From January 2007...
Haughty and Culture caught up with these typical hashers recently in the Rundle Mall in Adelaide.
But who can help making pigs of themselves when treated to such culinary delights as Flashy's Superburgers? Thanks to her, Digit and Earbiter for a well-marked run and walk (featuring some great views) and for a terrific on,on. (Originally posted 22/1/07)
From February 2007...
Chinese New Year run
Barred from Chinatown!
Despite dressing up in red and gold the runners were barred from entering the Chinatown Mall and hence prevented from enjoying speeches by local and state politicians! What misery! Still, it was wonderful to have so many joining the running group, and congratulations to all those who conquered the New Farm loop!
It was also good to see Strine back with her new improved titanium shoulder - it's the GT Sports Limited Edition version, and it's been reliably clocked at over 200 kph. (Originally posted 19/2/07)
From March 2007...
Another classy reference
As Christina Rossetti (that old hasher) asked...
"Does the road wind up-hill all the way?"*
The answer is that it probably will this Sunday, because we are heading back up the mountain, courtesy of the Sh*ggrs. We're meeting at the place where Leave Pass once famously failed to perform the miracle of feeding five thousand with half a scrawny chicken's breast. From that point all will be revealed.
To quote Ella Fitzgerald (another well-known old hasher), it was "too darned hot" to run last Sunday - but being idiots, we did it anyway. A great run and walk, thanks to Payback and Cash Converta. Topping up our precious bodily fluids afterwards has never felt so good. Thanks for the banquet, too.
*"Up-hill", first published in Macmillan's Magazine, 1861 (Originally posted 13/3/07)
From April 2007...
A fishy tale
Since Payback and his crossbow were elsewhere...
it was lucky that the Hash didn't meet any of the notorious twelve-toed denizens of Cedar Creek this last Sunday. Check out what might have happened here (you can also download some typical Cedar Creek music.) A great flat run (by all accounts) - thanks to Yurass, Big Top and Hardcore.
Some of the conversation at the on-on reminded me of this little story.
There were once two prawns who lived happily together in the Coral Sea. Their names were Justin and Christian, and - as their names suggest - they were hairdressers. (They actually used to work as cabin crew for Royal Brunei, but some of the pilots used to play tricks on them, and they didn't like that.) They had a little salon in a bijou part of the reef, and a cute little flat next door. Everything went swimmingly with them, except that occasionally when they went out they would meet a shark, and would have to rush back inside - with their little hearts palpitating - and have a lie down.
"I do hate these horrid sharks," said Justin one day. "I wish sometimes that I was a big butch shark - then I'd soon teach them a lesson!" Unbeknownst to him, he was overheard by a large and wise-looking old rock cod that was passing by. "Justin," said the cod, "I am your fairy godfather, and your wish is granted." He waved his fin, and Justin suddenly found himself turned into a huge hammerhead, with a mouth full of teeth!
At first it was wonderful fun! Justin was so much larger than any other creature in the sea that he terrified them all. Smaller sharks fled at his approach! He didn't need to feel fearful any more!
But as time wore on, Justin began to feel a bit lonely. His friends were frightened of him, and none of them wanted to see him any more. He began to be sorry that his wish had been granted, and he began to look out for the magic rock cod that had transformed him. He searched the Coral Sea, and then the Timor Sea, and then Bass Strait, and then he began to swim up and down the Pacific, looking all the time for his fairy godfather.
But it was all to no avail, until one day he found himself back close to where he had started. And there, lolling quietly under a coral overhang, he caught sight of the fish he had been searching for all this time. "Oh, fairy godfather, please, please change me back," pleaded Justin. "I'm sick of being a shark. I want things to be just as they always were."
"OK," said the rock cod, and waved his fin again. Justin was overjoyed to find that he had been turned back into his old self. "Thank you, thank you!" he cried, and rushed around the corner to the little flat he used to live in.
The door was locked, and he knocked on it. "Who is it?" came a voice from inside. "It's me, Justin." he called. "I've come back! Please let me in."
"Oh no! You've turned into a nasty shark, and you'll just eat me up!"
"No, no!" Justin cried. "You don't understand! I've changed! I've found Cod! I'm a prawn again, Christian!" (Originally posted 22/4/07)
From May 2007...
