As one of the Run Directors at Bexley parkrun, it was my turn to oversee this morning’s event. A cool morning saw 383 participants turn up for their weekly 5k fix. Everything ran smoothly until I was handed a mobile phone left behind by one of the runners. No claimants by the time the event had finished, I made my way to Chestnuts for a coffee hoping the phone would ring and the owner would come and collect. No ring and therefore a decision had to be made as to what to do. Purely by chance, I noticed a caller on the screen and then realised the phone was on silent. After advising the caller (Dad) of our location, owner and phone were quickly reunited. An RDs life is always unpredictable 😂

What a great turn out this Sunday morning! Ten GoodGymers turned up to help Levi with his project at The Mall Bexleyheath.

We met Levi and Conroy who showed us what needed to be done.

We set to work painting the two washrooms, a kitchen and an office! Sounds a lot, it was but we got it done and what a transformation!

Sarah W was on coffee duty and we had the music playing in the background! Lots of conversations about parkruns and football was being had. It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning!

We managed to finish in good time and then went for a bite to eat at the Weatherspoons.

With the next visit secured in our diaries we headed off.

I made a long awaited return to GoodGym duties along with Susan, Martin and Cami who was participating in her debut GG task ✨️ - welcome Cami.

We were due to be washing the minibus at Parkview Care Home 🧽💦🪣. However, the evening became somewhat confused when, arriving at the care home, no minibus was in view 🤔.

With the absence of sponges and minibus, the task was aborted. We were offered weeding 🌿, but given the excellent work undertaken by GG Bexley on previous visits, there was a lack of weeds.

So, it was suggested to come indoors and engage with the residents in some games and quizzes.

Susan and Martin played pairs with a number of residents, to match pictures of well-known celebrities such as Morecambe and Wise; Johnny and Sarah were missing from this list.

Cami run a quiz session involving capital cities, while I had a challenge from Catherine, the resident Scrabble champion. A very competitive 40 minutes were spent with Catherine coming out on top.

An enjoyable evening for all concerned and we'll be back to share other activities!

We made quite a difference to the grounds at Welling Library today.

'Make mine a vodka and Coke.' With nearly fifty empty glass bottles there had clearly been a drinking party at some point! They all went into the recycling bin ♻️.

Then we tackled the weeds and brambles, not easy in the frozen ground 🌱 .

Luckily we were working around the sunny sides of the building and all our activity kept us warm despite the minus temperatures in the shade 🌡.

A little over an hour - and nine bin bags-ful later - we headed to a nearby café for hot drinks and more chatting. The hot chocolate was a well-earned winner!

Elsewhere, GoodGym tourism saw Ashton's litterpicking, and Peter's volunteering at junior parkrun take us to 25 good deeds this month. This means we've already reached our target for the January Challenge 💥!

That's amazing, and great work Team GG Bexley! Can we make it to 50 by the end of the month do you think?

Seven GoodGymers joined the team of volunteers at Lessness Abbey Woods junior parkrun on a damp and breezy Sunday morning.

Our newest member, Corletta, certainly picked a good day for her first task! While Corletta volunteered, two of her children did their first ever junior parkrun, and the rest of the family cheered them on. Well done all round!

Run Director Keeley also notched up her first GoodGym good deed. The rest of us performed timekeeping, barcode scanning, finish tokens and marshalling.

Despite the rain, 25 juniors ran and walked the 2km course which made for an enjoyable morning for the volunteers.

Event completed, we headed to the Chestnuts cafe for a well earned coffee.

We're listing this event as a weekly community mission now, so dive in and join the fun!