Once again we gathered at the Yurt café, even though it had closed two hours earlier. But we were here for a good deed, not a good feed. I arrived quite close to the start time and wondered if anyone else was going to appear. But GoodGymers are known for their precise timing (except Sree and Emma, of course), and nearly all appeared within seconds of the start time, notably Martin who times his pre-task runs to perfection.

Welcome especially to Beth, doing her first ever good deed, and who we hope to see a few more times before she relocates to meet the equally lovely folk at GoodGym Islington.

It was great to be good-deeding in daylight, and to discover there’s a short cut to the Yurt from Limehouse station, until dusk. Some people were still delighting in Fulham’s win against some team from Stratford as we selected gloves: relatively mud-free, and neatly divided into four different sizes.

We were tasked with raking gravel, to be wheelbarrowed away to another spot. One barrow was earmarked for pure gravel, while another was reserved for gravel-mixed-with-earth, which must have got a better name than that. The difficulty came when shovelling up what looked like unadulterated gravel, as we sometimes inadvertently also dug up the earth concealed below, which risked messing up the whole system.

Despite fifteen people wielding spades and shovels (once again trying to ascertain the difference between the two), and long sharp rakes, and pushing wheelbarrows in a confined space, not a single GoodGymer was injured!

Task Force regular Emma​ demonstrated her worth as a photo snapper extraordinaire, then demonstrated how to use a wheelbarrow as a sofa. As Ilana watched the sun set over some indistinguishable writing on a nearby tower block, we gathered for a few final photos. I headed for Limehouse station with Fiona and Alisa, as we looked forward to returning for one or more of the following:

On Saturday lunchtime, join Maddie and Robert sorting food for foodbanks at the Felix Project https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/saturday-afternoon-session-at-the-felix-project-s-poplar-depot-6df11c33-e39a-4480-a244-6b041986663c. Or join the earlier session at 9:30: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/saturday-morning-session-at-the-felix-project-s-poplar-depot-7fd69d30-ee3a-47cb-8268-3c6b48d2ccd5

Next Monday evening we’re heading for the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park – always a fun task. https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-big-monday-night-task-gardening-at-the-tower-hamlets-cemetery-park-pre-task-workout-4fd663a8-d032-4189-8e78-e0c1adb73052

On Thursday 9th May, there’s a social at the Monument pub in Whitechapel. Myself, Lucinda and “Southern” Emma have already signed up: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-social-in-the-city

On Sunday 2nd June, join us for a great day out on the stunning Seven Sisters walk: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/seven-sisters-walk

Monday night fitness

We enjoyed a short run and a fitness session this evening en route to our task on the Hollybush Estate.

Navigating a busy Cambridge Heath Road, we headed for Old Bethnal Green Road at the first opportunity, before adding to our mileage around pretty Middleton Green.

Following a handful of mini-hill sprints, we sped through our stretches, and made our way across the road to meet Margaret and Ash.

Some exceptionally large weeds

After admiring well-loaded wheelbarrows, our little group meandered to Strawberry Fields, the Estate’s orchard area.

Tonight’s task was weeding the large beds in preparation for redistributing the soil in the beds to other areas of the Estate.

The weeds were larger and more abundant than both Margaret and Ash had anticipated, so this part of the task took us a while.

We filled many bin liners which were then wheeled over to the compost heap.

Rain, Rain, Go away

Just over halfway through the task, the heavens opened. With a much-heavier-than-forecast downpour, this put a halt to proceedings. Sheltering underneath balconies, we paused to take stock.

Having decided this was no ordinary downpour, Margaret instructed us to gather tools, a little earlier than planned, and headto the compost bays for a final couple of trips.

Gathering for that all-important final pic, we said cheerio to Margaret and Ash, and headed back out into Bethnal Green, the heavy rain failing to dampen our spirits after another fun and productive Monday night.

Until next time.

Despite a change of day from our regular Monday night, tonight's task still saw an impressive seven GoodGymers joining us at the Island House Community Centre on the Isle of Dogs.

