28th December - Stoke Woods - Groucho + Twin Peaks

Another fine but freezing hashing day we were looking forward to setting off so we could warm up! Well todays hash started as it would continue, a complete debacle! We set off in all directions, except the one we wanted. Eventually with a little help from the hares we found the trail. There was to be little running on this trail as we all fought our way through the brambles. Even the dogs struggled, JC needing to be carried as he couldn't make it through the brambles. We made our way to the path again, still only 50m from the car park! Once again we all stopped and struggled to find the trail which seemed to lead us round in circles. Odd Bitz kept calling the trail only to be told, 'no, not that way!' as he had missed out chunks of the trail.

Another loop later and we came upon the assault course the hares had carefully planned, a death slide! Howling Wilf seemed to come off worst and rolled down the hill leaving one of his gloves behind. Blobhoblin chose to go right behind Groucho, trying to take him out on the way down. See hash photos for them in action.

On On a bit further to a very scenic sweetie stop where we managed to take a few good photos, especially the above one, complete with 'rabbit ears', now who would do a thing like that?????

On On to some more looping, some more brambles, some more invisible trails! I forgot to mention that the hares helpfully laid the trail amongst the frosty undergrowth in white flour! No wonder we struggled!

We had another hash halt where we were given instructions to find the swing and whoever jumped from the swing into the circle could have another gingerbread heart. We all eagerly took up this challenge, desperately trying to avoid the circle! Spocky Bitz seemed to have the most fun on this swing although Tuned In gamely had a go exclaiming she couldn't get her leg over! Also Chesty had a go saying the stick was too big to get her leg round! Well well, what can we say!

From here we set off downhill back towards the car park, finding the On Home amongst more frost! Despite losing the trail numerous times, it was a fun hash with all the extra activities laid on by the thought ful/less* (*delete as applicable)

At the hash circle, Groucho announced there was an additional present that should've gone with the bone of contention award last week, with the statement, 'you need to start pulling your weight!' Tuned In was awarded ankle/wrist weights! I think they should go to Radiohead to slow him down! We were also informed that next week subs are due, £20 per person or £30 per family, please ensure you are laden with cash next week!

On On to Four Firs next week and Happy New Year to you all!!

26th December - Joneys Cross - Tampa

A beautiful winters day saw 35 hashers turn out for the Boxing Day hash. Despite the sunshine it was absolutely freezing up on the common so we didn't waste time before circling up. Hash instructions were 3 and on, 2 long/short splits, though the hare had no idea where one of them went as Gollum laid it and he had now gone home again!

We set off in entirely the wrong direction as usual, finally finding the trail. On over the road road took us downhill before coming to a check where we were promptly called on on for a nice straight run, the checks having been called already by the time most of us got there, eventually coming to a back check. We then found the trail through the gorse, ouch, and back over the road again.

We then went uphill and down dale following the lead hashers only for them to lead us in entirely the wrong direction, where's the hare we all thought???? He was back near the correct trail so back we went. There we had to climb down and make our way down the gulley before coming back up out of it to arrive at the sweetie stop. Milky Ways and Haribo were consumed while we all gathered together again.

From the sweetie stop was the long/short mystery split. Tuned In and Twin Peaks headed off on the short wondering for a little while where everyone else had got to, before a few more faces started to appear. A few more checks later and the longs were back with us as we headed back uphill onto another long/short split, the shorts heading straight back uphill to the on home. On arriving back at the car park, Emerald and Geronimo were busy in their campervan rustling up mulled wine, mince pies, stollen and cookies! A welcome sight to warm us all up.

Two of our young hashers were named, ceremony performed by Spocky Bitz. After an indecisive vote between Pony Express and Trip Wire, we arrived at the only fair hash conclusion, Juliet would be named Pony Wire! Annabel was named Flower Power or should it be Flour Power? A lovely day with a great hash, enjoyed by all.

21st December - The Imperial - Groucho

This weeks blog is by way of video! I hope you enjoy.

As you will all know, the hash awards were also today, they were awarded as follows:

Woodpecker Trophy(most prolific male hasher): Stat Nav

Henpecker Trophy(most prolific female hasher): Chesty

Whadda Hash Trophy(highest scored hash): Woodpecker

Sheriffs Shield(most frequently fined hasher): Tail Lamp

Bone of Contention(GM's award for hash contribution): Tuned In

As Ed of the blog I would also like to say many thanks to Groucho, on behalf of the entire hash, for doing all he does for the hash throughout the year in particular, the away weekend and the Christmas frivolities.

Merry Christmas to all hashers look forward to seeing you very soon, xx

HAVE YOU SEEN THESE MEN?

THEY HAVE ESCAPED FROM THE LOCAL ASSYLUM!

LAST SEEN DRINKING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF

ALCOHOL IN THE COWLEY BRIDGE AREA OF

EXETER. DO NOT APPROACH!!!! THEY ARE

DANGEROUS. ONE WILL BE WEARING GREEN TIGHTS,

THE OTHER IS SLIGHTLY UNSTEADY ON HIS FEET.

IF SIGHTED CALL FOR BACK UP IMMEDIATELY!

