TVH3 The Words for 5th February 2024

Ye Olde Jolly Sailor, Teignmouth

Run No. 2006 - Polyfella's Birthday Run

 

HARE: Polyfella

 

Who wuz there: Polyfella, Shitfaced, Man-Pig, Bluebird, Archangel, Hotlips, Zoot, Cheerio Beerio, Threesum, Only Here for the Beer, Forrest-Stump, Perry, Melonpicker, Fukarewe, Warmfront, Psycho, Smellie, Piltdown Man, Georgy Porgy, Beefy, Pisswell, Beeflicker, Well Hopped, Big End, Ned, Roger the Dodger, Ablesemen, Coldtits, Slip-on-Me, Wet-Johnny, Manopause, Broadshit, U-Bend, Piddler, Tamsin (Miss Ing), Wetfart, Triple-Jump, Rise'n'Shine, Mateus Rose and returnee Ollie.

 

Circle

Inevitably, the main topic of conversation pre-circle concerned Fallen Woman.

You could tell by the faces that Fallen Woman's passing had come as a huge shock. The sadness was palpable and our thoughts and prayers are with Broken Man and daughters Sarah and Kim and larger family.

 

After a brief welcome by GM Shitfaced, Man-Pig was invited into the Circle to say a few words about Fallen Woman and recent developments.

 

Man-Pig had spoken with Sarah and, with her permission, he imparted a little more information regarding Fallen Woman's passing.

 

Perhaps, more crucially, he went on to explain that the Hash is much more than a drinking club with a running problem. 

 

We are friends, bonded together by big hearts and kindness. The Hash it is our hobby and our chill-out time. 

 

When we arrive at the Hash, we put on our happiest smiles and bravest faces even when, inside, we may not be very happy. 

 

Each one of us has had a time in our lives when we've found ourselves in a dark place; for some, darker, deeper and more prolonged than others.

 

In the Hash, you are surrounded by friends and, for many, these are close friends. When you're among friends and someone asks you how you are, it's OK to say, "Well, actually, today I am not so good". There is no shame or stigma attaching to feeling down or depressed or sharing your anxiety. 

 

From the surrounding nods we've all been there to a lesser or greater degree. As my dear old Mum used to say, "A trouble shared is a trouble halved." 

 

It is good to talk and, hopefully, the camaraderie of the Hash, the run and the post run beer and banter brings a little light into the darkness. 

 

Ergo, we hope that the comments on the SH4, TVH3 and AH3 Facebook pages can provide a little comfort to Broken Man, Kim and Sarah as Fallen Woman was always such a joy to be with.....fun all the way. 

 

A Harriet who will never be forgotten by those who enjoyed the privilege of her warm, and frequently gregarious, company.

 

On a more pragmatic note, Broken Man is currently in Cheltenham with their youngest daughter, Kim. I understand that the plan is for Broken Man to return to Brixham at the weekend. 

 

The funeral will be at Torbay crematorium on Friday 23rd February at 10.30 followed by The Wake at Brixham Yacht Club. Kim has advised that the family will be keeping Fallen Woman's Facebook account open in order to update friends regarding the funeral etc.

 

We are sure that Fallen Woman would have wanted the show to go on so next it was a change of tempo as Pisswell promoted next week's Valentine's Day hash.....although some seem to have already recategorised it as a Hallow'een hash. Wear something bright or outrageous; just don't be boring....perhaps, just perhaps, even think of bringing your partner along?

 

Fukarewe put in a plug about this Saturday's (10th February) Broadhempstone Beer Festival. This takes place at Broadhempstone village hall and, historically, it's been a bit of a hoot - just ask Warmfront.

Finally, the Hare.

 

"The Longs' is about six. The Shorts' four and the Walkers' about two and a half. There is one Long/Short split, so once you're on it you've committed to a two mile loop. There is sausage and chips laid on in the pub afterwards", which we found out later had been bought and paid for by Polyfella as part of his birthday celebration - Thank you.

 

Trail

With the Hare's porkies still ringing in our ears and our thoughts very much with Fallen Woman and Broken Man and family, we sallied forth.

 

A mixture of arrows and dots saw us down to the seafront and running east and then up Eastcliff Walk footpath. 

 

At Cliff Road, we all crossed the A379 and embarked on the punishing climb up the footpath past Middle Holcombe House. 

 

This was reminiscent of the 2022 Hallow'een Hash trail. Almost at its peak, we arrived at the Long/Short split and the Tardis. For the Shorts it was a repeat of the 2022 Hallow'een's Longs' trail. It was going to be a Longgggggggggggg 4 miles for the Shorts.

 

For the Longs, it was a trip back in time. We found ourselves on tracks that we haven't been on for about a decade.

 

At the L/S split, we continued straight ahead. As per usual, Beeflicker was leading with Psycho and Warmfront in tow. Struggling behind them was the Pig followed by a rapidly closing Wet-Johnny. Beefy was, surprisingly, nowhere to be seen. It transpired that he had a bad cold and was walking the Shorts.

 

The Longs descended down a track that was badly rutted in places. We passed Oakleigh Farm just as Wet-Johnny overtook me. 

 

We crossed Westbrook where we thought we'd encountered a sweetie stop but no. It was a farmer feeding his cattle. 

 

When we reached tarmac, the obvious route would have been to our right. Indeed, there were calls of "On-On", only to be followed by returning head torches. Not "On-On" after all as Wet-Johnny and the Topiary twins ran back whence they came.

