Thursday 24 December 2015

Yo-Ho-Ho

For the annual best Christmas run in 2015 it was On On to Mödling Train Station carpark, an old but not so often used favourite. Somehow the directions to the carpark were leading to one place and those for the public transport users to another which happened to mislead a special few (Sorry Mr. Pink!).

Se* Energy who developed into the principle force during setting this run and yours truly tried to come up with some yet uncovered terrain, namely crossing through the Museumspark in Mödling, place of a glorious Winefest every year in Summer, and after being forced to wait at closed traintrack bareers looping around most of Sankt Gabriel cloister and eventually a maze-like trail trough the better park of the settlement of bungalows in Südstadt. The first drinkstop follow soon thereafter at our local Billa Supermarket where the vendor of our annual Christmas tree welcomed all with a pot of way too much sugared tea with some spice (Schnaps).

Holiday Returnees of the day were Sheila showitall and Gawd Almighty Cute with their two kids. The two firstmentioned ran with the VH3 from 1996 - 1999 and after a 30 hour flight apparently  they first dumped their luggage in a hotel room and secondly came straight to the run.

The second drinkstop at a Christmas Market at Mödlings Waisenhauskirche featured some real Glühwein and this is where I saw Mr. Pnk catching up. The way back to the carpark led through the train station underpass. A special treat during the circle was some home made Christmas Cake courtesy of Casting Couch and TwoBob and a huge packet of Schwedenbomben which disappaered within 3 minutes.

Suitable for a Christmas run writeup I would like to wish all of you out there a Perry Sherry Christmas, especially the VH3 alumni all over the world; be they in Tennessee or elsewhere in the USA, Canada, Australia and Tasmania, England, Switzerland, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere. None of you are forgotten.

Happy Holidays all, listen to this great Song by Klark Kent





Mood for a Day

And what a day that was, the second advents Sunday, with the run being Hared by Squeeze Box Mama and just Michael (?) starting off from the Arenbergpark in the 3rd district. A few hungover faces I could make out at the start and HANG ON I thought that Likk'mmm was supposed to be somewhere in Switzerland?




During the course of a casual and relaxed run where Ice Queen nearly bombarded the pack by intending to throw down beercans from her balcony a first Highpoint was a short stop near the Russian orthodox churchbuilding in the 3rd district and a second and most popular Highpoint certainly was a Gühwein Stop at the Belvedere Schloßpark Christmas Market.




But that was not all, folks! Some - many - of us cleverly shortcutted their way back to the end of the run, thereby completely missing the well-intended SECOND Glühwein Stop inside SBM's appartment. I took a few telephone calls to get everybody up to the realm of the huge kettle that must have contained several litres of that beverage.


In the end, circle in the darkness and a not so well meaning local lady who must habe lived nearby basically told us to get lost after 20 minutes. Albeit, no police this time.




Mooned

So on the last Friday evening in November Se* Energy and I decicded to set a Full Moon out in the sticks where we reside which is below the southern confines of Vienna. The run was a casual affair where setting took no longer than half an hour. The emphasis though was not on runnng but much more so on beertasting when our local new microbrewery was about to open its gates. All said and done it was interesting to see that owner and Brewmeister Just Helmut still needed much too long a timeperiod to pour all those pints for us.

As of today the place has officially opened and a Hash beer tasting evening has been tentatively booked for late January.




Wednesday 23 December 2015

Chillout

On a frigging cold afternoon the meeting place was set right next to M;y PInt of Views living room which ist the Auer Welsbach Park in the 15th district. Anita Hanjob and Eg Al themed that run with "Conchita Wurst" (Who?) and MOM, truest of all impersonators showed up with an impressive presentation that would have been worth all Eurovision Song Contests Past and Present. Trail had been set with couloured chalk and very quickly I found myself running together with MPOV, The Blessed Saint Normen and Deodorant when we more or less unsuccesfully tried to follow what as a long loop all around the Schönbrunner Schlosspark.


Well ...

After somehow getting up to the top of Maxingstraße somehow it was On On to a Stop without Drinks (at least everyone stood and waited for something that never happened or materialized) and further on into the Schlosspark via the upper end of Schönbrunn Zoo and past the Gloriette. On Back into the Park and onto a freezing cold circle.


Inside the Compound

Let's start off with the real important note first: Eurohash registration has opened On November the 18th evening and I have regisitered already. You should do so too.

The run I am trying to remember here took place in the Lobau, near the Ölhafen where there is a vast vast area of forests, meadows and ponds (Lacken). New Vice GM Lopsided Backside and Just Michael have set a long one, leading past the Panozzalacke and deep into that National Park terrain. Evenutally the trail was split into a walkers and runners trail, the announced drink stop consisted of some Baileys-like Irish Cream that had to be drunk from the bottletop and at long last it was on back to the carpark.

After some heavy run on the way to the run the skies cleared up magically during the circle (even if that ended in pitch darkness and happy faces were seen all around.

No pics were made during this run so instead I will come with some facts about swimming in the past, historically seen.










Sunday 15 November 2015

Paris

Se* Energy and I were fortunate enough to have lived in the city of light for three years fom 1993 - 1996, just before we joined the Vndobona Hash Chapter. We ran with all three of the local Hashes (Paris, Saint Cloud and Fontainebleau), started Hash runs at midnight from underneath the Eiffel Tower, had a Hash relay run from Paris to Fontainebleau that again started from the Eiffeltower at one Sunday 6.a.m. and generally had a wonderful and memorable time with and without the Hash in this fantastic city. If you have never been to Paris then do so whenever you get the chance. It is a chaming and wonderful place.


My heart and thoughts are with the people of Paris and all les Francais. Le savoir vivre and the Hashing spirit - fun, friendship, drinking - will prevail. Terror will not.


