1125: Nothashmas

Several educators and educatees feel that Qatar is not the place to be during the festive season. It was therefore necessary to organise a sort of early Hashmas for those heading away to celebrate Christmas and New Year with family & friends.

Everyone gathered as normal in the car park outside the golf club at 3:30pm. Coach made a brief appearance in his shiny new Volvo before remembering that the oven was on.

VC and Tony set a nice long hash in festive green and red which managed to distinguish it from any remaining marks from recent hashes around that area. There was plenty of soft sand to keep bummer happy, finishing by crossing a long stony plain with the festive On-In in plain sight of the cars. Good first attempt Tony, hopefully to be repeated soon.

Rigger Jim showered the kids with sweets after threatening them with the bucket. Then came the real bucket where HTT was punished for his objections to Xmas carols along with the snotty nosed Del and Penelope Pissed-Up.

Mulled Wine, Hot Chocolate and lots of food were brought along by the more organised of us. Firewood was provided by the sadly absent Klipe. Carols were sung, accompanied by Doctor Justice on the trumpet. There was a special appearance by Valerie Bloom who's rendition of Pinda Cake with actions was well received. http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/education/articulate/projects/vb/bloom2/bloom2_transcript.html

A big thanks to everybody who helped to organise the Nothashmas. Good practice for the real thing on the Sunday before Xmas.

On On! (HTT)

1123: Postman Pat & Miss Grace's Environmentally Friendly Hash

Making the best possible use of spray paint and ensuring that we all had an interesting, if familiar run around the desert, Postman Pat and Miss Grace decided to set this week's hash South along the shore from Dukhan right next to a hash set by Del a few weeks ago. Postman Pat used her excellant geographical skills to lead us on a long-ish route across soft sand and stones, doubling back for the third trail almost on top of the first which had been previously obscured. The On-In was hidden on a piece of wood between some rocks, leaving a nice straight run for the cars. Adam kept pace with HTT (Myself) all the way back to the cars but Cluseau nearly snatched the first in spot from us at the last minute. Adam had his revenge though and bucketed all of his now ex-friends from school. Not a wise move if you want to get a good hash name next week.

On On!

1122: Ceweed's Patented Juction Technique

As the convoy of expectant hashers followed Ceweed out of the North Gate and into the wilds of Ras Dukhan a few were wondering if Ceweed's memory and navigation skills were holding up or whether his trusty guide dog Ellie would find the right way to this weeks hash site. But man and dog and Santa Fe found the true path and led us all on a nice hash overlooking the bay of Zikreet with some Flamingos in the distance. A technique Ceweed learned while fighting in the Spanish Civil war came into play on this hash, giving hashers the choice of two paths, one true, one false with a distinctive junction marker in the sand. The On-In was positioned under a pipe bridge unexpectedly near the cars as some of the runners were quite far away by the time it was found.

Sweets were presented to the lucky winners of the best Guy competition and children were spotted sharing crisps. Those labels on the bags must be working.

On! On!

1121 - Bononfire Night 2008

Coach set a longer than usual hash with 3 (not 5) tristy turny trails and an ON-IN which needed a few hints to find. There was a bit of a race for the finish, with Glaiket narrowly beating myself to the job of toasting the usual dignitaries.

Methusela was chosen to be spy, using this opportunity to bucket Jaws, E.T. and Gump. There was a bit of a miscarriage of justice in the case of Gump as the person who almost beat Glaiket in should have been in his place. We will have to get the stick figure from Cold Case in to sort it all out.

In a nice natural amphitheatre, a failed terrorist attack was commemorated. Effigies of Guido Fawkes created by hashers young and old were set alight while Jaws and Cluseau risked third degree burns to take group hash photos. Limited edition (Still some left) T-Shirts were sold with a special bononfire night design. There were sparklers for the kids and refreshments for the adults. An excellent time was had by all while unbeknownst to most, the ghost of Guido Fawkes was hiding behind a jebel, plotting to blow up the barbecue.

Thanks to everybody for organising a brillian night, especially Klipe for the wood, the kids for the guys, Coach for being hare and everybody who brought food.

On On everybody.

1120: Gregory's Gusty Gallavant

A new-ish hasher tried his hand at setting the trail this week. Gregory took us out by the back of Arab-D to a seldom used location. As the seasons are changing, there was a bit of a wind which made it hard to hear the calls or the bugle. We all made it around in the end, taking in a lot of soft sand and some rocky terrain which must have pleased the ex hashmaster of the same name.

Glen was a bit sneaky in his spying, picking out most of the girls for offences against the hash before changing his mind and bucketing all of the men.

A few beers were had by the light of Arab-D's flares which were burning more fiercly than usual.

Our illustrious hashmaster will be celebrating Bonfire night in the clubs of Beirut but Coach has graciously stepped in to take over his duties.

We are sure to have a large gathering of hashers at the Bonfire Night run to celebrate the demise of the traitor Guido Fawkes 402 years ago. A few effigies of him will be ritually burned on Thursday night.

On On

HTT