 

Beeflicker was on trail, on tarmac, and on his phone. We passed and ignored a sign for a public footpath to our right only to find two dots and a cross. 

 

Meanwhile, the Topiary Twins and Wet-Johnny had stolen a march. Beeflicker caught them up but Man-Pig never did. Returning to an unseen chec,k he was now at least 200 yards behind the FRB's but this had, at least, allowed Well Hopped to catch him up so he would not be doing the rest of the trail on his lonesome.

 

Following the footpath along the hedgeline of two fields provided a sense of deja vu. In the far distance were bright lights atop a hill. If my instincts were correct, this would be the BAM Nutall construction site next to the Smugglers' Arms.

 

When we left the field only to enter what looked like someone's garden, I knew where we were. We were on a trail that we'd last done from the Smugglers' Arms a long time ago, but in reverse. Sure enough, the marks took us down an alleyway and out onto the A379 just on the Dawlish side of the Smugglers'.

 

The trail now took us onto the Southwest Coastpath and down the steep loop below the Smugglers'; down to the railway line and up the other side.

 

At the bottom of the valley, we could see the FRB's torches, now a good 400m ahead. We looped back onto the A379 and came across a check marked with a sock....pointing back towards the Smugglers' Arms. Shirley some mistake. We checked out all the other alternatives. Nothing. Follow the sock!

The red sock did not deceive. We were back on trail, crossing the A379 and heading into Holcolmbe. The marks took us past the Castle Inn (I'd forgotten that Holcombe had a pub it's been so long since I've been here).

 

The more we followed the marks, the more certain I was that there must be some sort of mistake as soon we'd be crossing the outward trail. We left the village to follow a trail up another footpath that I recognised from many years ago. At the end of this particular section of footpath, my fears were confirmed. We'd arrived back at the Long/Short split. This is going to be a long 6 miles I thought.

The Longs now followed the Shorts trail back to the pub. Initially, we had a 1km climb up towards Woodlands Farm and past Higher Holcombe House.

 

At the highest point, the marks took us left and down Higher Woodway Road following part of Piltdown Man's and Georgie Porgie's Christmas trail. 

 

This time we went right at New Road which we crossed and continued down Ferndale Road followed by Paradise Road and Higher Brimley Road before running down Shute Road by the railway station. We crossed the Exeter Road opposite Lidl supermarket. 

 

We did not succumb to the magnetic force enticing us in to do our weekly shop. We continued, unburdened by groceries, back to the On-Down - nearly catching up with Coldtits who was tailending the Shorts.

 

A great trail covering some old, old ground. Fallen Woman would have enjoyed it immensely.

 

Down-Downs

I think that this is the first time that we have Hashed from Ye Olde Jolly Sailor. For some reason, quite a few Hashers got it mixed up with The Blue Anchor and ended up taking a rather circuitous route to the correct pub.

 

Forrest-Stump assumed the role of RA in advance of his impending three week absence. He is having a sojourn visiting his brother in Kenya where he will be climbing Mount Kenya amongst other things. Enjoy your hols.

 

Following in the footsteps of South Hams Hash and our skiing Hashers in Austria, we commenced the Down-Downs by raising our glasses to the memory of Fallen Woman. 

 

Our memories of her will be cherished for a very, very long time. "On-On".

 

The Down-Downs started with the birthday boy - Polyfella. Is it all the wrong notes in the right order, all the right notes in the wrong order or all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order? Nobody knows nor does anyone care as the cacophony kicked off. 

 

Thankyou for a wonderful trail, the scoff and the birthday cake. You are a star hasher, Polyfella.

There was a 100 run badge to award....to a local boy. Who was it? The first guess was correct. It was Broadshit. However, he had to go home early to start his paper round, so it will keep for another hash.

Next up was Warmfront with, or without, the Jester's Hat. Had she seen anything on trail? No. But she had heard a lot. 

 

A lot of yakking on the phone by one of her fellow FRB's on the Long. Who on earth had been yakking incessantly? It was Beeflicker speaking to his boss......about flashing on trail. 

 

A half pint of Teignmouth's finest eau du tap was dispatched PDQ.

 

"Where's the Hashshit shirt?"

"With Pisswell still out on trail"

Simultaneously Pisswell appeared, already changed.

"Where's the shirt?"

"In the car".

"Go back and get it"

"Any other stories whilst we're waiting?"

 

Smellie narrowly avoided a down-down. She had been spotted approaching the On-Down from the wrong direction. Had she been home for a shower? 

 

No. The lure of a trail passing a supermarket was too strong for her, yet again. She had an unavoidable urge to take advantage of the opportunity to do her week's shopping. 

 

Note to self. Do not lay any TVH3 trail that passes a supermarket.

 

There was a story about a young Hasher and an elderly Hasher and a near RTA. The younger man was obliged to beep his horn. This was so as to encourage an elderly and apparently deaf pedestrian to speed up his crossing of the road lest he be run over. So, who was our jaywalker of the week? None other than Archangel.

 

The timing was perfect. Pisswell reappeared with the Hashshit shirt and presented it to Wetfart for paying his subs in five pence pieces!. Wetfart downed his beer without exposing himself (he has a criminal record for this you know). However, in boomerang fashion, Forrest returned the Hashshit shirt to Pisswell for being late on parade.

 

Next week

Next week's Hash is a Valentine's Day themed Hash from the Dolphin, Bovey Tracey. The Hares are Pisswell, Beefy and Coldtits. Wear something romantic/outrageous.

 

On-On to next week. MP