A mini adventure.

Rooms had been allocated, beds bagged, soup supped, cakes consumed and costumes that could be run in, donned. There were scary masks, worrisome fish nets, dubious doctors and wizard hats and even some half-a-job face painting.

Turning left out of the hostel the gaggle of torches silently wended their way along the lane - this was to be a silent hash, at the request of the hare for the sake of the neighbours.

By the junction we were met by Bubbles who had managed to avoid the run by driving through the snow via the on Inn for Sunday - at least that was his excuse! After a quick insult for Upperskirt and a cuddle for Forever he was off to eat his 'Ghoulash'.

Despite our torches and fluorescent waistcoats we were narrowly missed by a truck who couldn't decide which route to check out and then were given detailed instructions concerning a gate, a gully and a steep climb, so off we set looking for said gate, gully and steep climb.  At one point we could see the distinctly martian-like blue lights of the hostel shining on the opposite side of the valley and we were still heading away from them. Following a front running hare in his allegedly fetching tights, mini skirt and wobbly hat we scrambled up a muddy rocky slope only to discover that he too was off trail and leading us up the valley path. So we all turned round reversing our steps and so the last shall be first and the first shall be last.

A skilful manoeuvre round a wall to avoid the smelliest and shiggiest of bovine toilets turned us back in the direction of the hostel. A fast run back to home returned us to the beer, wine, new arrivals, roaring fire and musical chairs. Eerily the door opened and a masked man appeared claiming that he had been following us all evening. Toyboy finally revealed his own face, he is becoming better at tuning up late than the Addams and Speedbump and Dormouse combined. Strange that he had made his way back to the hostel quicker than we had with the hare for help or hindrance. (The hare then admitted that the fore mentioned gully, gate and steep climb would actually be found on a future run. Confused? - we will be!)

After more trading of insults the hashers eventually retired for the night, some requiring more beauty sleep than others.

On on to run 440.