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

A rather chilly Monday evening was no match for 9 GoodGymers this evening, all committed to a very physical task in Bow's GET OUT garden.

Meeting at just before 7 at the bottom of Harley Grove, we enjoyed a good 15 minutes of our regular body weight move-routine, ensuring we tackled everything from tricep dip to trap stretch.

Our little group slowly grew, and at just gone 7, we headed around the corner to the large iron gate of the GET OUT garden.

This previously disused, overgrown area of around 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 GET OUT team member Frankie had several tasks lined up for the team:

The Timber Team were heading to the skate ramp, to shift large planks of wood to the polytunnel and the exit area to help free-up space.

The Weeding Squad headed to the garlic beds to tackle the many weeds that have put down their roots since we planted the bulbs, working carefully around the many weeds in a variety of sizes in this dimly-lit area.

Meanwhile, the dedicated timber team were busy working effectively in pairs shifting very large wooden planks and boards all over the garden.

The brilliant Frankie directed the teams well, assigning them to new areas no soon as one was completed.

8pm came around fast as usual, and at 8:05 we were gathering tools, and admiring Emma and Ilana's final bit of weeding in the patch by the Camellia.

Off to the shed we went, to return kit and pose for our final pics of the night.

Big shout-outs tonight:

... To Martin, our resident head-torch technican.

... To Oliver, on head torch-collection.

...And, a special mention this week, to the GoodGymers who travel across town to join tasks, who tonight included:

• John, who travelled from Camden.

• Emma who travelled from Croyden.

• Oliver who travelled from Southwark.

• ...and Fiona from Waltham Forest!

Great night, everyone.

Until next time.

Tonight we headed to a brand new task on the Isle of Dogs! No fewer than 9 GoodGymers were greeted by Anne-Marie from the Island House Community Centre in Roserton Street to learn more about what we were doing this evening.

But first the fitness

A good-sized group joined at St John’s Park for tonight’s fitness session.

This well-lit local park housing tennis courts and well-tended gardens offers great views of the Wharf. A brilliant location for a quick workout!

We enjoyed our usual upper body stretches this evening, accompanied by a few laps of the little park, some squats and tricep dips on the benches.

We also welcomed Tom and Lovisha to their first GoodGym session!

Strolling up Manchester Road we were joined by Lobo and Fiona, before heading in to the warm community centre.

A well-prepared task

Anne-Marie was ready and waiting with bundles of equipment for tonight’s painting task.

We headed up to the large hall, opened doors and windows and set about mixing paint, laying dust sheets and turning radiators off.

With six teams initially spread out over the hall, glossing cupboards and coating radiators (and let’s not forget tackling some very high beams for cobwebs) we thought this would be a speedy job, but with careful painting and a clean-as-you-go attitude, the time slipped by faster than we imagined.

In spite of starting the clean-up effort at around 8:40, it was still nearly 9pm before this dedicated team were heading out (GoodGym Golden Rule #135: Never leave a task messier than when you arrived).

This was a brilliant effort from everyone, and we look forward to Part II of this task , when we return on Wednesday 3rd April!

Until then.

Week 2 of our task at the Yurt Café in Limehouse saw us gathering by the picnic tables for Larry's briefing shortly after 7 this evening.

Our first task was to head around to Butcher Row and trim the Buddleja, which was poking through the fence. We worked along the length of this fence, lopping branches and plucking weeds at a thoroughly good speed. Shout-out to Lucinda who was positioned between the fence and the Portakabin, chopping branches and feeding them through the fence.

After we'd completed this first task, we headed around to the garden to make a start of the other big tasks.

Task 2 (and 3)

First up was the timber relocation. Armed with large planks of wood, the first team shuttled back and forth from the area at the bottom of the garden to the Portakabins until the pile was no more.

Our second team got to work on the planter near the cafe, juggling screwdrivers and stubborn planter sides in poorly-lit conditions, stopping frequently and patiently for my slow photographs.

It was another fun and active night in Limehouse, spent with Larry our task owner who's enormously appreciative of the time GoodGymers are spending helping prepare this area for a time-sensitive, exciting new project.

The evening was rounded off with a big shout-out to our Fiona, a huge part of GG Tower Hamlets, who tonight reached her 100th good deed!

Next week, we're heading inside, for our first task at the Island House Community Centre.

Until then.