Happy! Happy! Happy!

(click the image once to make it big; click it again to make it enormous!)

Who are all these happy people? And more to the point why are they all so happy?

Taken at yesterday's runsite, you might think this picture offers proof that Beaver's claims for the power of yesterday's run were not somewhat exaggerated, good, no let's be generous, great as it was. But sadly you would be mistaken as anyone who was at yesterday's run would realise that although the location is undoubtedly the same, the group of happy hashers is somewhat larger and less, shall we say hard core than the intrepid band who fought manfully against receding hangovers and advancing years to conquer Beaver's opening foray in the haring stakes for 2011.

No, this picture was taken back in April last year on a previous Beaver-Hand Job outing to Hatyai and is courtesy of regular returner, Spotted Dick who appears in it as does our other regular but infrequent visitor Buck. It also records one of the last appearances of Schmukme Witherspoon and Yolk's Poke, both of whom disappeared shortly afterwards, separately we assume. But Smeggers and Yardo are there and Kii Leum and Phuk, all of whom for one reason or another can't always be with us.

"So" you might think, "that must have been a good turnout that day". In fact by our recent standards it was a pretty average turnout - 36 hounds and 2 hares. Not so very different from yesterday. It just goes to show that although we can't boast the mega-attendances that apparently used to happen in SH3, we can still turn out a healthy bunch of loyal and happy hashers every week. And long may it continue!

Yesterday's run? No doubt the hare is working on the visual display as I write, which will confirm that we wended our way along the base of the hills from the football pitch, went over them, went down the other side, then up again and finally back down in about 8k and an-hour-and-a-quarterish or a bit longer if your hash name begins with Soft or Gan. Beaver met us 5/8ths of the way round, then in an avowed effort to "beat Nichaow home", took a dive on a wet rock and ended up looking like he'd gone 15 rounds with Manny Pacquito. But it was an excellent opening to 2011 and sets the standard to which all of us should aspire in setting runs. Ahem!

On! On!