A bunch of twenty-seven stalwart hashers made their way by foot, cycle, and in two cases bandh-breaking motor cycle, to Towed Hall for this Bandh-Breaking hash. It could have been that the Fox had said we were not Maoists and should therefore hash, but I suspect that it was primarily the prospect of almost free beer that dragged us out.

Hare Ian (no hash name yet, get on with it GM) introduced the run but didn't appear to know a great deal about it. It started with Hash Mutt howling away because Towed was not running. He alleged injury but the reason was probably more to do with getting the opportunity to walk around with the girls as back hare. The run took the pack down into the valley, through a couple of checks, and then up to a holding check at some pipal trees above Chobar Gorge. False trails abounded and the FRBs should have known better by this stage that there would be a few from this one. However, Hurry Krishna seemed to be able to read the Hare's minds as usual and took the pack off down to the suspension bridge. A demon check back awaited those brave (or foolish) enough to cross the gorge and take the falsies up the other side. The Fox's back-check sniffing nose was in full working order as he found onward paper without having to cross the bridge. This restored order and got the pack were on its way to another holding check at a point of no interest whatsoever except to Jedi who snatched a kodalo away from one of a group of women working in a field nearby and proceeded to swing it into the earth with doubtful efficacy. Thereafter the run split, with shortcutters heading almost straight back to Towed Hall, led by Peter and Gavin, and the more energetic (or is it foolish) running round through the brick factory and the long way in.

One of the more notable lessons from this run, with the pack being visible most of the way round, was the propensity to run a long way off paper when false trails were clearly marked. Perhaps there is a case for an old-comers section on the website, specifically aimed at Danes and Teachers! Also that two circles is not a holding check (a holding check can be defined for newcomers as a place to wait around and watch the Fox run off every which way).

On to the serious business. This hash featured a suitably low-key elevated circle on the roof of Towed Hall. The Hares were called into the circle and a distinctly boring run discussion was held primarily between the Master and Bengt, with old and new scoring systems manipulated to give a score of 9.9 (that famous hash number yet again). Makes Musharraf's vote of confidence look like a paragon of virtue. Virgins Jessica and Bonti were introduced to the joys of hashing by the GM, aided by his usual hand signals. Newcomers were Lill, Alex, and maybe some more that I can't remember but if Bill won't write this someone has to. Returnees Guy (south-side hasher), Oliver, Erlinda, Matt and Claire were also hauled in for the ritual down-down. Then a descent into the usual shambles that occurs under Rotter's Regime involving much beer swilling, repartee and insults. The main feature was the christening of Simon, Son of Rotter, with the wonderful hash name of Sock Sucker for his efforts in trying to drink his down-down with both his socks in it. Simon, you'll regret this in later life. Grumblewald was given a cocktail of dubious nature, with tomato sauce and solids included, for grumbling about impure down-down liquid (and mush else, as usual).

No Hashit again since Apple was too terrified of the Maoists to carry it through town.

Sad farewell to MacPole (the ultimate bandh-breaker who made a bomb-dodging high-speed car dash through town, only to find himself an hour early for the start) who is departing to establish the Bhopal Hash. He does not seem to know anything about the job he also has to do there, but at least appears to have his priorities in order. Bad news is he's threatening to be back in 6 months. It was also the last hash for Heather, (with Jedi, above) not brought to the GM's attention until it was too late.

Well done to Lynda, Lill ad Raju for the excellent snacks. Like this banana cake which Lynda was desparate to get rid of. Even an otherwise ravenously hungry Hash was unable to summon up courage to consume much of it.

Toodle Pip (ugh . . . GM)

Towed