Christmas starts early when you are a Goodgym member! Not in the annoying way that shops starting playing Mariah in early November, but in a Christmas task that had us preparing paper chain packs for the CAMHS project.

This is the 3rd year of us helping and it is always a fun and rewarding task to take part in. Now Halloween is over why shouldn't we start to get into the Christmas spirit...actually just bring on Mariah........and Slade......and most importantly East 17!!

Some folks met at the task, some did a loop run from the meeting point and Adam and Darren were late so did a naughty boy run on their own! Once we had all got together we crack-ered on with cutting up lots of wrapping paper to make the paper chains.

A cut above the rest

Rosie was a chopping machine - cutting the exact sized chains using her rather stylish pink guillotine! Neda was also in charge of a more traditional guillotine, the likes of which most of us have not seen since school! DISCLAIMER - don't worry they did their Elf and Safety training first

The rest of the team were a well oiled production line, writing jokes and decorating with Christmas stamps. During the task we produced a mass of paper cuttings to be used in the Paper Chain packs.

Chain in the membrane

Thankfully Michael reminded Darren to put on some Christmas tunes while we worked, this helped us churn out at a more efficient rate I'd say!

CROESO Sav

Welcome to Sav , thanks for joining your first group run. The corny Christmas cracker jokes are a good taste of what is to come at Goodgym! Yule love it here, well done you sleigh-ed this task! ;o)

The time flew by, sadly we could not Stay Another Day, it was time for us to head off into the night!

Quite an evening for our task, unfortunately everything changed at the last minute. We had to cancel our Orchard watering due to the event in Blackweir, for the first time.

It was a busy evening in Cardiff tonight, as we had Katy Perry in the castle and Lewis Capaldi in Blackweir Fields (just up the path)

Even with all of this activity, and last minute changes, we still met up and got out for some good. Our change had us running up to The Salvation Army Hostel for young people, with an option to work inside or out.... The weather was looking changeable...

Once we were all there, Michael took the crew inside to help carry out the items to build.

Our tasks, to build.....

• 3 Planters
• 1 Round garden picnic bench
• 5 large boxes to carry in total.

Let's go go go

We were split into 4 teams of two, 6 on the raised planters. The final 2 were to do as much as possible with the bench, but this wasn't going to be finished in one 30 minute session.

He weather stayed dry, so we stayed outside enjoying the evening air.

5.....4....3...2..1

Time's up, let's get the photo and head back. It was a great jog back, as thousands were descending on Cardiff for the night. We had cheers from the crowds as if we were part of a race.

Some of our weirder discussions on the way back, as acid reflux came up. The fact that there are 60 Sphincter muscles in the human body, and they control a lot more than you think.....

Thanks to everyone of you for coming out, see you again soon.

Tonight was the celebration of 9 years of goodgym in Cardiff, and what those years have given us.

We have helped 70 charities, community groups, schools and religious institutions on our group tasks alone. (Missions not included). Totaling a whopping 5596 volunteer slots and an impressive 2798 volunteering hours.

Plenty of more stats to come, but before then let’s get to the task. It seemed logical to help out the Samye Foundation, as they top the number 1 spot with 67 group tasks. Once Lorraine had confirmed our task Michael got to work planning a picnic under their beautiful gazebos.

But before we Celebrate we have to get those deeds in.

GoodGym started in Cardiff back in 2016, May 23rd. I remember it well, being on that first task and run. As a solo runner it was quite daunting, but now nine years on I look back on all the things we’ve done with smiles and laughter, and with a great group of new friends.

So to the task, we had a good long list of things to do tonight, a great way to work up an appetite.

Weeding

• Front entrance gate
• Side gate
• The three doorways
• 3 vegetable barrels in the garden area
• Any other pavement area (if time)

Plus * Empty old plant pots of dead matter * Move the (heavy) umbrella stand from the back garden to the gazebos out front. * Empty the greenhouse, organise and place back. * Sweep – everything.

No time to wait, there’s a lot to do. Everyone grabbed their tools (ooh er), and picked there task from the list. We had a healthy number of volunteers tonight helping out, so we should manage most of the list.

Martin was wisterical with his sweeping brush, as he tidied up those gazebo floors.

Ellen, Dylan, Emily and Lucy the compost crew, got to work out back emptying pots, weeding barrels and all in the name of new life from composting.

Jake went rogue.... And after initially wedding the path decided there was a bush that needed pruning back. He’s certainly had the practise on some of our tasks this year.

Llion the organiser, straight to the greenhouse duties.

Darren and Dave were paving the way as they got in-between the cracks to clean up.

Dylan multi-task Tuesday, carried that beast of an umbrella stand and then got to work weeding the doorways.

Adam the gate master, couldn’t wait to get behind that huge gate and get those weeds and leaves gone. All helped with the perfume of the surrounding roses.

Aaron, another sweeping delight, getting those doorways swept before joining the weeding teams.

But then... Began bucket wars... Our resident bin jumper (Martin) had already found his new slogan - "If there’s a bucket or a bin I’m gonna get in". But newcomer Aaron seemed to be looking for that title......

Who wore that bin better?

Wendy joined us slightly later, but worked those guns carrying the ?tub? of weeds to the compost Corner. Michael and Lorraine were busy, photos galore and getting the food together. Michael had got some bits and bobs so was busy popping them in the picnic area. Lorraine was adding some bits from Samye, a great collaboration of food preparation. Everyone sat down, ate and enjoyed. A few group photos tonight, including the goodgym flag. Then it was time to run back, Michael Dylan and Ellen stayed to help Lorraine tidy up as extra thanks for allowing us the space to celebrate. Once everyone was back at the Glassworks, we had a few additional goodgymers join us for the late night celebrations.

Time for CAKE

Michael got the cakes from the kitchen, thanks to the Glassworks for storing them for us. And special thanks go the Mel at the Secret Garden Cafe in Bute Park for making them for us, she is also the star that got the Community Orchard up and running.

Great time had, thanks to each and every GoodGymer, past and present. Without you we would not exist.

Our top 10 are as below....

But over the last year our top 10 look a little different....

Here’s to the next year.