Dust if off 📚

A week after her 50th good deed, Nelly was the first to show up as Emma came afterwards. It felt like she hadn't been in weeks, but that's the type of presence she brings for skipping a week (for a "Come Dine With Me" hosting duties). Mikhail cycled over whilst Daryl walked over from work. There was just Nathan left as the other two Emma and Paulin were going to meet us there. Yet, it hit 18:45, so Sam started the session.

After the GG speech and warm-up (last one on the Green), Sam asked the ice-breaker question, which was to do with the fact that we were about to sort out donated books, so he asked: If I were to go into a bookstore (Waterstones), which section/genre of book would I find you in?

We had everything from non-fiction, self help books, Sci-Fi, politics, modern history, autobiographies, cooking to travel.

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Bookworms

We ran a short 2.15k run that took us halfway across Peckham Rye Park before circling back to Nunhead. We met Emma outside Salvation Army Nunhead as Polis came down to open up the doors to let us in. It was great to see him after many months away.

He called us as the bookstore upstairs needed to be managed after donations after donations of books. The task was simple - take a bag of books from this packed up store room and display it in the bookstore according to: soft backs, hard backs and different categories from children's books to travel and cooking.

With Smooth FM on, we cruised through bags and bags of donated books. Towards the of the session, Sam started noticing a few bags that were labeled and labeled with his handwriting...it was the books he had categorised in the Summer of 2021! Yet, by the end of the 45 minute session, we had emptied more than half the store room. However, the display of books in the bookstore wasn't looking as neat and tidy, but Polis just wanted as many books to be displayed. The volunteers during the day time could sort it out.

Throughout the session, everyone was collecting and leaving aside a book or two to take home as a gift for helping out as Polis had more than enough books to give away.

Our night did not end with the task as everyone was up for the monthly social. This time, we tried Nags Head, on the corner of the Rye. However, it was packed as Sam forgot the footie was on. We got our free or cheap drinks and drank outside until we got cold... Thanks to everyone for coming and next month's social we'll have space inside ;)

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Thank You to all the GG-ers

A personal thanks from me to all those who came out tonight! It was a short run and the task was slightly mundane, but the Smooth FM got us through the 45 minutes and I hope you are enjoying your books that you took. Thank you for sticking with it and for coming out for the social afterwards.

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Thank You Polis

GoodGym is all about getting fit and doing good! We praise the runners/cyclists/walkers who come to get fit and help out, but we often forget about our task owner. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Polis for giving us a indoor task as the weather and season turns from hot to cold. We'll be back to continue the task next month!