A welcome return to visit Sybil and the team at The Emmanuel Parish Church this evening, after what had felt like quite a long winter break - even the evening sun made a welcome appearance after our run across from Freaks and Geeks started under forbidding skies and passing rain showers.

It was also a very warm welcome to Kevin on his first mission in Newham. Regulars Hilary, Brad, Graham, and Nick made up the rest of tonight's gang.

Of course Sybil had much planned for us to do, and so with tools, gloves, bags, Iris plants and compost at the ready we were tasked with weeding a border bed at the far end of the Church garden, as well as removing Ivy from the wooden fence, and then preparing and planting the Irises and laying compost across the top surface. With much helpful assistance from other volunteers from the Church group we were soon down on our knees removing all the unwanted greenery from the bed and fencing, before trying to turn the soil in preparation for the planting. Helpfully a hose was at hand to make the soil a little more compliant, and with trowels in hand it was a case of dig and plant at roughly even spacing, followed by a thick layer of compost to feed the plants.

Before we knew it, the time was upon us to pack up, and as we walked back into the Church hall with tools in hand, the team produced plates of sandwiches and fruit to "replenish our energy" - always welcome after a hard day of bordering. Hilary led us on a chatting speed run back to Freaks and Geeks, where we decided to have an impromptu social in the pub to celebrate another successful Tuesday evening of weeding and planting.

We look forward to seeing these latest plants flourish in the garden, and we'll be back again in early July to do a closer inspection!

There was something quite satisfying about Miss N's sister handing me a handful of pound coins to part pay for today's shop - I can't recall the last time I had so much loose change on me. A quick trip to Tesco to pick up bread, and then into the now very familiar Aldi for everything else - the aisles were quiet as was the queue to pay at the machine happy to take cash, so I was soon back again at her door, with just minimal change in hand...

A first for me today as Mr R asked me to get him a jar of capers - something I've never bought before for any other shoppee or myself - I forgot to ask him into what dish he intended to add them. I also wasn't quite sure where in Tesco to search for them, but fortunately they proved easy enough to fine and Mr R was delighted that I'd ticked everything on the list again this week.

After last week's nearly successful mission to build Ms S's new divan, she had (miraculously) taken delivery of two new divan bed bases (and they took the old ones away - she said to me the delivery driver told her "this happens all the time" ), we were both hoping that this time they were matching twins...they were.

Ms S left me to do the unwrapping, constructing, joining, headboard attaching, mattress replacing to the sounds of Radio 3, and after a while all was complete - she produced a mattress topper that she asked me to fit on top of the mattress and once done, I adjusted the headboard to ensure it was clear of the top of the mattress...and finally, after a week of unnecessary palaver, she finally had what looked like a very comfortable bed to sleep in. Mission very much accomplished.