“Do not underestimate the bindweed, its need for wreathe and stifle rooted deep in its name”. Jan Wagner

“ Each morning I evict them. Each night more arrive, their leaves small, green shrouds, reminding me the mother root waits deep underground”. James McKean

“ Bindweed was a bane — hellweed, strangleweed, devil's nightcap”. Caroline Mellor

Poets don’t just confine themselves to waxing lyrical about roses - they’re also inspired by one of the most problematic weeds around. While it is no Japanese knotweed, it chokes the plants it grows around and is notoriously difficult to deal with.

Well there is plenty of it at Cleveland Pools where GoodGym Bath has been helping keep the site under control so it will be ready for action when it is brought back into use.

Bindweed’s white trumpet flowers are deceptively pretty in the bushes but they simply had to go. I spent my time untangling their tendrils and pulling them out as best I could. It was a task made trickier by the sloping ground. Let’s hope they don’t pop back up the moment our backs are turned.

While I was battling the “devil’s nightcap”, Paul was busy doing all sorts of odd jobs. In fact he was busy in the week - taking the mower to the slopes and making them look neater than I’d ever seen them. Today he tidied up bits of rusty fencing and other bits and bobs as well as doing a serious amount of sweeping. There was one area with concrete benches which was tucked away - he imagined swimmers relaxing in the shady spot. Maybe some day soon!

We were so happy to return to the glorious Grow for Life walled garden at Newton St Loe today where we all got stuck in to the task of giving the toilet shed a much needed coat of paint; it was great fun with lots of positive chat in a beautiful place. Join us next time as we've been invited back to paint the tool shed too! Big thanks to Meyrick for fab photos 😊

It’s Loneliness Awareness Week and it’s timely that St Philip’s Church in Bath hosts its monthly One-to-One meal - a way to bring people together over a roast dinner. They would otherwise be eating on their own and this is aimed at combating loneliness along with two courses , a coffee and a quiz.

Sadly some One-to-oners can no longer make it to the church so the team reach out to them and provide them with a takeaway roastie so that they can still feel connected.

That’s where GoodGym comes in - we deliver the food door-to-door. If we’re fast enough it arrives hot - but it can always be heated up and still taste as good. This is where GoodGym’s famous “Do Good Get Fit” motto comes into play. I only had four meals to deliver but I travelled 4.6 miles. Not only were the deliveries spread out across Odd Down, the grateful recipients also gave donations so I had to come back with change.

Still what do a few blisters matter when you’re doing good? We’ll be back next month.

I was in town early for the mission, taking some time out for myself and relaxing in Victoria Park reading my latest book on the origins of life in the Universe. Gradually intruding upon this wonderful calm was the growing rumble of thunder, getting louder by the minute.

Looking up at the sky I could see what this fuss was about, there were a fair number of cumulonimbus clouds bubbling up from the east. As a trained meteorologist, I fired up the lightning checker app on my phone (lightningmaps.org if you are interested) and could clearly see the lightning hitting all around the area between Bristol and Bath, and getting closer.

There is a meaning to this story trust me. I quickly scarpered, and besides it was all but time to head to the mission. Back at St John's Court again, to help make the place a brigther and nicer place to live for the elderly residents, I was met there by Emily, Tanya and James.

Ann, our steadfast coordinator at St John's, led us around the back to a couple of new wooden tables and a planting station that needed painting, this being our job for the evening. However, no sooner had we started than the heavens opened, and one of those cumulonimbus clouds I mentioned earlier was now above is and the downpour was merciless. Seeing as it's been quite warm and muggy it may have been nice to stay outside and get drenched (painting was out of the question though). However, I was a real killjoy and told everyone to go inside in case there was lightning (there was thunder after all), as not only was I concerned for the safety of my fellow GoodGymmers, as mission leader, but I didn't want to do a pile of paperwork.

When the rain ceased we had a half hour left of our mission but what we had been painting was now drenched so Ann had us do some weeding at the front.

I kind of knew it was going to rain, but the hope is always that the forecast has exaggerated it and speaking as a qualified meteorologist this is mostly the case.

Not today though, although it started dry and our hopes were piqued. Our usual organiser from the Farm, Helen, was busy this morning with a school group so delegated to Evie to help guide us. The task was simple, the farm are building a landscaped garden for the geese (of course they are), and the circular path around it needed laying with sand.

Simple, we know how to barrow sand, we might just be the best in the world at doing it. These 'Global Experts' were Cosmo, Bennath and Meyrick and we grabbed a barrow each, and a spade (there was some frustration around the lack of shovels, which then spawned a discussion around when a spade is a spade and not a shovel, but as I said, Global Experts), located our sand bags and got to work.

As we began, the farm was busy, with humans and animals aplenty. However, the rain got heavier and heavier and after 45 minutes, there was not a sign of any animal, human or not, with the exception of the rare spotted Red GoodGymmer barrowing sand in the middle of an absolute deluge.

We pressed on, did the job despite the conditions, of course we did. Big shout out to the crew today as we all went above and beyond.

107 children took to the local cycle track this Sunday but no bikes were in sight. The route doubles as a 2km course for Odd Down Junior Parkrun and the tiny runners were there to get a personal best, start the day right, improve their fitness or just simply run for fun. Every single one of them gave their all and some of their parents joined in to support them and give a family feel to the event.

Mary and I were among 19 volunteers on the day to help things go smoothly. Our job as marshals was to keep an eye out for anyone in difficulties along the course - we were issued with whistles just in case - but also to cheer on the youngsters. Giant foam hands were deployed full time for high fives alongside many words of encouragement. It’s amazing how the prospect of hitting a marshal’s hand can give you a real turn of speed.

We noticed that one or two of the fastest children were absent and realised they were now too old for juniors - let’s hope they find a future in athletics and have been inspired by their Odd Down experience.

There are still plenty of familiar faces to look out for next time - with those foam hands at the ready.