December Devon Outings...

In early December, Veronica and Brett cycled to Topsham. In addition to this cool photo, she shot this drone footage.

A few days later, she set off on another Expedition Society hiking weekend. Luckily since it was December, they didn’t camp outside, but rather stayed at a hostel.

They hiked in Cheddar Gorge, where she broke down and even tried some cheese, as well as shooting this drone footage.

Christmastime in Exeter...

Just days after Jimmy and I were at a Christmas party in Brussels, Veronica and Brett were at one in Exeter with the Expedition Society.

Clearly they were in a giant tent as it didn’t look anything like the quaint pub that Veronica and I had visited during my trip just one month earlier.

This was taken the following week in town...

...as was this.

She Loves Those Silks...

Soon after Veronica moved to Exeter she joined a silks class. As you can see, her hard work has paid off as she’s become incredibly strong.

Hangover Hash...

Somehow we managed to get out of bed in time for Sunday’s Hangover Hash...

...which ended with lunch in a park. Now we finally understand why everyone’s always raved about the BMPH3 Christmas Party Weekend as it really was great.

On our way back to the train station, we stopped in this cool bunch of curtains of lights that changed colors.

I liked this view of the Le Carillon du Mont des Arts clock with 24 bells, 11 of which are visible at the bottom, and 12 historic figurines representing each hour. I didn’t realize until I was writing this post that I had cut off the most important part of the clock: the Jacquemart character at the top which strikes a giant bell with a hammer marking every hour. It’s rumored to have been built for the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels.

Let’s Dance...

Jimmy was honored to be recognized as a great hare for the Zombie Hash during the Awards Ceremony. He later showed off how shy he is by inviting ladies to join him to dance on the bar.

Here is Julie helping Carmel down so that she could swap places.

This appears to be proof that Julie and Jimmy spell YMCA very differently.

After Julie, it was Lisa’s turn...

...before I finally joined him.

Awww, the good old days before March 2020 when you could still slow dance with a giant group of friends. As if we hadn’t partied enough, Carmel was in charge of taking a smaller group to the after-party at a local bar, so of course we had to accompany her.

BMPH3 Christmas Party...

Of course, Manneke Piss was there dressed up for Christmas. 

It was so nice to go to our first formal hash party since we last hosted a Dress to Impress for Sir Walter’s in 2005. Here is the whole gang from the FILTH and Amsterdam H3: Reinhardt, Inga, Richard, Celine, Lisa and us.

It was nice that Alan took some official portraits...

...as well as posed with Jimmy.

Clearly this was taken later in the evening as Jimmy had already ditched his bow tie and was sweaty from dancing.

Our Sweet Hostess...

We didn’t know Carmel (aka Moule en Rouge) well before our arrival, but enjoyed getting to know her after she generously offered to host us in her lovely two-bedroom apartment for our three-night stay. Luckily she was feeling better on Saturday and could join us for the hash, which was great fun. That night was the big BMPH3 Christmas Party. As you can see, we all got decked out. 

Funnily enough, Carmel recruited both of us to help paint her nails...

...which was a first for Jimmy.

Here we are about to enjoy another drink before dinner at the party.