Monday, July 28, 2008

RUN NO. 2083

DATE: 22 July 2008
HARES: Linda/Jess
FRONT HORN: Keren
BACK HORN: Naj
HENS: 27
CHICKS: 7

I had never been to Crocodile Beach before and I was pleasantly surprised, it must be one of the nicer beaches in Brunei. We started our run with a nice stroll down the beach, through some water and then we found the first check. Now I don't normally go off to find checks (mainly because I usually walk the hash rather then run), but today I thought I'd give it a go. That was until someone said, 'we're not supposed to check here because there is an unexploded bomb somewhere'!!!!! Now a hash can sometimes be a little dangerous; walking over logs and tripping over roots, but I draw the line at unexploded bombs!! Anyhow while I was mulling over the prospect of being blown to smithereens someone found the 'on paper' and off we went. We ran along a track surrounded by a few trees but I kept loosing the paper (I think the wind must have blown a few pieces away). Once I'd found the paper I could hear 'checking from here' being called ahead. By time I had got there Jill had managed to find the 'on paper' and off we went back onto the beach.

Once we got back onto the beach, we started to get a little confused because we were not sure whether we should go back the way had run down the beach or if we had missed some paper somewhere. In the end we came to the conclusion that we had to go back the way we came. So we waded through the water and strolled back to the tent.

Shortly after we arrived back at tent the Casbah Caravan turned up. I had to leave straight away to get to a meal but my sources tell me from friends who stayed on that the Casbah served delicious Red Snapper in batter with fresh French Fries.

As I drove down to the empire I suddenly realised that I had only picked up two hash signs for next week and that there must be another one still under the tent.....doh! I knew I needed to contact someone but I didn't have the mobile number for anyone on the hash. So I got out the WORDS and started randomly texting people. However it turns out that half the numbers listed on the words don't exist because I got message sending failed. Thankfully Jenny (who wasn't even on the hash) kindly forwarded on my message and Ruth texted me to say that someone had collected it.

Thank you Linda and Jess setting the hash on the beautiful Crococile Beach and thanks for picking up the hash sign for me and for the delicious Fish & Chips.

NEXT RUN: Jalan Dadap
HARES: Jane/Julia

Monday, July 21, 2008

RUN NO. 2082

DATE: 15 JULY 2008
HARES: Trailblazer/Cheryl/Glamour/Veronica L
SITE: Lucky Gardens
HENS: 30 CHICKS: 6
FRONT HORN: Mad Marg BACK HORN: Naj

Pre-run whilst everyone was still arriving, parking (on the opposite side of the road on which we drive, so we had to turn around and head to on-coming traffic, which luckily there was very little), signing in and reading the Words (which contained some interesting ideas about bears being lured onto the run by honey previously laid, porcupine quills - so we may have been lucky and seen one, which we weren’t lucky enough to have seen - and spotting monkeys, which we also didn’t see) there was an announcement that at the beginning of the run there was a snake. But not just any snake a viper.

So at 5.15 the horn sounded and we all (well, some of us) went gallivanting off into the jungle at speed, wary of the snake, but failed to see, and found out later at the shout up that it had moved else where. We followed the lake for a short time before heading away from it, up and up.

Beautiful and interesting flora and fauna could be seen along the entire run. The Words had said that there were two runs – a short and a regular. The regular was like all jungle here; captivating, and of course smothering with humidity.

Linda found first check, for the first time, well done!

And on we went, continuing up and down and along. The lovely and refreshing thing about Lucky Garden is that it isn’t entirely hills; it has its flat bits for people to catch their breath without having to stop. Parts were trippy and slippy (because of the massive thundering, torrential storm on Sunday night).

Emerging from the jungle, not where we usually exit, we crossed the sandy abyss and headed back to cold 100 plus, cold water and cold beer and the shout up. Cooling down and chatting amongst ourselves about the “sneaky”, yet, all-in-all great run.

Before long Smurf was up thanking the hares and introducing the one guest Cathy (who was going on a walk and found the hash so decided to join the run). Linda was congratulated on finding the first check for the first time and was awarded with a beer. There were calls for announcements, surprisingly there were few, and calls for hashit. The new hashit holder I feel was a little bit unfair as it wasn’t her fault her family decided they too didn’t want to miss out on the fun! So she had to sit on ice and was given the ultimatum of drinking the water or wearing it. She decided to down half of it and then pour the remainder on her feet, well taken. Considering the hashit was awarded on a hash offence (No men allowed!! )

Once all that was over the food was served, it was delicious, and a truly varied array. Glamour and Veronica had prepared papadams and aubergine (for which everyone was asking the recipe for), a dahl, a chicken curry, and green salad.

Thank you for a really great run!

NEXT RUN: Crocodile Beach/Pantai Meraggang
HARES: Jessica and Linda

Sunday, July 13, 2008

RUN NO. 2081

DATE: 8th July
SITE: Morely Movers
HARES: MAGIC & JAN
HENS: 33 CHICKS: 5

Why is it I always get stuck behind someone traveling at 20kph on Jalan Muara? I left the house in plenty of time, tootling nicely, then here he comes pulling out right in front of me and then proceeds at a leisurely pace! Don’t these people know there is a Hash to go to on Tuesday at 5.15?