Until something better comes along?

AGM, Annual Grand Meeting. That occasion is always worthy to reminiscence/recapitulaze about what has happened. And what will be. Evers since 2002 the World's worst chose it'S annual refuge to meet, dedate, drink, elect and eventually forget at the Gösser Bierinsel - the VH3 Hash House - at the far end of the Prater, not far from the Lusthaus. The main reason to do so, apart from the vast forest all around - was and still is the demeanour of the owner Frau Eva, the waiter Herr Josef, the Cook Big Ben and all the rest of the staff there. (Past Quote from Frau Eva at one the countless evening drink sessions at the Hash House when other guests started to complain about the drunken depraved debauchery that was beginning to unfuld : "DAS (we, the Hash, please note) SIND LUSTIGE LEUTE, MIT DENEN MAN SPASS HABEN KANN UND WENN EUCH  (the other guests) DAS NICHT PASST, KÖNNTS IHR GERNE GEHEN!"  (I am raising my virtual glass/can/bottle to that)

Hash waiter Herr Josef, at the AGM in 2014


Well, Frau Eva and Big Ben are about to retire by the end of 2015 so this meeting had a sentimental note to it. The preceding run , I must admit, was really nicely set leading around forest at the Lusthauswasser, then all the way back to the Heustadlwasser with a BEERSTOP being held at the Schutzhaus-Heustadlwasser (and mind you, Richard Kopf was the Hare, duly assisted by Nail Me as Herr Grandmeister couldn't sober up in time on his way back from a Lobster Dinner in Budapest). After that welcomed beerbreak it was on back across the Prater Hauptallee and at long last on in to the carpark and subsequent circle. Thanks to global warming, the Prater area and the Hash House in special were crowded with walkers/drinking guests so the circle had to be exceeded by yet another 30 minutes.



As usual at these meetings a) the Hash finances were presented to be in a healthy state and b) there were hardly any chances in the "mismanagement" that more or less is consisiting of the entire Vindobona Hash anyway. Apart from the new GM of Vice Lopsided Backside. Sincere congrats from yours truly herewith! The next morning or so Mister Grandmeister sent  out a strange message via Hashgroups, thanking everyone for everything and "fortunately I (he) was not facing any opposition during the election but I (he) was too inebriated" to remember too much anyway. Besides all things events next year, the Eurohash 2017 is a mere 19 months around the corner!





A wedding reception and a Cardinal's speech

Due to different commitments and obligations I had not been able to do a Hashrun in two months. That will soon and hopefully change but is of no importance to this blog. In the meantime, there was this GREAT and well-attended wedding reception starring Herr Grandmeister and Mrs. Multiple Entry in Bratislava at the beginning of October. I have successfully managed to get my greedy hands on the Cardinal's (OVH) speech which I have the pleasure to present here for all posterity, unabridged:

"Faithless Flock!

Before we begin the ceremony of marital bondage, I would like, on behalf of our loely couple, to extend heartfelt grettings to all who have traveled so near and for this joyous event. Many of you have come from distant parts of Europe, from Russia, and Japan. Others have come from Canada, Lompock, and Kuka manga. One person, I am told, has even come from that despicable city of Cleveland Ohio (God save his soul!). Welcome one and all!

So without further ado, let us start the sacred ceremony.

     Dearly Intoxicated!

We are gathered in the presence of this rbble to join this man (?) and this woman in Holy Matress Monkey. Attesting to their dreary and lonely lives, they have now resolved to end their plight by going home together and getting lucky every night without the need for self-gratification or technology. We have come to celebrate the end of their wayward and degenerate lives and cheer them into co habitational, marital bliss (I think I need a drink!)

If any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him speak now or forever hold his peace... Or talk to me in the lobby after the ceremony...

Donald, Le Canard (car-narr) confit, Le canard de Pekin, Le anard assis, Le canard Mat, villain petit canard, Le canard siffleur, Le canard caoutchouc (kau-chouc), Le canard domestique, Gautierer!

Do you take this woman to be thy wedded wife, to love her, to comfort her, to honor her in sickness and in health, even on bad hair days and good, until the beer runs out? (Please don't quack).

(I do)

Lena (See paper) Bottle of Vodka,

do you take this man(?) to be thy wedded husband, to love and comfort him, honor him abd keep him in sickness and in health or at least until something better comes along?

(I do) ... you bet you do...

Who is given this woman to this man? (sponsor of bride leads to minister - right hand of bride to right of groom).

Repeat after me

I, Donald Duck, take you, bottle of vodka, to have and to hold from this day forward for better or for wordse, or at least until my bank account runs out. Unto thee I plight my troth (whatever that means).

I, bottle of vodka, take you, Donald duck, to have and to hold fromt his day forth for better or for worse and I hope to god it is for the better!

(best man gives ring to duck left hand cha cha cha)

Beer Prayer"



Thursday 10 September 2015

Summer of Stories

The heat wave has passed and so have the summer months. Between a few Hash runs in Vindobona and in the blistening heat there was time for the family to travel to Styria and spend some time in and near Murau, a lovely place a mere 80 kms away from Radstadt and a town that hosts a glorious brewery with fine beer (I think I mentioned that in an earlier post, apologies if so). Maybe a place for a future Hashweekend in a few years time.

Then it was on to see friends in Poland, a country where S.Energy and I started to run the Hash back in 1988. The Hash Fee then was 1 US-Dollar and the Beer was Becks and Tuborg. Fond Memories like most Hashers have on their personal Mother Hash (naturally not THE Mother Hash in KL!). The Warsaw Hash are still a very active Chapter and of course the latest Eurohash has just happened a few weeks ago in Krakow.

