25 February - THE CARDINAL DOES MIKE'S RUN No 10 (although it didn't start on Downing Street)

From the beginning the Cardinal made it clear that Mike, who had given in to withdrawal symptoms from being away from his continent for so long and had hence skipped town, had provided the alpha and omega of this run. Though in alphabet city, it hardly covered 26 streets.

It was an absolutely lovely run, such as only one other in recent history, also Mike's. Although this time I give John credit for the element in question - You all may or may not remember the belt clasp on Park Avenue just before the Waldorf with its red carpet. Something like this is what we call in French an "astuce". This time the buggers had us go at least six blocks down First, cross through the playground and come right back up the other side of the avenue!! @#$%^&@!!

Long-fearing folk missed a 50-minute run. But the NJ gypsies stepped in in their place, one of them who hadn't hashed since Christmas, having taken the Bar just that afternoon. Not only is Mike (John) the kind of guy you can count on to set short trails, but also to be so concerned that he called the ONON all the way from Mexico but the Ukrainian barmaid kept telling him John not here. The bar itself was new to us, cool and disgusting. The McSorley's was great - a nice complement to the McDonald's from next door - equally great (a couple of faces were made despite pre-approval).

We were rewarded by the presence of Petra who carried her bag, to 6th Ave and non-existing 2nd Street instead of 2nd and 6th.

See you next time. We promise good hares - they need lots of advertising.