Run 859 - Christmas Common
Run PhotosRun: 859
Date: Sunday, 21 December 2008
Venue: Fox & Hounds, Christmas Common
Hare(s): Golden Shower/Eileen
Hounds: Twitcher, S/Shoveller, Penelope Pitstop, Gnome Alone, Bootsy, Lonely, Pressganger, Eric, Mr Sloppy, Dipstick, Pyro, Big Stiffy, Ringer and the clan (Dingaling, NLG1, NLG2 and Doris), J-Wax, Baldrick Lemony Snicket,
Scribe: Plod
For once I can completely ignore the trail. I didn't do it. I caught this flu/cold bug last week so the run was out of the question. I didn't get to the pub till a quarter to twelve, tried to look for the On In and failed, only to be joined by Mr Sloppy and Dipstick who had arrived as the pack left, got lost on the trail and ended up back at the pub. Then on an impulse we found an arrow pointing towards a False and decided this was the On In so off they went back-tracking.
Shortly after that I was joined by Stiffy, Doris and Eileen who had decided to give the last loop a miss, and had walked in on a shortcut. But it was still a fair few minutes before the first hasher appeareed - a supposedly unfit/unwell S/Shoveller. It took a further 15/20 minutes for the rest of the pack to stagger in. But no-one was complaining.
Golden Shower and Eileen then opened up their newly acquired Camper Van, illuminated the Christmas Tree (for those who weren't there, if you don't believe me, see the photographs), and proceeded to dish out the home made mince pies, bread sticks and . . . hot mulled wine. I have to say, my voice had gone completely this morning but after two cups of the wine, it was back. Marvellous stuff. S/Shoveller, quarantined himself in the telephone kiosk. There was a suggestion I ought to join him. I declined as i'm a believer in the healing properties of the fresh air - and, besides, it's the season of goodwill, why not share my bugs with friends!
The pub had reserved the back room for us. There was a log burner in there and it was like a Sauna. Coats came off - one or two threatened to take more off but in the end didn't. We just about all managed to get in - we could have done without a couple of the tables - but hey, beggars can't be choosers, can they.
I remember a rather heated discussion on the Equinnox and the Solstice. All rather confusing. Oxford H3 obviously thought it was the Equinnox as they had their Equinnox Pub Crawl last night but Golden Shower maintained it was the Solstice. I'll look it up on the internet later.
Tuesday, the start's at 6.30 sharp. A two miler followed by more mulled wine, mince pies and other nibbles at S/Shoveller's, before going acoss the road for the carols. So that's The Bear at North Moreton. Park on S/Shoveller's drive. Do I need to remind you to bring your torches?
Boxing Day, at 11.00 am, The Crown at Nuffield - Pyro's laying a trail. All are welcome. She's checked, the pub will be open.
And in two weeks time we're at The Bull in Great Milton. Eric has volunteered to lay the trail but would like some-one to help her out. So if there is a volunteer out there . . .
To those not there on Tuesday, hope you all have a great Christmas; eat, drink and be merry. Continue on into the New Year, by all means, and then we'll see you on the 4th January to begin getting back to normal.
Plod