Brambling on Black | Shrub life

With Sarah over the channel, I schemed that we could all down tools, this week, and go and drink on the river. Alas that plan was quickly scuppered as Sarah had left instructions for tonight's task, and it transpired we were going to go to the river...but do some litter picking. Also, fearing that there might be WiFi in the Alps, and Sarah would learn of our bad behaviour we decided to do good.

That said, we could still play cards. Those with longer GoodGym memories will know I own a pack of large playing cards (for reasons best left unsaid). I introduced a game called Full House. It is essentially a giant version of a memory game crossed with relay running. Divide the group into 4 teams (Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds & Spades). Place 22 cards (5 cards of each suit and 2 joker cards) in the middle. Runners from each team take it in turns to run to the middle and turn over a card. If the card suit matches the team, they take it back to their team, if not, they leave it in the spot. The first team to collect all 5 cards from their suit shout out FULL HOUSE and they win.

Well done to Team Spades (Amy, Pieter and Matt). Remember, lucky in cards, lucky in love (or is it vice versa, can never remember). Bad memory, you understand.

Tonight we were running to the Greenwich Peninsula, near the driving range, to do some pruning and litter picking for the East Greenwich Residents Association (the mafiosa of Greenwich - they have their hand in lots of pies).

Fore

This stretch of the Thames Path is not maintained by the council so The Association have taken it upon themselves to keep it tidy. It's an interesting part of the Thames Path, and a popular route with many of the GGG gang, as evidenced on Strava. It is quite gritty and industrial, yet set against a background of Canary Wharf on one side and the 02 on the other. At night, the fluorescent light, from the lampposts, can give it a menacing feel. If I was a location scout, I think it would be a great spot for a crime drama gangland killing scene. Just saying.

Patrick and Godfather, from the East Greenwich Association, met us. We divided into the Pruners and the Pickers. At points, we lost Carla, Claire and Linda in the bramble as they did bloody battle. Far too prickly for me, I stayed well back. For others, it was a bit precarious throwing the bramble into the river as the wind was up. It would come back to scratch them.

I mentioned the Starfish story to Elle and Matt. You can read it here. Like the starfish story, sometimes your good deeds might not seem huge, and you may not see the impact of your actions, but you're making a difference. Please don’t ever underestimate the simple of act of kindness or loping some dead brambles.

Everyone pee peed and got stuck in. It does sadden me that we found so much litter, but I console myself that if we weren't picking it up no-one would be.

Finally Alex M, Alex T, Pieter and Steve kindly took all the rubbish bags to the collection point. Walking back together, side by side, they exuded toughness. If I was a casting agent, I would definitely cast them as hard men in the crime drama as mentioned above.

We ran back, but time had got away from us tonight, so there was no fitness session. Suffice to say it involved the playing cards. And suffice to say, it was heavily stacked against the Murtough twins (think Krays, but Swindon) so they would never win. But I'll get them another day. Revenge is a dish...not listed on the Meantime Brewery menu.

Lastly, we reflected that the night had a sort of end of summer vibe. Next week, we welcome in September.

Great running tonight everyone - some good miles in the legs, especially Aiste who then proceeded to run back home along the Thames Path (you must have been sick of it by this point.)

As mentioned, social next week, so wear your best socks.

Ben

ps. I don't really want to work in TV and Film, but am available for Panto.