The Hash got underway – a runners’ route and a Disabled Persons’ route, which were planned to cross at different points, which indeed they did. Having reached the target with panoramic views of Santa Coloma de Gramenet (yeah well), the return began, careful planning by the hares brought everybody back together at the start at almost the same time.

The Hash Circle formed and various misdemeanours were recalled (or invented) and punished with DDs: Abraham Prat was done for apparent snow-blindness, unable to distinguish Hash blobs from pieces of white rubbish.  Comes late with Girls was done for coming late and then frigging about with his motorbike for an eternity.  Bad News was done for something (can’t remember).  Sprout and Waitin to be Done were DDed for stopping off for a quick one at the Masia El Font on the return leg.  Sheepish was punished for a dodgy (if practical) driving manoeuvre crossing two lanes of a dual carriageway via the pedestrian crossing.  Doggy & Sprout were done with 3 DDs for their mismanagement of the event.

Stars of the Hash picnic were Bad News’ spicy banana things and a soup prepared by Sheepish using a bag of vegetables that was well beyond its best before date – a sort of escudella without the pasta or meat, but very warming.

The sun started to go down, it got cold and everyone agreed it was time to bugger off. However, our Hash Mistress/Mattress unilaterally (almost despotically) decided it was time to introduce some changes to the Mis-Management structure:-

During He’s my Brother’s secondment to the USA to help Obama, Sheepish will assume the role of Hash Dray.

Doggy takes on the roll of Religious Advisor who will be responsible for maintaining the hash ethos by punishing sinners for such offences as engaging in competitive activity (racing), whinging of any sort, alcohol abuse (spillage), fashion misdemeanours or any other arbitrary offence he can make up.

Tit in his absence was sacked as Hash Scribe, never having actually submitted a report to the present website manager, Sprout. Waitin to be Done was ‘volunteered’ to become the new Hash Scribe and threatened with dire prognostications if reports were not forthcoming.

Waitin to be Done

Twelve Hashers and Buti the dog gathered at Waitin to be Done’s place in La Rectoria. The 3 boys (Doggy, Bad News & Waitin to be Done) were outnumbered 3 to 1 by the 9 girls (Sprout, Rapida Frances, Sheepish, Titi Titi Bang Bang, her daughters Titet & Niplet, Niplet’s friend Ainoa, Mónica and our visitor from Poland Emilia.

As usual, those living nearest were the last to arrive and the Hash eventually got underway at 2:00 pm. The others didn’t mind the waiting too much, as the Christmas Cava made an early appearance.

The plan was for the walkers’ group to meet the runners’ group at the main vantage point – La Desfeta – overlooking the Llobregat Delta and Barcelona and with a good view of Montserrat in the distance.

When the runners didn’t catch up, the walkers began to suspect something. The outward route went past the beer stop (which was intended for the return route), but the assistant Hare with the runners also had a key for the dray. Could it be that the runners had made an early unscheduled beer stop?

The runners never caught up with the walkers at any point of the route, even after the walkers waited quite a while at the legitimate beer stop on the return route, where empty beer cans were found so proving our suspicions.

Once back at base, some explanations were necessary. The runners had got ‘lost & delayed’ in the early stages of the hash by the sequence of false trails laid by the over enthusiastic debut Hare. Then they had met up with some hunters with an epileptic hunting dog that required some assistance. Then there was the unscheduled beer stop and then finally a mulled wine stop that the runners didn’t tell the walkers about.

The Hash Circle formed and the usual punishments were administered, first of all to Sheepish’s family and friends who turned up just for the food not wearing any Xmas or Hash gear. The hare and assistant hare were awarded 3 DD’s for their lack of coordination. Buti the dog got one DD for his help in setting the trail and guiding the walkers group.  There were many more misdemeanors rightfully punished before  a Hash naming ceremony where Mónica was christened Bad Bag Lady.

The Hash Xmas BBQ and party followed, with a surprise visit from both Father and Mother Christmas, carol singing and general hash misbehaviour. The last hashers departed at nearly midnight!!

There was a bit of confusion as soon as the hash started but some less gullible hashers managed to find a welcome short cut.  There were good views towards the city on this clear & sunny afternoon which were enjoyed (at length by some, if only to recover from the efforts of running & talking whilst going uphill).  There were plenty of false trails which the hare insisted had to be investigated by all, however far behind they trailed.

