Last run of the year

A glance back over the archives for the year shows that there have been some notable highs and lows for Samford Hash in 2012.  We've had some pain, and we've had a lot of fun...we've celebrated some milestones, we've welcomed some new members, and we've kept the traditions alive.  As the old song goes: "These are the times we will dream about - and we'll call them the good old days...."

But enough of this sentimental sniveling!  It's time to usher in 2013, and we anticipated this with a some really expensive sparklers and a rendition of Auld Lang Syne this Sunday.  M. Promptu took us around an enjoyable route and Potluck again provided a notable feast.  Moshi-moshi did sterling service in treating one of Samford Hash's pampered pooches to a healthy run, dragging her along by the collar for the last km or so....

For those who didn't get enough cracks in their crackers, here are a few more:

"Doctor, doctor, I think I'm getting shorter!"
"Well, you'll just have to be a little patient."

Q.  What did the blonde call her pet zebra?
A.  Spot

"Knock, knock"
"Who's there?"
"Miniature"
"Miniature who?"
"Miniature let me in I'll tell you."

"Doctor, doctor, I think I'm a refrigerator!"
"Does that worry you?"
"No, but I sleep with my mouth open, and the little light keeps my wife awake...."

Perhaps that's enough for now...We'll keep some for next year (I heard that!)

Next run details
When: Sunday 6 January, 2013 - 5 pm
Where: Corner Buranda Road and Clear Mountain Road, Clear Mountain
Hares: Charcoal and Strine

On, on!

Well, we made it!

In this little corner of the universe at least, December 21 passed with no more than the odd hangover or painful Achilles tendon.  The rites we practice every Sunday afternoon (and Wednesday, too - can't forget the mid-week run) obviously worked in fending off Planet X and the giant solar flares that might otherwise have wiped us out.  Well done, Samford Hash!

We had a shortish trot on Sunday to allow time for a dip in the creek.  The water was a bit low following some months of minimal rainfall, but still pretty darn pleasant....

Next Sunday?  It's time for our usual Christmas Leftover Recovery Run.  Look out for curried turkey and well-ripened Christmas pud.  We'll christen some of the new trackwork that's been going on around the village.

Next run details
When: Sunday 30 December, 5 pm
Where: John Scott Park, in the centre of the metropolis
Hares: M. Promptu will set the run.  Potluck will provide the leftovers - please bring something to share.  (And sniff it first.)

On, on!

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today...

for a Hash run - but also to celebrate some wonderful wedding anniversaries!"

Our runaway champions in the marriage stakes this last Sunday were our hares, Jamesbondage and Redbreast.  This beaut picture was taken on the 15th December 1962, (they were both teenagers at the time):

50 years later and their marriage continues to go from strength to strength.  As the old Lucky Strike ads used to say - they'd rather fight than switch....

The other anniversaries this week were those of Mile High and Hugandkiss (25 years strong) and of Shockjock and Miss Demeanour (16 years and thriving).  Congratulations to them all!  Mid-December clearly is the height of the mating season round this neck of the woods....

A pleasant, warm and not-too-hilly tour of the neighbourhood was followed by a champagne toast to the hares, and then a champagne christening of the house they've had built as a rental property.  It looked and smelt very clean and new when we arrived back from the run. I'm not sure what it was like after we spent half an hour there.... Many thanks to our hares - what a huge weekend for them!

Here are a few more pics from the Red Dress Run last week.

A stylish pair before the run (love the hat!):

And another stylish pair (love that hat too!):

At the Christmas tree in King George Square:

Carols by the river:

We're planning a pre-Christmas swim in Cedar Creek next Sunday - so bring your togs (or bring your effrontery, and skinny dip.)

Next run details
When: Sunday 23rd December, 5 pm
Where: Andy Williams Park, approximately 7.35 km up Cedar Creek Road
Hares: Culture and Haughty

On, on!

Silly season Hashfest!

This time of year is mad, mad, mad!  But Samford Hashers still found time to squeeze three great Hash events into the four days between the 7th and the 10th of December!

Friday evening saw us gather at Le W*nk's for the feasting, frolics and japes that distinguish Hash Christmas. Here's a selection of shots from the occasion....

