Shopping for Mr K, this time featuring a 4-pack of beans and the drama of a lost Nectar card (replacement on its way!)

This week’s task took us back to a very familiar place: the home of the Comboni Sisters in Chiswick. It was a bittersweet visit, as the sisters are preparing to move to Birmingham due to the rising cost of staying in their current property. After many years of helping them with gardening, lifting, sorting and everything in between, this was our final task with them — so we were determined to make it count.

Loft Carpets: The Great Descent We kicked things off in the loft, where a fair collection of carpets awaited their journey downstairs.

Jalal, Ariane and Luis were stationed up top, sending the carpets down one by one — some surprisingly heavy! The rest of the team formed a chain below to carry them safely down the multiple flights of stairs. A great bit of teamwork and a proper GoodGym-style warm-up, whether we wanted it or not!

Once the carpets were sorted, we moved outside for some garden TLC.

Jalal took charge of the lawnmower and gave the grass a much-needed cut. The rest of the team focused on weeding and tidying up the borders.

The garden is fairly large, so although we didn’t manage to finish everything, we made a big difference. With a bit of winter sun breaking through, we hope the sisters can enjoy a brighter, tidier space in their final weeks here.

It felt meaningful — and a little emotional — knowing this was our last visit. The sisters have always welcomed us so warmly, and it’s been a privilege to support them over the years. We wish them all the very best in their new chapter in Birmingham.

Great work tonight, team. A strong turnout and an even stronger show of effort and generosity. Done and indeed dusted!! Exactly what GoodGym is all about.

On Sunday afternoon, Sevan and Kash ran 8 km from Ealing to a familiar location in Hounslow. In the morning, they had packed rain jackets, although sunglasses would have been more useful, as the sun was generous enough to show its face in the second part of the day.

The GoodGymers were visiting Miss S, for whom they had battled brambles at least twice in the past. Sadly, they wouldn’t see the lady this time, as she had been taken to the hospital. The mission was still going ahead, as Miss S’s friend had left the garden gate unlocked and provided instructions on how to find the tools.

When Sevan and Kash entered the backyard and first located the outdoor loo (critical to finding the tool store), another friend of Miss S opened the door of the beneficiary's house. The look on her face was saying: “Why on earth are you breaking into a privy?” The loo-glars explained the situation and found out that this friend of Miss S had only just arrived back home and had no clue about the arrangements with GoodGym. Sevan and Kash must have looked trustworthy, as they quickly gained the friend’s trust and access to the garden. Not only that - the friend offered them access to the house, but they politely refused, as they had everything they needed in the garden.

The two knew the drill, so they spent the next 90 minutes chopping brambles, lopping overgrown tree branches, and squeezing everything into the poor garden waste bin. Kash had no mercy for the trimmings and eventually jumped into the bin to compress everything - and that method, once again, has proved super effective.

After the mission, the garden looked much more under control. Hopefully, that was one less thing off Miss S’s plate while she was recovering in the hospital. The GoodGymers were pleased that it was still bright and dry outside when they finished the task. So pleased indeed that Kash decided to walk 6 km back home and make the most of the sunlight. She told the story of the loo heist to her voice recorder while walking - what you’ve just read is its transcript.

Shopping for Mr K, this time featuring beef casserole

It was freezing, it was wet, it was dark - and yet, in true GoodGym style, a brilliant crew gathered to run, graft and contribute to the community.

Despite our lucky charm being present, which usually guarantees dry conditions, the weather did not comply. So after a bit of persuasion we stepped out of the Town Hall for a brisk warm-up and then set off through the rain towards one of our regular tasks — a local school we know and love. We’ve been there plenty of times before, but this visit came with a well timed upgrade. For once, we were allowed inside.

Well… almost all of us.

Two absolute heroes remained outside to shovel woodchip in the rain — proving that some people are simply built different. Gus and Steph, take a (soggy) bow!

Inside, it was all hands on rollers and sandpaper. There were lots of different jobs to do, including

• Painting skirting boards in a sophisticated 'mushroom' shade
• Rolling walls like pros
• Sanding, prepping and testing knee joints
• Loo transformation by Alan and Lucy

There’s something deeply satisfying about a new paint job, it really makes a difference. An epic collective effort and Caretaker Claire was over the moon. The school needed to look tidy and properly cared for ahead of an upcoming Ofsted visit, and thanks to a high-energy GG visit in damp trainers, its now fresh, smart, and inspection-ready.

Meanwhile, in a herculean effort, Steph and Gus had managed to shovel the entirety of the woodchip into the wood so the kids can use the area again when they're back from half term. So impressive - next stop Barkley marathon?

Task complete, tools down, photo snapped — it was back out into the rain. We splashed our way back through the streets of Hounslow, earning ourselves the warmth that comes from a good deed well done (and the pub).

Massive kudos to everyone. Next week it's a visit to Comboni spiritual centre with Michelle, who I know will bring the sunshine!

Shopping for Mr K, this time featuring soap