The beer stop was very welcome, the hashers having been instructed to look for the beer hidden in the undergrowth as soon as they reached the appropriate marking.  Doggy got into trouble with the hare (what’s new) for finding the beer too soon as the walkers led by co-hare Bad News were nowhere to be seen & had to hide the beer again!  Sheepish was disturbed from an attempt at horizontality by a well aimed water shower: she had started celebrating her birthday a few days early & was somewhat suffering after too much dancing in high heels the night before.

VD who had kindly walked with the 2 new harriettes until reaching the beer stop changed camp & ran at the front despite having completed a 10K race earlier.  A choice of a more direct route back was cleverly followed by a few wise hashers before everyone regrouped for the down downs and the hash feast.  They were DDs for late comers, newcomers, visitors, shortcutters, FRBs, hares, birthday girl & boy & no doubt more!  Waiting to be Done who will be hosting the Xmas hash & party on 18th December from his house had a supply of newly printed Xmas Tshirts for sale.  Thanks to Rapida & Bad News for setting the hash & hope to see you all at the Xmas hash do.  On on  Sprout

Established BH3 Hashers – He’s my Brother, RUFI, Sheepish, Wiwi Kiwi + friend Sam, Rapida Frances, Waiting to be done, Comes Late with Girls and VD – were joined by recent recruits Bad News and Just Mónica (hares for the day) and recent frequent visitor Captain Virgin, plus some 6 new Hash recruits.

Bad News set the runners’ trail and Just Mónica the walkers’ trail that mislead us through the back streets of the former fishing village and down the promenade to the ‘Sail’ with a magnificent panoramic view across the port of Barcelona.

Once returned to the starting point, the Hash Circle was formed in the nearby park.  An unusually large number were down-downed for sex on the hash, also a similar number for slash on the hash.

A head to head down-down challenge was staged between Rapida Frances representing France and Sheepish representing New Zealand in anticipation of the Rugby World Cup Final the next day.  It was a close thing, like the match itself, but without the aid of a video referee it was impossible to decide who won the Down-Down World Cup.

New hares Bad News and Just Mónica were duly down-downed for their hare efforts, each receiving a penalty of 3 DD’s.

The Hash picnic then followed in the established style. Congratulations to the new hares Bad News and Just Mónica and we look forward to seeing the new recruits again on the next hashes.

Report courtesy of Waiting to be Done

Photos courtesy of VD

Hounds: Virgin Capt, SBF, Hash Gran, Bad News, Monica, He’s My Brother, Rufi, Sheepish, Titi Titi Bang Bang, Rapida Frances, Waiting to be Done

Eight hashers finally assembled to join the 2 hares, some having found the start of the hash without any problems, others having been somewhat geographically challenged!  The trail followed many hidden paths leading to some places of interest & great view points.  There was a fair amount of uphill, the ‘mini’ following straightish lines, while the ‘main’ was cunningly sent on a more circuitous route before making its way back down towards the cars & the on in.

Three more hashers had appeared at some stage, including two newcomers, Bad News & Monica.  Rapida Frances who gave them a lift got so hopelessly lost that she required a police escort, how stylish is that!

There were many Down Downs awarded, amongst them to Virgin Captain for being a visitor & a front running b*tard, to Bad News & Monica for their first appearance & stylish attires, to Slim Boy Fat & Hash Gran, visitors from the Grand Duchy hash.  Doggy re-enacted Hash Gran’s interesting posture on refusal to cross a high bridge.  The hares were suitably DDed too for interesting directions & a scenic hash before the hash feast got under way in diminishing light.

It was decided that the next hash would take place on Saturday 22^nd October instead of the planned Sunday.

Here are some photos taken on the day:

We were invited to join them for their run number 73 on Saturday 23rd April & they in turn joined Barcelona hash for run number 149.

Here are some photos of the weekend:

As part of a naming frenzy, Malcolm was named ‘Waiting to be Done’, Raul ‘Verbal Diarrhoea’ or VD for short & Philipp ‘ Comes Late with Girls’

Photos courtesy of Tit