Hash No. 939, 940 & 941

Hash No. 939

Hares: Skipper & The Major

Hounds: Budweiser Belly, Pirate, Chicken Hawk, Bloodsucker, 100 Watt, Chin Beaver, Toni, Yeti, The Predator, Joe, Heide Hardcore, Goat, Ma Bell, The Arsonist, Pte Benjamin, Pat, Morticia.

Welcome back Major, just got off the plane and setting a hash already, barely time to get warmed through after the snows of England.

A hastily thought-out hash this week realised four circles and two bars, plus of course the ever popular back- arrow. A slow start as the hounds watched the hares for any clues to the right way to go. Over the hill and still watching the hares, then pack stumbled across the first bar. This found Heidi and Yeti wandering somewhere near Cricket Valley and Goat, with the speed of a goat, racing over the horizon towards Castle Hill. Back they came and onwards to the 7th tee. To try and forget the icy breeze the pack were treated to a geography lesson, this was one of the coastlines on the island where they could be treated to a feast of letterboxes, 7 in all could be seen from this one point. The interest had brought back the warmth to their bodies and it was time to move on. Onwards to the next circle and onwards again towards to old Nasa building, then it was back to the circle as the first back arrow was found. Onwards again soon found the pack forcing themselves through the ankle high guava to the hill above Crater Cliff, even more spectacular views.

Once again the icy breeze reminded everyone where they were and it was on to the next circle, giving the pack a chance to run down a short sand wadi. Hash nostalgia was brought to the fore and the pack were told of the story of Bob's Belly. Enough of reminiscing of great past hashes, there was a BBQ to attend, so it was up the hill, a circuitous route up another wadi, more guava, another circle and then the home run. The hash boy scouts had got the fire lit and it was time for music, beer, ribs and beans. Great hash hares, even better grub Skipper.

Hash No. 940

Hare: Eeyore

Hounds: Morticia, Ma Bell, Bloodsucker, Skipper, Puff Grannie, Twin Peaks, Grim Reaper, Fluffy Bunnikins, Rug Rat, Rusty Head, Pirate, Chicken Hawk, Budweiser Belly, Fido, Buzz Lightyear, Baywatch Babe, Bart Simpson, Batman, Woodswrecker, Mama Three Bones, Oh That Woman, Mrs. Trunch Bell, Titpecker, Predator, Limp Sausage, 100 Watt, Barry Tone, Billy Graham, Major, Yeti, Pinky, Slap Head, Fresh Meat, Penfold, Toni, Joe, Kathy, Rob, Don

There was a great turnout for a very special hash, even if a few were running a little late with feeble excuses about work and naps! Eeyore set the hash, his last with us as his tour of duty here on Ascension has drawn to a close. The hash started behind the Volcano Club, with the on-on heading out of the back patio. As always Titpecker headed off in what turned out to be the wrong direction, followed closely by a whole passle of kids (the only hashers with the energy to keep up with him?). As the rest of the hashers headed off in the right direction, there he was looking like the Pied Piper as he raced to catch up.

At the end of the flats there was a small but steep scree slope but it was still a ways to go before the first circle check and the chance to empty the shoes of klinka!! A few ground wires kept the hounds with their eyes glued to the ground. After the first circle check it was off through the lava fields until we eventually made it to the pipeline. On the way back towards the base, the on-on supposedly headed off in a certain direction. It took a little while to find the back arrow, but Pinky finally located it. Back came all the hounds and off in the other direction, only to be met by another back arrow. With only one last road to follow, off went the pack, the runners scrambling to catch up with those sensible (or slow) enough not to have been led too far astray. There certainly were a few imaginative shortcuts by those trying to regain the lost ground. (Titpecker and Skipper, just to mention a couple).

Eventually we made our way back to the base and back up the road towards the VC. Woodswrecker was spotted cutting his route short as well. Quite the day for shortcuts! After a last hot circle check next to the gym, all the hashers returned to the VC.

After the hashers had a chance to catch their breath and rehydrate themselves we held a naming ceremony. A total of four sorry souls were welcomed into the world of hashdom. Our newest little hasher Danielle was renamed Pinky. Fergus will now be known by the name Slap Head, Pat has been christened Penfold, and Siobhan will forever be blessed with the moniker Fresh Meat. Welcome to the group, all of you!

A fantastic barbecue meal was put on by Jack and Myrtle and their able assistants. Jack let it slip that this was his third hash as cook so he has been informally named Le Chef and of course Myrtle must be Le Cheffess. We'll make it official next time! Thanks for a great spread.

