Location: Not the School at Bramakhel

Its not often that the Mismanagement really works well, but this week it excelled itself. The Sherps can be relied on to set a good and interesting run, but why did they let the GM lay the first false trail? So it was that by around 4.10 there were 20 or so hashers gathered at the school at Bramakhel and another 20 or so at the correct On In site some 2km or so to the south-west. By 4.30 most had made it to the correct site save for the few lost souls who couldn't manage to keep up with Night Owl's driver who had been despatched to retrieve them.

The GM is nursing a cracked rib courtesy, he claimed, of Hurry Krishna, and is unable to shout, so honours for running the circle were delegated to Towed. So it was that with a brief explanation of 5 checks, river crossings and the possibility that checks 3 and 5 were holding, the runners set off south and to the river. Walkers had been ignored by the stand-in Master but were to be ably looked after by Lakhpa. Check 1 was across the river, and further trails through the khet led to Check 2 below the escarpment. Yogi Hare and Run Crafty led the way from here, climbing up an almost dry and sandy stream bed to the first section of a slalom run along narrow bunds to eventually arrive at Holding Check 3 on top of the escarpment. Full marks to the Hares for managing to keep the whole pack very much together up to this point.

From here the trail led east with Lost Ark and Keeled showing the way, picking up an asphalt road before turning north at Check 4. Some interesting twists and turns through ploughed terraces led, inevitably, in the general direction of Changu Narayan. The Fox, having managed to sneak ahead by dint of a minor (for him) shortcut, led the way up through the pine forest, although slight confusion on the correct way into the temple saw runners and walkers arriving from all directions. Again, well done the Hares for getting everyone there together.

The walkers pointed the way out and soon the runners followed, fortunately being directed towards the paper (as opposed to the beer for which they had been heading), by Hare Lakhpa.Lost Ark and Towed managed to lead the way down on a wide loop to the east before arriving on the usual trail immediately south of Bramakhel. Back across the river, and another slalom along the river bank trail saw everyone eventually arrive back at the On In.

The walkers trickled in after the last runners and, by 6.30, Towed called the circle to order.

Lao (or Lao Lover's Lover) and Kirsty had to be disciplined straight away for continuing a private party whilst the Hares were being called in. Opinion on the merits of the run were canvassed with the GM stating that it was "the bestest most wonderfullest run" he had ever been on. Bidding was started at nine point nine, moved to ten point ten and then to ten point twenty! Eventually six point six was settled on, quite why is not clear - you can't expect me to run proceedings and understand what is going on.

Virgins Walker, Gerard and Thomas were then welcomed in the traditional way. Thomas was here because Sock Sucker invited him to get some fresh air. The Zeppelin, here briefly from Bangkok to get away from it all and Spare Part, returning for a brief visit from Afghanistan after two years away, were welcomed back before other down downs were awarded to newcomers, leavers (Zep, Walker) and others.

The GM was called in to explain why he had placed an arrow at the end of the first false trail instead of an X. Unable to give a satisfactory answer other than runs to Changu Narayan always start at Bramakhel, he was duly chastised. He really should have gone on ice for something like that but there weren't any big enough bits.

The GM then accused Hurry Krishna of knocking him off his bike but after a fair hearing, conducted with true transparency by the stand-in Master, the GM was awarded the mug for a false accusation.

There were lots of sinners: ordinary wankers, double wanker Spare Part, private partyers, Night Owl for allowing his driver to lose the half of the pack that went to Bramakhel when he'd been sent to bring them back, and Ramesh and Yano for something.

The Hashit could have gone to just about anyone - those who ignored the GM's instructions and went to the correct site, those who, on the principle that THE MASTER IS ALWAYS RIGHT, went to Bramakhel (but why didn't the Master?), latecomers or those who left early (the Craftys again, along with Hernia and Phil) - but was eventually awarded to the Hash-fashion-conscious Beaufort for the sandals and white socks. (A special request to Ruru Lulu - please can we have the headgear back as well as the mug before you disappear to Manila; plastic bags just don't have the same significance.) (Don't worry Ruru, you have been wrongly accused - that rag was found in the Black Bag of Ceremony just after the Hashit took off his plastic one - GM)

Thanks to the Hares for an excellent run in an area that I certainly haven't run in before (except the last bit) and to Mrs Rotter for the Hash catering (those wonderful potatoes again).