Thursday, December 29, 2011

On the third day of Christmas...

nine hardy hashers shook off the lethargy induced by consuming too much alcohol and turkey and turned out for a short and relaxed walk/run around some of Samford's byways. We then retired to the local hostelry for some temperance beverages and two-for-one pizza. The tradition continues: even Christmas falling on a Sunday can't put us off our stride.

2012 is shaping up to be another great year for Samford Hash. B&W has already received a new dress for Christmas in preparation for the 2012 red dress run! There's lots going on before then...and one event that you really must enter in your diaries right now is our 21st Birthday Run on 12th February.

Yes, Samford Hash is about to become grown-up! (For a reminder of our early history, why not visit our web site?)

We'll kick off the new year with another informal outing.

Next run details
When: Sunday 1st January, 5 pm
Where: Bullocky's Rest picnic area, Lake Samsonvale (park outside the gate)
Hares: Toss O'Coin or M. Promptu will set the route. Pot Luck and Left Over will provide the meal - please bring something to share.

On, on!

Monday, December 19, 2011

'Twas the run before Christmas

And all round the track
We set the dogs barking
With cries of "On back!",
And "On, on!" and "Are you?"
As Jamesbondage led us
On a scenic new route
Before Redbreast fed us
A sumptuous feast....
So we did some bush-bashing
And then we indulged -
That's what I call hashing!
So top up your wine-glass
Or crack open a beer -
We'll see you next week for
The last run of the year!

There certainly were a lot of dogs in the area, of all shapes, colours, sorts and sizes - Bunya seems a very caninophilic suburb!

Here's a recipe for Redbreast's festive fruit and nut cake - great for Christmas:

250g dates
125g glace pineapple
125g glace apricots
125g red glace cherries
125g green glace cherries
125g whole blanched almonds
250g brazil nuts
2 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1 tablespoon rum
90g butter
1/3 cup plain flour
3 tablespoons self-raising flour
dash vanilla

Chop pineapple and apricots into fairly large pieces. Leave remaining fruit and nuts whole. Mix all well together. beat eggs until thick and creamy, add sugar, vanilla, run and soft butter, beating until combined. Stir in sifted flours and fruit and nut mixture.

Divide mixture between 2 greased bar tins (7 cm by 25 cm), lining bases with greaseproof paper. Press mixture firmly into tins. Bake in slow oven one and a quarter hours or until cake is firm to touch; cool in tin 10 minutes. When cool, wrap in plastic food wrap and refrigerate in airtight container. Will keep for months.

And here are a few cracks for those who don't get enough in their crackers:

What kind of motorbike does Santa ride?
A Holly Davidson!

What's worse than Rudolph with a runny nose?
Frosty the snowman with a hot flush!

What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?
It's Christmas, Eve!

Why don't penguins fly?
Because they're not tall enough to reach the controls!

Knock knock!
Who's there?
Hannah
Hannah who?
Hannah partridge in a pear tree!

I read that one out of every 5 people in the world is Chinese. There are 5 people in my family, and I'm not Chinese - so it has to be either one of my parents, or my older brother Colin, or my younger brother Chung Wa Huang. I'm not sure, but I think it's Colin....

Since next Sunday is Christmas Day, next week's run will shift to Tuesday 27th December.

Next run details
When: Tuesday 27th December, 5 pm
Where: John Scott Park, the village.
Hare: M. Promptu. Meal at a local eatery.

Please bring some Christmas cracker jokes to share....

On, on!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Samford Hash gets frocked!

Some members of Samford Hash indulged themselves this week with three hash runs in a row - our normal(?) Sunday one, the Red Dress one, and the midweek (Tuesday) run from the village. It's lucky that we like one another (sort of)....

Sunday's run provided an opportunity to assess the condition of the old Goat Track; the Tuesday one provided an opportunity to assess progress on a huge house being built in the Royal Estates. And the Red Dress Run gave the inhabitants of Brisbane an opportunity to assess the sanity of some 400 red-clad idiots yelling "On, on!" through Southbank and the city heart. As usual, it was darn good fun.

