that, Ruff Puff for being involved with the comment in some way, Shorty for falling over and Head Down and Stingray for the laying of the trail.
Hope your knees feel better soon, thanks to the hares for a lovely trail or trial as i've just typed by mistake!! It was a lovely hash, a lovely evening and lovely company, till next time On On xx

Hash #28

Date: Tuesday 31st July 2007
Location: East Ogwell
Weather: sunny, warm
We met in the pub car park in East Ogwell and heard from Shorty and Bigfoot that there was one long/short split and one regroup. The hash was a very good one, with lots of false trails which kept the pack together for most of the time, which was unusual for me to see lots of people running around. We went across fields and woodland and up hills and passed some cows and bullocks and a couple of bermese mountain dogs barking frantically telling us to keep out of the way. The regroup was lovely with chairs to sit on and sangria for those that drink and peanuts and crisps. The trail then led us past the prison which I found quite bizarre. With thoughts flashing through my brain about being kidnapped by a prisoner and held hostage I remembered that Maverick worked there so I would be perfectly safe!! Down some lanes then onto a bit of road and back to the pub. I managed to sit in a flower bed as I walked backwards to let a car past...ooops but luckily only Doriss saw my fall and she didn't dob me in to the RA's so no down downs for me.
I can't remember who the down downs were awarded to as I'm writing this a fortnight later.
So apologies for such a quick entry, it didn't really do the hash justice, a very good and enjoyable hash with most of the hash staying together and ending it together.
Thanks Shorty and Bigfoot On On xx