The end is nigh....

We're almost at the end of what has been an extraordinary year. It's seen us hashing in households, meeting on Zoom, hashing in 10s, hashing in 20s, hashing in a whole group, hashing in 10s and 20s again, hashing in a whole group again....As little as ten months ago, many of us were still preparing to go to Interhash in Trinidad and Tobago! Hard to imagine that now, innit? Our usual review of the year that's gone looks a little different from usual.

We began pretty normally, with (for example) a traditional Ozday meet, and a historical tour of the Petrie Terrace area. Then came our last full group run for a while, followed by suspension. We were then hashing in households for a while, and then hashing in households for a while longer, while ANZAC Day came and went. We missed our usual Mothers' Day celebration while hashing in 10s, and went on to hash in 20s for a while. We were able to finally all get together for a Christmas in July celebration, before restrictions returned in August. By September the mountain bikers among us were able to get out on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail again, and our Hash Christmas party proceeded as normally as it usually does. Whew! Who would dare to predict what's to come?

Our last excursion for the year was a relaxed stroll along the banks of Cedar Creek, beside some pools that were looking very pretty after recent rain. Pablo, released for a dip, took advantage of his freedom by recruiting some disreputable friends and racing up and down the trails, oblivious to commands and entreaties to come to heel, until Miss Demeanour appeared and took him in hand.

He had a further dip, on leash, to wash off some of the mud.

Back at the hares', the Big News was that Le W*nk and Lax are engaged! The infatuated couple were off on business of their own (don't ask) but we raised a glass in their honour. What a great announcement to end the year on!

Finally, here's our annual wrap-up of the best Christmas cracker jokes of the year:

What do you call an old snowman? Water!

What says Oh Oh Oh? Santa walking backwards!

Why is it so difficult to train dogs to dance? They have two left feet!

What did the stamp say to the letter? Stick with me and we’ll go places!

What do you get if Santa forgets to wear his underpants? St Nickerless!

What do you get if you lie under a cow? A pat on the head!

Why did nobody bid for Rudolph and Blitzen on eBay? They were two deer!

Next run details

When: Sunday 3rd January, 5 pm

Where: Parksedge Street, Upper Kedron. A map!

Hare: Leave Pass

We suggest you bring a chair.

On, on!

Hashy Christmas 2020

What a great venue for this year's Hash Christmas party! Views from the deck all the way to a distant firework display at Redcliffe...a pool (without a shallow end) to bob about in...ample bench space for a huge banquet...and a table seating perhaps 20 people at a time!

We think there were about 36 - 38 of us there, but there was more than enough food (and drink, importantly) for us all. Thanks to everyone for their contributions - and special thanks to 

- our hosts B&W and TF;

- our brewers Shockjock and Scratchit;

- Miss Demeanour for organising the distribution and redistribution of gifts through a noisy Secret Santa game;

- Tatty and Squelch, for providing the means for many to play "Cuddle the Baby".

The theme of "Country Life" was interpreted in various ways. Dolly Parton made an appearance, as did a cowgirl who hadn't got the blues, a cow, a coupla truckers, some freckled hayseeds, a number of jack and jilleroos, and a particularly scary Santa. Here are some shots to help jog your memory of the evening, especially if the latter part has become a bit blurred in your mind....

We followed up on Sunday with a recovery run from John Scott Park. And next Sunday marks the last run of a very peculiar year. Hope to see you there!

Next run details

When: Sunday 27th December, 5 pm

Where: Corner Woods Rd and Mt Samson Rd, Closeburn. A map! After at Haughty and Culture's hillside hideaway.

Hares: Culture and Haughty

Note: You might like to bring some togs along, just in case....

On, on!

Well-behaved weather

There'd been a bit of rain before 5 pm on Sunday, and the BOM predictions - and radar images - indicated that a lot more was on its way. The brave souls who gathered at the Arana Hills Library were well prepared to be drenched:

In the event, though, the rain held off until we were back under shelter. Obviously our hares hadn't even attempted to mark a trail, but there were maps available for those to chose to use them (it appeared that some walkers didn't....)

