With most of us coming from a thwarted leafleting task earlier in the morning, and Ceci meeting us at this task, we were back at the Community Hospice for a second session of thorn-thrashing - cutting back a prickly area of brambles so that hidden fruit trees and other suffocated plants can thrive again.

We had cleared about half the area last month, and this time we were determined to get the rest done. Before the rain.

And we did just that!

Just as we were taking the tools back to the shed, the rain set in. It was definitely a lucky escape as the forecast would have seen us getting very wet much earlier. Or perhaps the weather gods recognised that GoodGymers giving up their time to help others deserve a break!

The hard work done, a few of us enjoyed a tasty lunch and good natter in the Hospice canteen, then headed home.

Jason, the Hospice's head gardener, is sure to have plenty more for us to do on our next visit, and the more hands the better, so come along and join us!

This morning was all about helping two brilliant local charities and supporting a local parkrun.

First up Bexley parkrun - Manish in hi-viz handing out finishing tokens; Marta, Julian, Johnny and me running. Afterwards we mingled with the other runners, giving out Mind in Bexley's leaflets promoting their Mental Elf run in the park next weekend. So far, so good 👌!

When Ivar arrived, we donned jolly elf hats and set off to pop lots more Mental Elf run leaflets through letterboxes of houses close to the park. Well, that was plan at least.

However, a resident at the second house told us he already had a leaflet because someone else had delivered fliers along the street earlier in the week 🤔.

Not wanting Mind in Bexley to receive complaints from locals about having been targeted twice, we called it a day on that task, said 'bye' to Manish and moved on to the Community Hospice for some bramble-bashing.

Things may not always go to plan with GoodGym, but we always have fun time when we get together, so it's never a wasted venture.

Come and give GoodGym a go.

We had a treemendous time decorating the trees at Parkview Care Home last night!

After some of us ran to the task from the sports centre, we met up with Andy, the care home activity co-ordinator, and the other GoodGymers.

We split into two groups in order to decorate the trees in different lounges, with the help of some of the residents. We had a lot of fun chatting with them and sorting through all the baubles.

In no time at all the trees were done and it was time for us to go.

Ho ho ho until next time ✨️!

As GoodGymers there's nothing we like more than starting a project and seeing it through to the end.

So last night's task was particularly satisfying, as we finished painting the Year 2 cloakroom at Holy Trinity Lamorbey Primary School - transforming the original scuffed yellow walls to a clean cream, over three separate visits.

As we rollered and brushed, there was plenty of chatter with Jane, the school's vice principal. For added entertainment, Jane showed us her favourite entry from a recently-unearthed school punishment book. Dating from December 1932:

Frightening small children with a dead rat: 2 strokes on the hand.

Eek, hopefully the only strokes on our record are our painting brush strokes!

We'll be back helping at the school next month - check the sessions listing and come and join us!