About a dozen earthlings seized the day by taking up the opportunity of partaking in another fun task at Oceans Youth Connexions. Task owner Kamal opened the room divider to reveal a space we hadn't been in since we started our tasks here 2 years ago. The partition removed, we stepped into another dimension - a well sized room which used to be a carpet shop. A bunch of the gang put on some protective overalls and gloves before getting to work here, painting all walls white. Rohan had some unfinished business with an unpainted patch next door so he swiftly sorted that first. In the carpet room, the team started low, gradually moving up. None of the carpets turned out to be magic but we did have ladders to help us reach higher places. Conversations flowed as smoothly as paint rollers on exposed brick. Lots of chat about running endeavours, past and present. Good luck to those running Brighton half in a few weeks! A few drops of paint ended up on some visages but most of it covered the intended surfaces.

Outdoors in the yard, this was a paint free zone. The team here got to work clearing up leaves, other foliage and rubbish. The theme outdoors was South American with two of our group travelling there in the coming weeks. Bon Voyage to those soon embarking on adventures, be they travelling, culinary, or expressed through the medium of dance. Whilst this team mainly worked behind bars, this was no prison. They roamed back and forth, from the smaller yard, to the bigger yard, to the magic circle outside where the leaves have a temporary stay. Once the free-range roamers had finished up, they joined the decorators indoors.

We ended the task with the customary group photo and a somewhat tuneful rendition of Happy Birthday for Anna.

• Shout outs to:
• Anna on her first task, and crossing the Thames to do so!
• Robert for also crossing the Thames (not his first task)
• Anna for it being her birthday week - happy birthday!

We'll be back here next month (date TBC)