Four of Newham's finest rolled over to Hackney Adventure Playground yesterday, to help a wondrous resource of frolic and adventure led by the force, that is Angela. We discussed "your best life hacks?" after rattling through a few I found online - including frozen grapes instead of ice cubes in drinks - we got to our own, with a bit of encouragement. Don't iron clothes, use a plier to fix your zip, live near GoodGym and intensely stir your scrambled eggs. We'll be releasing a podcast soon.

The Olympic Park was looking especially charming, we nipped through and down the canal as we touched on running injury and form, does it make a difference? Ange led us to our job, a de-nailing session, which the kids had already begun. Thereby freeing up some good quality wood to use on other marvelous imaginative structures. The work was loud yet satisfying, still managing to sneak a chat in between the pounding of metals.

Nice one for the graft guys, definitely made a difference. Next week we go the other way down the canal, as we head to Cody Dock, sign up here

Till then

B

Over to Hackney Adventure Playground, been a while since I said that. A huge hearty welcome to Alice for her first session in Newham, slotting seamlessly into the task, hope you enjoyed it. Our old pal Chris is back in Stratford too, after a few years away it was great to have the man back. We broached the topic of guilt once more, this time in a musical sense. Whilst some of you claimed to have no guilt re music, you understood the assignment nonetheless; Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, S-Club 7, Lil Wayne, Peter Andre and Dolly Parton all providing us some auditory pleasure, but at what social cost?!

Rambling over we jooged through the QEOP and down the canal towards the playground and a well overdue reunion with Ange. She explained how Sport England money is supposed to be paying for a new ground, ten years in the making. Our job was to clear some materials Ange had hoarded for future use (makes you rethink how bad it is keeping that sentimental mug ). Namely these huge wooden poles and fire doors, these things had serious mass, we needed the full GoodGym gun-show yesterday to make it happen. There's no doubt you've made a very useful difference to a marvelous local service, for that I salute you.

Next week we head to Park Village Oasis, sign up here. We're going to finish blitzing a tiny green area to prepare it for some fruit trees.

Till then,

B

A lovely group gathered at the garrison church to one again tackle the brambles. We are working hard with these visits to help prepare the south side of the church’s grounds for a community garden they have plans for.

The group got stuck in with a hilarious mixture of tools, only some of which were ideal for the task of getting the brambles back. We all felt the sting of the brambles and contemplated on the ideal thickness of a gardening glove, I will be on the hunt for some!

After a concerted effort to clear more of the brambles and many trips with the wheelbarrow to the graveyard of bramble vines, we called it a day and sat in the sunshine and enjoyed coffee, sweet treats and some lovely chats.

Thanks all gang, it’s looking very promising after our regular visits! Make sure to join us again soon, we have another community mission litter picking tomorrow on woolwich common, and a group run Wednesday starting in woolwich. Join the WhatsApp here https://chat.whatsapp.com/I6SyiPNnI968Zp00u2Zknh

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.

New task helping Ascension Trust on Wednesday. We had a quick chat about our favourite pub/cafe beforehand in the spirit of next week, as we're starting to use our new base, PrintHouse. To the benefit of my degrading memory, one of the answers was PrintHouse, good answer Hils. I've dived into my hippocampus and yup, nothing suitable is in there, I've forgotten everyone else's answer, will have to refresh me next week, the ills of a late report eh.

6 of us trotted over to the church, where Tom, his son and Sona met us warmly. After an introduction we quickly got to work, with clear and succint instructions - clear all the green growth. They've got plans in store for a sensory garden, think we were phase 1; get the plot ready and the weeds gone. As you can see in the pics, the guys did a smashing job in 30mins, cleared so much! Perhaps it was the table of donuts, chocolate bars, biscuits and drinks that gave us an extra push, perhaps not. Either way, we were spoiled with their generosity and had a solid glucose spike before heading back.

Must say does feel like we are on tour on something in South Newham, was another stunning run back into the sunset. Dan had to keep slowing down for us old folks. Hils had already done a few miles there, Kev and Shaz are getting into HM battle mindset. I did my third run in 9 months, first pain free one, chuffed.

We also said goodbye to Chris, as he's migrating south of the river to Plumstead. You'll be be missed, but hopefully we'll see you at some sessions, South Newham just a stones throw over the Thames. Good luck in your new manor.

B