Four of us enjoyed a bit of fitness in neighbouring St John's Park, thrilled to be GoodGyming in daylight once again.

We then made our way around to the Island House Community Centre to meet Amanda who was leading our task tonight.

With amazing preparation (tools were laid out, painting trays ready; aprons and gloves good to go...) awaiting us, Amanda walked the first group to the outside garden area to brief on the first part of our task. Here the team of three were clearing moss and weeds from paving stones, cutting back shrubs and hedges and collecting litter.

The second team arrived in the fabulous large hall and wasted no time grabbing rollers and satin paint, and proceeded to finish the two large cupboards from our last task, and complete another in the hallway.

The garden team then moved around to the front of the building, to tackle the small area by the entrance, accomplishing another vast amount in a very short space of time.

Assembling in the hall to clear away the final few bits and pose for that all-important final pic, we concluded it had been an awesome evening and a great start to April.

We had a good-sized turnout for our fitness session this evening. Balancing on benches and planters, the GoodGymers worked hard at multi-directional lunges, upper body exercises and some decent side planks. It was a fun start to our evening, and great to welcome Lucinda to her first GoodGym!

As our team slowly grew, by 7pm we were ready for a briefing from Larry. Tonight we were dismantling a shed (every bit as fun as it sounds), repotting a tree, dismantling planters, relocating soil and filling the skip.

A fun workout if there ever was one.

Grabbing safety goggles and club hammers, we headed over to the shed to say adios to this redundant structure. Off came the roof, onto its side it went – then the sides were no more. This was a cathartic task-and-a-half.

Meanwhile several other teams were emptying planters full of soil and wheeling the barrows over to a far corner, and carrying the dismantled planters to the skip. Lobo and Alisa meanwhile were doing a sterling job of tree re-potting, including emptying a huge ton bag of soil.

It was a fun, active evening lending a hand to help prepare this space for a huge redevelopment, a big project that needs turning around in a short space of time.

At just before 8, we sped through the tool-gathering in our usual productive fashion, and posed for that final pic, less speedy thanks to an uncooperative camera.

Before we headed out, Larry explained what we’d be doing next week in our second visit of March:

• Dismantling more planters

• Repairing the fence

• Moving timber

Until then.

A dry but blustery evening saw 10 GoodGymers head to the GET OUT garden in Harley Grove this evening to assist the brilliant Frankie with some serious digging work.

But first the fitness

A small group gathered by the little wall at the end of the street to run through tonight’s workout. As luck would have it, the wall was dry and so we were able to add tricep dips, split squats and a couple of variations of the seated leg lower too.

We spent a little time on some upper body stretches this week, agreeing that a short step-by-step flexibility routine, tackling tight traps and the hardworking rotator cuff group is an excellent use of five minutes at the start of the week.

Making our way up to the GET OUT gate, we joined several new arrivals to head in and see what needed to be done tonight.

About GET OUT

The GET OUT garden is a community garden and food forest project in Bow. A previously un-used area of around half an acre has been transformed into a ‘productive food forest that reflects the principles of permaculture, and acts as a hub for education and connecting to nature'.

Tonight's task

Frankie was superbly well prepared, taping off the area, laying out tools, and even creating twine hooks for our lights.

The team wasted no time in making a start, first rooting out the tough alkatel weed, then removing soil, and then turning the remaining soil. Barrows were filled and shuttled over to the compost area.

All the stages of this task proved to be a thoroughly good workout.

The time went quickly and productively, and it was something of a surprise when we realised it was just a few minutes before 8.

Following a quick spade-cleaning tutorial from Frankie (mud = rust) we dropped the last of the tools at the shed; gathered head torches (thanks Emma), and posed (patiently) for that final pic.

It was a great evening: lovely to be back with the knowledgeable and fun Frankie; good to be outside, working hard, being productive and enjoying one another’s company. And an added bonus, tonight we celebrated our John’s 1000th deed (tonight’s was 1009).

Next week, we return to the Yurt Café in Limehouse to see Larry!

Until then.