On a cool evening 6 of us met outside the Old Factory Gym and set off towards St Mary's church in Broomfield.

Tonights task was do help them with some gardening and clearing some paving and walls.

Running at prime chatting pace we were soon there and met by Fay,David,Laurie and Sallyann already hard at work.

Martin,Ben and Joe quickly got to work raking and turning the soil by the church while Erin and Andy joined David scrubbing weeds and soil off the boundary wall. Although Erin got a great bit of 'Mansplaining' of how she should being doing it by a passerby, lol. This was quickly put to rest by the fabulous group of gardening volunteers asking that we don't do as the passerby had said. (double lol)

With things packed away we were invited inside for drink and biscuits ( thank you ), then the runners were off back to base, and again at prime chatty pace we were soon back.

Well done all and hope to see you next week for some leafleting

Run Happy

Rich

The surprisingly cold evening didn't stop David and Martin from optimistically turning up in shorts, whilst the rest of us sensibly covered our legs for an hour of litter picking.

We were pleased to see Nisar back after a break, talk about parkrun, and hear all about his other great volunteering work recently! Russell also returned after a short break and of course he and Andy talked at length, with Disneyland on this week's agenda for them. Martin casually slipped into conversation that he'd run a marathon in Colchester at the weekend, and spotted an unknown Goodgymer.

We tried out a different litter picking location down by the river, and whilst being stared down by an understandably angry swan, filled up two very heavy bags. Andy ventured into the bushes and produced an almost unbelievable amount of Tesco cider cans, followed by posing for a photo with a gleeful wine glass holding Sallyann.

Our task this evening couldn't go past without mention of some of the group's previous love, Beat the Street, or without a photo of a once frequented lamppost on Waterloo Lane.

With it being Fay's birthday tomorrow, she very kindly brought us delicious homemade lemon drizzle cake, thanks Fay! It's also Sallyann's birthday on Saturday, David's birthday on Monday, and it's just been Nisar's birthday. We funnily enough didn't discuss gifts, but plans for birthday food, including Moto, homemade pizza, fish and chips, and Chinese takeaway. Hope everyone enjoys!

Thanks for a great litter pick, and see you all soon.

Laurie