Mon 27th May Run #1796 Uplands, Clennon Heights, Paignton: A barrel of beer and banquet with Mouldy Dick & Wickdipper
Come along now, singalong with me:
Summer is Icumen in, loudly sing cuckoo,
Grows the seed and blows the mead,
And springs the wood anew;
Sing, cuckoo!
Well it must be so as Mouldy Dick & Wicky had decided to hasten its advance by presenting the first 'semi' outside beer and banquet of the year from their fine abode atop Clennon Heights. An eventful night it would prove to be Oh Dearly Nearly Didn't Make It...
Hash chariots cheerfully created carnage careering carefully into the cul-de-sac* and soon the hitherto slumbering community was aclog** with the holiday hash.
The circle was convened in Mouldy's entrance and a fine forty was recorded including two returnees from the previous week's adventure at Manaton, virgins Rob & Crystal and Mother, brought along by Abscess and Gosia.
Circle recalled: Shitfaced, Piltdown, 3Sum, SatNav, Soapy, Melon Picker + two little ones, U Bend, Piddler, Fukarwi & Prickly Bush, Abscess, Gosia and Mother, Teapot, Bobby, Wiggers, Beefy, Slip on Me, Birthday girl Able, Rambo & Doris, newbies Rob & Crystal, Mouldy, T Humper, I-Poo'd, Fallen Woman & Broken Man, Runner Bean, Plonker, Hotlips & Zoot, two Manaton virgin survivors, Manpig, Broads, SM Ellie and BB.
At last our brand new Grand Master could perhaps properly present proceedings. Tightly clutching his third edition of the Grand Master's Guide to Galactic Hashing, Shitfaced welcomed in the newbies and eased into the usual GM's patter. There was a suggestion by T Humper that the hash revert to its normal Monday evening for the Christmas do - Wigwam advising the present Saturday night was only a recent innovation.
Hare Mouldy delivered what were to be telling words of caution: 'If you want to get onto the first L/S split DON'T get ahead of me.' However, hashers are renowned for casting such dread warnings to the winds once underway and so it began Oh Dearly Went Astray...
The lads (Runner Bean & Plonker) were in no mood for meandering and shouting to the eager bucks at the skeletal remains of the Big Tree 'It's gotta be Clennon, let's roll!' the super scouts skedaddled. A check was found a little way up Penwill and though no marks were subsequently discovered, on we pressed upwards and I had a nasty feeling of déjà vu as Fukarwi joined the fray - both of us not quite recovered from chest infections generated from the AGPU a fortnight previous - no aspersions cast eh Fukarwi?
Halfway up hell hill, Plonker faltered and we paused awhile to gather breath and review proceedings. Far below, Beefy and the main longs were advancing slowly awaiting solid sightings. Beefy, also remembering the last Penwill Way debacle, decided to retreat, which proved to be the right decision as Mouldy arrived to put down the first L/S split which he had foretold at the circle, directing the pack across the car park into Clennon Valley proper.. collective sigh from Runner Bean, Plonker and BB. Far, far away from the action, Runner Bean spotted a fluorescing Manpig legging it across the valley about half a mile away. Oh well, it didn't work, did it lads, better luck next time..
Mouldy's mysterious marks proved to be thin on the ground, mayhap because the Clennon ducks had taken a bill or two to them but in any case, sparse they were and many a leap of faith and second guessing had to be taken, though on the climb to the A379 the trail ran icy cold...
Cometh the crisis cometh the most unlikely hero. Oh yes, Oh Dearly Getting Excited, appearing in front of the clueless FRBs was Bobby Woll himself and he was ready to roll. Across the main road and up onto Sugar Loaf he strode with porpoise [sic] and then almost unbelievably (this is the same Bobby Kirk who only recently needed ski pole assist) he broke into an ambling gait uphill with the likes of Beefy, Bluebird, BroadS, Plonker and SM Ellie in his wake. This then, Oh Dearly Flabber Aghast, was Bobby's finest five minutes..
And there atop Sugar Loaf we lingered to take in one of the finest vistas over Torbay - ah it was good to be alive.. but where were the rest of the scattered longs we asked ourselves. An immediate answer was forthcoming as below us, Manpig, Fukarwi and Runner Bean were seen coursing back from the coast path. Marking their cards that they had to go back and now mob-handed, the longs surged onward - only to be intercepted by another long from the Oyster Bend ginnel - yes, Coldtits had found the trail true - sacre l'oiseau bleu!
