So that's why they call it rainforest!

A crack or two of thunder...and then the dark clouds suddenly disgorged bucketloads of freezing water over us this last Sunday. (There was the odd piece of frozen water as well.) Eventually we all made it back - to gather like 25 dripping drowned rats under shelter:

(Thanks to Culture for the photography - and where had Mile High and Hugandkiss got to?)

Some dry clothes, some warming grog, and some tucker raised our spirits sufficiently for us to give a rousing rendition of "The Red Flag" in honour of Mayday. Is there anywhere else around Samford where you could hear voices belting out:

Then raise the scarlet standard high!
Within its shade we live and die!
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the red flag flying here...?

On, on, comrades! And here's a little story to go with the anthem:

An old man stands for 3 hours in a queue to buy some meat. Just as he gets to the front of the line the supplies run out. He complains loudly: "I fought for the Revolution. I fought for Comrade Lenin in the First World War. I fought against the Germans in the Second World War. And what for? At least under the Tsar we had meat!"

A leather-jacketed KGB officer takes him aside. "Listen, Father, you must not say such things. A few years ago you would have been shot for what you are saying!"

When the old man gets home empty-handed his wife asks: "They've run out of meat again?"

"It's even worse than that," he replies. "They've run out of bullets!"

This coming Sunday we'll continue our 1200th run celebrations at West End. A 1200th run cake, 1200th run shirts, more champers...don't miss it!

Next run details
When: Sunday 4th May, 4 pm
Where: In Your Dreams and Where's the Beef?'s bijou West End mansion
Hares: Where's the Beef? and In Your Dreams

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

On, on!

Once upon a time...

23 and a bit years, and 1200 runs ago, Samford Hash was founded by Peter "Fu" Goff, Steve "Superbrat" Tennant, their partners and friends (there's some history here.) The founders hailed from New Guinea, and called their new Hash "Samford Hash Haus Harriers" for that reason. It's not that they couldn't spell: they were recalling the New Guinea usage (though perhaps not the associated social customs - Samford Hash has always included women, kids, and dogs.) For those who care about such things, I believe this gives us a pretty impressive Hash lineage...just 2 steps (via Port Moresby) from the Mother Hash in KL. Is that right?

1200 runs!...There was champagne all round this Sunday to celebrate the occasion. Charcoal sported a historic Samford Hash Haus Harriers 50th Run shirt from 1992 - and it still fitted him! I wonder whether anyone way back then thought that we'd still be meeting weekly 1150 runs later? (And meeting for mid-week runs, and trips away, and bike rides, and parties too?)

It was great to welcome Kermit back from the Northern Territory for this run, plus another visitor from Tokyo (via Darwin) and yet another from Foster, NSW! They helped make up a crowd of 26 runners and walkers...not bad for an Easter Sunday. A number of regulars, however, were away - so we'll continue the 1200th run celebrations in a couple of week's time. Down, downs all round are perhaps in order....

Our hares laid on a varied and challenging run and walk (though a bit flat, perhaps) and a beaut roast dinner. Many thanks!

A couple of bunny girls, escaped from the Hefner mansion:

And a few more of the 26 Happy Easter hashers:

Finally - it'll be a few days early, but what the heck! - we'll make next Sunday's run a Mayday celebration. Let's keep the red flag flying, comrades!

Next run details

When: Sunday 27th April, 4 pm

Where: Maiala Park picnic area, Mt Glorious (a map!)

Hares: Culture and Haughty

On, on!

Alive, alive-oh!

There's nothing like a live hare! - and Shockjock led us on a merry chase through the rain this last Sunday. It turned out afterwards that at one stage he'd been hiding in the bushes from the frontrunners - until they were called back to run what turned out to be a false trail....

Despite the rain, about 28 of us ended up at the on, on, downing jug after jug of Shockjock's latest brew and feasting on some very tasty hash nosh. Thanks and congratulations to our hares!

The traditional nano-brewery tour was marked by a formal presentation to the braumeister by Where's the Beef?:

Le W*nk, the ardent royalist, traveled to New Zealand this weekend especially to shake hands with a certain person, and to arrange an assignation in Brisbane:


Finally, we sadly bade farewell to B-Flat and Malpractice; they're heading back to Cambridge:

Oh, to be in England
Now that April's there!

We look forward to their return in a few month's time....

Next run details
When: Sunday 20th April, 4 pm
Where: Corner Buranda Road and Clear Mountain Road, Clear Mountain. A map!
Hares: Charcoal and Strine

On, on!

Last of the summer runs

It was lucky that we didn't start out at 4 this last Sunday - if we had, we'd have been drenched, if not electrocuted. The storm had washed out the trail markings, but our hare's verbal instructions worked well, taking 25 or so of us on a varied and enjoyable route across some very green fields and up some reasonable hills. Thanks to Leave Pass...and congratulations also on his Rogan Josh! As he said, Rogans are a bit hard to come by at this time of year (...and Dads are allowed to make Dad jokes....)

Over the last few weeks, a young man who used to run with us years ago has returned. He's a musician and a prospective marine biologist, and well overdue for a Hash name - so it was great to honour Hornblower in a traditional naming ceremony:

This weekend also saw 8 blokes heading down the coast for a highly educational field trip to Burleigh Brewery. It was fun too - thanks to Where's the Beef? for organising it!

(Haughty was there too, but he'd fallen asleep under a table)

And don't forget - this coming Sunday we move to a 4 pm start time! 4 pm!

Next run details
When: Sunday 13th April, 4 pm - repeat - 4 pm!
Where: Miss Demeanour and Shockjock's cabin in the woods
Hares: Shockjock and Miss Demeanour and Co.

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

On, on!

Fast falls the eventide

3 of our members went Orienteering a week ago - and took over an hour and a half to navigate a course that the winner completed in 28 minutes. We obviously need a lot more practice in reading maps!

And map-reading skills were again in demand this Sunday: the trail had been washed out, and the runners had to misnavigate themselves. There was nothing wrong with the map our hare supplied, but a bit wrong with our reading of it. We spent some time inadvertently running false trails, and a lot of time in robust discussion. Thanks to seeing-eye dogs George and Darcy who helped us get home...in the dark....

It was great to see a recovering Superhacker on the walk - and to welcome back Malpractice and B Flat!

Here are some more pics of the 25 of us who enjoyed an excursion around some new territory, a rib-filling meal, and a play on the swings:

Fast falls the eventide...the days are drawing in, and it's time to switch to a 4pm start again. That will be in 2 weeks' time, on Sunday 13th April. What's the betting someone forgets?

Next run details
When: Sunday 6th April, 5 pm (remember: this will be the last of the summertime runs)
Where: Leave Pass's Upper Kedron kip
Hare: Leave Pass

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

On, on!