Just the facts, Ma'am. We can comment later.
It's the first time H5 have run from this Wheatsheaf and only the 4th from Gamlingay: the last time was when we first stumbled across a local resident "who was out for a stroll and we convinced her to joins us on the whole route and step into the circle" to quote the Wurdz of 1306. That resident became Gonereal, the Virgin Hare on 1471.
The author of those Wurdz from 2016 was Lush Big Knickers, given that name on 19 April 2009, who turned up for her first run this year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of that naming. Lush was named in a double ceremony with Double Entry and co-hared at 1306 with Gorjoyce, both of whom were also present at 1471. In 1917 the grandfather of LBK's husband Steve was born in Horny Cottage, home of Gonereal and the venue for the Egg Hunt and Pimm's stop on 1471.
22 April 2019 was not only the eve of St George's Day but also the hottest UK Easter Monday on record.
"Just the facts, ma'am" is commonly misattributed to Joe Friday in Dragnet: he did not say it in any episode but it was featured in Stan Freberg's works parodying Dragnet.
We had a super time in Gamlingay, a place where coincidences abound and there's plenty to look back on, and The Wheatsheaf is a pleasant place to do just that. The weather was hot and sunny, much like a Bank Holiday Monday should be but rarely is. The turnout was average in numbers but more inclined to the Harriette end of the gender scale than is usual: nothing wrong with that of course, au contraire.
Contrary to implications above, the hashers at 1471 were not exactly as at 1306 only 3 years older. As Gamlingay tradition demands we had at least one, and I think probably two, newbees. Local Claire came complete with a pair of fine mutts and introduced by Lush. While Anna came with a partiality for red wine, unsure how new she was and with Cyclopath, who welcomed the Hash in her capacity of Hash Mattress.
Alas, I can almost hear the sadly absent Shagpile saying, only one Hasher, and it gives me little pleasure to admit 'twas I, acknowledged the forthcoming St George's Day, an H5 tradition for many years but perhaps this too is slipping away from us.
We set off just after 4pm with the sun on our backs in the direction of the allotments. This took us past LBK's gaff and a kind offering of chocolate eggs: those of us there in time to snaffle one found the sun had been on them too. Deliciously melted.
On to Gamlingay Wood, and on the way it became clear that various factors were at play to conspire against even the pretence of r*nning among this particular pack: Rapid's ankle, Underlay's hip, Knobber's lifestyle. Get them round a trail, show them a pretty wood, a few bluebells, historic Gamlingay, and hope they pick up no further injuries and don't age more than another hour or so. This plan worked quite well thanks to a decision to increase the budget for flour, arrows for the drawing of.
Those arrows lead us swiftly, a relative term obviously, to the aforementioned Horny Cottage where Phase 2 of the plan was put into operation. More chocolate flowed, courtesy of your Easter Hare, as did Pimm's and Hash Flash, or rather the photo-shy Double Entry, captured the pack in happy mood. Less than a mile to plod and we could put our feet up in the pub garden with a Lady P cake and a beer or two.
In the circle we found out, among other things, that late arriver Bangers had followed Subby's car on the way to the Hash only to eventually find out it was not Subby's car, it did not contain Subby and it wasn't going to the Hash. It also emerged that Pecker invested more time and effort ensuring Tia was well watered than refreshing Knotch or Hash Bike: Hash Bike ensured he ended up wearing the water. Down-downs for Bangers and Pecker, and for The Count and Lady P, but I can't for the life of me remember why ....
On On to Leighton Buzzard
Count Roadkill, on behalf of Gonereal
