Tonight's celebration for our resident islander David.

The last week of the January Challenge, that means the last group run for the month.

Push it

All out in force we saw 13 goodgymers for the group task, after an already impressive 8 for an earlier litterpick.

Those deeds where flying this week, and whilst on the subject of

Congratulations DAVE for hitting 100 and beyond

Those jogging and running met at the Glassworks as usual, for a jaunty 4.5km distance (total there and back). Whilst the walkers met at the task and then walked back.

Our task organiser tonight was the Samye Foundation, hosted by the lovely Lorraine. Greeted by the board of tasks it was a good night for 13 volunteers.

• Removing staples from paperwork
• Shredding paperwork
• Vacuuming building 252
• Mopping kitchen and toilets in building 252
• Vacuum the shrine room in building 250
• Wipe down the bannisters
• Vacuum the mindfulness practice room
• Mop the corridors and Tibetan café
• Repot the large plant out front

Quite a list tonight, but as Cardiff is on challenge mode nothing was going to phase us. We split into three groups, 1 outside and 2 split between the buildings.

We had a shredder overheating, and a group turning from removing staples to ripping documents. Our two horticulturists, repotting plants outside. Cleaning teams working in the furthest building, loving a vacuum and wipe down. No winging it tonight (except for Dave) only a full McCulundred % would do. From one building to another, stairs, corridors and the beautiful shrine room. We were truly blessed to be in there.

We tore through those tasks

As the bell finally rang for tools down, the crew were gathered for a celebratory sit down with soup. We had been treated to a wonderful fresh vegetable soup made by Lorraine.

2 SOUPS

We finished and bid farewell, taking a quick group photo outside before heading off for the night.

But wait, there's more... As this is our last group task of the month it’s time for food. Tonight for the burger deal.

Bag in canton

1 bag in gabalfa - mainly NO gas cannisters

On Saturday morning 7 Cardiff goodgym members met at Gabalfa Primary to help weed their planters. They had become overgrown and scrappy. The school has secured a grant to transform the area but Goodgyms help will mean funded hours are not wasted on weeding but can focus on making the area ready for the children to grow planfs and flowers and learn.

It was cold. It was wet. It was muddy. Classic January challenge weather. But the goodgymers were not put off and blitzted the weeds. Breaking trowels and pitch forks in the process, and leaving the largest planters cleared for the school.

Can we dig it? Yes we can and yes we did

Martin became the third club member to reach 300 deeds tonight! Congratulations and well done Martin, an amazing achievement. You are a true Graff-ter

He was awarded a Goodgym trident to mark the auspicious occasion!

It was a wet and dreary evening but 6 other GG-ers were there to support Martin in doing some good!

The task at hand was to clear down the perimeter wall at the Salvation Army, which was covered in weeds and nettles. We had to really tri-hard to cut and pull off the stubborn greenery, at some points it was a 3 pronged attack. The group tried-to-make-a-dent, but in fact they did much more than that, clearing a large percentage of the wall.

This week there was more chat about Microsoft Excel as we went about our work, but the only Graff plotted was how we would get back to the pub to celebrate.

When we got back we created a little clothes line to dry out our soggy gear! Then some folks ordered food - which they ate with a traditional 4 pronged fork! ;o)

We toasted Martin's milestone and enjoyed the welsh cakes he kindly brought with him. A grand old evening.