19th December - Imperial, Exeter - Groucho + Twin Peaks***The Christmas Hash***

A band of 30+ hashers arrived at The Imperial for the Christmas hash in a varied assortment of festive-ware braving the snow, ice and general mayhem on the roads. For some bizarre reason we circled up at the entrance to the pub - whether this was to be near the smells of wafting food and beer or to cause general bemusement to those who just wanted a pint remains a mystery! Anyhow we were given our instructions by the day's illustrious hares, Groucho and Twin Peaks, and told to follow the trail laid out in a beautiful shade of pink flour (or was that mauve or red or orange or ...)
On on out the pub, across the zebra crossing and round we went slipping and sliding as only truly graceful hashers can go. After Emerald falsely leading us astray into some woods (what have we said about that before children?) we found the trail once more leading us up a treacherously slippery slope. Clearly we were not the only ones who had some difficulty here - what looked like a rather mis-shapen large pink blob of flour was evidence of Groucho's calamitous fall as he laid the trail....well that's his story at least....my money's on the flour being spread following a flirtatious fling with Twin Peaks!
On to the long-short split where the merry band of hashers split up, some following the trail, others just making it up as they went along only to be given short shrift from the hare and told to follow the trail like everyone else. After the regroup we found the trail leading on through the university only to arrive at a joyous sweet stop a few moments later where we were treated to a truly scrumptious assortment.
Through the university we continued where another long-short split the hashers up once more - those longs going up the hill only to be treated to some well-placed fish-hooks....those hares do know how to make us work!
Rejoining close to the train station (he does like his trains does our Groucho!) the pack navigated its way on back home driven by a burning desire to reach the warm glow of food and drink.
There then followed the end-of-year prize-giving:

- Woodpecker award: Stat Nav
- Henpecker award: X-Bitz
- Junior hasher award: Itsy Bitz
- Bone of Contention: Fruity Bitz
- Best hash 2010: Spocky Bitz
- Sheriff's award: Up Yours

Of course we mustn't miss out Itsy Bitz's display of unreserved joy at winning the Junior hasher award...that girl has all the making of a truly great fashion model (where does she get that from?).
Spocky, Groucho and Tampa were also given a few bottles of beer (with thanks from Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde) for their endeavours in laying the greatest number of hashes over the year.

On on to the next hash - Boxing Day at Joney's Cross!

5th December - Haldon Belvedere - Wide Receiver

The morning was frosty and icy as we gathered in the car park, some of us having already encountered black ice on the road there. Still, a number of hardy hashers turned up....ooooh, about 18 I think?
We were informed of many fish hooks to come and a sweetie stop, by the hare as well as giving us clear instruction to be careful as they were some very icy parts. Off we set heading towards Lawrence Castle itself only to have a quick regroup with hash flash at the very beautiful hash halt. Off we set again only to shortly after, have the first casualty of the day. Howling Wilf took a very hard tumble onto his backside, was he not listening to our hares warning earlier?
With a couple of short cuts for the walkers the trail headed off into the frost laden forest, with Itsy Bitz urging X Bitz to polish up her ice skating skills on the puddles. We then came to the next treacherous bit of the trail as we headed down hill on some very slippery slopes. With Wide Receiver keeping at the back to ensure we all got down there safely, it made some hard work for those FRB's doing the fish hooks. It was here PP was seen to make her excuses to get out of doing a fish hook, only to then be caught by the next one 100yds further down the track. Surely a misdemeanor worth fining?
As the trail headed in and out of the forest, the walkers stuck to the path meeting up together again at the sweetie stop. Well, Wide Receiver has been listening very carefully to the news that hashes are soon to be scored for the quality of sweets too and provided a great array of Haribo, allsorts, jelly babies and more!
Off we headed past the main car park back onto trail where the pack seemed to get split up. The trail threatened to head downhill so a few fairweather hashers, mentioning no names, (Tampa + Bush-Babie), decided to take themselves on a shortcut back to the car. Those of us hardy hashers, headed off down the hill winding our way back up past the 'Go Ape' centre. Lots more fish hooks followed as we made our way back to the car park where Spocky Bitz had very kindly laid on mulled wine and hot chocolate and I believe it was Twin Peaks who bought some mince pies.

28th November - AGM

Several hashers attended the AGM at the Aylesbeare Inn after the hash, the following were agreed:

GM: Groucho
TREASURER: Spockybitz
BEER/GOODIES-MEISTER: Spockybitz
HARE-RAISER: Tampa
HARE SCORE MEISTER: Blobhoblin
SHERIFF: Stat-Nav
DEPUTY SHERIFF: Oddbitz
BLOG MEISTER: Tuned In
BLOG REPORTER: Slipshod plus others

There will be an Autumn Gathering 2011, venue to be confirmed.

There will also be a celebration upon reaching our 500th run in late March 2011.

Agreement to use Forestry Commission Land and pay fees to them when the need arises.

To have at least one mobile available on each hash in case of emergencies.

Sheriff fines monies to be used for the Christmas Do.

28th November - Joneys Cross - FF + PP

FF and PP did the damage as trail layers today and what a trail it was, frost, water and mud, indeed a rich cocktail. The surprise was the number of die hard hashers that turned up, in total, my personal mole TwinPeaks, who is good at maths, claims she counted 41 hashers!
There was a mini fashion parade of winter clothing on view, coats, hats, scarves and of course gloves. The hares informed the pack that "it was one and on", after which statement several hashers were heard to mutter, got up late did they, the one and on is often the indicator of late getting up syndrome.
Next the hares, bless their cotton socks, sent is over the road and away from the car park into the Artic Tundra that stretched before us. First there was the ice, several hashers enjoying a short skate, I refer to hashers like Top Cat and Scarf Face to name but a few. Next came a series of water features, in this case featuring hashers like X-bitz, Blobhoblin, Fruitybitz and Groucho who chose various methods to cross these said features fearful of the frozen water below. I can report they made it with feet still dry.Soon came the mud, who would have expected mud within this frozen wildermess, even worse was the fact that a journey in the mud was unavoidable no matter how the pack tried to hop, jump or skip. Meandering movements were indeed noticed as the pack, down to a crawl, ambled on their merry way heading to the carrot, the sweet stop.
We all enjoyed a selection of sweets supplied by our hares, well done you two, whilst chattering in the middle of a forest about a range of topics. Soon we were on our way once more. The pack gradually picked up the pace, slightly faster than that of a snail with Oddbitz bring up the rear, knee problems was his excuse. We had a pleasing run for some distance before we reached what I called the Ditch of Death, a ditch that was not only steep, but laced with mud, plenty of mud, with an added bonus, cold water flowing by at the foot of the ditch. No one would would reveal how they got on, but I did notice several sheepish hashers on the far side of this ditch of death. Having crossed the ditch the next problem was finding the trail, as there was a great deal of frost around, eventually the flour laid trail was discovered. Once back at the car park Spockybitz, bless his cotton socks, produced hot drinks, both tea and coffee to go with the beer A very nice touch but I suspect that X-bitz also had something to do with it. Thanks also go to FF and PP for laying a great trail.