It was freezing, it was wet, it was dark - and yet, in true GoodGym style, a brilliant crew gathered to run, graft and contribute to the community.

Despite our lucky charm being present, which usually guarantees dry conditions, the weather did not comply. So after a bit of persuasion we stepped out of the Town Hall for a brisk warm-up and then set off through the rain towards one of our regular tasks — a local school we know and love. We’ve been there plenty of times before, but this visit came with a well timed upgrade. For once, we were allowed inside.

Well… almost all of us.

Two absolute heroes remained outside to shovel woodchip in the rain — proving that some people are simply built different. Gus and Steph, take a (soggy) bow!

Inside, it was all hands on rollers and sandpaper. There were lots of different jobs to do, including

• Painting skirting boards in a sophisticated 'mushroom' shade
• Rolling walls like pros
• Sanding, prepping and testing knee joints
• Loo transformation by Alan and Lucy

There’s something deeply satisfying about a new paint job, it really makes a difference. An epic collective effort and Caretaker Claire was over the moon. The school needed to look tidy and properly cared for ahead of an upcoming Ofsted visit, and thanks to a high-energy GG visit in damp trainers, its now fresh, smart, and inspection-ready.

Meanwhile, in a herculean effort, Steph and Gus had managed to shovel the entirety of the woodchip into the wood so the kids can use the area again when they're back from half term. So impressive - next stop Barkley marathon?

Task complete, tools down, photo snapped — it was back out into the rain. We splashed our way back through the streets of Hounslow, earning ourselves the warmth that comes from a good deed well done (and the pub).

Massive kudos to everyone. Next week it's a visit to Comboni spiritual centre with Michelle, who I know will bring the sunshine!

On what feels like the 347th consecutive day of rain, GGers layered up with as many waterproofs we could get our hands on and, if we weren't already wet enough, headed for the river.

We are going to be back to our regular spot for litter picking more regularly as Active 360, who lend us their litter pickers and other tools, are trying to crack down on all the plastics and other nasties that pollute the area.

Not only will that help the problem, but if passers by see the area is being cared for, they will be less likely to throw their rubbish into and around the water. That's the plan!

The evening also saw the newly tried and tested 'double glove' approach - two layers keep the warmth in the and the wet (and worse) out!

The shoreline looked dirtier than usual, so we had to refresh our bags and trugs several times as we collected bottles, packets and even, in Steph's case, an abandoned boat chair. The things we find!

In half an hour we had filled several black bin bags full of litter that would otherwise be poisoning the waterways and left them for the council to pick up.

We moved on to our usual well lit spot for fitness, which this time involved isometric - or static - holds. These endurance-boosting moves help build stability and balance and are deceptively difficult. From leg extensions to split squats we held steady and worked through eight different holds.

Next week we're going to be supporting Wild Chiswick at the allotment - keep your fingers crossed for clear skies and a dry evening (or keep those gloves handy)!

Eight GoodGym members turned out to help out at Strand on the Green School, even if one of us was late for registration.

We split into two teams and got straight to work around the pond area. One group — Florian, Michelle, Maxime and Chris — took on the tough task of clearing ivy from the wall surrounding the pond, making a big dent in what had become an impressive tangle.

Meanwhile, Lucy, Breda, Emily and Gus (once he eventually made it through the school gates — detention!!) got stuck into scrubbing the deck around the pond. Extra care was taken not to disturb the pond life, proving that speed and sensitivity can go hand in hand.

Armed with headtorches and running lights, we worked quick as a flash. Before long the jobs were done, it was time to run back, squeeze in some light stretches, and then — naturally — head to the pub.

Coming up this Saturday in Hounslow:

Our rearranged community mission with Friends of Harvard Hill, planting donated trees 🌱 https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/tree-planting-session-at-harvard-hill

A session helping out at Baron's pond in Gunnersbury https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/help-get-baron-s-ponds-ready-for-spring

Plenty more chances to get involved — hope to see lots of you there!

There's no denying that last night was a bit of a damp squib - but in true GG Hounslow style we made the most of the rainy evening. We grabbed every piece of waterproof clothing we could find (including Gus' fetching plastic trousers), headed out into the drizzle and met with Jo from Wild Chiswick to spread the word about hedgehog habitats.

The last time we delivered leaflets in a different area of Chiswick to let people know what they can do in their gardens to protect the hedgehogs, the charity received three enquiries before the evening was out - so the task has a proven track record of effectiveness. We tried to bear this in mind as we did the rounds of the sodden culs-de-sac!

There have been growing numbers of hedgehogs spotted in the area but it's crucial we do everything we can to help them thrive. They are in decline in Britain and are now listed as vulnerable on Britain's red list of mammals, with numbers falling by up to 30% in urban areas and 50% in rural areas. Wild Chiswick want to let people know what they can do and have volunteers who travel round the area to create hedgehog runs through peoples' gardens so they can find the food sources they need.

After 40 minutes of damp delivering we decided to call it a night and made a run for hot tea, warm pubs and to see if the local water supply had been switched back on - fingers crossed!

Next week the weather is meant to be quite chilly so thankfully we have an indoor task at Chiswick Methodist Church - see you there for a rare toasty task!