Since GoodGymers totally obliterated the woodchip pile next to the Ealing Transition Orchard in February, Lammas Enclosure hasn't seen a new mulch delivery until said GoodGymers put themselves forward for a special mulching task. Having practised woodchopping tree saplings in Walpole Park during winter, they were ready to spread a decent layer of chips in the hidden part of the Transition Garden.

The team of five: Harvey, Kaja, Steph Ducat, Sevan and Kash found and opened a secret gate to the newly planted area - something like the wardrobe leading to Narnia - just with a fox in place of the lion.

It was the first session for Kaja, who astonished everyone with how prepared she was. Not only did she bring gardening gloves, but, noticing a few brambles obstructing the way, she quickly pulled her own pair of cutters and snipped the thorny stems. Impressive! Welcome to GoodGym, Kaja.

The fresh woodchip pile delivered for the mulching task, when disturbed with shovels, released an abundance of steam and a cherry liquor aroma. If you asked Steph, though, he'd tell you the scent was more like black forest cake.

Regardless of how good (or how bad, according to those who didn't enjoy the booze-like fermented notes) the woodchip smelled, by the end of the session, the heap disappeared. Once again, GoodGym destroyed the whole mulch pile in one go, and laid a good woodchip cover in the whole area of planted whips. Fantastic work, everyone!

Next week, we are staying near Ealing Broadway again, and - after an optional hill running session - we are litter picking at Haven Green, as part of LAGER Can's Great British Spring Clean. Steph, who is leading the session, would welcome a few more hands to cover the area. Sign up and make it happen!

"Everything's growing so fast with the rain." - Mrs C

...and it was only March. The task that Kash and Sevan had been asked to help with wasn't a burst of spring growth. It had been years in the making. A tree planted before Mr and Mrs C moved into their house was now crowding over their patio and most importantly for Mrs C, getting in the way of their washing line. Mr C used to take care of it. For the past 3 years he hadn't been able to, so a big slice needed to be taken off one side.

"Don't take too much off. A bit less [than the first cut]." - Mrs C
*"We'll make sure we don't kill the tree." - Sevan

Armed with a pair of baby loppers, shears and 2 saws, the branches were cut well back to the point of having no leaves left on the problematic side of the tree. It would still have plenty of strength and life though. As well as the baby loppers, there were mummy, daddy and baby ladders too which were all used. The biggest ladder almost allowed Sevan to reach the top of the tree. On a gusty day, he needed to be careful to keep his balance.

With the cutting and clean up done in an hour (include Kash taking a broom to the tree), Mrs C and Kash saw the opportunity to tidy up more bushes in the garden.

"Can you take a little bit off this?"
"A little bit off this one too...?" - Mrs C

Kash was only too happy to keep chopping.

When Kash and Sevan finished, Mr and Mrs C would not only be able to hang their washing up. They'd also have a lot more sun on their patio, which is perfect for the coming spring, as long as that rain holds off.

At the destination of a 20-minute jog to a mission in Islington stood an imposing mansion with an artistic name, an impressive lobby, and bright, sunlit corridors. Sevan and Kash learnt from their beneficiary, Ms M, who lived there, that a beautiful façade does not always mean a well-maintained, functional interior. The lady couldn't even enjoy the view of her building as she was partially blind. While awaiting a cataract operation, she depended on volunteers to help her with reading the correspondence.

The three assumed seats at the table in the sun-soaked living room and attended to a small stack of papers. The first from the top was a beauty salon leaflet that Ms M planned to visit. Sevan spelt the contact details to the beautician, which Ms M wrote with a sharpie using very large letters on an A4 sheet and filed away. The three envelopes to go through consisted of a political campaign leaflet and two important letters regarding money matters.

"When we get the mail these days, it's not happy news. People don't send love letters anymore.", Ms M observed.

It was hard not to agree with her that the art of composing thoughtful letters to loved ones was in decline.

With all the letters read out aloud, large-letter notes taken and filed, the three spent the rest of the mission time chatting about the impacts of AI on the job market, the diminishing critical thinking skills in modern society and the benefits of healthy, homemade food. Ms M revealed herself as a well-travelled individual and a Chinese medicine practitioner, who strongly believed in the empowering role of mindset in healing.

After the enriching conversation, Sevan and Kash left Ms M grateful for the assistance and hopeful about her upcoming surgery. She was full of a positive outlook about regaining her sight and independence, which was very important to her.

There were lots of new things going on at Acton Junior parkrun this morning. There was a new (to GoodGym) run director, a lot of first time runners and GoodGymers running the warm up with Maria leading it alongside Kash and Chris.

Around the course, Alan was marshalling and Steph wore the leopard tail and orange vest as the tail walker. Most other GoodGymers were in the funnel. Maria double-roled, also funnel managing, with Chris recording times and Kash and Sevan making up the barcode scanning team.

The real excitement was far from Steph, with the leading runner finishing in 7 minutes flat on the hilly course 😲. They were so far in front that there was a 95 second gap back to the first boy to finish. Some parents weren't as impressed with their children, leading to those adults making childish comments like:

"[She] didn't pull her trousers up in time at the start, so she deserves to finish 39th" - Childish parent

Chilly but sunny Sunday morning - early start for 3 Goodgymers who were ready to run from Ealing Broadway Station to Acton Park. After a small and chatty run in the sun they arrived in the Park to volunteer at Acton Junior Parkrun. Covered around 3.5km in roughly 19 minutes. The cold weather didnt stop them from getting out early for a run.

It's been eight months since Sevan's and Kash's last visit to Mrs E and her husband - a mission featuring apple collection, getting soaked and watching Wimbledon during the worst downpour.

The first task for the elderly couple this season was far less eventful: cutting the grass, weeding pots and flowerbeds, and scraping moss. This time, Mrs E's husband wasn't well and couldn't come out to the garden to join the gardening team, but Mrs E worked alongside GoodGymers throughout the session, directing Sevan and Kash, cutting dead rosemary, and sweeping the cuttings. The most unexpected event of the session was mowing the thick grass, which turned out to be, judging by the scent, unwanted wild garlic.

Sevan and Kash finished the day of GoodGymming with a 5km run back to Ealing, enjoying the sight of cherry blossoms on the streets and many other trees blooming in Boston Manor and Blondin Parks.

After the HANGOT green task at Osterley Lock we wandered over to No. 6 Coffee for a well deserved break. We were slightly dubious of the choice to toast banana bread and the milkiness of the milkshake (they seemed to take the name quite literally) but a lovely time was had by all. It was great to properly welcome our newest Goodgymers, Shubham and Purva.