Some Samford Hashers at the start:




The pack beginning to gather at the port and cake check:


Runners beneath the Christmas tree:


Hot to trot had spent the previous night in hospital - chock full of morphine - after suffering food poisoning on a flight from Singapore. Should they have let her out? She thought the piper was a friendly pink elephant, playing beautiful tunes through his trunk....


A number of us adjourned for a meal in West End after we had replenished our precious bodily fluids:


And we wished Topless godspeed - she's off to Germany for a real (wintry) Christmas!

Next run details
When: Sunday 18th December, 5 pm
Where: Allen Road, Bunya - meet approximately 100 metres from the Bunya Road corner
Hares: Redbreast and Jamesbondage

On, on!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Bushed in Bunya backwoods

We thought we'd be heading over the Jinker track and into the Bunyaville state forest this last Sunday, but our hares surprised us. This old blogger had no idea that there was a shortcut track leading around the back of the dump and onto Bunya Road. (You learn something new every day....)

From here the runners completed a bushland loop before heading back along the bitumen. I have no idea where the walkers went - and I suspect they had no idea either. It was good that they all made it back for snags, salad and liquid refreshments, but it was unclear how they'd done it.

A couple of visiting canines suffering from small dog syndrome tried to suicide by having a go at Heimi and Siggi...Kumo is a bit more sensible.

We bade farewell for a few weeks to Superhacker and Hopalong, who are off to the UK for a slushy whitish Christmas. There'll be another farewell this coming Sunday - to B&W and Trudi Fruti's observation deck, where the on, on will be. They are vacating their house temporarily to let tenants demolish it.

This Sunday's run will be followed on Monday by the annual Red Dress run in the city - we're expecting a few Samford hashers to frock up for this one!

Next run details
When: Sunday 11th December, 5 pm
Where: Top of the Goat Track, Mt Nebo (there's some parking on the Mt Nebo village side - otherwise up the road a bit at Manorina Nationa Park)
Hares: B&W, Fruti, Charcoal and Strine

...followed by the 2011 Red Dress Run:
When: Monday 12th December, 6:30 pm
Where: The Fox Hotel, Melbourne Street, South Brisbane - here's a map
($5 charity donation to be collected by Payback)

On, on!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

A HHHuge weekend of Samford Hash HHHactivities

kicked off at about 5 on Saturday with the first arrivals for Hash Christmas 2011!

Members had been asked (?ordered) to come as a character from a Christmas song - and be prepared to sing it. Here are some of the results, indicating that certain younger members were far better prepared than the older ones. Well done, all, for having a go!



Over a dozen hardy stayers were still there for breakfast...and for morning tea...and then turned up again at 5 for a relaxed recovery run and leftovers.

The king with the winning costume - recycled over many years (the costume, too):


More wise kings:




One of many Rudolphs:


Another Rudolph and fawn:


Singing Christmas tree and green angel:


White Christmas and the Ghost of Christmas present:


A bauble:


An escapee from St Trinian's:


Brace of shepherds:


The Hot to trot - Wizbanger Family Singers with a Dutch Christmas Carol (the cinematographer stuffed up the video of this one):


Wingless angel and elf:


Here are some snaps from Santa's grotto. Not everyone wanted to kiss him (perhaps it was the fake beard):








Unfortunately the photographers were affected by alcohol fumes by the time we got to the charades. It would be good to have a record of Leave Pass's interpretation of "love" as a pelvic thrust....

Big Top and Hardcore decided not to come back from New Zealand for the party. But they'll have their chance to star this coming Sunday!

Next run details
When: Sunday 4th December, 5 pm
Where: James Drysdale Reserve, corner Bunya Road and Jinker Track
Hares: Urass, Big Top and Hardcore

On, on!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Snakebait

Darcy and his master were late to the run on Sunday, which created a bit of anxiety...they had the drinks! It turned out that the young canine had chose the moment before they left to be bitten by a carpet python. Shockjock had to staunch the flow of blood before he could let Darcy into his gleaming new chariot!

