RUN NO. 2269 - KOTA BATU - 14FEB2012

RUN NO. 2269

DATE: 14 FEB 2012

SITE: Kota Batu

HARES: Dizzy/Madmarg

Another dull and threatening day. Knowing we were to rendevous at Dizzy’s house and there would be hills and more hills, I hoped the weather would hold off. We gathered across the road, many hens in pink to celebrate Valentines day.

A slow start straight up the Spg. and into the jungle track bought those front runners to a sudden halt with 1^st check laid just in the jungle, Sneaky! This had hens scrounging in all directions looking for the on paper which finally got found back down the hill, along the road and back into another jungle trail. Well done hares, A tricky start. Off we went as predicted up and up. 2^nd check proved to be another corker with hens scouring the stream and slowed us up nicely so back runners caught up – as a well laid hash should do. 3^rd check proved to be on the Kota Batu ridge overlooking Kampong Ayer with a bench to rest and gasp upon as we admired the view. Ready Mix J.r kindly laid the paper through and then we were down and out. Back along the road to gather at Dizzy’s for Valentines Day shout up.

An interesting array of Valentine’s wear, a cocktail and proceedings got under way. Two guests introduced themselves. A new member, Wendy Haldane got her rule book and stubby holder.

We were just about to wrap up proceeding for the night when we had a surprise guest – Peter. Although we were delighted to have him once again, and he was very obviously very delighted to have us, I have to say that poor Peter is starting to look a little worse for wear. No longer a young and vigorous Peter we first met 5 years ago, he is now looking more ragged around the edges. His stamina proved sadly lacking with a droop noticeable before we had all been properly introduced. Those legs once young and vigorous now have the look of a voyeur in a raincoat. Alas, Peter is looking used and abused.

Never mind he has served us well.

It is a sad day that I write these words as this was my last run as a hen on the ladies hash.

I was asked to go for a wee run in the jungle 12 years ago, having only been in Brunei a few days, by Schnapps a.k.a Doris. And a wee run it was, being Founders Day 2000 . We did a short pleasant amble at the now bulldozed NCR water tower. ”Yes”, I said, I like this hashing, “I will return”. Little did I know that next week’s run was to be the dreaded Kota Batu 702. Another site now denied to us. As we went up and up and up, I had my first taste of true hashing in Brunei. 2 hours later more dead than alive I staggered out, and did vow to return. The rest is history. Having now done 389 runs on the ladies hash, 200 odd runs on the hetero hash, numerous “7 in 7s” hash relays and even a “9 in 9” and now hashed in Goa, Cardiff, Wales, Perth, Chiang Mai, Capetown, Mombassa, Kenya, Fiji, Hash away weekends on Pulu Tiga and Merarap Hot Springs in Lawas you could say I have got the bug. Having hashed in so many countries I have to say that BRUNEI IS THE BEST!. I will miss the jungle trails, the mud, the hills, the beach hashes the heat, the pristine jungle streams, and the friends I have made along the way.

On On Magic Roundabout

NEXT RUN: DIPLO (Farewell run for Magic & Tango)

HARES: Sarong/Magic with Buster & Trailblazer

RUN NO. 2270 DIPLO 21 FEB 2012

RUN NO. 2270

DATE: 21 FEB 2012

SITE: DIPLO

HARES: SARONG/MAGIC with Buster/Trailblazer

Peace was broken in Diplo. The horn sounds and they are off. Watch out snakes the hens are coming!!! The hens slipped down the first hill coming to a small brook to find the first check. The hens scatted in various directions. Call Girl spotted the trail from the other side of the water and then had trouble finding her way across. Up and down the chattering hens went to the next check which was located by Pee Wee. The final check was found by Call Girl again. Everyone came out safely if rather dirty and wet declaring it to be a good hash. Thanks to the hares – Sarong, Trailblazer and Magic Roundabout.

Unfortunately it was the last hash in Brunei for Magic Roundabout (so called for getting lost and wandering round in circles for some time, before being rescued) who is/was also our JM. We also had to say goodbye to Tango (who doesn’t drink beer but always carries round a blue cup!!!). They were given a small momentum of their hashes here, along with a card signed by all hens and a photo album. Madam Sin rewrote words to” Those Were the Days My Friend” to make them more appropriate to the Brunei hashing adventures. The song was sung at full volume with everyone joining in the chorus – La La La!

