Botanical Gardens George’s farewell hash

Around 20 hashers met at the Botanic Gardens on a wet Monsoon morning. This was George’s farewell hash. As there was a slight drizzle, we’d brought along umbrellas, even lilac ones. Patricia who’d hashed with us in the muggy heat of May, was back from her trek in the snowy peaks near Dharmsala where she saw the Dalai Lama. She’s delighted with the drizzle of the Monsoons and the lower temperatures.

We followed a muddy path to the ferry ghat that Zoria had discovered last month; we passed a beautiful dilapidated old colonial building that was the old office of the Botanic Gardens. For the last 3 years George has been saying that someone should make a restaurant by the waterside and looking at that lovely old house Ruth and I wished it could be turned into a café-restaurant. We all took the ferry across the river to Garden Reach and back, rubbing shoulders with the milkmen with their cycles and the other daily commuters.

We got off to find Pradeep and Bonani who had arrived late but had discovered a very good chaiwalla selling hot cha in a clay pot for 1 rupee. We all stopped for a tea break beside the white temple near the ghat and passed each other little bhars of tea - even to the coy cops who are part of George’s Security whom we will also miss henceforth on our walks. We really regretted that none of us had remembered to bring a camera, so it was decided that Shantanu would go by Peter’s house on the way back and collect the camera.

Back at the cars, we found Manu from the Taj, who had also arrived late and must have jogged all around the gardens looking for us. Siddiqui and Carl gave out our new hash collared T shirts, a bright orange colour to match The Hub logo with Taj Bengal Kolkata printed on the back. There was much ribbing about it being BJP colours and a spiritual hash, but it actually looked very bright and cheerful once we’d all changed into them back at the Taj. The two Rajeshes were there and Taj had organized a delicious chocolate cake for George which he cut after breakfast.

Peter has now been designated Hash Flash and Siddiqui dragged George for a picture by The Hub podium which could be captioned in the dock. We all trooped outside for the farewell Hash photos on the steps and Peter playing the fool nearly made it into the pool. We also took a picture with our backs to the camera looking over um, our right shoulder. While we crowded around the cake table and took more pictures, in walked Gaby and her husband who are also leaving Calcutta. Our fond farewells to them, to George, to Delphi (away till October).

Happy 4th of July, Lee and George. All the very best!