Good for the soul type session yesterday in Hackney. Hils, a holiday box-fresh Paul and I rolled over to our destination, discussing how age provides extra allowances for being grumpy in our society - and is that right? Might need another delve into this, was good food for thought. The GoodGym hatrick of two Princes and a tonne-reaching Dan met us at the playground.

Ange has a new Forest School coming on site, she tasked us with creating their new education zone. Clearing out the litter to provide a clean area, trimming back the growth to create a bigger 'school area' and laying loads of fresh bark down to provide a healthy and soft soil for play and bug inspection.

I know we've been back at Hackney Adventure Playground three times now, but I do love it there, and I enjoy being back. Quality to get a drink in pots-sesh, and salute Dan on his century of tasks. A physical force of nature - a man you want on the arduous, heavy tasks. He also brings an abundance of cheer and warmth along, it's almost rubbed off on some of us - but a veritable pleasure doing good with him.

Next week, we commence May at Abbey Gardens, and I'm really hoping it's at least t-shirt weather for the run there, summer has got to be close now. Sign up here

Have a good week peeps, get your miles in for Hackney - remember: more is more.

Till next week,

B

Finally we got some evening light back, as Rebecca noted, whilst realising she'd never seen us under the harsh reality of daylight. We spoke about our most watched film; Flash Gordon, A Bridge Too Far, Lion King, Die Hard (2?), Lord of The Rings and Home Alone but to mention a few.

Somewhat of a smellier Greenway trip than normal, as works were being carried out, we arrived at Abbey Gardens before our leader, Xuan. In the meantime we opened a lock, found a key, opened another lock, and then took out some tools for our task, Crystal Maze style. Hils and Matt launched into some heavy duty compost turning work, Brad and I worked on some easy weeding and conversation, whilst the others cleared a few beds of weeds. A surprise cameo from Rosa, was a nice treat to see her at a session. We also ate some rather strong and punchy cress, which is where the random title comes from, if you had wondered.

Next week we hit up Cody Dock again, but following on from news of a finger being bitten off, by an old GoodGym runner nonetheless, please apply caution when flyering. It was an absolute freak accident, but no harm being extra cautious.

Sign up here

ps. Huge congrats to Matt, he's expecting a little person in August! pps. Good luck Rebecca on your HM, enjoy the challenge.

Till next week

B

Beaut of an evening on The River Lea, with Rebecca rolling in minutes after handing in her end of year coursework, plus The Princes back from sunning in Malta. We discussed "what you're looking forward to this spring?" Getting sozzled under the sun in mallorca, the return of light, running in a vest and adventures through europe.

We met Basia, and after a good random chat with her we headed to drop off some flyers, with Dan joining us just before we left. We touched on topics such as: geographical isolation caused evolution, restaurant fusion, paper rounds and inflation and the difference between a house cat and a ferret.

Next week we hit up Abbey Gardens, sign up here to come and celebrate the incoming light with a social post session.

Till then,

B

New session yesterday at an allotment in Plaistow, courtesy of Rosie. A quartet met and discussed "worst thing you've watched live or otherwise?" Tree of Life, an awful trippy opera, a theatrical performance you starred in, and a book you read that was butchered in the theatre.

We reached St Mary's allotments and met the Princes, with a hum of helicopters circling the flames over the police station, the soundtrack to this week's efforts. Elaine took us through to the fences I underestimated - "let us know if you have any other jobs, we'll do the fences in no time". The were hefty and sizeable things, compounded by a lack of light, a very narrow path and a lot of thorns. The two quotes we heard yesterday "it got me", as thorns gripped into Rebecca's body. And in deadpan tones "it's on my foot", calmly referring to the razor sharp edge of a 100kg ish fence, fortunately no feet were lost during this good deed.

Cracking team work, which is almost a given with you guys. Next week we hit up Get Out, sign up here.

Have a decent weekend all,

Till next week,

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