Le W*nk's champagne oysters, as served by him to some very famous people (he claims):

Some cheerful beachgoers (our theme: "On the beach")

A mo from a Christmas cracker brought out an inner dictator:

Performance by the Fab Four:

And another Fab Four:

And a Fab Five:

Playing in the sand:

And now a selection of pics from Santa's seaside grotto:

On Sunday Leave Pass treated us to another tour de Upper Kedron.  You'd think we'd know the area by now, but some of us still managed to get ourselves lost....

And then on Monday evening a goodly Samford contingent donned designer numbers and braved the Big Smoke for the annual Red Dress Run.  There were 12 of us (including a couple of Japanese visitors) and there would have been 14 - had not one of us been struck down by a medical emergency just before the run.  Fortunately, he's now recovering back home, but he must have raised some eyebrows in the emergency department with his scarlet frock and fishnets....

Some of the early ones gathering outside the venue:

The event must have raised a fair sum for the Sally Army.  Radar again set a classy run through some interesting bits of the city, and the midway refreshment stop featured the usual port and lemon (this must be the only occasion of the year that we swig this beverage - I wonder what it really tastes like?)

Free drinks at the Caxton after the run (thanks to the sponsors!):

Next run details

When: Sunday 16th December, 5 pm

Where: Jamesbondage and Redbreast's home on the range

Hares: Redbreast and Jamesbondage

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

On, on!

The first run of summer

proved a real challenge.  Our hare Shockjock decided to demonstrate his housework skills at the last moment, which delayed the start a bit. Then there was the odd hill on the trail - funny, that, for Bunya - and it had been a scorcher of a day.  All this meant that the SCBs among the walkers took an hour and a half to do their version of the circuit, while it was dark before the serious walkers arrived home....

No one complained, but.  The trail was a varied and interesting one, with the odd downhill segment thrown in (you may not remember any downhills, but there were some.)  It included some good old-fashioned bush bashing: there was barbed wire to climb through and lantana to beat down - and there were ticks to fight off, and landowners to avoid.  Heimie was so daunted he headed off for home on his own...and Cash Converta ended up in hospital with a tick bite reaction.  All in all, it was a run that will linger in our memories, at least until the world ends on December 21st.

Great pies and peas too, hares!  And we really liked the homebrewed Pale Ale - we're looking forward to lots more on Friday night!

So it's:

• Hash Christmas this Friday (and here are some reminders of last year's event)
• Leave Pass's Italian run on Sunday
• The Red Dress run on Monday (and here are some reminders of last year's event)
• The end of the world on December 21st (remember to book your seat)

Next run details
When: Sunday 9th December, 5 pm
Where: Leave Pass's hacienda on the Upper Kedron pampas
Hares: Leave Pass and Heimie

On, on!

Who's been eating his spinach, then?

Leave Pass performed his Popeye impression to impress us with his latest Weightlifting triumph.  When did he find time to pose for the sculptor who produced the golden figure on the trophy?

There was also some debate about how to interpret Moshi-moshi's Tokyo Hash shirt.  Some were surprised that the Tokyo Hash didn't allow any "Walkers".  Others thought a different word might have been intended, and that Samford Hash could also adopt this motto....

Our Brazilian run turned out pretty well, and runners and walkers made it back to John Scott Park at almost the same time - except for the person (I won't name her) with the key to the car containing the Eskys.  Fortunately no-one died of dehydration, but it was a close-run thing.

(This old blogger once joined the North Brisbane Hash for a run which finished up with a train ride from Ferny Grove back to Grovely station.  It was only there that we realised that the person with the key to the car containing the Eskys hadn't made it onto the train.)

As usual, Potluck provided a stunning feast this Sunday.  This augers really well for Hash Christmas in a week or two.

Next run details
When: Sunday 2nd December
Where: Shockjock and Miss Demeanour's Bunya humpy
Hares: Shockjock and Miss Demeanour

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

On, on!

A thundering good first run

A series of heavy storms had turned the intended routes for both runners and walkers into impassable quagmires this last Sunday.  Our virgin hares took pity on us and made some last minute changes so we could keep our tootsies dry.  But both routes were still very scenic, especially with the dramatic clouds that loured over Mt Samson and the twin peaks of Mt Lawson.

During the on, on the clouds became even more dramatic, and the heavens opened, truncating a great meal featuring yummy burgers.  The Hash piled into the tack and feed sheds - whilst lightning crashed around us, hail tinkled on the roof, and a river developed across the paddock, between us and the vehicles....Mile High and Hugandkiss's first run really went off with a bang - several bangs, in fact.

