The intrepid hares laid the trail in the most appalling of conditions. A howling gale was blowing and the rain was freezing cold and coming down in sheets. Was there any point as the flour was being washed away as soon as it was being laid? Also the flour bottle got all bunged up (flour does that you know). So I had to resort to holding the bag of flour in my hands. This was not a good move as the bag soon melted in the rain leaving a sticky mess all over me and my clothes (yuck)! My jumper has still not recovered from this abuse. Still the job was done and the stage was set.

A better turn out for this one with eleven hashers deciding to bank some exercise before the Xmas excesses (or was it the promise of a beer festival at the pub). This was actually the first ever "bling" run. The idea is that we set hash stops outside of houses with illuminations that would rival Blackpool and we sing Xmas Carols. Song sheets were provided to help the aspiring choristers.

Following a quick circle, the intrepid crew set off. It took seconds to lose Shufflecock (lord knows where he got to), but an even more remarkable thing is that having got lost he actually managed to relocate us. This is particularly remarkable since the hares did not bother to lay any arrows as it seemed utterly pointless in the prevailing conditions. Zebedee, Depth Charge and Walnut Whip Willy were their usual energetic selves, with Frau Krafty Rot, Twiczer and Skippy making up the knitting circle. As it turns out the pack were pretty much kept together by impromptu calls of "three to the back", which helped to slow the progress of the FRBs as desired.

Skippy particularly seemed to love the choral checks and we all discovered that Foghorn actually has a cracking voice. The selection of music for this year's (actually it now last year's) traditional (we have done it once so it's now a tradition ok!) "bling" run were in order:

  1. Ding Dong merrily on high
  2. A new born king (pa rum pum pum pum)
  3. Frosty the Snowman
  4. O Xmas Tree (my personal favourite and sung besides the Xmas tree on Baldock High Street)

Personally I think the whole thing was a great success (but I did detect a little reticence from some to join in with the singing) and everyone, Shufflecock included, got back to the pub in high spirits.

The pub was heaving; the beer selection was great (PP particularly seemed to like it); the fires were lit (don't have any idea why, because the temperature inside of the pub was approaching boiling point). Twiczer bought along some of the finest biscuits ever. Thanks Twiczer they were yummy.

Apres included the delicious Tarzan, Donut and Bag Lady (aka mum).

Paintball (aka Capt F) & Knobber