As I was going to Guide Run at Hackney moves in the afternoon with one of our Achilles UK Visually Impaired runners, I decided to do a mission in Goodgym Hackney. My 21st GG area and today was special as my mission was with Ms L who is also visually impaired and cannot see much. I arrived and she had a French friend to help her out as loads to do in the flat. Ms L needed us to sort items, clean or dust them before putting in containers or boxes ready for when she moves. I was asked if I was ok with sorting the bathroom, which I didn't mind. The lights were pink so not easy to read the labels of the bottles I found. I sorted shampoo, shower gels, soaps, etc.. I had some visitors or were they checking on me? Three beautiful fluffy cats!!!They just wanted some attention. Once finished, I was shown a 2nd bathroom upstairs and emptied a small cupboard full of hair items like shampoo, dye, brushes etc ... Whisker me this : another mission done until next time.

Today I returned to an isolated resident of Hackney to cut back more of the overgrowth, despite a few attempts we are only halfway through.

But things are looking better and there is now more garden to see.

Ms D. seemed to relish the chance to supervise my (Dan's) mission to sever the ivy plant that had come to preside over the far-right corner of her garden.

Looking carefully, it appeared that the vine in question had grown through, over, around, doubtless even under, a startled pair of fencing panels, left floundering at the back of her plot.

With respect, I proferred, might some credit seem due to the ivy, with its reach so vast and its grip so unyielding?

But, nay, sneaking stealthily through tiny cracks, spreading foliage over all it can enfold, biting hold a defiant grab for any malleable matter... these characteristics deserve not acclaim.

If there need be a horticultural reason why the ivy ne'er wore the crown, it would be the twisting terror with which it unleashes tendrils to devour any innocent wall or unwitting fence. Unseemly behaviour. Far from regal.

Deemed worthy of just a single mention alongside the proclaimed majesty of the holly, our popular Christmas carol's rebuff spurred on my prickly grit and vigorous force.

As Ms D. proposed, in her stake to frame thinking on the subject, both mythical and practical: could there be any context, in garden, park or forest, in which the ivy could be called by any name, but "weed"?

And so it was, clearly laid down as my mission: complete severance. As stark a strategy as this required a severing operation of the most severe kind.

So I dived into a sea of ivy pouring over the farthest corner. Secateur strength was tested to the limit on several occasions, but kept up slicing through to keep limbs of the beast falling to the ground, or at least snipped off further up top to stunt any further flow.

The viny issue had certainly felt a knock-back, banished from the immediate spot, space reclaimed and opportunities presented once more for other plantlife to have their day in the May sunshine.

And yet, as per the photo record, the clearance on one side, whilst a success, served also to highlight the ivy affliction remaining over the southern stretches. The battle for a ivy-free fencing is yet half won.

If you have the personal tenacity and a steely set of secateurs, do join a final session at Ms D's to get her garden ivy-rid, at least for now and the coming summer.

Let's get this whole fence restored to its rightful state and stature, the natural choice of border to safely protect a thriving and diverse territory.

The path to a future crowning glory of garden vitality beckons!

As we stood feeling somewhat chilly under the big tree this morning waiting for our junior runners to arrive, we all decided that it really wasn't shorts weather - clearly none of us had taken much notice of the forecast, or we'd been fooled by yesterday's day of summer.

Fortunately the cooler air didn't deter the crowds, as we welcomed 67 runners, plus their coaches and fans, to the course and witnessed a super speedy double circuit by our lead runner, who crossed the line in an eye watering 7:49, nearly 30 seconds clear of the second placer.

Of course parkrun isn't a race, so it was great to see so many others smiling as they went round the poles and cones in much less of a hurry, high fiving some of the marshalls along the way and generally enjoying their morning out. 7 First Timers visited us at the Fields today, hopefully we'll see them all again, and 15 PBs were set, which clearly showed a few had warmed up properly. With results uploaded and everything packed away for another week, we sped off to find ourselves a hot coffee and somewhere a little warmer to try and get our circulation going.

Today, with the help of another GoodGymer we made some progress in a resident of Hackneys garden.

The situation had gotten a little out of hand and reclaiming the garden is a bit of a grind.

The outcome so far is good and the resident has three quarters of her garden back, which she is able to enjoy.

The weather wAs warm and sunny, another 30 square meters worth of clearance should do it. 😎

with a break in the middle of a series of work related clean-ups it felt only natural to tidy up the surrounding undergrowth as well.

• bag & half of clothing
• dumped dvd player
• funny sign
• General rubbish

all packed up and left with work rubbish for council collection