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[Ed. This week’s Words are brought to you with extra special gratitude from the Editor, who was blissfully oblivious to having been nominated (on account of scantiest running attire of the evening, apparently…), until Barbarella graciously offered to be Mercy Scribe (remembering that I had bored folk only quite recently in ghostwriting for GHR…)] 

HASH 1552 – SOUTH MILTON FIREWORKS HASH

The view from the rear according, to Barbarella:

It was a balmy, almost dry November evening, when a large crowd of hashers congregated outside Olive’s place for a stress-busting hash in the South Hams.

Blown Off swiftly despatched us, after Olive’s promise of a 2 -mile Walk, 4.5-mile Short or under 5-mile long trail. She also promised to be ‘everywhere where we might go wrong’ [And the odd place where we hadn’t gone wrong, but Olive came very close to engineering a catastrophic diversion 😆😘] . Mmmmm…

Lowt’arse and I started at the front (!), after a tip-off from Olive meant we avoided the loop around the church. However, the pack soon caught up with us and sped past as we politely (we’re like that) stood aside to avoid being trampled on the approach to the first stile.

Now in our usual place at the back, we ran happily through the country-side seeing not a soul. Was that a call of ‘On on’ in the distance? No, it was an owl hooting. Was that the flash of the hare’s torch showing us the way? No, it was the eyes of sheep glinting in our torch light.

It was a slow news day. Apparently, there were lovely views; the promised Beaver Moon stayed hidden behind the clouds, and even Shaggy disappointed by not falling over! [Ed. It’s OK – I’m sure I’m due some sort of spectacular injury quite soon (and remember, folks: I fall over, so you don’t have to!)]. However, unbeknown to all those who had dashed on ahead, there was news! Lowt’arse sustained an injury so serious she had to skip the pub and go home for tlc [Ed. Blimey – must’ve been near-fatal!]  and was still complaining about it the following morning! Ahh. [Ed. Hope you’re fully recovered by now, Lowt’arse 🤕]

Mindful that the fireworks were to start at 8.40pm, Lowt’arse and I uncharacteristically took the Short route at 8.30pm, and we were just running through a cabbage field when, Whoosh! There was a spectacular starburst above our heads, followed by other loud and colourful explosions. We pressed on through a gate and onto a lane full of smoke and the smell of gunpowder, ash falling all around us; it felt like the Battle of the Somme [Ed. Indeed – a truly immersive fireworks experience!]. We must be getting close we thought, but no, up a hill and around a corner we encountered…a dark figure in the lane who directed us through a gate to… a bar with mulled wine – which I have to say was delicious [Ed. and absolutely nothing at all troubling about accepting the invitation of a sudden shadowy figure luring you off the beaten track and into an unlit garden to ply you with free alcohol, is there…?]

We were in time to enjoy the rest of the magnificent display accompanied by ‘Music for the Hash Fireworks’ (Handel must have been spinning in his grave) [Ed. it truly was the most magnificent firework display, from a superiorly talented team – and I thought the showers of smouldering ash and 90’s rave classics set the whole thing off rather beautifully 😆] 

Thanks were given to Ian and Elliot for the fireworks, then it was on back to the cars and a few of us made it to The Village Inn where the only item of note from Nice Tackle was to do with socks! A pink pair at the end of Olive’s drive waiting to be claimed, another mysteriously wrapped around NT’s accelerator and a blue pair which somehow got lost in Boaty’s car [Ed. looks as thought the recent (and overt) dogging theme may have taken a more subtle turn this week…🕵️‍♀️].

Down Downs were awarded to:

• Olive and Filth: Hares
• Ready Mix: Welcome Back!
• Nice Buns: 21 again
• Muckspreader: shortcutting?
• Barbarella: for (almost) making it to the fireworks in time.

ON ON to Lower Kernborough Farm, KERNBOROUGH!

Photo credit: Shaggy

🏃 📸 🍻 Unfortunately, it seems everyone was so transfixed by the pyrotechnic-stylings of the Upton Pyrotechnicians, that they singularly failed to capture any of the incredible light display for posterity – ergo, there are (at time of editing…) no further photos to enjoy from the utterly spectacular, spark-raining South Milton Fireworks hash on 5th November 2025 in the lovingly-crafted  Hash 1552 photo album on the SH4 Facebook page. (If anyone has any photos of the evening they’re happy to share, please do upload them to the online photo album – TVM!) 📸 🏃🍻

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Next SH4 Hash 🐷👣: 

 HASH 1553 –  12th November, 2025 

KERNBOROUGH 

CIRCLE UP 7.25pm
Lower Kernborough Farm, TQ7 2LL
What3words: Https://what3words.com/declines.comedy.carver

ON DOWN:
The Bear & Blacksmith, Chillington, TQ7 2LD
What3Words: Https://what3words.com/flop.carrots.fuss

Hare: SEX WAX

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For more info, please see the Hash 1553 event page on the SH4 Facebook Group.

Add your photos of how the evening went down (on Weds 12th November, 2025) to the Hash 1553 photo album on SH4’s Facebook page.

📝 If you are the lucky Scribe at KERNBOROUGH on 12th November, please submit your edition of The Words to thewords@sh4.org.uk by Sunday evening (16th November, 2025) – TVM! 📝

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UPCOMNG SH4 EVENTS

⛄🌟🎅🏻🌟🎄🌟🎅🏻🌟⛄

We can’t wait to see you all at the Start Bay Centre, Slapton on Saturday 29th November (and Friday 28th November, if you’ve signed up for the bonus extra FREE night!) for what promises to be a spectacular edition of the beloved SH4 Pre-Christmas Hash Bash. Don’t forget your tinsel (or other, more sustainable festive adornments)!

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If you’ve booked to attend this super-value weekend of entertainment, please pay the full amount (£50) to the SH4 account asap to secure your place (account details below and also on the poster):

Account name: SH4
A/c no. 00263482     Sort code: 30-94-72

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SH4 ‘EALTH & SAFETY

Please make a note of the SH4 hash phone number and add it to your phone:

🌟 SH4 hash phone number: 07922 103701 🌟

Use this number to call for assistance if you come ‘unstuck’ out on the trail, or need to get a message to ‘base camp’ (On Down) during the run.

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  Don’t forget to see Rusty Bottom before the hash to log you out on trail using the new-fangled checking-out/checking-in app (developed by our very own digital-wizard, Whisperer).

Don’t forget to also check back in with Rusty once you’re safely back. 

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SH4 MercHASHdise 

Show your love for SH4 and wear your membership proudly with a bespoke SH4 car sticker!

Available exclusively to SH4 members (and, to be fair, anyone else who wants one…) for the bargain sum of £0.50 ea., you can afford one for every vehicle in your fleet! 😊

See a member of the committee at the next hash meet to get yours.

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