Ring of Fire(works)

The evening was all about rings.

We gathered in a ring for the briefing. In latest news Danica and pals had been over at Richmond Park for the Trick or Treat 10k, Patrick has been shortlisted for Giving Tuesday Champion and there are drinks this Thursday.

And we welcomed first-timer Lisa who got the standard welcome round of applause from us all. She probably owns a ring.

Everybody ready it was off to Barnsbury Square Gardens we went. On the map the journey there looked a bit like a ring, if you got a ring and smooshed it up with a hammer. Simon & Caroline took a shorter route while Steve and Patrick led a longer run.

At the gardens we split into two groups: one set about emptying a gigantic sack of top soil into raised beds and loosening the ring of old rocky soil with forks while the other group formed a ring and played "Run Rings around the Ring": each member of the ring had to pick an exercise for the others to perform while they ran around the ring twice. We had star jumps, balancing on one leg, burpees, press ups with high fives, squats, power squats, one-legged piston squats and more bloody squats. When everybody was done we picked the meanest member of the ring (i.e. the person that made us do the toughest exercise) and had them perform a 30 second forfeit of our choosing. Caroline, who not only made everybody do burpees, but also shouted "encouragement" at us was the obvious choice. Her penalty was burpees with press ups (mwahahaha). She seemed to enjoy it though, and was even screaming at herself to go faster.

After 15 minutes we swapped over and the first group now played "Run Rings around the Ring" while the others bagged up the ring of rock soil. Teeeaaaamworkk!

Before we set off we celebrated our work with the obvious biscuit choice: Party Rings.

It was two groups again for the journey back and we had fun with Indian File, running fast up hills and some mini sprints.

Finally a vote on the evening's big debate topical topic, which has nothing to do with rings unless you count ringing in the ears: Should fireworks be a) only for 5th November b) 5th November plus Friday and Saturday of that week or c) The whole of November. A few of the more tired looking among us (having clearly been kept awake by fireworks all weekend) were strict and insisted that they be reserved purely for Guy Fawkes Night. Five of us (those with double glazing) believed that the whole of November was OK. But the clear winner was Guy Fawkes Night plus the closest weekend.

Another big question settled, another bunch of good deeds done and lots more fitness gained. That's what happens at GG Islington

Next week we're in Old Street painting a community centre

Simon