One and a half K's long, 500 metres wide and the only person swimming is YOU

Last mondays run out in Klosterneuburg saw Tonto and Flying Dutchman as the Hares. The place is quite a distance to go from the south of Vienna and in spite of the eternal roadworks on the Südosttangente I was pleasanly surprised that it took a mere 35 minutes to get there. On the occasion of the penultimate Monday evening run this year the weather was a bit subpar and the crowd was small, counting 14 or 15.

Trail went out from the carpark near the Strandbad and soon into to old part of Klosterneuburg and in no time was I truly amazed when Hare Fyling D highlighted a Hash View Stop by the sight of a HUGE Castle (the Martinsschlössl)  that the Von Trapp family used to live in during the 1920s. I never saw the movie Sound of Music though. Must have been made primarily for a non Austrian audience. Some more running and puffing later it was on down the hill again and into the woods that are located between the town and the Danube. Long running stretches were leading thru more and more darker paths and I felt a bit fortunate when eventually the road to the carpark came in sight. At the carpark and during the circe we saw a) that Mr. Pink, latecomer, arrived amongst the fastest (which was not hard to do) and b) Joystick presumbaly arrived late as well and did not return before the end of the circle, by that time in pitch darkness. I texted the man later on and was relieved when he replied something like "no worries, the only thing missing was a flash/torchlight, apart from that I was fine!".

And, since I cannot and won't include the Movie Sound of Music or even excerpts of that I think it is appropriate to listen to some Cheesy Elevator Music.


Tuesday 11 August 2015

Soon

So we just returned from a glorious week of holiday near Murau in Styria. Yes they do have their own Brewery down there, amongst other stuff they produce Weißbier, Hopfengold and Pils, in addition to their already tasty Märzen Beer that all the partygoers to Pussy Galore's Alpine Experience consumed just 80 kms and one Mountan crossing away in Radstadt.


Fun was had by all in Radstadt


They have their own little Badeanlage in Murau which is a pond with a refreshing 21 degrees temperature, nicely neighboured by two skijumps. Fallen Angel was taking her first trail rides, to her great joy the longest one lasted 4 hours and was coronated by a picknick near an alpine cabin. Murau might be worth a Hash Weekend in 3 three years time after all the razzle-dazzle with Eurohash in Vindobona in 2017.



It is not possible to cover every run - and there were very many runs over the past few weeks! - and this has never been the overall intention anyway. Yet, congrats and compliments first and foremost to Pussy Galore and his helpers and also to all the unmentioned Hares who keep coming up with runs of their own.


Have I mentioned the Heatwave? I think I did. After last years slightly miserable summer months in terms of weather in and around Vienna this year is the complete opposite with temperatues constantly in the thirty + degree celsius rate and I am noticing that the nearby ponds are starting to smell a bit.


Castting Couch and Kunt Tell Ya did set a run at the Goldene Stiege in Mödling, where the forest was already drier than a huge bottle of Martini. The Hares idea seemed to avoid the often used trails and start with a long loop away from the carpark that in no time was followed by a VERY STEEP ascent into the forest. "It's not a very long run, we only needed 50 minutes to set this" (Quote Hare). Inside the forest and runing alongside the magnificent Hashview the overall trailsetting concept seemed lost to me, especially when both Hares got lost on their own trail "But I KNOW FOR SURE that there were marks here before!" A short swing on over the Anningerstraße and back in along the out trail concluded this, suitably followed by the OnIn at the nearby Gasthaus Bockerl.





Thursday 30 July 2015

The Exotic Traveller

Hashruns, tropical weather in Vienna and trips to the Höllental and the Nationalpark Donauauen aside, there are sometimes the real important things in life popping up. Feel My Meat and Multiple Entry got married last Saturday in Copenhagen and, judging by the pic it must have been a real happy Occasion. Sincere congratulations in the Name of the Vindobona H3.

The newlyweds


The Meeting Point for last Mondays run, a golden Oldie alongside the Brünner Straße and an oft-used Location by St. Norman OVH saw dark clouds building up and when the run about to start a wild shower, accompanied by hail came crashing in and within seconds all participants were either jumping into their cars are hiding underneath some little trees (useless -> soaking wet). This lasted for 10 minutes and eventually the run started, hared by Finger Me and Casting Couch.

Interestingly there were some flower marks remaining, for the rest that had been washed away a flower bag was carried around. Running alongside the Marchfeldkanal is a casual and relaxed affair, the usual latecomer Free Willie was able to catch up and during the sexcond half of the run one could see certain parts of that area in the 21st district had been used by Finger Me on an earlier run of hers a year ago- During the circle it started to rain again several times  Signing off for a week now, it is Holiday time.








Tuesday 28 July 2015

Updated Stock Report

But HANG ON, this is and has been stark reality over the last few years. Meaning that the runs chez No Mercy Mistress' Place had that Special extra added in form of hard rain and definite thunderstorms during and after runs, fond memories do include a Barbeque in NMM's Garage after the run - with rain POURING DOWN outside and a swim session in the pool,.including a throw around game with the Rudi Carell Memorial Chicken during a wild thunderstorm with the great Harry Tosser (who he?) playing an integral part in this.

Please come back!


So in 2015 the heatwave still lingered on and there was absolutely nothing to complain about. News about the successful bid to bring Eurphash on 2017 to Vindobona had already spread. A difference to the last few runs was the NMM was assisted by son and CoHare Just Ruben who returned to the fold and helped to show the pack around to the evergrowing districts of semidetached houses in the flat land. Have I already mentioned the heat? For the first time in a while Lord Glod Balls, OVH and I took a walk and talked lotsa things related to Eurohash.



Shmatter?

