Alex Murtough

This report is late.

As I write, it's at least 36 hours since this merry group said their goodbyes. Which means you might think I've been justifiably delayed, or maybe you just think I've been absent-minded. But let's not get into judgment and just agree that I've been slow.

Which is a segway into our experiences on Wednesday. Because we spent our evening at the wonderful More2 Childcare and they have a wonderful friend called Sid. And Sid is a master of the slow. For Sid is a snail, and a very handsome one at that.

But let's stop there. Because I'm sure you don't want to hear my views about snails. And especially because I have much GoodGym do-gooding to report!

Wednesday was clear, but cold, and we met outside our usual haunt in the Royal Naval College. Old friends and new faces (welcome to the group, Jessica!), we had a little introductory giggle, warmed up, and then jogged over to More2Childcare in East Greenwich.

An old friend of the group, we were met by the lovely Eve, and we spent the next 40 minutes weeding, pruning, washing, and clearing and tidying; the group doing the latter turned the jumble of a fire-escape into a serene and neat space. And we did it all whilst sharing stories and nattering - as I popped out to the outside bins, I could hear the murmur of a group enjoying spending time together. Lovely.

Then it was back to the Naval College for a stretch and, courtesy of the wonderful Marta, cookies!! And these were cookies to celebrate 6 years of GoodGym Greenwich. My word, 6 years. Which, if I remember correctly, was when I still had hair....

Nice one, guys.

Another wonderful morning helping keep our lovely local parkrun clean and tidy! After running and volunteering at Charlton Parkrun, a group of us gathered (post coffee) to get litter picking.

It was a foggy start but the sun was shining as we made our way in three groups across the park. The runners had scouted out where the litter was to be picked. We came across small bits and pieces, which was nice but still worthwhile. We found the normal plastic bottles, facemarks and cigarette butts, plus some unusual items including an empty shoe box and a metal hook, maybe left over from the (fake) Charlton Croquet Club?

Another wonderful good deed supporting a lovely local park and a great way to accomplish my 100th good deed, thanks gang!

Garden parties do seem all the rage at the moment. Well, for the moment and the last couple of years apparently.

And to celebrate their popularity, as well as the dark and the cold, we held our very own garden party yesterday evening.

Now don't get too worried. Because we are an exceptionally compliant and punctilious group in Greenwich - so much so that we went to great lengths to make sure we didn't breach any rules. So for the avoidance of any doubt:

• Despite his protestations, tennis with Novak was banned at the party
• We strictly enforced the BYOW (bring your own water) rule
• Before attending, everyone was required to Google 'BoJo' to understand what not to do

But where was I? And have you made it this far? If you have, I am sorry for the silliness, especially because I have a wonderful evening of good-deeding to be reporting.

Last night, an intrepid group of familiar faces and new friends (welcome Gabriele and Chris!) travelled from Charlton to Woolwich (sharing stories en route) to visit Glyndon Community Centre. The Centre's become a firm friend of the Greenwich group over the last 6 months and if you do ever pass it, you'll be likely to hear music and see dancing as the local community bustle creatively in its space.

Over 25 minutes, we packed bags of leaves, picked sacks of litter, and trimmed neat streams off of the front hedgerow. Manual work can feel quick and happy when you're with friends, and last night's task felt as super quick as it always does with this group.

A big thank you to everyone who joined and made a difference, as well as a January evening warm and fun, last night.

Nice one.

Granted, we didn't have a GoodGym Greenwich festive 'business meeting' last December. We merry bunch celebrated from afar with virtual quizzes and disparate mounds of mince pies and festive fare. Doing otherwise just wouldn't have been very good, right?

But... we did share a touch of synergy with the Government last night.... because our lovely travels to the Garrison Church in Woolwich was our very own 'plan b' following a last minute change to our good-deeding activity.

Although we were welcomed with mulled wine, so I guess we share a bit more in common with Downing St, even if a year too late.

Our evening started with celebrations. Celebrations for some serious GoodGym commitment. A huge congrats to Andy and Claire for their 100 good deeds! In true Greenwich style, the red cape of glory was on full show!!

And our mulled wine connoisseur was the wonderful Tim, one of the Garrison's trustees. We felt welcome from the moment we arrived.

And our task was simple. If a little heavy. The Garrison has an open courtyard set before a truly beautiful altar. It suffered fire damage during the Blitz and is being brought (since 2005) back to splendor and life by the Garrison's inspiring trustees. And this courtyard contained a few good mounds of bricks and paving stones - surplus to usage, our job was to move them our of the courtyard ready for collection.

And this group worked fast. Maybe it was the lure of mulled wine or maybe it was simply their good-deeding nature, but I struggled to get clear photos they were working that fast.

In 20 minutes we'd shifted the mounds into one easily-collectible (if very heavy) big mound outside of the church.

Which left us time to chat with Tim, have a little warm tipple, and explore the curiosity-sparking crypt, which the trustees are renovating.

Thank you to all of you who joined last night - and big congrats to Andy and Claire - and thank you, all, for turning a cold and dark evening happy.

Nice one.