The storm on its way:

Two runners (I mean three - sorry, Darcy) made friends with one of the locals:

While another practiced his chat-up techniques:

The meal, shared with some equine investigators (it was getting pretty dark):

And here comes the rain!

Thanks and congratulations to our virgin hares!  We look forward to exploring more of Samsonvale when the weather is less extreme.

Some dates to remember:
- Hash Christmas: 7th December at Mitchelton
- Red Dress run: 10th December at the Caxton Hotel (Payback has sent out forms for donations to the Salvos.)

Next run details
When: Sunday 25th November, 5 pm
Where: John Scott Park, the village
Hare: This will be a Brazilian (hareless) run, guided by M. Promptu.  Potluck will provide the meal - please bring something to share!

On, on!

Position, position, position

This little renovator's dream boasts absolute sea frontage.  Bring your paintbrush.  A little TLC and you'll be rewarded with 180 degree sea views some of the time, and 360 degree sea views when the tide is in:

It was also the setting for the Samford Hash Concours d'Elegance this last Saturday, when 6 prestigious vehicles lined up at the north end of Bribie (click for a closer view):

We had a fun day, and the weather was really kind.  By the time the rain started in earnest we were off the beach and enjoying a huge (and late) lunch under a picnic shelter (once again, Potluck excelled as a caterer.)

For the archives, here are some snaps (I have been offered payment to suppress some of these, but not enough):

Not your normal Land Rover advertisement:

Nor your normal Pajero one:

Morning tea on the beach:

And the sheepish latecomers who arrived just in time for it:

A very complicated table:

Taa-dah!

Lots to eat and drink:

Some serious 4X4 talk:

Work boots on the beach?

Herding cats is easy compared to organising a group photo:

Walking to Caloundra:

On back!

The old man and the sea (what a great title for a novel!):

A lot of the same characters (and some different ones, including Escargot and Kermit) turned up the next day for our regular Sunday run/walk in the valley.  It was good to see Topless again!  And once again the weather was kind, providing just the right sort of depth for the runners' creek crossing....

We have some virgin hares for next Sunday's run!

Next run details

When: Sunday 18th November, 5 pm

Where: Foggs Road in Samsonvale

Hares: Mile High and Hugandkiss

If you need directions to this run, please email or call us....

On, on!

A simple run for simple folk

There was nothing too complicated about our final run from Le W*nk's seaside hideaway.  The rules were:
1.  Head north
2.  Turn round
3.  Head south.

And that is what we did.  But the breeze and the seaside views were very pleasant, and no-one could complain about the hills....

An unexpected treat was the vision of Le W*nk modelling the new red dress he'll be wearing to wow the crowds in December.

Here are some upcoming special events to mark this busy time of year:

• Saturday November 10th - Hash 4X4 expedition to the north of Bribie
• Friday December 7th - Hash Christmas party - at Le W*nk's new place in Mitchelton
• Monday December 10th - 2012 Red dress run - location TBA.

Next run details
When: Sunday 11th November, 5 pm
Where: Undambi Rotary Reserve - Corner Mt. O'Reilly Road and Greggs Road
Hares: Culture and Haughty

On, on!

"The horror! The horror!" 2012

Here's the horrible horde which terrified the good citizens of Ferny Hills with cries of "On, on!" this last Sunday.  (In fact the most terrifying things in Ferny Hills were the hills....)

The winner of the juvenile costume prize this year was Hopalong - who could have stepped straight off the set of The Addams Family:

And the bewitching winner of the grown-ups' (?) prize was Escargot:

Here are a few more shots from the Little House of Horrors:

Our frightful hares:

A hot couple:

Ouch!

Blood donors wanted!

Witch out!

Are you a blood relative?

A cheerful witch:

Trolling down the street:

Little ghost:

A horny lady:

The most frightening costumes of all:

Some members lent a hand during the on, on:

And a nutty skeleton oversaw the festivities...

While junior members took part in the traditional Halloween activity of bobbing for apples:

The menu for the on, on was suitably macabre by name, but delicious by nature - thanks to our hares!  And welcome to our newest named member - Parlez vous!

Next week's run will be the last one from Le W*nk's Sandgate sandcastle....

Next run details
When: Sunday 4th November, 5 pm
Where: Le W*nk's bijou seaside residence in Sandgate
Hare: Le W*nk

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

On, on!