A group of the most dedicated hashers assembled at Selhurst Park at the appointed hour ready to get soaked as the clouds appeared bringing a sense of menace to the proceedings.
However it was not to be as the weather turned out to be perfect for hashing.
The Ref had enlisted the help of Old Faithful so we knew that with not one but two devious hares we were in for a rum time.
For once there was only a small preamble with Graham offering thanks to everybody concerned with the French Hash and Treefeller reminding folks that July the 12th is his summer bar-b-que (be there!).
So we set off certain in the knowledge that we were either going to go down the hill towards Droke or along the top to the racetrack. Sure enough it was along the top towards the racetrack and at the first check we had the choice of carrying on in that direction or down the hill.
Keen hashers checked it out but found no joy (I have not seen Joy for years).
Then the first of the devious tricks - across the road and it was Spiderman who led us down, down down the hill, leaving the familiar forest behind us. A neat little double back and we were in the old Goodwood estate -were we meant to be there? Is it private? "Right to Roam!" cry the hares.
So we scurried off into the forest twisting and turning until our heads spun and being hashers of very little brain we were sooon lost. Bambi seemed to think that if you just keep running as fast as you can you will get somewhere - which is true - you get lost quicker.
Still all was OK the hares knew where we were didt they?
Well no. Old Faithful was seen studying a map intently with the Ref scratching his head until they declared that they had run it twice OK but this morning had got lost.
So Sinbad went one way, Jan another and Jairo and Buster (the dog)* went yet another. The Eskimo and the Can Man by now were walking discussing matters of importance. More by luck than judgement the trail was found with the Chamois up the hill first. Two more checks and the road beckoned and soon after the On Inn was seen.
So a tired and muddy pack came in, only one hour and forty minutes after they started (you get your moneys worth with these two). The pack assembled and the Spiderman was given the hashit for trying to get by with a yellow non-hash T-shirt but his tightwadness was found out.
A small pack went of to the Fox at Singleton for drinky-poos to enjoy the sunshine.
Remember to bring food and prizes and money for the mid-summer hash next time. On On!
Humble Scribe.
*It may be interesting to note that Carolina called her brother to hear that The Can Man had a new dog. What is he called she asked? Buster was the reply. "I am surprised at that" she said. "I did not think Robin would use language like that"!!!!!.It had to be explained to her that the word was Buster not B*****d!
We will just put it down to the phone lines as Brazil is a long way from here.

Humble Scribe