Run #1774 Monday 24th December from the Kings Arms at Kingsteignton. Hare Wide Receiver
There are always some tricky slots in TVH's calendar and Christmas Eve
must count as one. Preparations for the big day mean that many hashers -
particularly those with families - cannot make it. Was it fifty weeks
ago that Wide Receiver also had the New Year's Day slot?
Wide
Receiver drew the short straw yet again and must have been just a tiny
bit concerned as hashers cried off on the run up to the twenty fourth. A
plaintive post on the afternoon read 'Who's going?' and but two lonely
replies (Beefy & Woof Woof) reassured.
Double figures were attained when the tiny circle was convened:
Wide, Piltdown & Chocca, Soapy & Mawgan, Zappa, returning after
a long absence with Pug & Chug*, Leticia, Nana, Woof Woof,
Manpig, Beefy and yours truly.
Wide informed us that he was going
to lay a live trail and asked for a five minute head start. He also
advised us to bring some money, indicating that a pub stop en route was
in the offing. Not possible for me as I had managed to leave my bag
with wallet in the kitchen - never mind.
The live trail proved to
be well thought out, taking a devious route through suburban back
streets and letting us enjoy some great Christmas lights along the way.
The light festooned camper and the projected reindeer & sleigh up
the side of a house were noteworthy. Wide even had time to put in a
back check which caught me out completely. The tiny pack apart from
Zappa, Leticia and Pug cavalry, kept together with the help of Piltdown
who was seen a few times in the distance diligently kicking checks out
for the stragglers.
Nana and Woof Woof were festively dressed for
the jolly jaunt and Beefy was ever ready with his replacement smart
phone to record the action.
A novel hash mark of ON INN greeted
us after many a twist and turn. It was the Old Rydon and packed out it
was with eating parties. Remarkably, we found an adjoining room
completely empty to enjoy a halfway drink and natter. It was but a mile
back to the never failing hospitality of the Kings Arms and job well
done by our hare who had bid us a fond farewell at the Old Rydon.
Manpig generously loaned me a fiver for a pint and the hash occupied
two tables. I joined the regulars Manpig, Beefy and Piltdown while
Zappa's table took in Leticia, Kev (non hasher) Nana and THREE Pugs! Now
Zappa only started with two Pugs so where on earth had the other one
come from I hear you gentle readers enquire? Well, it reads a little
like a Christmas carol so bear with me.
Zappa, Pugs and walking
hash had been returning when they were suddenly accosted by a passer by
who had found a Pug - not one of Zappa's Pugs to make it clear. The
passer by had seen Zappa and two Pugs and had quite naturally assumed
that it was part of the Pug Party. Now I realise that this story is
getting out of control so I'll cut to the Pug line... HA!
So please
now singalong with me: 'We three Pugs of Orient are, two on the hash
and one from afar... ' No, well please yourselves then, you usually do.
Zappa with the three Pugs had returned to the pub and commenced trying to contact the owner**.
Meanwhile, (it's all happening here Harry and aren't you all glad that I
turned up to tell you all of this?) our congenial landlord had enquired
if all hashers were in as he was about to bring out the sarnies. Woof
Woof had left so we numbered but eight and though the landlord said not
to worry about money, we had a goodly scrabble to reward him a little
for his efforts. Piltdown had whispered in my shell like: 'Don't worry,
the landlord's smart enough not to bring in six plates of ham, cheese
& tomato and cheese & onion sandwiches.' Yes, you've guessed
right - the landlord then proceeded to bring in SIX plates of sandwiches
and Piltdown would Shirley have got a downdown for that faux pas I
think you'll agree. A clear case of 'hamming' it up.... OLE!
As always, a great evening with TVH, no matter how many we number and we all thank Wide Receiver for making it happen.
ON ON to next week and
Mon 31st 7:15 New Years Eve at Chez (Soapy & Melon Picker)
* A Chihuahua and Pug cross.
**Zappa messaged this:
She (the owner) said that 'Ruby' had escaped when she was unloading her
shopping. Kev and Nana really checked she was the rightful owner as it
was odd that she hadn't put it on Facebook or told the non-urgent
police. But when they returned her, she nearly jumped out of the window
to get to her owner, bless. Was Brill seeing x