Mother's Day run
The riff-raff were missing and a small but select and - it must be said - very high quality group met near the old windmill for this year's Mother's Day run/walk. The routes were interesting and varied, and not all the arrows had been cleaned off by the Roma St Parkland staff. Kerbside Pina coladas were gratefully received - and voted a very classy innovation indeed. A rapid costume change, and the scrubbers in the group were scrubbed up for a visit to the casino and a massive feed. The quote on the wall by G B Shaw said it all: "There is no sincerer love than the love of food." No big wins, but someone made enough to pay for his parking and the meal. (Originally posted 14/5/07)
We were in drought at the time...
Wear your Indiana Jones costume because...
this next Sunday will see us undertaking an epic search for the Lost Lake!
Legend holds that somewhere in the wilds of Samsonvale - centuries ago - there was a body of water which the natives called "Northpinedam". Folk tales, passed on down the ages, tell of a lake which was so large that swans and pelicans could be seen floating on it, while the ancients would launch boats and catch fish in it. There are no signs of it nowadays, but these tales are so widespread there may well be an element of truth in them. The hardy (or foolhardy) members of the Samford Hash are determined to attempt to discover where this Lake of Legend might have been located. Join us if you dare. (Originally posted 21/5/07)
From June 2007...
More literature
As T.S. Eliot (that old hasher) said...
"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started...."*
which is a pretty good description of a great run/walk this last Sunday, courtesy of Hardcore and Co. It took us exploring some pretty unfamiliar trails through Stafford, Grange was it?, Lutwyche and other burbs all baffling to us blokes and birds from the bush.
Spielberg - one of our far-flung members - is raising money for the Red Cross through his run in the New York half-marathon on August 5th.
Payback and Cash Converta have just returned to the fold (welcome back.) They ran into some more far-flung members - Slasher and Dollybird - on the grey nomad trail in Mt Isa. Here's a picture of them outside their travelling "Love Shack". At this resolution you can't see the sticker that reads "If it's rocking, don't bother knocking."
*"Little Gidding" from Four Quartets (1942) (Originally posted 24/6/07)
From July 2007
Och, it's lovely roamin' in the gloamin'...*
and Shockjock did take us on a lovely roam along the highroads and lowroads of Bunya. An excellent run/walk, with lots of features of interest, including his own personal version of the Firth of Forth bridge (pictures for comparison can be found by clicking here.) Some brilliant brown ale from a very impressive home brewery, and a terrific banquet as well. Thanks, guys.
The on-on also featured a naming ceremony for "Redbreast" (aka "Woof") and "Jamesbondage". Congratulations to both on their new identities.
*For words and music, click here. (Originally posted 8/7/07)
Christmas in July weekend - the Bunyas
"The hare limped trembling through the frozen grass..."*
...and the hounds were pretty frozen too up at the Bunya Mountains for this year's Christmas in July weekend. Pics show - firstly - (most of) the group with their teeth chattering, but still managing a smile:
Next - the tableful midway through the meal. We were already replete, but there was still lots of gourmet tucker to come!!!
Here are some culture vultures captured at the Jimbour Opera:
And here is an even more cultured game of "Flick the tea towel". Yurass clearly enjoyed it more than anyone else...
A great weekend. Thanks to all for their contributions!
*John Keats 'The Eve of St. Agnes' (written 1819, published 1820) (Originally posted 15/7/07)
850th run
Rarae aves
Lots of rare birds came flapping in for our 850th run. Lord Farquahar had flown in especially from Singapore for the occasion. Hardcore had winged her way back from Dublin especially as well. Cntry member and Holy Smoke were there on a flying visit from the Thirsty Hash.
And then there were those migratory waterbirds Floater and Scratchit - observed for just the second time this season. Twitchers would have been even more excited to see Loverboy and Stockgirl. They have nested in the valley but are nowadays uncommon in the local area. And we were treated to a rare glimpse of that shyest of all visitors to our shores - Le Wank. He came for the run but couldn't be tempted to stay for a feed.
It was nice to see them all. (Originally posted 30/7/07)
From August 2007
Walkers' Wasteland Wander!
An intrepid band of walkers set off in the rain from Ironbark Gully to explore the wasteland of the former Woolshed site. It's like a ghostpark, by all accounts, being steadily reclaimed by the bush. It must be years since any sheep were shorn there. So now (to quote the former Poet Laureate, Robert Southey)
...for the music of the bleating flocks
Alone is heard the kangaroo's sad note
Deepening in distance.*
Unfortunately, this last Sunday, the kangaroo's sad note was drowned out by the rain. It would be nice to hear it sometime.
The runners took a less adventurous track through the burbs.
*From Botany Bay Eclogues (1794) (Originally posted 21/8/07)
