School of lock

Over the recent months we have some big wins at GoodGym Hounslow. As well as all the amazing milestones and PBs, we've built an amazing (and huge) hibernacula, planted thousands of bulbs in one go, and even helped get some new homes for hedgehogs. But inevitably sometimes it just goes, well, a bit wrong.

Last night was one of those times - we still got some good done but it wasn't without its challenges! With our scheduled task falling through due to task owner illness, we had a last minute change of plan. Paul from Active 360 let me know that there was a lot of trash washing up on the drawdock by Kew Bridge, and was keen for us to give it a good going over. He couldn't be there to let us into the arches and get the equipment we needed, but had kindly left us the keys with some neighbours.

It seemed simple enough. However, the first sticky wicket came when trying to figure out which arch we needed to actually get into. It took us a few minutes, but eagle eyed Madeleine soon spotted that the key was engraved. Good. Onto opening the massive lock. As try as I might I couldn't figure it out. No luck. We took turns trying to get it open but nothing was working. I had just run to the shops to implement plan B when I got the good news - lock cracker extraordinaire Chris had managed to do the job. We won't question him too much on where he honed that particular skill... :)

Pickers and bags liberated, we got cracking on the plastic problem, and had soon collected three huge bin bags of cans, bottles and other litter. Sevan even found a discarded pineapple, but we won't mention the other (large and furry) thing we spotted.

Fitness session all planned out, we just had to get that tricksy lock back on before we left. Unfortunately it just wasn't going our way, and our EMOM challenge had to be abandoned in the face of project lock. Apologies for all the inconvenience everybody! Next week we'll be back, firing on all cylinders, and there will be absolutely no locks standing in our way.

A couple of shout outs for two tasks that are looking very lonely! Do you have an hour to spare to help shovel manure for Cultivate London on Saturday? We also really need a Monday hero to step in and help mow the lawn for the nuns at the Comboni centre at lunchtime- can you help?