The library patio area provided a comfortable and dry venue for a feast of rice, dahl and stew of home-grown ingredients. Many thanks to Floater and Scratchit for an interesting run/walk and a great meal!

Our Hash Christmas party is coming up on Saturday 19th, and well over 30 of us have signed up for the celebration. You should by now know all the details, including what you are meant to be bringing. If you have any queries please email us....

A potluck recovery run follows on Sunday.

Next run details

When: Sunday 20th December, 5 pm.

Where: John Scott Park, Samford Village

Hares: M. Promptu will set the trail. Potluck will cater (please bring something to share - leftovers highly desirable)

On, on!

Molehills into mountains

The theory goes that heating of the earth's crust can cause it to buckle and fold. Perhaps that explains why the gentle undulations on the track out on Sunday had become mountainous peaks and chasms on the way back? (For the record, the temperature at 5 pm had plummeted to 35.5 degrees at Highvale, and a relatively frigid 32.5 degrees at Jolly's Lookout....)

Anyway, it was certainly pleasant to take our dripping selves back to the dizzying and breezy heights of our hares' deck - to replenish our precious bodily fluids, to tuck in to an amazing spread, and to enjoy the views over Samford, Brisbane and Moreton Bay. Many thanks to B&W and TF for a memorable occasion!

And we will be returning to the same spectacular location in a couple of weeks for our 2020 Hash Christmas party. Hasn't the year flown? It seems hardly any time since our 2019 party in Dayboro - and what a time it has been, eh? 

B&W reminded any who haven't RSVPed to do so ASAP. The theme is "Country Life", which gives you plenty of scope for creativity in your costume. Secret Santa gifts should be unisex to the value of $10. And if you think you are likely to be spending the night in your swag or caravan, please let B&W and TF know so they can lay on breakfast....We're looking forward to another great night!

Floater is holding an exhibition of her work at the Arana Hills Library. It looks really good from the photos....

Finally, the next SPADEwerx production - of the hilariously funny "Charley's Aunt" - is in rehearsal. The show is coming off on January 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th (2 performances) in Samford, with a further performance on 6th February in Dayboro. 

There'll be a Gold Class option available - for an extra $20 you can enjoy a complimentary glass of fizz and a gourmet 3 course meal during the course of the play! Audience numbers are restricted because of Covid-safe seating requirements, so it would be a really good idea to book early by contacting Jo on 0412 575 642.

A couple of "Charley's Aunt" cast members (whom many Samford hashers would recognise) in rehearsal:

Next run details

When: Sunday 13th December, 5 pm

Where: Arana Hills Library, Cobbity Crescent, Arana Hills. A map!

Hares: Floater and Scratchit

On, on!

32 degrees and counting

Here's some Queensland Health advice for the current heatwave:

It seemed that many people were heeding the advice this Sunday, and the walking and bike tracks were deserted. But as the temperature plummeted to 32 degrees at 5 pm seventeen hardy hashers ignored the warnings and met at Ironbark Gully for a rather shortened run and a rather flattish walk. After all, if the Ironbark Bears were still out and about in their fur coats, what excuse did we have?

Potluck as usual produced a wonderfully varied, tasty and sumptuous feast. Thanks to all for their contributions!

We discussed arrangements for Hash Christmas (you should have received an email this last week) and will have a further opportunity to settle details this coming Sunday at B&W and Trudi Fruti's.

Finally, for the benefit of those who missed it - and to record it for posterity - here's a summary of the story Upstanding told in the circle:

There was once a young lad who was obsessed with tractors, ever since he saw his first at his uncle's farm and was given a ride on it. He collected toy tractors, and books about tractors. His walls were lined with tractor posters. He made tractor models, and as he grew older he began to restore real ones. There was never any doubt about the career path he would follow: he studied agriculture, specialising in agricultural machinery, and worked on farms that had lots of tractors.