The latest news in that the patient is fine - and stole and consumed a kilo of chicken just before the midweek run on Tuesday....

Leave Pass provided an enjoyable ramble around Upper Kedron (including a couple of puzzling bits, just to make it interesting) and followed it up with some traditional Upper Kedron fare - many thanks!

The midweek run (currently on Tuesdays) continues to attract between 5 and 9 hardy regulars, who replenish their precious bodily fluids afterwards in the public bar. This week we found ourselves following a trail set by some unknown hasher from some other hash. (It would be handy if they did this more often, don't you think?)

We're looking forward to Hash Christmas this Saturday. From the number who have booked overnight accommodation it looks as though there is going to be some very serious drinking going on! The recovery run will be from the party venue (probably in the rain) and catering will be by Leftover.

Next run details
When: Sunday 27th November, 5 pm (recovery run)
Where: Haughty and Culture's crumbling doss-house
Hares: Haughty and Culture

(If you need directions, please email us)

On, on!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Bemused, baffled and benighted

The runners missed an "on back" on Sunday and so added an extra kilometre or two to their run. But one group of walkers outdid them...they missed a crucial marking, turned right instead of left, and so completed a huge loop to bring them back home in the dark. The rest of us waited and wondered, watching the bats from the Highvale colony circling in the sky above us before they headed off on their night raid...they knew where they were going.

Our hares proved to be camp oven masterchefs, laying on a magnificent stew for the hungry hordes. One of them received his hash name with the usual dignified ceremony. As he was told, beer is good for the hair....So welcome to "Rock Hard". Not all hash names can be conveyed in sign language, but here's how to say his if you are hearing impaired:



Next run details
When: Sunday 20th November, 5 pm
Where: Leave Pass's Upper Kedron shanty
Hare: Leave Pass

(If you need directions to this run, please email us.)

Om, on!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Potluck once

again provided a generous feast this Sunday after M. Promptu led us on a random perambulation around the village. The runners ended up lost again, jumping fences and bashing through weedy paddocks to get back to civilisation. We were joined for the run by Sebastian (a young dog) who made us all feel rather fit by comparison with him....

Leave Pass was the only hasher who failed to read his emails and hence turned up at 4 pm. Good on him - somebody had to do it!

Superhacker has been a real stalwart over the last few months, hosting a number of great runs. She's doing it again this coming Sunday in the valley - don't miss it!

And here's a little story to pad out this week's post:

A little boy has a nightmare and when his dad goes in to his room he's sobbing.

"What is it, son?"

"I dreamed my guinea pig was dead!"

"Well, that's just a bad dream. It doesn't mean anything. Go back to sleep."

But the next morning, the guinea pig is lying dead in its cage!

A few nights later, the boy has another nightmare.

"I dreamed that Fido was dead!" he sobs.

"It's just a bad dream," says the father. "Go back to sleep."

But the next day, Fido the dog wanders onto the road, and is killed by a car!

Then it happens again, a few nights later. The boy wakes screaming from a nightmare. This time his mother goes in to him. The father hears her say, "What is it?"

"I dreamed that my daddy was dead!"

"It's just a bad dream." says the mother. "Go back to sleep."

And the boy does go back to sleep. But the father lies awake worrying for the rest of the night. In the morning, he's in two minds about whether to go to work. In the end he decides that he is being ridiculous, and sets off. But when he is almost side-swiped by a truck, he changes his mind, resolves to take a sickie, and heads back home.

As he turns into his street he is shocked to see an ambulance outside his house, and a number of the neighbours standing around in a circle.

"What's happened?" he calls out in a panic.

"It's OK," one of the neighbours reassures him. "Your family is fine. It's just that the milkman dropped dead outside your house."

Next run details
When: Sunday 13th November, 5 pm
Where: Westbourne Park, Wights Mountain (on the corner of Days Road and Cumberland Road)
Hares: Superhacker and friend

On, on!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Horrific Halloween Hash!