Since this was Eeyore's final hash with us, there were speeches, with a few concerns about the fate of the Budweiser still stocked at the club. Seriously, Jack and Barry Tone managed to sum up our feelings for Jim and how much he has been appreciated and will be missed. He is leaving us with an Ascension clock and a lovely pen and pencil set. And hopefully a lot of fantastic memories of his time spent here, especially with the Ascension Hash Harriers. Next, there was a tradition to be followed, that of burying his hash boots, just a little unregulated landfill!

Thanks for a great hash, Jim. Farewell, good luck and God bless. We'll miss you.

Hash No. 941

Hares: Morticia, Bloodsucker

Hounds: 100 Watt, Mildew, Budweiser Belly, Skipper, Major, Yeti, Gumby, SlapHead, Batman, Bart Simpson, ChickenHawk, Ma Bell, Arsonist, Predator, Pirate, Mama Three Bones, Boots, Rob

The hash started off at the picnic benches on Green Mountain, a cooler spot for sure. The on-on headed up the road and off on Middleton's Path. The Major, however, was spotted scouting other locations with a rather suspicious look on his face. Sure enough, it wasn't too long before the shout of back-arrow reverberated from the front runners. Back up the path they came, trying to catch up with the slower hashes who were now headed off in the right direction along Invalids path. There was a nice circle check not too far along, to allow all of the over-anxious runners a chance to catch their breath! On-on along the path, and then up the Zig-zag paths. A bar check was passed right over by a few of the front-runners who were convinced that they knew the way. Luckily they didn't lead us astray. They did find the next bar check and it took a bit of searching to find the right path. Major and Skipper went a bit astray and could be heard crashing through the underbrush trying to get back to the rest of the group.

After a particularly scenic circle check, the route got a little tricky, taking the hashers almost straight up the mountain. The ground was slippery, lots of nasty hazards like barbed wire, mossy rocks, rotten trees and the like. As he struggled to get under low-hanging branches, one of the taller hashers (no names) was heard grumbling that this was a hash for short people! No surprise, look who set it! On one particularly slippery slope, Skipper was seen clutching some pipes to help him up, an example followed by most of those coming behind him.

The tough climb was rewarded with a nice break at the Garden Cottage with its wonderful views, and a nice comfortable circle check in the form of a picnic table. After the hashers caught their breath, it was off again. Next, the tunnel beckoned them. Off went Major with the torch, soon leaving the rest in the dark! A few survived the trek through the dark (and the puddles) by having brave young men hold their hands. Yeti decided to liven up the experience by scaring a couple of his fellow hashers half to death! Once through the puddles and mud at the far end of the tunnel, it was off up the valley. A climb up the slippery slope followed until we finally reached the top. Budweiser Belly decided it was time to again trash his leg, making it a hat-trick of injuries for his crew.

A nice run down the road followed, allowing everyone to stretch their legs. Back at the picnic areas, a nice spread was laid on by the girls. Then it was time to draw the circle of friendship and welcome a new sorry soul into our group. Toni was granted the hash name Mildew. Moss, mildew… Took a bit but everyone finally got it! Great hash, Morticia and Bloodsucker. Thanks for the fun, the views and the great food!

The Met Office Weather Report

 

No met stats this week - sorry. It was hot, and it rained a bit, especially near Green Mountain.

 

	Max (Celsius)	Min (Celsius)	Rainfall (mm)
AIRHEAD
TRAVELLERS
RESIDENCY
GEORGETOWN
ST. HELENA
UK
FALKLANDS

“METCHAT” ************************ “METCHAT” ************************ “METCHAT” ************************“METCHAT”