Call Girl announced that next week’s hash (28th Feb) was supposed to be in the jungle and up to the reservoir, but bulldozers have destroyed the trail and left a giant crater. Another hash site gone in the name of progress! The hash has been moved to the other side of the road. Beginning and ending at Nicki’s house #6 787 Jalan Muara – Salambigar. Everyone was advised to not wear jungle foot wear but comfortable running or walkie talkie shoes. (Bring a chair if possible).
Our new JM was welcomed in – thanks Sue for taking on or being pushed into the role. Then it was time to eat, drink and make merry but OH NO! Smurf declared we had run out of blues – Never mind “ON ON”

NEXT RUN: Spg 787 Jln Muara, Kg Salambigar --- Please bring a chair---

HARES: Nicki TC/Call Girl/Duchess of Cambridge

RUN NO. 2268 LUCKY GARDENS-7FEB2012

Hares

RUN NO. 2268

SITE: LUCKY GARDENS (WAITANGI RUN)

DATE: 7 FEB 2012

HARES: Erin/Kathy/Briony

As the muggy heat of the day gave way to a typically beautiful Bruneian evening...so that was still muggy and hot then….a determined group of hashers gathered to enjoy a run and celebrate Waitingi Day with the good time group of hashers that are the Kiwi girls. Kiwis and maybe Aussies apart, most of us really had no idea what we were celebrating but we were determined to do it in style in any case, and although greens were thin on the ground, blues more than sufficed and grown up liquid pear drops a la Legally Blonde’s Bar also somehow seemed totally appropriate.

We set off down the road with Tango as front horn towards the more usual Lucky Gardens hashing site, some of us at a slow jog and others walking sensibly, aware of the ups and downs that were to follow.

Soon we came to the earth cliff which left us no choice but to get stuck in and caked with mud, a spectacle which must have appalled Eastern Promise, judging by the amount of time she spent on cleaning her trainers afterwards! We were joined by a couple of dogs, which confused me at times, as more than once they approached me between the legs at alarming speed, breathing heavily. For a second I thought it was just another night at home, but then realised they were canines, not Mr M!

There was an early first back check which did a great job of bunching us all together again and then a great middle part of the run which got our hearts pumping a bit faster (or was that the dogs again?) as we careered over logs and raced up and down slopes. Hana commented that if you kept your eyes on the path underfoot, it was just like being in the woods in England and she was right, almost. I didn’t like to mention that if she had looked slightly to the right she would have seen a pit viper at eye level, ready to strike. I didn’t see it either, and nor did anyone else, but nevertheless, it was probably there….

The second check was found quite quickly, I think by Ryvita, and then some more running at which point I thought I was recognising the path and convinced myself that we were going round in circles. A third back check gifted Call Girl and me a chance to run out early into the safety of the Kiwis house, and refresh ourselves before the delights of the shout up.

Two visitors were introduced to us, young backpackers who were travelling around the world and took some of us back to our young travelling carefree days of old when all we had to think about was the next party…..a bit like life in Brunei really.

Eastern Promise was hoping to pass on the hashit but honourably refused my suggestion to hide the sign in board so she took the rubber chicken home for another week. The kiwis had decorated in NZ style and produced a couple of All Blacks, and in the dim light of dusk I thought for a second they were real and it was to be a truly memorable night but in the end they turned out to be cardboard (although that still meant they were more animated than most men) . We were however presented with really lovely t-shirts, which everyone was delighted with and are even nice enough to wear to the odd coffee morning or two.

Night fell and hens gradually drifted home, with the tired satisfaction of another hash completed and the moon and stars shone down to illuminate the green ferns at the side of the road. As I drove away, I’m sure I spotted a pit viper snaking its way out of the jungle…

NEXT RUN: SPG 762 KOTA BATU - Love run - Bring a chair

HARES: DIZZY/MADMARG

RUN NO,. 2267 MATA MATA - 31 JAN 2012

RUN NO. 2267

DATE: 31 JAN 2012 - CNY RUN

SITE: MATA MATA

HARES: TRAILBLAZER/READYMIX/JENNI OF THE BLOCK/SERENE

It was a lovely evening for abit of hashing.

This weeks run started off along the clay slightly slippy flat road. A few of us jogged this part to get the heart rates up before heading up into the bracken and then the jungle.

Although I don’t know who found the checks the frontrunners made some very clear arrows from the paper so the rest of us followers knew which direction to go. Just when we thought it was finished and we were about to head out the path turned and added a little bit extra. Then it was on and out. The path had some ups and downs and it was a nice run. Not too long.

Back at the tent - Before the shout up we all received a small plate and some chop sticks. It was explained to us that we were to toss 9 condiments laid out on a big plate, which included fish for continued prosperity. In we all rushed digging in chopsticks with some tossing higher than others. Not all were tossing the condiments for prosperity……I believe someone was tossing for nookie. That aside, the condiments were delicious and flavours I have never tried before.

Continuing on to the shout up. We had one new guest a lady from France, a joke and the middle of the shout up a cellphone went off. Freddy (Frank - ed) was in trouble that night and the hashshit was thrown by dizzy.

The hares (with their Chinese hens and friends - ed) threw a delicious Chinese new year dinner - although I cannot name or recognize all the items there was duck, chicken, rice, fish (veg-ed) buns, a delicious array of vegetables and sauces and of course mandarins.

Thank you hares for a nice evening.

NEXT RUN: LUCKY GARDENS (WAITANGI RUN) - Please bring a chair

HARES: Kathryn/Erin/Briony