I was delighted last week when we missed the rain and the curse that had followed hashes Maggie & I set, seemed to have lifted. But as I arrived for Gerry’s hash, knowing I was the appointed scribe, it appeared that that the rain was not beaten yet….
Being Pirate night, there was an excellent turn out, as the hashers once again responded to a style challenge. Capt’n Gerry welcomed the crew to his land locked watering hole and made it clear from the start that our Pirate night was to be followed to the letter. Silence in the ranks was required as orders were received and we were told of a total of 34 routes and how to play the P’s. On seeing a P, everyone was to charge back to Gerry, the last one back winning the privilege of unwrapping a layer of parcel and so winning a prize or forfeit. Also, on on’s were off for the night and to be replaced by Yo ho’s.
We set off into the rain, across the recreation ground and soon came across the first P and a mad dash to regroup. Ade was the first winner of the honour of unwrapping the pirate parcel and received a prize / forfeit, though which category his headgear fitted into, I’m not sure.
We continued on, crossing Horns Lane and heading into the woods, quickly realising that torches would have been a good idea on such a murky night. Other surprises awaited. A penalty of skipping was awarded to Howard, while a later forfeit involved Roz removing two items of clothing – though not necessarily from herself…. Matt would possibly have been better off getting the forfeit himself.
Throughout the night pirate jokes abounded, though which seas we were sailing in, was hard to tell. Captain Pugwash was with us, (it can’t have been Seaman Staines because both him and Master Bates are just rumour and never sailed on the Black Pig – I checked!) Tinkerbell was there too, but no Peter, and I heard rumour of a gay pirate, but didn’t see Jack Sparrow. Then there was Blackbeard, (who claimed more exercise in the laughing than the running) and of course, our very own jolly Roger (with tickler?! – but why?).Last but not least, there was a truly lost soul from Monty Python, with a dead parrot on his shoulder.
Most of the jokes were beyond recall (beyond mine anyway) but for the more intellectual pirates there was Des’ quiet retort of not being ‘sarky about tea cutters’.
The hash continued to move through the woods, crossing several roads but it seemed that quickly the short cutters showed their intelligence and departed on a more sensible route.
However, the lcb’s were still insisting on completing the course, despite it being virtually dark and headed off on a path with more shuggy that should be allowed for August. Gerry called a misplaced P, but only half the crew obeyed, so he awarded the minty prize to Natasha. As we continued on there was muttering that the Capt’n should punish those who had mutinied but by the time we regrouped, everyone was more interested in heading for port and some well earned rations. Gerry ordered the motley crew to toe the line and we headed up the hill to the on inn (or was it the ‘Yo Ho Inn?)
Back at the Palmers Arms, Gerry and Rose had made sure there was food fit for a king and prizes for those who had dressed the best. Roz scooped the top award with her late transformation into a colourful parrot, while Seaman Staines got his recognition too. Pirates were lively as they got their grog and everyone was rewarded with a new Hash Pirate T shirt. Thank you to Gerry, Rose and Leslie for a great hash and so many goodies.