We have two sessions booked in in February and March at the Mulgrave Street community garden, for weeding, maintenance and planting. Ahead of these sessions, task owner Khan had asked us to come down as the litter was 'ripe for the picking' so we could get the area nice, clean and clear ahead of digging in the week after.

12 Goodgymmers turned out on what was a freezing cold January night. After introductions, admiring Chris's shiny new '50 Deeds' black Goodgym t-shirt - well earned, congratulations Chris! - and the usual litter picking safety briefing from Bekah ("please no wandering off in the dark on your own!") we got to work. With a good sized group we'd soon cleared the lovely garden Khan has created, and set our sights further afield to the surrounding streets, planters and bushes.

The hedges just next to the garden are so thick, it was like a crystal maze challenge trying to maneuver the litter pickers through the railings, between the trunks and stems, grab the litter and maneuver it back through the undergrowth without dropping it. At some point several of us were actually in the bushes, reaching and stretching in very elegant positions.

We found quite an array of items, including a golf club (which was in very good condition, actually...), a tyre (much worse condition), a left shoe and a right boot, a table tennis bat, and a table leg. Plus we managed to fill 13 bin bags full of litter. It was cold - oh, so very cold - and absolutely no-one was dramatic about the freezing temperature ;) However the amount we collected made it all worthwhile and after an hour we called time and gathered to dispose of the bags and take the group photo.

Khan closed the session with huge thanks to the group, sharing that Goodgym is a massive part of maintaining this garden and the litter picking makes such a difference to the local community. We were all glad to head home to the warmth and pleased with a good job well done.

Next week - we head back to Mulgrave Street for weeding and maintenance, prepping the site ahead of our March session when we'll be planting. See you there!

After a very enjoyable bike ride, past some of my favourite places, I arrived at the home of Mrs M, who welcomed Heetu and me like old friends.

At almost 87, she is bright, funny and very friendly... and still drives her own car. Having lived for over 40 years in her house, Mrs M and her husband had made a beautiful family home and garden.

For the past twelve months, Mrs M has lived on her own. Being very independent, and with the help of walking sticks and other aids, she has managed most daily  tasks. Sadly, after a fall, Mrs M  realised that she could no longer climb on footstools or keep on top of her gardening.

The spindles on a wooden stool that was used to access cupboards in the kitchen had become loose and dangerous, and the roller blind had become stuck.

The stool was put back together, although we felt it could have used some glue to make it more secure. Heetu and I also managed to take apart the roller blind mechanism, and, with the help of Google and WD40, put it back together again... working!

Mrs M's father-in-law had been a Master Builder! We wondered what he would have thought of our DIY efforts.

An extra little task was to figure out how to remove the plastic caps from an air freshener refill and put it together.

Mrs M was very pleased with our help and promised to call us back if ever she needed a hand with anything else.

Heetu and I felt that we had earned a cuppa and maybe a little treat. Finding a local café with a plethora of pastries, we had a very pleasant catch-up.

A lovely end to a lovely mission.