Morley Movers is my kind of site, no huge hills to park on and burn out my clutch, or hugely dangerous storm drains to slid into? Easy parking rules!

I hadn’t been to the hash for a few weeks so it was nice to catch up with friends and hear other people had been suffering from a ‘virus’, not just me!

Before we set off we were told to follow the correct paper and with that we set off up that huge concrete hill into the relative cool of the jungle. Alison pointed out where she had seen a snake on a previous run and we kept a wary eye open for relatives.

I am reliably informed that Kathy K found the first check. The closest I came to checking was coming across some ‘on’ paper. Anyway, Alison, Yann (back horn) and I started to descend, down, down, down, the big hill which was not so muddy for a change. I didn’t need to slide down on my bottom, which is a good thing.

The next checks were found by Mandie and Mad Marg, well done.
We started to walk along the river and kept going on a pretty trail much further than I can remember doing before. I kept thinking we must at some point clamber across the river and go up that horrendous hill, (not so good for chesty people!) but no, on we went.

Somewhere along this stretch perhaps (perhaps – because I had no idea!), Trish found the 4th check. Eventually we bumped into Smurf coming from the other direction. We ambled on chatting away about holidays, and other important stuff, then out at the moonscape and back to the tent.
A really nice hash, well done hares!

The shout up started just as the lightning did. The hares were thanked, a guest was introduced, announcements were made, we were told off for talking, then the hens, who had dressed in red white and blue to honour American Independence Day, were asked to line up and be judged on their outfits.

Naj won, I was second (my goodness) and Nancy was third. We were presented with US goodie bags. Thank you hares for that. More chocolates were handed our for those who found American flags, which were handed over in all manner of survival.

Next the thorny issue of the ‘hash shit’. Smurf managed to persuade Pee Wee to sit on the ice for a misdemeanour involving some missing - then found papers. Alison was very grateful to get rid of the hash shit, thanks Claire.

These events might not be in the correct order, please excuse me if they are not as I was so busy watching the lightning and ‘oh-ing and ah-ing with Struth! It’s all her fault!!

The hares provided us with lovely grub, sausages and salad – under the stars and lightning, what more could you ask for?
Thanks Jan and Jan for a great hash.

NEXT RUN - LUCKY GARDENS: Two runs - A short and a regular! So all should do the run/s. Keep an eye out for the flora and fauna, and some inhabitants of the jungle, we found a porcupine quill, saw monkeys, spilled honey (so there might be bears!). Enjoy the trails after a day off for HM’s birthday.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

RUN NO. 2080

Date: 1 JUL 2008
Site: DST
Hens: 39 Chicks: 3
Hares: Cath Cato, Heather S and baby
Front Horn: Carol Back Horn: Trailblazer


DST. Always a nice On On site, even if we have now been deprived of the ‘9 Hills of Bukit Shabandar’. Holiday girls were back and an eager crowd was ready to see what was in store for us.

JM Sarah was kitted out in her bells as it was her last run with us before heading off home and back to school. Naj was resplendent in 3 layers of snazzy sock combinations to keep out the bugs.

We started off on a long slog down the sealed road to first check where hens scattered in all direction, front, back, left, right, plenty of choices as to what direction it could be in. It was called back check and we all raced down to the bulldozed site and up into the trees only to find ourselves back on the road again. Not a good start. Hens then dispersed all over to try and find where we had gone wrong, to the merriment of the workers still on site watching our efforts. Paper was eventually found and we all headed off again, only to come to a standstill again at 2nd check as hens ran up and down the gas line looking for a likely path.

We all knew it had to be up or back as on was too close to out !!. Does that make sense? but it took a good 15 minutes to find, much to the dismay of the hares when we all eventually got back to site as they said it was virtually at our feet. We all had a good workout looking anyway. After that the run was delightful, a change from darkest jungle as we ran on the tops of the ridges with views of the sea and DST Tower, cool breezes and pitcher plants at our feet. More work was in store as we hit 3rd check and then a 4th. check. Finally we hit the gas line again and were on our way out. Some hens had elected to walk back to site while they still knew where they were.

Anxious hares questioned us as to where it had gone wrong, and the general consensus was that the workers had thought it funny to trick us and pick up paper as the hares swore all paper was weighed down with rocks across the bulldozed site. None was on ground when we went through.

It was a good workout with a bit of homework involved as we had to work hard for our checks. Lessons were learned as many more hens had to search for checks and to never trust the spectators !!.

After the excitement of all getting back we settled down to the usual, with a farewell to JM Sarah and Carol stepping in to the office. JM Nellie will be away for month so Carol has the unenvious task of keeping us all in order. We promise to be good (Yeah, right)

A lovely feast of chile con carne and foccacia etc followed.

Thanks hares. All was well in the end. On On


NEXT RUN: A belated 4th of July at Morley Movers
HARES: Magic and Jan M