After 45 minutes or so it was on back to the garden, swimming pool and SAUNA. At first it was just Cardinal Munk, OH and myself in that spacious and allready HOT room, one by one NoBallsPrize, MOM, Joystick, Richard Kopf and Tickpleaser joined so the place felt really gay and merry. After breakng sweat in the sauna cameth the swim in the pool and at long last the circle, highlighting the muscular bodies of an assorted group.


The powerful ones

As always, there was a fine Barbeque afterwards. Thanks to NMM for having us, as every year.  


And yet another song dedicated to the HEAT!



Thursday 23 July 2015

A question please

It seems that a new Hash Baby is well on the way. My Sisters Glowing K (still carrying that false moniker "Afterglow") and Rollin' Stone have registered for next years Grand Event in Upper Austria and, judging from the Registration list, a third member of that Family with Tee-Shirt size XXXS has been listed. Well, if that Information is accurate (and I have no doubt that it is) than it is fantastic News, so sincere congratulations to Hangover/Germany in the name of the VH3.

Who Am I ?


A Source had told me on the condition of anomymity that the Vindobona Hash have the right to choose the Hash Name for the up and coming Hash Baby. Accordingly, suitable suggestions are welcome.



Yes, we are looking forward to those sleepless nights!


Slow Freight

With the current heatwave billowing through the City (all hail the Dog Days!) I decided not to elongate myself too much from the fine beer fridge in my garden shed. Accordingly I missed that A 2 B run last Monday which was billed as a Prelube to the Eurohash in Krakow. While I was peacefully working away on my second bottle of cool Stiegl Beer, Joystick and Kuty Pi set some sort of trail that led from the Wagramer Straße via Mexikoplatz all the way down to Messe Prater and eventually to the OnIn at the Englischer Reiter Beerplace.



Due to the Stubbornness of the adjacent Schweizerhaus ("sorry no reservations possible"), most renowned but also most expensive beerplace in town the OnIn was moved to the Englische Reiter and Joystick told me that the Service was perfect, beer was comparatively inexpensive and everyone was happy. Meanwhile, the scorching heat goes on.
Let's all get a drink, preferably a cold beer.



Monday 20 July 2015

Eurohash 2017 in Vindobona

I just learned that 2017 will see the Eurohash happening in Vienna between 6th and 9th of July. That sure is exciting News. More Posts on that matter in due time.



Sunday 19 July 2015

Toute ce qui impossible reste a accomplir

Why would someboy - anybody - come up with a writeup about an Event that has happened already a year ago? The answer, dear reader, of course is WHY NOT? Back in May of 2014 it was the 1700th run weekend of the World's Worst way up in Weitra, a charming little town with its own Brewery of renown and a Brauhotel that was chosen by the erudite organ-sizers of that weekend to host us.




I had the pleasure to hitch a ride together with MOM and Cardinal Munk, OVH and it was the perfect no-brainer to steer MOMs car by sheer willpower (he did the steering and we supplied the mind effects) to get up us to Weitra in a decent couple of hours. Apart from perfect organisation and glorious beer, the thing I remember most was the astoundingly miserable weather.


Gnä' Frau sie sind ja ein Gnä' Herr!


The warmup run on Friday evening was a short look around the town and was followed by a pub crawl with quz night. The main run on Saturday span out for 16 oi 17 kilometres and was as much a mudbath as it seemed to be a rainfest. No honestly, hard downpour was coming in throughout the run yet the magnificient area made more than up for RA's shortcomings. Eventually runners and walkers met up again at a Waldviertel trainstop in a village called Dietmans. (How many Harriettes and Hashers fit into a tiny and sweaty Trainline Waiting Hut?) VERY MANY!

The Waiting Room


That trainride back with a steamengine leading the wagon must have been a tender reminiscence what it was like to travel by train in the 1930s era of when that wagons were built. Steam was peacefully flocking down onto the fields and at a stop a little outside Weitra it was yet on for another 3 k's of four. When the end finally came in sight - in the wind and cold of course - it was time for the cirlce on the old towns main square, righ tn front of the hotel. Apart from the usual Down Downs - I do remember Rhymes With C who came along accompanied by the notorious Likkm - the main thing was a Hash Wedding Ceremony for My Sisters Glowing K and Rollin' Stone,  performed in style by your very own Cardinal Munk, OVH who was duly assisted by his disciple Multiple Entry.


So you're REALLY sure about this?




In the everning it was long Sauna Sessions, food, drinks and party. The shortish Hangover run next morning comprised an interesting Hash View, a local cistern from medievial times. Istanbul cistern en miniature. All in all, well done organizers, even the pathetic weather made nearly no-one snivel and whinge.


Cistern in Weitra



Sometimes later last year My Sisters Glowing K and Rollin' Stone got married, even later than that TB Saint Norman, OVH, passed the Grand Masters Baton on to Multiple Entry. Maybe more on that another time.


Cistern in Istanbul

                    



Wednesday 8 July 2015

Pizzas and Bongos

Sex Energy and I have been setting runs starting from the Figurteich which is located between Wiener Neudorf and Guntramsdorf for nearly 15 years now. Over the last four years there was always a reason why we could not use the Teich for what it is there, namely to swim as it was either much too cold or heavily raining or both.

In 2015 eventually there was a change to the good side, heavily aided by fantastic outside temperature (35 degrees), the recent opening of a microbrewery in Wiener Neudorf and a reliable nearby Pizzeria. For a long long time I had the idea and intention to order a stackof Pizzas for an OnIn, this time I saw the idea through and Ice Queen generously stepped in as everybody's sponsor, happy to do so on the occasion of her 800th run. Thank you very much!

I just LOVE Salami Pizza!

