Since my fellow GoodGymer Alan had beaten me to signing up for this week's Friday night shopping mission for Mr G, I sought consolation in the humble weeding task for the same gentleman at the same time.

I met Alan at Mr G's, and all three of us had a brief, casual chat about the afterlife, the karmic cycle and the prospect of reincarnation as a cat.

Then I promptly got on with my gardening job, as the days were getting shorter - I had about 30 minutes before the sun went down. The front garden was small, so I quickly pulled out the weeds, swept up most of the leaves and helped Mr G put his new houseplant in a pot.

I didn't get to catch a glimpse of the sunset, but I did catch a glimpse of Alan returning with the shopping - an equally wonderful sight that made me think life's good - before I ran back home.

Another weekly shop for Ms F. The strawberries were out of season and breaded haddock out of stock. Cheese soufflés were purchased as a backup meal. In my home country, there's a saying: “When there are no fish, even a crayfish counts as a fish.” I guess nowadays you can extend the crayfish category to cheese soufflés.

On an exceptionally warm Tuesday night, eight GoodGymers reprised their roles as rake and spade wielders and wheelbarrow drivers in the sequel to the magnificent fruit tree mulching task in Blondin Park. Dora even made it into the permanent cast after her debut at the same location last month! The task owner, Linda, wasn't around this time to welcome us, but she had arranged for volunteer David to support us and provide everything we needed - apart from Linda's famed hot chocolate!

The soft, golden-hour light was replaced this time by a darker backdrop, punctuated by flashing headlamps and work lights that helped the team find the apple trees in need of mulching. A few trees had been waiting for a dose of woodchip, with their bases exposed, since the beginning of August. These were prioritised for mulching by most of the team, while Richard and Giles made a start on digging the grass out from around a tree that wasn't quite ready for woodchipping yet.

Despite the late hour and the time of year making for less-than-bright conditions, everyone enjoyed the mild night-time temperature, with only a few drops of rain falling from the sky. The team achieved an impressive amount in such dim conditions, leaving only a few larger trees still awaiting their turn for mulching.