14th December 2008 - Howling Wilf - East Hill Strips

Another well attended hash despite the freezing conditions. We started off with a bit of 'hash pot luck' as no-one knew which car park we were starting from. However, everyone seemed to be there, including again Dirt Band and No Name from Otter Valley.
The hare arrived back from laying the trail looking suitably worn out, an energetic trail maybe??? Hash instructions were 1 and on, long short splits but no fish hooks today as Wilf doesn't approve of them! Is that right!!
On over the road to the first check where Chad headed off on the correct trail so off we set at what appeared to be a rate of knots! Maybe it was just the red wine consumed the night before that made it feel that way! Never mind, at least I turned up!!! Groucho, Tail Lamp you pair of lightweights....call yourselves hashers?
The trail was very muddy but at times very scenic too, nice to see some slightly less familiar territory aswell.
After crossing back over the road, we came upon the first long short split, which was a lovely stretch out through lots of mud. With Spocky, Chad and Radiohead out in front it was kept at quite a brisk pace too. Welly did his best to slow down Tuned In by running into her leg, ouch, but luckily she struggled on!
On finally arriving at the sweetie stop we tucked into fruit pastilles and liquorice allsorts, handed out by a mini hasher. While we'd been there for about 10 minutes there didn't seem to be much sign of many of the shorts so we set off again, uphill! Ug!
Here we had a good long stretch of uphill running which brought us to a fish hook! Yes, the ones that the hare doesn't believe in! A very mean one too, at the top of this hill. Off went Radiohead, Spocky, Dirt Band, Chad and Tuned In.
From here we went through the forest, across the road again and reached the on home at the top of the hill.
The sheriff concluded it was a fine free week this week, all to be revealed next week at the hash awards. However, the deputy sheriff had her suspicions that the only reason this was to be the case was because the sheriff was wearing new shoes! So his fine has been postponed until the new 'fines financial year'.
We had a naming of a new hasher. Due to her gleaming trainers she was going to be named Dazzler or some such name, however, on her arrival in the hash circle she was called Scarf-face which we all thought was funnier and was agreed this would be her name. Welcome Scarf-face. On On to next weeks Christmas hash with post hash frivolities in The Imperial, Exeter. Fancy dress encouraged.

7th December - Spocky Bitz - Knowle Village CP

A lovely frosty winters day with 15 brave hashers all ready for the off. Spockybitz did the business whilst X-bitz was left holding the baby. Within 100m we were greeted by a long short split only three of us did the short, me, Groucho, being one of them due to my body batteries being very flat indeed. Spockybitz had arranged for us to be watched by numerous horses plus riders as we plodded on our way running at times through what seemed like treacle or in this case trekacle.
Whilst on our wandering the sheriff was hard at work with his little black book noting any hash crimes, of which there were several. First to be punished was Tail lamp who upon reaching a back check asked how many had to go back. The hare was next to be spotted by the law maker for not setting the trail as per brief ie 3 blobs and on only to four blobs then false trail. On - on several occasion persons seemed to drift into some sort of memory lapse by forgetting hash names and preferring to their public names, Chesty mentioning someone called James, who the hell is James? Next both Tampa and Emerald mentioned a person called Roger unless they had two way radios and they were rogering and out. Not to be out done Brains was heard from behind a hedge that she wanted to get her leg over, bearing in mind how cold it was, this out burst came as something of a surprise until we all spotted a bike with Brains trying to adjust her personage. Once at the sweet stop THE HARE gave us hungry hashers some peanuts and chocolate bars before telling us that the trail was now only one and on.
Eventually after 80 minutes of muddy hashing we arrived back at base where upon the sheriff collected fines from the law breakers.One virgin hasher was named but his name escapes me but the was an electrical connection. Watch this space.
Note from ed: I am concerned to hear any talk of rogering on the hash!!!!!!!

30th November - Tampa - Pine Ridge

Another well turned out hash, well, the hashers weren't well turned out, they looked like the usual riff raff, I mean there were lots of them! We also welcomed Dirt Band and No Name from OVH3 and Ullage from Isca. We set off in entirely the wrong direction as usual and bimbled around until we found the correct trail past a freezer!! We encountered a very steep bank which tried its hardest to claim a few hashers and looking at bottoms later, it looked like it succeded. The trail then led us over the bike ramps, which a few brave hashers took on. The five or six front hashers set off down hill only to find a back check at the end so back up it was.

We ran down past the side of the quarry and around in a very sneaky loop which some hashers at the back performed a spectacular short cut and totally missed out. On down and over the road to the first regroup. Spocky did a marvellous impression of a lamp post, so good in fact that one of the dogs decided to pee up his leg...nice! Setting off on a long short split meeting again at the sweetie stop which the longs actually arrived at first for a change. Wine gums and jelly babies were consumed then on into the nature reserve.

More obstacles to overcome in here, 2 very slippery logs over the bogs, luckily no casualties. Again, there were many hashers that cheated and went around the other way, but they all got fined for that!

On through the nature reserve and again discovered some lesser known hash territory. We then set back up the hill towards the car where I'm certain there was some cheating going on as there were a couple of fish hooks but only 1 or 2 returning hashers. OH was called and on arriving back in the car park who should be there but the lesser spotted Exton Woodpecker. After receiving comments regarding his formal attire at the last hash he visited he turned up this time in a very fetching turquoise shell suit!

The hash circle was short and sweet with only a couple of fines being mentioned albeit to almost the entire group. We then went off to the AGM where a disappointing amount of alcohol was consumed and we discussed all the people that weren't there! Topics included, annual fees, 2009 away weekend and should Groucho still be the GM? Obviously, being that he does such a fab job, we all said yes! It was also voted that Tampa continues to be beermeister/ hareraiser/ on sec and the other jobs too! Odd Bitz will remain Sheriff and Spocky will be RA when required.

On On to Knowle Village CP next week.