You’ve Got Gail

Today’s good deed was for the Smile Brigade - a charity in Hammersmith & Fulham that provides free meals and care packages for local vulnerable residents. The task at ask tonight was to collect the leftover goods from Gail’s Bakery in Maida Vale, and transport them down to the Food Bank HQ in Fulham.

The first challenge was making it to Maida Vale! As Kensington Gardens has closed for the night, I ended up on a detour halfway around Hyde Park, and I parked my bike up outside the bakery.

The next challenge was being let in... As I knocked on the locked door, the staff showed me off ‘we are closed’! I tried to explain I was doing a good bank collection, but my words were lost through the glass and face masks. Eventually the door was opened, and the server seemed very unimpressed. I apologised for my tardiness (I was asked to be there at 8, and by the time I’d been on my cycle detour and been let into the shop, it was a whole seven minutes past). Another volunteer was collecting baked goods too, and explained we needed to be there before 8. I apologised again, and she was kind enough to share out the donations that she had already packed away- pastries and porridge, baguettes and buns. I had also not brought any plastic bags or boxes to carry the donations in, just a rucksack. I got another scolding for being so ill prepared, but was fortunately donated a few bags so at yeast I was able to load up my backpack without making a sticky crumbly mess everywhere!

Bag loaded, and two baguettes strapped in, I was bready to get back to Fulham. I cycled my way round the streets, down Portobello Road and Notting Hill, thinking about how lovely London is, when I turned onto Ladbroke Grove, and changed my mind as I struggled up the hill! The French word for bread is pain after all!!!

I arrived at the Clem Atlee Hall, which was locked and gated up. Crumbs. I have the volunteer coordinator a ring, and before I knew it, Jo, one of the volunteers, had come from across the road to unlock the hall and baguette me in to drop off my donations.

It had all scone well in the end, and Jo helped me sort out the goods collected, and we parted ways. Not the smoothest of starts but I’ll be bready for the next time!