The pack of 25 featured appeareanaces from soon-to-be Mrs. GrandMeister Feel My Meat soon-to-be husband GrandMeister who wore a funky Hawaii Shirt (and I would be VERY MUCH in favour of Hawaii Shirts as Haberdashery items!), Visitors Flip Her and Judge Prudey from Texas, Fallen Angel with her friend Just Lena on bikes, supported by Sex Energy who also did the trail on her bike. It must have the heat that slowed the overall speed down to snail tempo and I started to seriously doubt the timeframe I had given to our new best friend at the beerstop could be met. After a welcomed waterstop near one of the playgrounds in the vicinity it was time for a most welcomed beerstop and it can be strongly assumed that we shall return to this place more sooner than later.

Would you like a snack?


Back at the carpark there was a short timeframe to carry the drinks over to the pond, get a swim and the pizza deliverer arrived with Pizzaboxes in plenty. Everybody happily stuffed their faces and bellies immediately afterwards so the circle could only start with delay. At long last the mosquitos put an end to the happy party. We will be back.

Un bicchiere di Vino Rosso, ancora!



Friday 3 July 2015

Analogies

On this day in 1969, Brian Jones, a founding member of the Rolling Stones passed away. Jim Morrison, who passed away on the same date in 1971 wrote a poem about Brian Jones the day after he died.

ODE TO LA WHILE THINKING OF BRIAN JONES, DECEASED



I’m a resident of a city
They’ve just picked me to play
the Prince of Denmark

Poor Ophelia

All those ghosts he never saw
Floating to doom
On an iron candle

Come back, brave warrior
Do the dive
On another channel

Hot buttered pool
Where’s Marrakesh
Under the falls
the wild storm
where savages fell out
in late afternoon
monsters of rhythm
You’ve left your
Nothing
to compete w/
Silence

I hope you went out
Smiling
Like a child
Into the cool remnant
of a dream
The angel man
w/ Serpents competing
for his palms
& fingers
Finally claimed
This benevolent
Soul

Ophelia

Leaves, sodden
in silk
Chlorine
dream
mad stifled
Witness
The diving board, the plunge
The pool
You were a fighter
a damask musky muse
You were the bleached
Sun
for TV afternoon
horned-toads
maverick of a yellow spot
Look now to where it’s got
You
in meat heaven
w/ the cannibals
& jews
The gardener
Found
The body, rampant, Floating
Lucky Stiff
What is this green pale stuff
You’re made of
Poke holes in the goddess
Skin
Will he Stink
Carried heavenward
Thru the halls
of music
No Chance.
Requiem for a heavy
That smile
That porky satyr’s
leer
has leaped upward
into the loam

Jim Morrison Los Angeles 1969 





Thursday 2 July 2015

Individual Choice

Just for the record (and whoever wants to check these out), here is another food link in/from Vienna:

Burritos for you and me in the 5th district
 
On an entirely different subject, last Mondays run featured a rare Haring by Richard Kopf and a Virgin Hare in the person of Just Maggie.
The Viennese part of the Nationalpark Donauauen comprises a part called am Mühlwasser (named after an old part of the Danuve when there actuall were mills around.
Greeted by an enthusiastic Richard Kopf we were promised another run of the year with walkers- and runners trails and a drink stop even.
What did we get was a wee bit different, in parts a rerun of Cumming to touch you and Sex-O-Phones final run fron last November. The BN (Beer Near sign) was gruesome in its place right in front of a little dump called Reiterhof dunno Restaurant CLOSED ON MONDAYS. All the frontrunners - quite a few of them, including Powerkraut who briefly visited from Beirut - turned round and waited in front of that drinking place when the Hares finally arrived and Richard Kopf joyfully declaimed "The purpose of the BN sign was just to keep the pack together. This worked better than I would have imagined" which of course increased his unpopularity.


Schweizerhaus Menu on Holy Thursday in 2014



He tried to make up for that fauxpas with a real drinkstop further down the road by presenting a pack of Kleiner Klopfer, garnished with homemade cake from Just Maggie. And then came the choice between Runners. and walkers trail. I should have known better...  A bit into the runners trail one could see that the distance between run marks widened considerably and at one of the next checks the running pack split into several small groups all running off in different directions as there were NO MARKS at all.  I ended up staggering back on unmarked yet beautful trail together with Horsedick, after the umpteenth curve with no marks in sight there was a friendly biker carrying a Map of the area and he pointed us into the right direction on home. Naturally the walking pack were enjoying cool beers already and one could spot runners still coming in from several directions. Usual circle routine followed that featured Rowed Runner - a late arrival - in a nice looking Summerdress. 




An impression from a perfect weekend aomewhere in Upper Austria


Wednesday 24 June 2015

Fair and warmer

Sitting at home (on Monday evening), without running the 2nd Donau-Oder Kanal extravaganza presented by Justin Beaver and Pussy Galore. That venue is a loong drive away from the south of Vienna, that leaves some tima to put up some links to places in Vienna that looked interesting to me.

 A new Microbrewery in Wiener Neudorf, a first in several decades. Do expect a run with a beerstop in that area sooner ar later.

The Vienna Beerstore somewhere in the 12th district, maybe a place for a future TGIF event?

A British Deli somewhere in the 7th district called Pastypirates.

More Streetfood alongside the Operngasse in the 4th district that goes by the name of Hildegard Wurst.

This list would not be complete without a Chinese streetfood shop

And, at long last, a general link about streetfood in Wien.


Mahlzeit!



I am pretty sure that Mondays run was as great as last years and the relentless rain must have made the On After even more appealing. By the way, would it not be time to increase the Hash Fee again after nearly 10 years? Just by a mere 100 cents. Please. I know that I am not the only one who would be in favour.



Thursday 18 June 2015

No more Doubts

The Moron Brothers set the start of the latest run somewhere in that vast and mysterious area of Favoriten, squeezed into a Busstop waiting area that was surrounded by roadworks. All for your good and benefit, Dear People, The U1 will be elongated all the way to the Therme Wien and Rothneusiedl.

