A mega turnout for GoodGym Hounslow on Wednesday evening - clearly everyone was very excited for Lucy to lead the group run! Or maybe something else was bumping up the numbers?

Welcoming the group, including John and Jacqueline from Camden who were visiting, we warmed up (not that we needed it with the heatwave), and made our way to Strand on The Green School. Claire from the school had a quartet of tasks lined up for our masse of GoodGymmers, and under Lucy’s leadership, the group split into four to take on each of the jobs.

Emily & Eloise were joined by Michelle and Leticia to touch up the paint job around the picket fencing on the children’s playground, but also a good excuse for a catch up over brush strokes, as Tish was back visiting from the far South West. Once a Hounslow GoodGymmer, always a Hounslow GoodGymmer!

The second group were made up of four of the biggest, bravest and strongest of the gang: Jonathan, Kash, Ariane and Augustin. They stepped up to the challenge of moving heavy and bulky wooden blocks and boards up the winding stairs and to one of the outdoor classrooms upstairs. A couple of ‘pivot PIVOT’s later, and some flexing from Kash (she’s a MACHINE), the goods were moved from A to B.

Group three were team weeding; clearing the overgrowth around the sides of the paths, which was made all the nicer by being perfectly in the golden hour sunlight. Kymm, John, Jacqueline and Maxime got to it, whilst the final group with the rest of the rapscallions made their way back to the entrance gates to take on some overgrown bushes. Chris, Matt, Steph Ducat, Alan, Breda, Jon and Florian armed themselves with choppers, before being joined by Bethan and Divya with brooms and tarpaulin, and started to attack the out of control shrubbery and move the cuttings into the waste skip.

With such bumper numbers, we smashed the tasks out the bag tonight. There was even some time for games (Matt had found a cow whilst bush bashing, and Steph almost a complete building bricks set!), and more importantly a fashion show from our very stylish Gus. He proved that sometimes fashion is fast, when you’re as efficient at completing good deeds as him.

We tidied up, took a group snap and Claire waved us off into the sunset to make our way back to the Town Hall. Once we’d had a cool down, it was off to the Packhorse for a very special post-task pub session.

Our fantastic turn out might have had something to do with the fact that we had Emily & Eloise helping out, and for Emily, it will be her last official good deed for a while, as she is due to have a baby girl next week! Eloise (& I should say Matt too!) are following suit with their little bundle of joy coming in September.

In true GoodGym Hounslow style, we wanted to give our Mumma’s to be a proper send off. So much so that even friends that couldn’t make the task had come for the celebrations! GoodGymmers are known for doing good and getting fit, but we decided to add a dash of creative flair into the mix. A handful of the gang had been squirrelling around, and meeting up to learn how to knit (or in Remy’s case, take out her emotions onto 23 little crocheted squares). Holly had led our contrive, and had somehow made all our little stitched squares into two beautiful baby blankets for the impending arrivals.

Presenting the soon-to-be parents with home made gifts really did show us what GoodGym is all about. The community, the friendships, and of course, the cake (deliciously made by Michelle).

Emily - we all wish you the best with the future and your new little bundle of joy. Eloise & Matt - we will see you next week at GoodGym, where Steph is leading our task to Harvard Hill! We can’t wait to meet the newest members of our GoodGym family.

15 minutes wondering round the garden revealed 1 butterfly. Fewer than I've seen on other occasions, but perhaps started a little late in the day. Sammy (my dog) clearly thought I'd gone crazy, and was much relieved when I stopped staring at the undergrowth and recorded my grand total. A quick and easy thing to do - I've now added the app, so will probably count butterflies again!

Mr G is never more amusing than when he can turn his razor sharp wit against those he deems incompetent. Today he seemed spoilt for choice but the main target of his ire was a decorator who, after Mr G had cleared his kitchen contents into boxes in preparation, had cancelled today's planned visit and was now off for 2 weeks' holiday.

Mr G is always clear that his GoodGym visitors are his most reliable and valued helpers and he was again very grateful for today's shopping. He finally conceded that he had enough tins of beans in the cupboard already, so the basket was a little lighter this week.

As he'd expressed a wish to escape to India, I further curried favour by sneaking in a chicken korma for the first time in a while, to Mr G's amusement.