Nunu returns!

This week saw the return of Nunu ("that thing that's not a poodle" to quote her puppy preschool trainer) - and wasn't she excited about it! Her owner Gastrick showed up as well, displaying remarkably few dark circles under his eyes for a new father. It was good to welcome them both, and we look forward to meeting the new addition to the family some time.

Our hares took us on a typical Bunyaville trail, with the usual quantum of ups and downs. Fortunately the weather had cooled off a bit by the time we tackled it...though the hares must have faced some pretty fierce conditions as they marked the route. Thanks to Floater and Scratchit!

Sadly, we'll soon be saying goodbye to Where's the Beef? and In Your Dreams. Their farewell run is in 3 weeks' time, and it will be an emotional occasion. But as someone observed, it's nice to know that we'll have a pad to crash in when we next visit Tokyo!

Here are a few random shots from the evening.

The Japanese contingent:

Twalkers share some hot goss:

A visitor displays a healthy tongue:

The RA congratulates one of the hares:

A connoisseur appreciates the bouquet of the Hash rosé:

Finally, we have to record the following line, heard on the run. Le W*nk: "Press my bladder. No, not that one!" (He was trying to provide the dogs with some water, and referring to his CamelBak pack....)

Next run details
When: Sunday 28th February, 5 pm
Where: Corner Pallas Parade and Ballyalla Crescent (yes, you read it right), Warner. A map!
Hares: Payback and Cash Converta

On, on!

Silver jubilations

40 of us got together to celebrate Samford Hash's 25th birthday this Sunday. This must be one of the biggest gatherings ever!

(Thanks to Topless for the photography.)

"Roddy" McDowall - one of the founders of Samford Hash - was a special guest and told us the Dreamtime story of how the group was created....

Roddy may walk rather than run nowadays, but he proved that he can still down, down a beer with the best of them!

Eweshggr had set a shortish but steepish and tricky Clear Mountain run/walk to allow us plenty of eating and drinking time. And golly, wasn't there a lot to eat?

The ceremonial cutting of the ceremonial cake was performed by 4 regulars who date from the earliest days of Samford Hash - Charcoal, B & W, Strine, and Le W*nk. Between them, they have put in nearly 100 years of Samford Hashing!

No need for more words - here are some more images to commemorate a great night. (BTW, our (purple) 25th birthday shirts are still on the way from China - we'll get another group shot when they arrive....)

Floater and Scratchit will be doing the honours for the first run of our second quarter century.

Next run details
When: Sunday 21st February, 5 pm
Where: Alfredson Park, Collins Road, Everton Hills. A map!
Hares: Floater and Scratchit

Suggestion: bring a chair

On, on!

St Lucia saunter

LFC assisted Superhacker in setting the run this Sunday - but this didn't prevent the runners (with LFC in the rear) going off on a wild goose chase following another Hash group's arrows. By the time he saw fit to call us back the FRBs had added another couple of km to their run. LFC then entertained us with stories of people who had lost the trail (and consequently their lives) on Hash runs in Taiwan. Next time we should listen more carefully - when Superhacker says "blue chalk" that's what she means!

We made our noisy way towards the campus amid - to borrow a phrase from an earlier run report - "plummeting property prices." (To be honest, they would have to plummet a great deal further before any of us could afford any of the houses we passed.) The campus tour took us as far as the Great Court, which was looking unusually green and lush and rather pretty in the evening light.

Back at Robertson Park we replenished our precious bodily fluids and downed steaming vats of Polish soup ("Floor polish or shoe polish?" somebody - I forget who - asked.) Thanks to our hares!

Later detective work by our hare Superhacker revealed that 1. the source of the confusing white arrows was the bike hash and 2. bike hashers don't know how to spell "were."

Exhausted by the 10.5 km run, Le W*nk dropped off during the circle:

It's our Silver Jubilee run next week. Who'd have thought - 25 years ago - that the group would still be active? I get the feeling from the 50th run report that some original members were surprised they had made it that far. Here is a picture from that 50th run:

And here are some extracts from the 50th run report:

A 'goodly' crowd gathered at Haus Tennant to celebrate Samford Hash Haus Harriers Fiftieth run. 'Fu', a past GM, was so surprised at the sudden crowding of the garden that he had to check he was at the right place. However a quick scan of the crowd revealed that a few others who had been on Run 1 had also survived the pace. Mind you, Fu did it the easy way by missing out runs 9 to 49!

The other stalwarts were Superbrat, Roddy, Leg(s), Uriah, Rattletrap & Keg-guard. Of the other originals Stud was abroad worrying sheep, Milton was up north worrying boy scouts and Arctic was in Brisbane simply worrying.