No Metchat either...normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

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World Thinking Day 2003

This year, Ascension Girl Guides, Brownies and Rainbows celebrated WORLD THINKING DAY 2003 at English Bay. Thinking Day, which falls on 22 February, is so called because it is the day on which we remember Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, the founders of the Boy Scout and Girl Guide Movements. It is also their joint birthday. This year was particularly special because, after an absence of about three years, we were able to welcome back to Thinking Day and Ascension Guiding, Rainbow and Brownie Units and their Leaders. The Pack, led by Tania Maggott and assisted by Muriel Williams, restarted two weeks ago. Mrs. Williams was enrolled on the day and so were three Brownies: Taylor Essex, Raiy Pattinson and Kayshai Reynolds. These three girls along with Chelsea Thomas, one of our previously enrolled Brownie members, have become Pack Sixers and Seconds. We wish the Brownies and their Leaders happy guiding.
	The introduction to the afternoon's activities began with a Tree Ceremony (left). Here we see Girl Guide Dayna Benjamin surrounded by Guides, Brownies and Rainbows hanging her dove message on the tree. The 'Peace' Tree sits in a turtle hole, seemingly on the back of a turtle!! Each girl wrote a message which indicated her thoughts for love and peace in a variety of countries around the world. The Tree is now on the porch of St. Mary's Church.
Eight little rainbows standing all even (right), one's gone off to St. Helena (Caitlin Thomas), so there are seven. But not for too long, as we do look forward to Sophie and Emily Henshaw joining our Unit after the holidays. Rainbows recently saw Nori Bell and Louanne Brooks leave to join Brownies, having turned seven years of age in the meantime.
	Our 'big' sisters and Leaders who supplied the scrumptious food and drink for the afternoon and who also took leading roles in the 'ceremony'. Thank you Cheryl, Bessie and Girl Guides. Betty Joshua Girlguiding Ascension Island

 

 

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Your health this week

Diarrhoea and vomiting In the developing world, diarrhoea and vomiting claim the lives of five million children under the age of five every year. It is one of the biggest killers, and the main cause of death is dehydration. In recent years simple re-hydration solutions have saved millions of lives, and they're also the key to treating symptoms in the West. If your child gets an attack of D&V, the most likely cause is a viral infection. The infection can involve the gut itself (gastro-enteritis), but children may also get diarrhoea and vomiting when they have an infection in a completely unrelated area, for example an ear infection. You also need to consider two other possibilities: · Certain medicines can cause diarrhoea and vomiting - has you child recently started a course of antibiotics? These can cause D&V because, as well as killing the bad bacteria causing infection, they also kill all the good bacteria that normally live in our guts. · Overfeeding can cause diarrhoea and vomiting in small babies - are you simply giving too much too often? When viral infections are the cause are there any other symptoms? Yes. Fever and rash commonly accompany gastro-enteritis in children. The rash is usually pink and disappears when you press on it. The vomiting rash and fever will probably stop after 24-48 hours. However the diarrhoea may last up to 2 weeks. What can you do? Don't try to stop the diarrhoea - just think about replacing the lost fluid. Even if they're vomiting, give them drinks; small sips taken often is the key - very labour intensive but very effective. It's really important not to let your child get dehydrated. Both and water and salts are lost in the diarrhoea and vomit, so both of these need to be replaced, along with some sugar for energy. Ready made solutions such as Dioralyte contain the right balance of these substances. There are simple principles to observe when dealing with diarrhoea and vomiting. It is most important that the person doesn't get dehydrated. This is most likely to happen when diarrhoea and vomiting occur together, when the person is very young, very old and/or frail and when the symptoms have been going on for a while. If the person is unwilling or unable to drink then they are likely to get worse more quickly. When to call. · When the child is under 6 months and has had three or more diarrhoea filled nappies or has diarrhoea and vomiting. Also the refusal to feed can be serious in this age group and warrants a call for advice. · When the person is elderly (75+) and/or frail. · When the person has numerous bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting over a 24 hour period and despite treatment is no better. · When the person hasn't passed urine for over 24 hours (12 hours in children and older people) · When the person cannot and will not drink · When the person has other symptoms -esp. dizziness, faintness or high fever (39+) · When there is continuous moderate> severe pain. · If you are concerned that it may be more than a bout of D&V in a fit adult and need more advice. Although not necessarily as an emergency ALL FOOD-HANDLERS and HEALTH CARE WORKERS should report bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting to the health department so that appropriate samples can be taken and sent of for testing. These must be clear of bugs such as salmonella etc. before you can return to work Treatment consists of re-hydration - preferably wit a salt and sugar solution if there is diarrhoea. Liquid need to be taken liberally to replace losses (if there is a temperature these will be even higher). The best guide that fluid replacement is adequate is a good output of urine which isn't to dark and concentrated. What about food? This is always a vexed question - especially with children who are feeling very hungry. It is best to avoid food initially - especially dairy-based food and milk. Non-diary food can be cautiously introduced after 12 -24 hours if the symptoms are settling well. Failure to respond to treatment after 24 hrs or recurrence warrants a call for advice. Hygiene is important to prevent spread. Persons should be scrupulous about hand -washing and should have their own towel etc. Close physical contact is best avoided in the acute phase of the illness. School. Infants who cannot look after their own hygiene should be kept of. If the child is not especially unwell in themselves and can understand and carry out simple hygiene measures such as hand washing then they can if the school agrees to attend . Welcome back to Midwife Sue MacFall Shirley (midwife)

 

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