Tuesday saw our annual return to the Warrick Drive Christmas lights in Hazel Grove. 🎅

Each year, an entire street of houses go above and beyond with their outdoor Christmas Decorations for charity. The chosen charities for 2025 are Anthony Nolan and Space4Autism. 🙌

We enjoyed festive baked goods and mince pies whilst appreciating the lights on display. ✨️

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone. 🎄

Due to the very wet weather over the weekend, the Winterfest event in Platt Field's park was moved completely indoors to the Lakeside centre by the duck pond. With no need for the extra help to set up, we were still invited to go along to support the Shakespearean Garden with their winter event and fundraiser and to help out where we were needed.

With the park rangers dressed as elves, a good looking raffle, excellent mince pies and cakes, and Santa's grotto on hand, it was a popular event with locals and I even managed to scoop some Christmas gifts for the family while promoting the event via our Facebook and Instagram social media channels.

I wished Kattie a happy Christmas and we'll be back when the weather is a little better in the new year.

Welcome to Tanoshi for your first GoodGym outing!

Kudos to everyone today for getting out in the pouring rain 🌧 to help with pathway clearance at Albermarle allotments.

Hazel arrived bright and early so helped with moving some good-smelling woodchip before our main task could begin. One corner of the site, beyond a route known as bramble pathway, needed to be cleared to allow compost to be stored here and for access for allotment users 🌿

We had a range of tools including secateurs, loppers, saws, hoes, spades, plus power tools of a hedge trimmer, strimmers, and a chainsaw. The power tools proved very useful to remove and break up the larger clumps of brambles, while hand tools enabled the hedges to be trimmed back towards the fence. The trimmed brambles went in the green bins, other green clippings were composted 🌱

In just under 2 hours, we filled up countless green wheely bins, found the edge of the path, and endured many bramble pricks. With the pathway cleared and the rain getting much heavier, we headed for cover for a cup of tea and a biscuit, aiming to get out for another area, but with the rain becoming relentless, we called it a day.

Hope you all managed to get home to dry off and get warm! We'll likely have a monthly clearing task starting in the new year with the allotment group, so keep an eye out for that. Thank you Fanette and Hazel for the pics 📸!

It was another splendid evening of doing good and getting fit for Mandy, Hannah, Hazel, Laura, and Ben! Even the weather behaved itself—clearly trying to make a great first impression on Mandy for her debut GoodGym session. Welcome, Mandy!👏

They kicked things off with a gentle jog from Life Leisure, retracing their steps from last week’s flyering adventure. Along the way they scooped up Hannah, who joined the squad just in time for a highly strategic flyering discussion. This was not your average leaflet drop—oh no. This was tactical - there were brainstorming. There were zones. There was enthusiasm. Mandy even confessed she’d been training her cardio for two weeks in preparation, which is the kind of dedication that deserves its own medal… or at least a candy!

Their mission covered about 4km filled with catch-ups, stories, suspiciously timed CCTV appearances, dog barks ranging from friendly to “please don’t eat me,” and plenty of laughs/smiles😊—all while delivering flyers for Together Trust. Mission accomplished, team!

Slightly underwhelmed by tonight’s illuminations (they squinted, they tried), Laura is leading to chase brighter lights next week in Warwick’s. Don’t miss it—it's the GoodGym Stockport year-ender, and they fully intend to finish 2025 with a sparkle! ✨💖