Hash 1436 was held at a site we hadn't used for six years. The last time we were there was in 2001, when Pussywig (Hareing today) and your scribe were two of your Hares. It's the site a few miles past the cement factories on the same side, off the New Ain Sukhna Road. The Hash was at 3pm and there was a good turnout. The weather was perfect: warm but not hot, although it got a wee bit chilly later on, as the sun began to go down. Your scribe was with the runners as we headed south to the mountains then up them. Your scribe had forgotten just how big those mountains are - the stairway to hell, as Crocodile Dundee described the ascent. We paused on top for the first cheque and a wonderful view behind us. We then plodded further south and paused for a running checc overlooking a lovely wadi that runs east-west, while we spotted some folk in a humble hut, who were extracting some mineral from the rocks. There was also a cave on the far side of the wadi, worth exploring another time.

The Dude gets the show on the road, punishing the Hares, as well as Venom Sucker who says how great the walk was. Next it's a whole bundle of seasonal newcomers: our Liz, from Houston but born in Portugal; Sebastian, the engineer; Nick, studying Arabic and Spanish; Henry, studying Arabic; Dave, Hash name Balls of Steal, formerly of the US Navy and now working as a spy, er journalist; Ben, an American student; Alf, also a student; Lotfi, a charismatic photographer; and Frank from Germany who looks like Von Sechs and used to run for the Warsaw Hash and has the cutest little pug dog and whose Hash name is Easy Ride Hare. Herr Hund takes over, calling up Erect Runner, who humbly asks again for sponsors for the Rehydration Run Tea-shirt; Lotfi, who says he'll find a sponsor; Blown Out and Comes With Him, who are leaving us for Ejsberg in Denmark, where Dougal will continue in gainful employment with Maersk Oil and Gas. I guess they'll be known as beefburgers, er eggburgers, er Ejsbergers.

And now for something very important: Tit For Tat and No Hare Brain both receive well-earned 50-Hare Tea shirts. No Hare Brain reveals his Harey chest - we ought to rename him Gorillas In The Mist (incidentally, he's leaving us soon, as he announced at the recent Hash Committee kindly hosted by Mister and Mrs Dog, their five pups and two kittens - lovely food and oodles of beer). No Hare Brain pops up again, along with Spreads Easily, as they both celebrate birthdays at about this time. While Frank's cute little pug gets bitten by Max, Inge steps forward to receive a Hash name. After the sifting of many pertinent suggestions, Inge, a terrific doll from Siberia, gets named One Is Not Enough. Mind you, one of her is more than enough for any energetic young dude, I'm sure.

The sherbets continue to flow for Erect Runner, being joined by Lotfi and three others who've also gallantly offered to try and drum up a tanner or two to subsidise the Rehydra Tea-shirt, namely Flusher, The Sheriff of Nottingham and Cheeky Little Bratwurst. Finally, The Duke announces Hash 1437 at 2pm, a tasty BBQ in the Protectorate, while V. Sucker, Frank, Frau Hund and our Liz all kindly offer their salad-making services for the event. So that was that and then we all piled back to Maadi. About a dozen of us made it to the Rugby Club for a bite to eat and a shandy or two, while we watched the boys from Tonga, all built like Mike Tyson's big brother, get trounced in the rugby football by England. I'm glad I didn't have my wonga on Tonga. On-On!!

1. New Smelly Galabiya: Marie-Louise
2. Old Smelly Galabiya: Andy
3. Magic Lantern: Little Dina
4. Toilet Seat: Spoilt Little Brat
5. Chain of Pain: Little Rachel
6. Underpants Cap: Wing Nut On-On Useless

Older scribes can be found here http://www.cairohash.com/docs/old