So I thought, well, what are we supposed to do out here where there is not really much green. Little did I know. After take off and a few metres in between the local Gemeindebauten then came the huge Kurpark Oberlaa in combination with the WIG-Gelände (Wiener Internationale Gartenschau). That park had been created in 1974 and comprises lots of different areas, corners and hills and a very interesting Japanese Garden that alas only opens on Wednesdays and Sundays (maybe that's Saturdays instead, I forgot).




There were walkers and runners sections, a few Gasthaus looking inns inside the park still wearing Christmas decorations, after all it's only just six months away and on one of these a most welcome beer stop occured. After this it was on out of the park running by the Musterhauszentrum and further on to that great comparational view of high appartment blocks right next to Schrebergarten looking smallish houses. 

Meanwhile and as usual Mr. Pink, late as always caught up as always. There was no real competition as Free Wille was absent and Tonto plus Flying Dutchman were taking it easy. And then there was the circle, again in the Busstop waiting area. Cardinal Munk, OVH gonged the Circle in as well as he gonged it out after an extra five minutes. Let us not forget that all this happened in the shadow of the Olof Palme Hof and most obviously tennants/appartment owners felt rightfully threatened by the sheer sound of foreign tongues, intermingled by that GONG and within no time there were three cars of the local law enforcement guild with at least 9 or 10 stressed looking poliziotti blocking every way in and out of that damn Busstop and it went like this; "Guten Abend, was machen sie da? Wir wurden verständigt, weil hier geschrieen/gesungen wird und es wird auch HERUMGESCHOSSEN!!" I of all people held a bottle of mineral water in my filthy hands and it was all left to Slush Puppie to take care of biznez which led to such official law enforcement mutterings as "Wenn wir gewusst hätten, dass sie so normal und freundlich sind..., AHA, sie sind gelaufen, und jetzt führen sie sich Elektrolyte zu (sic!) ..., ja, und dann gehen sie jetzt essen gleich round the corner, Backhendl maybe?"

Enough of all this, we are a peaceful flock and the run was enyjovable. Thank you/Dzien Kuje to all involved and partaking.







Tuesday 16 June 2015

Clause 35

Lord Glo Balls, OVH pointed out something really important and vital for all Beerconsumers and Brew-Addicts like me, a jubilee. So it cameth to pass in 1215:

Magna Carta (1215) The Great Charter
 
            [Preamble]

            John, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, count of Anjou, to the archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, justiciars, foresters, sheriffs, stewards, servants and all his officials1 and faithful subjects' greeting. Know that we, out of reverence for God and for the salvation of our soul and those of all our ancestors and heirs, for the Honour of God and the advancement of Holy Church and the reform of our Kingdom, on the advice of our reverend fathers, Stephen archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England and cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, Henry archbishop of Dublin, William of London, Peter of Winchester, Jocelyn of Bath and Glastonbury, Hugh of Lincoln, Walter of Worcester, William of Coventry and Benedict of Rochester bishops, of Mater Pandulf subdeacon and member of the household of the lord pope, of brother Aimeric master of the Knights of the Temple in England and of the noblemen William the Marshal earl of Pembroke, William earl of Salisbury, William earl of Warenne, William earl of Arundle, Alan of Galloway constable of Scotland, Warin son of Gerild, Peter son of Herbert, Hubert de Burgh seneschal of Poitou, Hugh de Neville, Matthew son of Herbert, Thomas Basset, Alan Basset, Philip d'Aubigny, Robert of Ropsley, John Marshal, John son of Hugh and others, our faithful subjects2
                        1 Officials (ballivi) A bellivus was a minor local official responsible to the sheriff
                of the county, but as here, the word is often used in a more general sense.

                        2 Faithful subjects (fideles) those bound by an oath of loyalty, in this context
                probably the freemen of the country.

Editor’s Note: Only those Articles pertaining to today’s constitutional guarantees under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1867 to 1997, the Constitution of the United States of America and other relevant statutes are reproduced herein Ed.

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And then follow all the clauses that this important document comprises, for us Hashers the following one seems to be the most vital one: 

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  Article 35. 


35.       Let there be throughout our kingdom a single measure for wine and a single measure for ale and a single measure for corn, namely "the London quarter," and a single width of cloth (whether dyed, russet7 or halberjet8) namely two ells9 within the selvedges10 and let it be the same with weights and measures. 
7 Russet- a coarse, home-spun cloth much used by the peasantry. (Probably hemp-Ed.) 
8 Halberjet- probably a superior type of cloth. (Probably hemp-Ed.) 
9 Ell- a standard measure of length said to have been based on the length of the right arm of king Henry 1. 
10 Selvedges- the borders which were usually of a different weave from the body of the cloth.


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Wow. Clearly ahead of their time, were those Anglo-Saxons not? A mere 301 years later, ze Germans came up with the following: 


GERMANY'S PURITY LAW


Following is an English translation of the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law) adopted in 1516, the oldest provision still enforced to protect the consumer. This is taken from the article "History of German Brewing" by Karl J. Eden, published in 'zymurgy' magazine, Vol. 16, No. 4 Special 1993.