Eventually he met a farm girl and fell in love. Their wedding was held in a large barn at her parents' place, but disaster struck during the event. Somehow a fire broke out in one corner of the building. Though everybody was safely evacuated, and the fire extinguished, the barn was left full of thick smoke. Then the bridegroom found a long ladder, and climbed through the smoke to reach a window high up in the gable. He managed to get it open, and the smoke was drawn up in the draught he created.

The bride was ecstatically happy and proud. "My hero!" she cried. "How did you know that you could do that?"

"Darling", he replied. "You made it possible. Since I met you I've discovered that I am an ex-tractor fan."

(Boom, boom)

Next run details

When: Sunday 6 December at 5 pm

Where: Trudi Fruti and B&W's mountain hideaway at Jolly's Lookout

Hares: B&W and Trudi Fruti

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

On, on!

A Good Place for Watery Fowls

"Murrumba" means "Good Place" in Turrbal, and the original local people must have found this place very good for harvesting fish and waterbirds. You don't realise how many beautiful tree-lined lakes and wetland areas there are in the area until you walk or run the sort of route our hares took us on this last Sunday. 

The runners' trail also included some very scenic sections of the North Pine. They encountered some markings from another Hash, but luckily some of them had been listening to the chalk talk and remembered to follow the yellow arrows. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable expedition!

We returned to Budgie and Miss Behavin's for a hearty meal; multiple canines cavorted in the back yard. Many thanks to our hares!

A bit of horseplay and a reaction to it led to Le W*nk and Culture sharing a down, down:

We congratulated and thanked Payback and Cash Converta for taking on so many Hash roles over many, many years. It's high time that the rest of us took turns to share some of the load...and it was great that Shaggy and Cadbury volunteered to take on the job of Hash W(h)iners for a bit, while Upstanding and Idle Vice volunteered to assume the Biermeister mantle. It'll be a change for Payback and Cash Converta to have a bit of room in their car boot....

And speaking of room in the boot, here's a shot from last week. You're invited to make up your own caption - bring it along on Sunday!

Finally, we were saddened this last week to learn of Stockgirl's death, and some of us were able to attend her funeral - 2020 style - through livestreaming. She was commemorated for her volunteer work as a driver and committee member of the Samford Support Network, and remembered as a keen and skilled horsewoman, an animal lover with an extraordinary number of pets, a very stylish dresser, and a talented project manager and trader. Though she hadn't hashed with us for a while, those who were around in the noughties and early twenty-teens can recall very well the excursions that she and Loverboy used to take us on through the Upper Camp Mountain and Wight's Mountain areas. Here she is, arriving at our 2011 Hash Christmas party. On, on, Stockgirl!

Next run details

When: Sunday 29th November, 5 pm

Where: Ironbark Gully picnic area. A map!

Hares: M. Promptu will set the trail; Potluck will cater (please bring something to share)

On, on!

Smoke? Fog? View over Mordor?

The views from Jolly's Lookout are always memorable...and the view this Sunday was especially striking. As an angry red sun sank through cloud, glimmers of rather dirty yellow light appeared through the smoky, murky fog that filled the Samford Valley below us. "It's like," one hasher mused, "a scene from a sci-fi movie, just before the alien fleet appears. Or like a view over Mordor." It certainly got very dark afterwards - but that didn't put a dampener on our celebrations:

Our hares' arrangements for a one-way trip between Boombana and Jolly's seemed to work well, and the group was (to the surprise of some) all ready to start at 5. It was good to see a couple of injured runners back on the runners' trail. And it was also good to hear that a young runner who'd set off on a solo loop at the end had been located. A very tasty meal of meatloaf and salads followed.

Many thanks to our hares, Escargot and Dingo!