Finally (11 minutes late…) it was On On out the gate. True to form Myopic set off in the wrong direction accompanied by Logie who will know better next time. He also managed to suck in some hash novices namely: Ella, Rushdie, San-Mig and KC. Fu, being more experienced in the art of hashing hung around the gate watching Superbrat trying to convince the rest of the pack that Myopic was right. Eventually the GM had to call On Back especially after Myopic staggered past the check back sign clearly displayed on the power pole (now you know how he got his name.)

The first part of the trail wound its way straight (sic) down Wight's Mountain Road via innumerable falsies checked out by both the younger generation like Mach II and KC and the not so young (but none the wiser) Roddy and Uriah. During this section the first bunch of walkers, Rattletrap, RB, Robyn and Oliver were caught and gallantly left behind by the pack....Eventually we reached Hold Check 2, The Golden Valley Hotel where it was champagne all round to celebrate the 50 runs.

The Tumbling Tumbrels proposed a toast to SHHH but omitted to tell us that the remainder of the run was going to be a mirror image of the first half, except that we were now full of yellow bubbly stuff....

We…arrived back at the apres site in dribs and drabs to be confronted with a buffet which would have been more at home at the Hilton than at a Hash Bash....Down downs were awarded to Mach II for receiving his name and Rattle-brat for accepting a lift during the run....The Past Master was awarded a double down down for some obscure reason involving Run 16.

Now back to 2016....

Next run details
When: Sunday 14th February, 5 pm (Silver Jubilee Run!)
Where: Corner Buranda and Clear Mountain Roads, Clear Mountain. A map!
Hares: Charcoal and Strine will set the trail. Potluck will cater - and Strine has been organising contributions. It will be another feast!

On, on!

A hot date with Brook 2

It's been a really hot year...and this last Sunday was the hottest so far. It was just the sort of weather to let the dogs - and any hashers who fancied it - enjoy a dip in Kedron Brook. And after their heroic efforts in scaling a mountain last week, the walkers were very happy to take on a flattish creekside excursion under Amazing's guidance.

Along the way some of the lucky ones encountered a specimen of the local wildlife in the form of an enormous serpent. Superhacker and Bigtop bravely fought it off while Jamesbondage and Eweshgger cowered on the side of the path.

Meanwhile Le W*nk led the runners up and down a number of local hills (of the Everton and Arana varieties) before they too shortcutted home along the brookside.

Potluck, as usual, provided a varied and generous feast.

Our Silver Jubilee is coming up in 2 week's time...and in our series of reprints recalling the earliest days of Samford Hash, here are some extracts from run report number 9 (March 1991.) This was Samford Hash's first "live hare" event and started from the Ferny Grove Tavern. It appears to have attracted 4 "twalkers" and 8 runners. The numbers were building.

Stud ran off shouting "Wait until five past" and disappeared into the darkness towards Samford. At the appointed time...Jogger, Myopic, Roddy and Superbrat charged along the Samford Road after the trail and didn't get lost until the Woolshed where, due to the absence of lighting, we turned into England Road; after a brief pause for directing twalkers we plummeted into the depths of Ferny Hills and with real estate prices crashing around our heels we screamed our way along darkened streets. 

After a few twists and turns we emerged onto Patricks Road and the pack assembled beneath a street lamp only to hear cries of "Are you on?" from behind us. Peering into the gloom we spotted Milton and Legs (Ye Gods, we must be late!)  Emboldened by our new found [pack] size we ran back into the maze and within five minutes were totally lost. Milton and Myopic were nowhere to be seen....Meanwhile I directed the remaining pack along a likely looking road and promptly ran in the opposite direction. I found myself following flour down a dark street where everything was peaceful. Naturally I screamed "On On!". Curtains began to move and natives appeared on balconies and started to point and whisper. For a moment there was doubt: should I be disturbing this primitive people at their hour of slumber?...."On On!" I yelled "On Down!" I bellowed, "On Up!" I roared, "On Off!" I was in the middle of this last chant when I ran into Jogger, Legs and Roddy running the same trail in the opposite direction. I explained Rule 1 and told them they were running the wrong way. We all trudged together up a hill...and finally back down onto Ferny Way.... 

We all sprinted across to the Tavern to find Stud who asked "Did you see the walkers' sign?" "What sign? Where are they?" This could be serious - after all Rattletrap had the keys to the car with the Hash P*ss in it. But no furries, over the horizon appeared R.B. followed by Rattletrap,,,with Keg Guard and True Blue bringing up the rear.  "Oh you found the sign," said Stud. "What sign?" they chorused....

The quote of the night fell to Jogger Jacques who proclaimed loudly, "I've made Paul a wonderful tart!". Nice one, Jogger.

Back in 2016 - we're off to St Lucia this coming Sunday, and we may be going along the water again. Those who missed out on the snake may be luckier this time....

Next run details
When: Sunday 7th February, 5 pm
Where: Robertson Park, Indooroopilly. A map!
Hares: Superhacker, assisted by LFC

Please bring chairs!

On, on!