"We hereby proclaim and decree, by Authority of our Province, that henceforth in the Duchy of Bavaria, in the country as well as in the cities and marketplaces, the following rules apply to the sale of beer: "From Michaelmas to Georgi, the price for one Mass [Bavarian Liter 1,069] or one Kopf [bowl-shaped container for fluids, not quite one Mass], is not to exceed one Pfennig Munich value, and
"From Georgi to Michaelmas, the Mass shall not be sold for more than two Pfennig of the same value, the Kopf not more than three Heller [Heller usually one-half Pfennig].
"If this not be adhered to, the punishment stated below shall be administered.
"Should any person brew, or otherwise have, other beer than March beer, it is not to be sold any higher than one Pfennig per Mass.
"Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be Barley, Hops and Water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance, shall be punished by the Court authorities' confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail.
"Should, however, an innkeeper in the country, city or markets buy two or three pails of beer (containing 60 Mass) and sell it again to the common peasantry, he alone shall be permitted to charge one Heller more for the Mass of the Kopf, than mentioned above. Furthermore, should there arise a scarcity and subsequent price increase of the barley (also considering that the times of harvest differ, due to location), WE, the Bavarian Duchy, shall have the right to order curtailments for the good of all concerned."

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Happy Magna Carta Day and ze German Purity Law inventors werent't bad either.


 

Saturday 13 June 2015

In the evening

So there was this dilemma that no-one would come forward to set a run - again - which ticked off the GrandMeister a wee little bit ("THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A ROW!") and thankfully enough there is Hash Lash Mind The Gap, a bit bored maybe to come forward again after last weeks Memorial Run for King Gook but? Cobenzl forest way up there (nearly an hours drive from the south of Vienna )is always worth a try so what the heck I though, left home even after 6 p..m., went to a Gasstation on my way and arrived shortly after seven only to find everyone long gone.


Taking in the beauties of the forest behind the Wein - and Landgut Cobenzl all the way to uphill to that checkpoint which leads in seven different ways one could get an intense feeling of contentement about all ends leading together - fair weather, natural beauty and the feeling that everything is being done to trim down that beginning beergut of yours.

It is not THAT bad (yet)


On my way out I met Lord Glod Balls, OVH and Primaballerina who've had it with this trail ("we're walking back, go all the way up and turn right at the HUGE intersection"). Said and done, the way was further and farther uphill until eventually a bend to the left running over a beautful meadow signalled the pendulum's swing. Fair enough, I didn't run too fast with wobbly ankles and everything. But still, given the geriatric overall condition of the better part of VH3 I expectedto catch up at some point. Well, crossing the Höhenstraße and still running downhill all the darn way made me think that Hash Lash must have had tons of time on his hands to lay such a scenic trail. Before hitting the Höhenstraße one had to run alongside a "Wiener Wein Weg" which ended straight in front of the Krapfenwaldbad, from thereon it was even further downhill and eventually back on up all the way. Of course alongside the road for the unintelligent ones like me who lost the trail in the end.

Nonetheless, fine trail and fun was presumably had by all. Pussy Schumi and Justin Beaver shone brightly in the light of their new Vespa motorrollers. Papagalli from nearer Vienna.


Wednesday 10 June 2015

King Gook RIP Memorial Service - Eulogy by Cardinal Munk

This is the transcript of the Eulogy that Cardinal Munk OVH read at King Gooks Memorial Service on June 1st.


Photo taken from My Pint of Views Hashphoto Website



"Before I begin I want to tell you how much I struggled to find the right words for this address. I sought advice from a friend who had lost her partner last year. He told me “The less said the better”. Unfortunately I can’t do that so please bear with me if I seem to go on too long.

It’s very difficult for me to stand here before you and say goodbye to my best friend. It is also a great honour that Virgina, Janina and Davi asked me to say a few words about Danny. Where do I begin to explain a friendship that lasted over 37 years, more than half of my life.

Danilo, Danny, Caacbay, born 1948 in Manila in the Philippines, Arthur Munckenbeck born 1948 in Brrokly New York. Geographically and culturally we were worlds apart. I had to agree with Danny when he insisted that the Philippines had better food, prettier women (as he always pointed out), people who could sing better (except for Danny), dance better (Danny could), and were generally more open and warm and happy. What did a boy from New York City have, besides his good lokks, in common with Danny of another world?

How about love, loyalty and utmost respect for each other. And humour! We both loved sarcasm, exaggeration of facts, silliness. After work we would sit with a cold beer in hand talking about everything and nothing looking forward to enjoying each other’s company for the rest of the evening or until he got a call from home (saying dinner was already on the table).

I met Danny in the late 70s at our place of employment, IIASA. By that time he had been hired as a technical engineer for what was then called the Computer and Telecommunications Department responsible for Computers and Telephones, all the things I couldn’t care less about but were of vital importance for the smooth running of the institute. I would often see him at the end of my work day installing special computer cables throughput the long narrow corridors of the Schloss. Yes, our work place was something unque. We worked in Schloß Laxenburg which was a Habsburg residence until 1918. The people who worked at the Institute were also special. There were Noble Prize recipients, world renowned scientists who worked on projects that were new, international, exciting and relevant to our times. Danny knew everyone at the Institute from the everyday staff members to the top scientists and directors. And everyone knew and appreciated Danny. People loved talking to Danny. He had an uncanny ability for recollection. Names, faces, facts could be recalled ina flash  that often astounded me and certainly impressed the IIASA community.

At first I couldn’t believe that Danny could talk with such authority to scientists on the reports they had published at our Institute. But Danny had a keen interest in reading many of these reports and with his engineering background he could digest and refer to them throughout his career in IIASA: He once started to tell me about a report that claimed it could be possible to extract hydrogen energy from trees. I asked if they could extract beer from trees as well and that was the end of that topic.

One of Danny’s most wonderful traits was his charm. Boy did that guy have charm. Old school charm. It overflowed and bathed everyone who was in his presence. “Waiter, could you please bring me Roses for all the woman at the table!”. He had an acute awareness, a sensitivity to the needs of others. He was generous, very generous. Almost to a fault. Sometimes I thought “I hope Virginia doesn’t find out about all the Mercedes that Danny bought for us.” He gave from his heart – he would often correct me by saying “Art, you don’t give to others, you SHARE with others.” Well Danny you did a gigantic amount of sharing in your lifetime. I hope I shared something back with you .