The inner west of Brisbane was the setting for this year's gruesome gathering of ghouls and gheesties, demons and devotees of the black arts (there was also a stray wingless angel, who'd clearly lost her way.) Thanks to Topless for the photography:



Our hares had prepared a couple of fact????sheets for the route, including some surprising little-known information. Were you aware that
- Lang Park is situated over the North Brisbane Burial Grounds, and that "they didn't remove the bodies before fencing off the park" so "some claim to have witnessed 13 brain-dead zombies appearing each autumn in blue jerseys at the site. Local Queenslanders have teamed up wearing maroon jerseys to beat these creatures across the border into New South Wales..."?
- the Hale Street bridge link was named in honour of the Brisbane Indie band "The Go-betweens" ("This is the most frightening thing you will hear along this run...")?

If the hares had planned to provide appropriately horrible food, they failed. The pumpkin soup was among the best we'd ever tasted...and the corned beef hash was wolfed down by everyone, not just the werewolves....The black bread looked very appetising:


...and clearly tasted just like it looked:


Zombie Culture:


Recognise her from The Exorcist? Is that projectile vomit down your front, or are you just pleased to see me?


Our scary hares:


Miss Demeanour getting passionate with an old friend (there was some joke about "bones", but I didn't get it....)


And another old fellow who was wandering by:


One of our hares received his Hash name, with the usual dignified ceremony. Welcome to Evacuate! We hope he'll be setting many more runs in future....Of course, his great concern for safety was evident in the sign he'd had made for the BBQ we used (I wonder if that is why it's called a "Hot plate"?):


A couple of date claimers:
- Hash Christmas will be on Saturday 26th November, at Haughty and Culture's
- This year's Red Dress Run will be on Monday 12th December, starting from the Fox Hotel in South Brisbane.

And a final really important point: we'll be moving to a 5 pm summertime start time from next week!

Next run details
When: Sunday 6th November, 5 pm - repeat 5 pm!
Where: John Scott Park, the village
Hare: M. Promptu, with catering by Potluck - please bring something to share!

On, on!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Beasts and bypasses

Lots of wildlife this week....Culture picked up a tick and took it home as a pet. Slammit rescued a turtle from the side of the trail and released it in a nearby dam. And a powerful wild beast of our acquaintance won a Silver medal for weightlifting at the Masters' Games:


He displayed his raw power in a more useful way later on:


Here are some more savage beasts at the hares' place. (I think some of their companions may have ended up in the meal, but I'm not sure. It tasted good anyway.)






Someone thought that Leave Pass looked rather scrumptious too:


Tried crossing Main Street lately? Roll on, the Samford Bypass, I say! (But then, I don't live on the route...) The hares allowed us to preview bits of that route - through the heart of the Royal Estates and past the graveyard and Community Hall. A very interesting and pleasant run/walk!

Next week we are calling once more on witches and warlocks, werewolves and wierdos of all sorts to join us for our annual Halloween event! Leave off your makeup and come as your scary Real Self!

Next run details
When: Sunday 30th October, 4 pm
Where: Gregory Park, Baroona Road, Paddington. A map!
Hares: Vegemite and Noname

On, on!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Down by the riverside

We're pretty familiar with the bits of the South Pine that flow through Samford and Bunya. But this Sunday our hares introduced us to some of the very scenic lower reaches through the Bald Hills area. It was good snake country and good snake weather - Hot to trot trotted over a couple of them. One, she thought, might have been a taipan, but as she didn't roll it over to count its ventral scales we will never know....

Cash Converta lived up to her usual high standard in the nosh department, and our younger members made full use of the Pine Rivers Park play equipment....The circle was almost drowned out by the noise of the lorikeets coming home to roost above our heads. Thanks, hares - a great venue, run and meal!

Next week is a pretty significant and rather sad occasion - it will probably be the last Samford run hosted by Wizbanger, Hot to trot and Co - at least for a while. Soon they will be upping sticks and moving to that Sodom and Gomorrah of the South - Canberra. Let's hope it's not for too long....

