Hash 688 – Jovial Monk @ Swindon

Today’s Hash was very well attended, 22 in number. Has the spectre of a streamlined hash programme spurred us all on?  Time will tell.  As instructed we gathered early for our minute’s silence then we had to listen to GOM’s shopping list before the On-On.  But we knew the lengths of each trail, where the L/S divide would come and knew there were no hazards.  We welcomed two new members, Shirley and Matt, I hope they come back.  And it was good to see Des again.

The trail was excellent, with the added bonus of no cows, muds or stiles.  It was well marked and flat, and took us through some delightful wooded areas, and we caught the tail end of autumn’s display.  I was heartened to see old hedge lines had been preserved in many places – and with the generous number of trees in the area we could have been in deepest Wiltshire.  I always like a trail with houses (no, not horses, I’m scared of those too), all modern of course until we came to the area with the old Abbey, I didn’t realise it was so extensive.  Note to self to Google its history.  It’s now a residential park I believe.

We were entertained en route by a very curious routine from Julie.  She gamely wore the bags, along with many poppies to mark the day.  It seems she had to run every stretch at least twice and added extra twiddly bits on so we kept seeing her running towards us, away from us, and around us.  It was a bit disconcerting to begin with when she kept appearing in the wrong place or direction, but we got used to it.  I think it was some sort of penance for a misspent youth, or at least a misspent previous night.  But I might have got that wrong.  

Walkers and runners arrived back at The Jovial Monk more or less at the same time – the sign of a good Hash.  We took over a corner in the pub, lots of chatter and laughter as always.  I suspect we made a spectacle of ourselves trying to get on and off the bar stools or was that just me?   

 Keith thanked Mr and Mrs GOM for an excellent trail and GOM ran through AOB. 

There was no horn this week and of course no one can remember who has it. It fell to Julie pass on the bags and I think she made an excellent choice.  Jeremy dared to come to the Hash having admitted he now runs with Highworth Running Club but also advertised the fact with his tee shirt.  You can redeem yourself Jeremy by persuading folk from your new “friends” (sob) to join us now and then, but only under 50’s please if we’re to keep going.  Tell them we might have a combined age of over 1500 but were all young at heart.