Said trail was sound as shorts and longs converged as one onto the cider stop at Mouldy's beach hut on Goodrington Sands and jollity abounded for a while, Oh Dearly About to Collapse...
Come in, you're time is up - the light that burns twice as bright lasts half as long and you have burned so very brightly, Bird Blue...
Colours faded, the noise of the madding hash dissipated and a strange malaise grew. It was so quiet and peaceful. Faint echoes of concern: 'He's gone a funny colour', 'Do you want some water?'
I am sailing, I am failing...
Can you hear me, can you hear me
Through the dark night, far away
I am dying, forever crying
To be with you, who can say...
However, it was not time to go and there was Fallen Woman proffering a handful of chocolate raisins - how kind - Coldtits whispering 'Don't worry, I'm a first-aider.' and former nurse Wicky telling Bobby not to leave someone who was evidently having a funny turn... but back to the hash and Mouldy had manufactured a pleasing five miler for the longs, just about right I was told so all thumbs up for the hare.
Back at Uplands, a barrel of Hunters Half Bore 4.0 abv was tapped, ready to rip and at a pound a pint was Mouldy magic. Hashers had also generously brought fare along and the balcony table was crammed for the hash to tuck into. Most enjoyable and filling was a plate of 3Sum's pasta topped with Fallen Woman's carrot salad, thank you ladies and to all who contributed to the banquet.
DOWNDOWNS
A star-studded array of DDs presented by our host Mouldy:
Melon Picker (Hashit shirt) to Mouldy for the trail
SM Ellie to Wickdipper - the hostess with the mostest
BroadS (Bat Hat) to Bobby for rescuing the FRBs
Mouldy presented Doris with her 1400 Run badge and whisky miniature DD
A Birthday DD for Able
Two DDs for Abscess and Rob for being phone bound for so long!
It was a lovely evening and one which I will remember for some time. Thank you Wicky, Coldtits and Bobby for looking after me, silly old fool that I am, you were all so kind. And thank you Mouldy and Wicky for all the time and effort you put into making the extravaganza, you know we appreciated it.
*I may have overtweaked the alliteration
**I lay claim to the word, So let it be written, So let it be done.
ON ON to next week and circle up from Cold East Cross Dartmoor (SX 741743) OD The Rugglestone Inn with Pisswell.
Come along now, singalong with me:
Summer is Icumen in, loudly sing cuckoo,
Grows the seed and blows the mead,
And springs the wood anew;
Sing, cuckoo!
Well it must be so as Mouldy Dick & Wicky had decided to hasten its advance by presenting the first 'semi' outside beer and banquet of the year from their fine abode atop Clennon Heights. An eventful night it would prove to be Oh Dearly Nearly Didn't Make It...
Hash chariots cheerfully created carnage careering carefully into the cul-de-sac* and soon the hitherto slumbering community was aclog** with the holiday hash.
The circle was convened in Mouldy's entrance and a fine forty was recorded including two returnees from the previous week's adventure at Manaton, virgins Rob & Crystal and Mother, brought along by Abscess and Gosia.
Circle recalled: Shitfaced, Piltdown, 3Sum, SatNav, Soapy, Melon Picker + two little ones, U Bend, Piddler, Fukarwi & Prickly Bush, Abscess, Gosia and Mother, Teapot, Bobby, Wiggers, Beefy, Slip on Me, Birthday girl Able, Rambo & Doris, newbies Rob & Crystal, Mouldy, T Humper, I-Poo'd, Fallen Woman & Broken Man, Runner Bean, Plonker, Hotlips & Zoot, two Manaton virgin survivors, Manpig, Broads, SM Ellie and BB.
At last our brand new Grand Master could perhaps properly present proceedings. Tightly clutching his third edition of the Grand Master's Guide to Galactic Hashing, Shitfaced welcomed in the newbies and eased into the usual GM's patter. There was a suggestion by T Humper that the hash revert to its normal Monday evening for the Christmas do - Wigwam advising the present Saturday night was only a recent innovation.
Hare Mouldy delivered what were to be telling words of caution: 'If you want to get onto the first L/S split DON'T get ahead of me.' However, hashers are renowned for casting such dread warnings to the winds once underway and so it began Oh Dearly Went Astray...