Two birthday girls celebrated a couple of highly significant milestones:

In their honour we enjoyed a significant pavlova and a couple of Cadbury's brilliant gluten-free orange cakes (we'll post the recipe if we can get it off her):

The birthday pair were joined for a down, down by Le W*nk, who's been visiting the Argentinian Embassy...he's wondering if he can become a citizen of a country that really can play rugby...

Next run details

When: Sunday 22nd November, 5 pm

Where: Miss Behavin' and Budgie's Murumba Downs manor house

Hares: Budgie and Miss Behavin'

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

On, on!

Mysterious white powder alert

The Samford Valley Community Facebook page lit up this week with reports of deposits (or eruptions) of a mysterious white powder having appeared in the village. 

There were a number of suggested causes, though - strangely enough - no-one linked the powder to a UFO which was seen over House Mountain at about the same time. One diligent researcher noted that the same sort of phenomenon had been observed in the UK. Our take-home warning is that you should treat any white powder you find on the trail as a hazardous material: do not touch it, taste it, snort it, or feed it to your dog.

Dayboro looked lush and green this last Sunday, and conditions were refreshingly cool for a varied and scenic excursion. We began with a trail around a park - marked with suspicious white powder - and along a riverbed before heading for the hills. Hare Banger had marked 3 versions of a complex trail despite his ankle injury!

A huge feast awaited us back at the hares' pad - BBQ chicken, a variety of salads, and dessert as well. Many thanks, hares! (No thanks for the runners' false trail at the start, though....)

We welcomed Roo, who used to hash in Superhacker's old stamping ground of Cambridge, England, and a couple of Dayboro-ites who came along to see if they liked us. And we celebrated a couple of birthdays in our usual way....

Young Xander brought his family along. The day before, he'd starred at a party at the Samford pub...and as a true Hash baby, his cake featured On, On  feet:

Please note (below) that there are some special arrangements for Escargot and Dingo's Boombana - Jolly's Lookout run next Sunday. And don't forget that our Hash Christmas party will be on the 19th December.

Next run details

When: Sunday 15th November, 5 pm. (However, please aim to be there by about 4.45 to allow for transport arrangements)

Where: This will be a one-way trail from Boombana to Jolly's Lookout. So - listen carefully - drivers are to drop their passengers at Boombana and then go on and park at Jolly's Lookout. There will be a shuttle from there to take drivers back to Boombana. Drivers should be ready to catch the shuttle at 4.50 pm. Is that clear? Here's a map.

Hares: Escargot and Dingo

On, on!

The dark heart of Samford

The latest issue of The New Yorker magazine includes a cartoon depicting a Halloween event. The MC is announcing, "And the award for the scariest costume...goes to the guy not wearing a mask." How true - at least in the US, which recently recorded almost 100000 new cases of Covid-19 in a day! But we've always made the same joke at our Halloween runs - and this year once more there were plenty of hashers who considered themselves scary enough in their own skins....

Some frightful dressers:

A scary shirt from a team which had ripped the Wallabies apart the night before:

And a rather scary hat, too:

Almost 30 walkers and runners took part in a tour de Samford which began with a perambulation up and down Main Street before taking to the back blocks. The new Samford Hub was one of the items of interest on a route that traversed the site of the homestead and yards of the original Samford cattle station - and passed what could well have been one of the original wagons, falling to pieces in the open.

There were cheers as the lights came on in the John Scott Park picnic shelter. Many thanks to Shockjock for his emails and calls to Council, which finally got them working!

We celebrated Floater's birthday in the usual way. And we congratulated Escargot on the birth of her new grandson, Alexander. Mum and baby are evidently doing really well:

Finally, those who took part in the leaf art workshop Culture and Superhacker organised a month or two ago might be interested in these examples of Japanese leaf art which Strine came across. Anyone feel inspired?

Next run details

When: Sunday 8th November, 5 pm

Where: Banger and Make an Offer's hilltop hacienda in Dayboro

Hares: Make an Offer and Banger

(Please email us if you need directions to this run)

On, on!