And the week after that will be our 2011 Halloween event. Hasn't the year flown by? Check the archives for last year's pics - and click here for this year's promo!

One of our Halloween hares is still a no-name, and we'll rectify this in a fortnight. In the meantme, here is some evidence that he can be pretty darn scary when he dresses up:



Next run details
When: Sunday 23rd October, 4 pm
Where: Wizbanger and Hot to trot's trattoria in the village
Hares: Wizbanger and Hot to trot

On, on!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

"You think you know Brisbane..."

mused Shockjock, midway through last Sunday's run. He was not the only runner to be astounded by discovering byways, alleys, stairways, hidden gullies and houses built on seemingly impossible sites through the suburbs of West End, Hill End and Dutton Park.

The walkers too enjoyed exploring new territory, visiting parts of the UQ campus that very few venture into and that Charcoal had no memory of...although by all accounts they were probably already old when he was an undergraduate.

And we all enjoyed at least one CityCat ride as part of the circuit - an innovation that worked really well. The trip reminded Urass of his navy days and the unspeakable activities he used to get up to...no-one took up his invitation to lean over the rail and watch the wake.

Here's a shot of the area taken a year or two before Charcoal was a student....



Green curry and ice cream cake (wow!) were demolished by the hordes. Many thanks to Superhacker! We certainly enjoyed her birthday - hope she did too!

A little birthday story:

A blonde rings up about a job.

"I'll just take a few details," says the interviewer. "Now, what's your name?"

To his surprise, the blonde begins singing "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."

"What are you doing?" asks the interviewer.

"Wait, wait! ...Happy birthday, dear Mandy - yes, that's it! My name's Mandy!"

Next run details
When: Sunday 16th October, 4 pm
Where: Pine Rivers Park...a map!
Hares: Payback and Cash Converta

On,on!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Blowing

A strong southwesterly was a great help as we headed towards Redcliffe on the longest bridge in Australia - and a real pain as we struggled south again from the wind-swept and deserted fishing platform. The only fish to be seen were of the blue blubber jelly variety, and there were hordes of these, cleverly disguising themselves as discarded plastic bags....

The run/walk then took us south along the foreshore towards Sandgate, between some very impressive real estate and a rather chilly sea. Here's a map of the walk, courtesy of Superhacker's iPhone:




Shockjock was awarded a down, down for marking the run in invisible chalk - while Miss Demeanour made up for his sins with a very tasty Moroccan meal. The hares rescued very few leftovers....Thanks to them all (and a special mention for Fleabite, who provided some delish home-made marshmallows)!

There was more blowing when Urass produced his private breathalyser, and we all had a go. According to this highly reliable instrument we were all perfectly legal by the time we drove off - "Don't bother, offisher- I've tested myshelf and I'm fine...."

Another University Challenge next Sunday. Your first daunting task is to remember to bring your GoCard so you can board the fairy (sorry, ferry)....

Next run details
When: Sunday October 9th, 4 pm
Where: UQ CityCat ferry terminal (near the UQ Tennis Centre, but on the river - surprise, surprise). Bring your GoCard (but there will also be a non-ferry trail for dogs and latecomers....)
Hares: Superhacker and Hopalong

On, on!

Friday, September 30, 2011

Oktoberfest Bierkellerbrations

What a great time we had at last Sunday's kellerbrations!

A mountainous run/walk was followed by mountains of grub and floods of German beer. There was bratwurst, Bavarian potato salad, saurkraut, red cabbage, soft pretzels, cheesecake, Black Forest dessert and more!

A challenging run, good fun, and good company - we'll certainly have to consider making this yet another annual event! Thanks once again to Charcoal and Strine....Oh, and Charcoal did look good in his lederhosen!

Here are some shots, courtesy of Payback:















And - this week only - a special feature on our Hash Hounds:













Next run details
When: Suncay 2md Oktober, 4 pm
Where: Decker Park, Twentyfifth Avenue, Brighton - just south of the Hornibrook Bridge. Here's a map....
Hares: Shockjock and Miss Demeanour

On, on!