When the usual
Is always unusual
Gratitude unfolds

Last people standing at the Hub are the people cleaning and packing everything away. Giles and Steph Ducat were joined by new comer to Goodgym Zine who took the cleaning and packing very seriously. Magical cleaning crew.

Jp arrived to help James and Steph Ducat at the grocery section and hand out bags of food to cook or snack bags for those without cooking facilties. Giles went to the clothing section and was guiding people to the different pieces of clothing they were aload including the t-shirts we normally see tourists buy. Jacquie was serving food in the sitting area. Today coronation chicken was served with a lemon couscous salad. Once all calmed down in the grocery and clothing section, Giles went to help in the kitchen to clean dishes and JP clean the grocery area. Steph was also clearing and helped in the foyer.

Friday Hub is popular with some Goodgymers and today was one of those days with loads of us turning up early to setup and prepare the day ahead. Jacquie was on tea service duties where you had a choice of various cereals and biscuits. Anna was on her first session at ESK where she helped Doreen in the clothing section. James and Steph Ducat were on food grocery preparation but also helped removing price tags off t-shirts for Doreen. We also separated eggs 🥚 so we could give them out with the food bags.

A man all in black arrived at Miss S who thought she missed me and didnt hear me knocking as she overslept but it was not the case. I arrived a few minutes early at the point she opened the door even before I knocked. Today was a trail of papers : newspapers, personal papers, junk mail and old Xmas cards. I was trailblazing from the front door to the kitchen door, then into the lounge. Sorting by newspapers and junk in one bag and then letters open or closed in another. Cards and booked put on a separate pile.I then cleared all the bags on the floor in the kitchen so it was accessible for Miss S. During the mission we talked alot about countries and travels as Miss S used to work in tourism.

Seven months have passed since GoodGym last supported Walpole Park, making it clear that sessions in this beloved green space in the heart of Ealing are very much an autumn-winter thing. The temperatures, however, did little to signal the changing season. GoodGymers still happily sported short sleeves and shorts, while the park, despite being pitch black, teemed with nightlife, wildlife and parklife. Frolicking people and foxes alike were seen – or smelled!

The park welcomed back some seasoned Walpolers: Chris, Harvey, Steph Ducat, Sevan and Kash. Amy and Scott, who joined GoodGym over the spring and summer months, got their first taste of a nighttime Walpole Park session. Breda also visited from GoodGym Hounslow and was amazed by the abundance of tools sourced by our friend Richard.

Yes, Richard! The long-missed Ealing Greenwayer, best known to us from Pear Tree Park, made a comeback wearing his kitchen garden volunteer hat. He also hosted a historic session: the first time a task owner was actually present in Walpole Park during one of our activities!

Richard showed us a secret pocket of leafy compost, which we were tasked with moving to the kitchen garden's compost bins. The mulch was very well concealed indeed. Even when led to this obscure (but surprisingly well-lit, thanks to Ealing Studios) spot, the compost was hiding in plain sight.

"We are actually standing on a layer of composted leaves" – Richard.

To get to the mulch, we first had to excavate it. And it wasn't as quick and easy as simply shovelling: the compressed leaves were intertwined with roots. Some of us relished the challenge of seemingly endless digging and the accompanying upper-body workout.

"It's like a canoeing trip. After the first half an hour your arms are dead, but then you're numbed and just carry on." – Amy.

Supplied by Richard with barrows in addition to two larger trolleys, we managed to fill one of the compost bins almost to the brim. It was a successful first Walpole Park session of the season, but surely not the last one. So watch this space for more night-park-life coming up this autumn and winter!