This time around, Cherian joined me for her first ever bouldering session - and she took full advantage of my monthly membership's ability to get 5 first timers in for free!

We started at the warm up area with a bit of cardio, light stretching and yoga. Then, after a turn on the warm up block, we got stuck in, touring the several bouldering rooms.

For a break, we walked around the fantastic garden to the outdoor boulders, which will be opening next week. Then we watched some lead climbing in the Wells, before returning to a last stretch of bouldering. A fun session, with some welcoming chats with other climbers.

'll aim to post a session roughly every couple of weeks, as always, let me know if you've preference on a time of day if you'd like to try.

Today a team of five GoodGym volunteers helped out at a clothing shop by preparing winter clothes for storage. We worked together to sort and pack the winter garments carefully into large boxes so they would be ready for storage. Along the way we also collected wooden and plastic hangers and packed them into boxes, helping to clear and organise the shop floor. It was a great team effort, with everyone pitching in to lift, sort, and pack. By the end of the session the space looked much tidier and more organised, and it was great to see how much we achieved together. Another productive mission completed by the GoodGym team! 💪

GoodGym members joined forces with local residents for a satisfying morning of churchyard graft at St Mary-at-Finchley, the oldest building in Finchley, with parts dating back to the 12th century.

This was no ordinary tidy-up. The churchyard is packed with local history, and our task was to help protect it. We worked on the western side near the tower, clearing overgrowth, tackling stubborn roots, cutting back ivy and snowberry, and helping free up gravestones that were being slowly swallowed by vegetation.

It was great to see a healthy turnout, with GoodGym Barnet members and community volunteers all mucking in. Bit by bit, the area started to open up again, revealing memorials that had been hidden and making the churchyard feel more cared for, more visible and more respectful.

And this site really does matter. Among the memorials are Grade II listed gravestones, including the tomb of John Cartwright a significant figure in British political reform. Cartwright campaigned for fairer representation and wider voting rights, and his ideas fed into the long road towards universal suffrage. He also supported the principles behind American independence, so this quiet Finchley churchyard has connections to some very big democratic ideas.

So there we were: cutting roots, hauling back branches, tidying the past, and giving history a bit more breathing space.

A lovely community mission in a beautiful and important setting practical, purposeful, and full of local character.

The Edgy Collective reached out for help stewarding their wassail and procession and three Goodgymmers stepped up, 'apple' to help. The wassail started at Castlehaven Community Association with a gathering of organisers, locals and an amazing side of Morris dancers, the New Esperance Morris. After some hot mulled apple juice, and some lovely vegan gingerbread biscuits baked by Daniella, our host, we moved to the nearby mulberry tree to start the procession.

The tree was hung with cider-soaked toast and ribbons representing the community's messages of hope. We banged pots, ululated and hollered to banish evil spirits, wake the trees and summon forth fruit and good health for the year. Then we set off to the centre of Camden High Street, where the Council has created an experimental, car-free zone. The Edgy Collective's lovely installation, subSTRATUM, sits in the middle of the street outside Box Park, with metal planters full of shrubs and flowers, benches and a stage area for community events.

The Morris dancers then got dancer, with a piper and violinist and a giant pigeon! Camden's high street was FULL, like, FULL, and everyone seemed to be utterly amazed by the joyous, wholesome and weird sight. There were quite a few pigeon selfies too. It was Cherian's first ever experience of this unique tradition and, well, she was speechless! Ariane has been to quite a few, and merrily sang along with the wassail songs.

After the festivities were done, we processed back to Castlehaven, drank more apple juice and mulled cider, cheered and departed. Ariane went off to Regents Park for a run, Cherian went home and I stuck around to help pack down. All round, a wonderful community event, with wonderful people. Wassail!