So Danny should I tell them about the sporting side of your personality? Ok, I wouldn't call Danny the most athletic guy I've known but in the early years he was quick enough for our basketball club. We played for the WIENER BÖRSEN KURIER TEAM, affectionately known as the GELBIES because of our awful yellow jersies that looked only good on Danny. We were in the lowest Wiener Division and were there because we wanted to have fun, which was totally frustrating for our coach who wanted to win. Danny invented the famous play number 2 which became the key to our success, It went like this: Danny would dribble the ball to half court, where we would raise his arm and point two fingers in the air. This was a sign for the entire team to rush and stand directly under the opponent's backboard. Danny would then proceed to throw or chuck the ball somewhere in the vicinity of the basket which meant it usually landed in the grandstand. Everyone thought this was the funniest thing in the world except the coach.

Danny and I have been members of an International running group called the Hash House Harriers. We have been part of that group since it began in Vienna back in 1982. Danny actively participated until 2012 when his debilitating illness made it impossible for him to runy anymore. Nevertheless he would still attend events and bring along his wit and laughter. We often travelled and ran together with other Hashers in many different countries. His favourite group, bar none were runners of the Zagreb Hash House Harriers of Croatia, people who we have run with for over 25 years. They loved Danny and made him a honorary member. Tonight at 6.p.m., the Zagreb Hash will have a special memorial run to honor their dear friend.

Danny was a proud person but not vain. Well he did like to wear, what I would call in my staid manner, falshy clothes. Coming from a conservative bent of dress I was overpowered by his lavish , bold and bright colours. And those white shoes!! Looking good! You have to have the right kind of personality to wear that kind of clothing and Danny was THE MAN.

I hope I'm not sounding too superficial about my dear friend with tales of clothes and charm. Danny was so much more than that.

He kept in contact with his former classmates from Del La Salle University in the Philippines and ofter exchanged information on the development in computer sciences. In 1994 he was invited to present a paper at his unversity entitled: The Beauty of the Internet: It's Charm and Dilemma. I know this paper oh so well because I edited it, having had very little experience in computer terminology, I remember trying to eliminate the word "Cyberspace" and asked Danny if it was a real word- Danny ooked at me in disbelief and said "Art, just leave it in!" Needless to say that it did mean something. Danny's paper was well received in his home country and can still be read online today.

Danny and a few of his classmates organized a program to improve computer literacy by providing used computers to elementary schools throughout the Philippines. Danny was a passionate man when it came to education.

Danny I'm going to speak about another side of your humanity. The side that the ones who love you accept as part of the whole package. To those who didn't now you well, at times you could come across as gruff, blunt, opinionated (sounds a lot like myself). What about your stubborn nature? You were a champion in that division. Once your mind was set you would never think about changing it. And boy were you intolerant of anyone who YOU perceived by the wrong. Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes it's not.

I thank God that you did not become a Court judge! And Danny, you could fly off in a rage. It seemed impossible for you to quell your emotions at times but I know it was a way of expressing your honesty, straight and in your face. I was a recipient of these outbreaks on numerous occasions as Danny's family well know. At times it was hurtful, but hurt passes and love remains. There was nothing more important to Danny than his wife, his daughter, his son, his granddaughter and his son-in-law. Danny's family made him oh so proud, maybe Davi and Janina didn't hear this as often as I did but your father always told me how much he loved you both and how proud he was of your education, how proud of the success you have achieved in your chosen careers. And here is one refrain that I will never forget for he repeated it to me so often "Art, I love my wife!"

Danny followed Virginia to Vienna after she was chosen as part of the frist group of nurses to work within the Austrian medical system back in the early 1970s. He gave up a good job as a project engineer with a Japanese company so that he could be with her in Austria. Although he pined for his homeland he never regretted his decision to come and be with Virginia in Vienna. Here they raised their family and here his life ended. I know he always wanted to return to his home country and now he will - to rest in peace.

So how do I say goodbye to my best friend? I can hear him now saying "Art, this better be good!" Danny I will miss you for all the years we shared together, your love, your loyalty, yout warmth, yout generosity to me and others. I will miss your outlandishness, be it in your humour or in your clothes. I will miss your charm, your passion, your gruffness, your outbursts of rage, your soft humility. I wil miss your keen interest in science and I will miss your honesty. But the one thing I will miss most is how you expressed belief in your faith. I might no longer be a believer but I believed in your belief. It was strong and true and so were you. So my dear friend, farewell and never forget that I always did and always will love you."

 



Sunday 7 June 2015

Side by Side

For medical reasons I had to sign off for a few days and more coincidentally I had the rare pleasure to go to to a Full Moon Run somewhere in the 23rd district. Casting Couch and Sex Energy had agreed to set a trail "out in the boonies" as Muliple Entry would say. A newboot from Rangoon Hash in Myanmar called Barefoot touched base with the Vindobona Hash and may stay for some time.

A group of near 20 went off in the heat and along the track of the U6 for a bit, before crossing over to the Altmannsdorfer Strasse and eventually along the Liesingbach. As usual, Free Willie and Mr. Pink were late but given the geriatric pace of the pack had no problems to catch up.
Crossing the Liesingbach was pleasant and cooling, It's always amusing seeing people take their shoes and sox off before making the crossing over.

Nasse Socken sind nicht trocken! 


 A few chats later it was already back to the start (near a wonderful looking Gasthaus that would not accept our reservation) cohesion between the present cardrivers made it possible for those who wished to come along to the alternative OnIn Das Beisl im Hof. Pleasant Service, Good Food and a very personal anniversary.

Sex Energy and I being together for thirty years. Congratulations to my beloved wife and Thank you very much indeed to Casting Couch for making that tasty cake.

What can I say about this?