The lads (Runner Bean & Plonker) were in no mood for meandering and shouting to the eager bucks at the skeletal remains of the Big Tree 'It's gotta be Clennon, let's roll!' the super scouts skedaddled. A check was found a little way up Penwill and though no marks were subsequently discovered, on we pressed upwards and I had a nasty feeling of déjà vu as Fukarwi joined the fray - both of us not quite recovered from chest infections generated from the AGPU a fortnight previous - no aspersions cast eh Fukarwi?
Halfway up hell hill, Plonker faltered and we paused awhile to gather breath and review proceedings. Far below, Beefy and the main longs were advancing slowly awaiting solid sightings. Beefy, also remembering the last Penwill Way debacle, decided to retreat, which proved to be the right decision as Mouldy arrived to put down the first L/S split which he had foretold at the circle, directing the pack across the car park into Clennon Valley proper.. collective sigh from Runner Bean, Plonker and BB. Far, far away from the action, Runner Bean spotted a fluorescing Manpig legging it across the valley about half a mile away. Oh well, it didn't work, did it lads, better luck next time..
Mouldy's mysterious marks proved to be thin on the ground, mayhap because the Clennon ducks had taken a bill or two to them but in any case, sparse they were and many a leap of faith and second guessing had to be taken, though on the climb to the A379 the trail ran icy cold...
Cometh the crisis cometh the most unlikely hero. Oh yes, Oh Dearly Getting Excited, appearing in front of the clueless FRBs was Bobby Woll himself and he was ready to roll. Across the main road and up onto Sugar Loaf he strode with porpoise [sic] and then almost unbelievably (this is the same Bobby Kirk who only recently needed ski pole assist) he broke into an ambling gait uphill with the likes of Beefy, Bluebird, BroadS, Plonker and SM Ellie in his wake. This then, Oh Dearly Flabber Aghast, was Bobby's finest five minutes..
And there atop Sugar Loaf we lingered to take in one of the finest vistas over Torbay - ah it was good to be alive.. but where were the rest of the scattered longs we asked ourselves. An immediate answer was forthcoming as below us, Manpig, Fukarwi and Runner Bean were seen coursing back from the coast path. Marking their cards that they had to go back and now mob-handed, the longs surged onward - only to be intercepted by another long from the Oyster Bend ginnel - yes, Coldtits had found the trail true - sacre l'oiseau bleu!
Said trail was sound as shorts and longs converged as one onto the cider stop at Mouldy's beach hut on Goodrington Sands and jollity abounded for a while, Oh Dearly About to Collapse...
Come in, you're time is up - the light that burns twice as bright lasts half as long and you have burned so very brightly, Bird Blue...
Colours faded, the noise of the madding hash dissipated and a strange malaise grew. It was so quiet and peaceful. Faint echoes of concern: 'He's gone a funny colour', 'Do you want some water?'
I am sailing, I am failing...
Can you hear me, can you hear me
Through the dark night, far away
I am dying, forever crying
To be with you, who can say...
However, it was not time to go and there was Fallen Woman proffering a handful of chocolate raisins - how kind - Coldtits whispering 'Don't worry, I'm a first-aider.' and former nurse Wicky telling Bobby not to leave someone who was evidently having a funny turn... but back to the hash and Mouldy had manufactured a pleasing five miler for the longs, just about right I was told so all thumbs up for the hare.
Back at Uplands, a barrel of Hunters Half Bore 4.0 abv was tapped, ready to rip and at a pound a pint was Mouldy magic. Hashers had also generously brought fare along and the balcony table was crammed for the hash to tuck into. Most enjoyable and filling was a plate of 3Sum's pasta topped with Fallen Woman's carrot salad, thank you ladies and to all who contributed to the banquet.
DOWNDOWNS
A star-studded array of DDs presented by our host Mouldy:
Melon Picker (Hashit shirt) to Mouldy for the trail
SM Ellie to Wickdipper - the hostess with the mostest
BroadS (Bat Hat) to Bobby for rescuing the FRBs
Mouldy presented Doris with her 1400 Run badge and whisky miniature DD
A Birthday DD for Able
Two DDs for Abscess and Rob for being phone bound for so long!
It was a lovely evening and one which I will remember for some time. Thank you Wicky, Coldtits and Bobby for looking after me, silly old fool that I am, you were all so kind. And thank you Mouldy and Wicky for all the time and effort you put into making the extravaganza, you know we appreciated it.
*I may have overtweaked the alliteration
**I lay claim to the word, So let it be written, So let it be done.
ON ON to next week and circle up from Cold East Cross Dartmoor (SX 741743) OD The Rugglestone Inn with Pisswell.
