The English country garden at Heathercombe, Manaton.
The words for hash no….(who cares?)
Who was there?
Hare Pisswell, Beeflicker, Beefy, Pocket Rocket, Forrest, Strap on, Manopause, Erection, Warmfront, Pyscho, Wetfart, Manpig, Coldtits, SMEllie.
The circle: Pocket welcomed everyone ( excluding Wetfart), to probably one of the most beautiful CPs we have had. 14 brave hashers wore a selection of beautiful red dresses/ socks/ underwear in the cold drizzle. Late comers blew the time keeping to pot, and Wet fart finally returned from his magical journey into the fairy garden. He was welcomed into the circle individually and no one mentioned how long he seemed to have been away with the fairies! Half an hour later, SMEllie had asked for hares and the hare had warned of the hazards of the trail, particularly the hissing goose, which she had managed to pluck a feather from. There was no trail in these NGS gardens, who had opened especially for us for the evening. Donations to Rowcroft on return at the tea rooms and down down. The trails were short to allow for top up miles on hashers return. Any open gates we had permission to go in.
The trails:
Rowlf & Fozzie-English Country Garden
( a rough idea reminder of the tune!)
How many miles will brave hashers go?
To an English country garden?
Pikes let us park and run round their grounds
It’s so beau-to-ful at Heathercombe
NGS, and a cream tea
Raising cash for charity
A small donation, well, bless your cotton socks!
Walkers, shorts and longs, the hare forgets them not,
As they do the trails at Heathercombe
How many hashers come here to go
Through our English country Heathercombe?
I'll tell you now where hashers can go
No one will miss the lovely gardens.
Statues, bridges, green man peeps
At the hashers, ankle deep
Rhodys, azaleas, bluebells we leap
There are splits, choice of two
Which one will you do?
In the moorland over Heathercombe
How many longs run checks to and fro,
Along the Mariners Way from Heathercombe?
I'll tell you now of which way to go
Along footpaths that go to Kenton
Walkers go up to the moor
Watch the bluebells on the floor
Others to West Combe and watch for the geese!
Up a very steep bit, where shortly there’s a split
On the moorland over Heathercombe
How many brave longs face the elements
Of the cold and wind at King Tor?
Shorts keep down low, catch walkers trail to go
Above the fields and views of Heathercombe
Longs up steep onto the tor
See the viewpoint, wanting more
Grimspounds too far
There’s more gardens to see
There is joy on return
When who got lost we learn
What a way to go in Heathercombe!
Out takes: Well nothings perfect! Coldtits and Forrest went around in circles and are probably still away with the fairies in the fairy garden!
Pyscho got lost in the rhododendron confetti in her red dress and nobody could find her!
Congratulations to the kings of the castle,
who braved the King Tor mountain and luckily didn’t die of exposure!
Thank you to my translator, Wetfart, who was invaluable, and the only person who could have communicated in the same language as the grumpy farmer at Kenton, should we have needed him!
There was little garden checking on return as everyone was wet and cold and in competition with Pisswells blue lips at the circle!
Down downs:
Again a delay to start times, waiting for red dresses to be put on, drinks and cream teas to be served etc. We all felt like such rebels!
Forrest had to be encouraged as a returnee from the Vicar of Dibley film set. Eventually he agreed to become Jim Trott for one night only, hence further delays as he decided on whether misdemeanours were worthy. (No no no no no no, yes)
Pisswell was first down down as hare. Unfortunately, the pay back for choosing weird receptacles was that she drank from the child’s wellie boot. Sorry Pysho for trying to shampoo the dregs into your wet hair!
Strap on had the jesters hat and gave it to Manopause, for gallantly letting Warmfront do the checking on their trail. He bravely drank from the plant spray bottle. There’s no flies on him!
SMEllie was next for baling out on the longs. She drunk from the baby’s milk bottle, saying it still tasted like milk!
Coldtits drank and washed with water from the wobbly grizzly cup. Not sure why? Losing the trail?
Lastly , the hare was accused by Forrest for issuing parking penalties. Although, I think he was hoping she would offer it back to him, because he kept saying No no no no no , she offered the down down to Erection. It was nice to see the Penners back, and it was good to see him being a rebel and wearing an orange T shirt! …….And then Forrest said yes, a moment too late!
Can’t remember the songs but the grand old Duke of York featured heavily.
Thanks for the 14 brave souls. Just enough chairs in the tearoom and we collected £75 in donations for Rowcroft and a bit more for hare beer. Thank you for being so generous and for a really funny evening.
On on to next week at the Bay horse (or is it gay?)at Ashburton with Beefy. Don’t forget to bring a towel. On on Pisswell x





