Another well planned mission with Ms G this afternoon - she had everything to hand ready for my arrival - I even found the right front door this time. Her list was clear, and everything apart from Vinegar was on the shelves of her local Tesco - fortunately there was a local mini market a few doors down that had the missing Sarsons (large bottle...). Ms G is always so very grateful when I return with her treasure.

No pictures to accompany Miss N's list this week, but accurate directions within each of the three shops she wanted me to go to, which required me to pay close attention - fortunately I found the dates at Sinbad, the correct sourdough in Tesco, and the requested cheeses and brown eggs in Aldi. Miss N was impressed/relieved that I'd paid attention to her briefing...

Mr R was clearly suffering from the Monday blues today when I arrived at his door, although he did say he'd managed to get our for a short walk, which had made him feel a bit better - he clearly isn't looking forward to the approach of earlier darker evenings.

On the much more positive side Tesco had everything he needed this week, for which both he and I were delighted...sometimes it really is the small things...

A long awaited return visit to see the always friendly Ms G, who unfortunately has had to move flats (temporarily she hopes) as her previous one suffered from a flood, and they're still working to fix it. Once we'd resolved exactly where I could find her front door, she produced shopping bags, money and an easy to follow list - all to be found (bar the basmati rice) at her local Tesco just round the corner. As per my last visit Ms G was so extremely grateful for the help.

Some specific items for Miss N today from her preferred local shops - in this case another bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a carton of Sour Cherry Juice, for which she helpfully provided a sample for me to photograph - yet again having pictures helped me enormously on my searches along the aisles of these most amazingly stocked emporia along the Edgware Road!

Last night, we kicked off our first winter Tuesday session on The Strand in collaboration with GROAD to hand out clothes and essential items to people sleeping rough.

These sessions will be running on the third Tuesday of every month until April, helping make sure people have access to practical essentials through the colder months.

It was a hectic but effective task - there was a real demand for the items on offer, with people keen to find the things they needed. We had lots of chats along the way, and the majority of the donations found new homes by the end of the night. All in all, a good night's work!

The work GROAD does is so important because getting essential clothing and other everyday necessities directly to people experiencing homelessness can make a real difference, especially during winter. Alongside meeting immediate practical needs, these sessions offer opportunities for human connection, conversation and a little extra support.

If you enjoyed last night's session, we also have a weekly joint session with Gurseva on Saturday nights, handing out food to people sleeping rough in the very same spot. Everyone is welcome, whether you're a regular or joining for the first time!

A big thank you to everyone who came along to help last night 💛