I returned this week to help Mrs A and her husband sort through the contents of their shed. Even with our carefully laid tarp from last week, things were a little damp, but we had good weather and got started on the clothing and textiles.

Mrs A isn't very mobile, but has a lot of verve. She sat at the top of the garden stairs and we ferried things up for her to decide what to keep, give to charity, or discard. By the end of the session, we had two large sacks of rubbish, two for charity and a few to keep.

After I carried the give-aways through to the front garden and the keeps back down to the shed, I helped Mr A covered the remaining contents - even more carefully! - with the tarp, so they'll keep for another week. Lots of rain expected this weekend, but hopefully things are well pinned now and will stay dry until Goodgym returns!

A few GoodGym members picked up litter in their local community during the month of September. thank you for your efforts!

Four Goodgymmers - plus Gus! - jogged their way to Martin Primary School to help spread mulch around their forest school. After a quick warm up outside the Phoenix Cinema, Paul and Gus took up back marking, while Anthony and Emily followed my lead along the High Road to the school.

After a brisk jog, we arrived to find tools and mulch waiting for us. We knew the drill and set upon the mulch pile, taking turns to rake, shovel. Then, with headtorches on, we wheeled the mulch down through the orchard to the 'parachute' area - a big tent made from an actual parachute! Then we refreshed the ground and gates.

We scraped up just about all the remaining mulch, but not to worry, the janitor tells us they're expecting a big delivery any day now, so we'll be back all through the coming months to keep those paths well-covered. A great task for a crisp evening!

Next week we're back to Shepherds Hill Gardens - it's a longer run and a great work out tidying paths, trimming hedges and raking and clearing. Looking forward to it!

I popped over to help an elderly couple sort through items in a shed, not quite prepared for the TARDIS they'd hidden at the bottom of their garden. After spreading tarpaulins on the lawn, the husband unlocked the doors and revealed a vast hyperdimension, expertly packed with bags, boxes, furniture, more bags, sacks, drawers, more furniture and a few other things. How they got it all in there I've no idea, but out it came!

It took a good 45min just to spread a load of the contents on one tarp, and even then there were things hiding in the dark at the back. Rather than bring it all out, we started sorting, picking off a few things for charity, for family, and to dispose of. I then helped arrange things in the shed so the remaining inventory is easier to reach, and brought a few essentials back in that they know they'll be keeping.

After that, we covered the stuff out on the lawn with another tarp to keep it dry, pinned the cover in place with pots, rocks and a few bamboo sticks and left it all there for our next visit. The lovely hosts will need help sorting through the bags and boxes, and then shifting things to the front of the house for collection or putting away safely in a more organised fashion. More hands on deck next time!

Tonight's litter pick was suggested by Daniel, who regularly visits one our of green missions - Long Lane Pasture. The path leading up to the gates is always in a bit of a state, so he suggested a clean up all along it. Turns out it was also a solid 4.5km circuit from our meeting point to the clean up and back, which was all the more encouragement.

The ever prompt Beattie was first to the Phoenix, followed soon by myself and Lucinda. After a quick warm up outside, we set off at a hearty pace, scooting across the Fortis Green Junction to East End Road, then through the back alleys of Market Place to Oak Lane, where we zigged and zagged (and checked directions once or twice) to find the North Circular crossing off Tarling Road.

Once across, we followed the path beside the circular until we hit Long Lane and found Daniel waiting for us with pickers and pluck to get us motivated. With head torches on, we scoured from the bottom of the slope up to Long Lane Pasture's gate then kept going. We reported two bulky heaps of fly-tipping along the way (using the FixMyStreet app - useful if you spot things while you're out and about in Barnet, as the council do check it) and filled four sacks with butts, packets, cans, bottles and all the usual stuff. We then carried the bags up Tangle Tree Close to the corner with East End Road, where we found a bin to leave the stash by.

With a job well done, we big Daniel a safe trek home, then the three remaining stalwarts jogged back along East End Road to the Phoenix for a warm down. All in, very satisfying!

If you missed the litter pick, we've our regular monthly plog you can do in your own time, with a friend or solo. And next week we'll be helping Martin Primary School with the usual garden tasks in their Forest Garden. Hope to see you there!

a few GoodGym members came online to do yoga.

Yoga talk

Yoga can contribute to muscle development while nurturing physical and mental wellness. In yoga studios and classes, practices like vinyasa yoga incorporate strength-focused poses that engage muscles and encourage growth. While yoga’s primary goal isn’t solely muscle-building, it does enhance overall body strength and tone.