Despite a weather forecast suggesting we would have a wet task 16 Goodgymers met under dry skies with Friends of St James Gardens.

Our task was to clear the area around Huskissons monument. it's a large paved area that had become a growing space for a large amount of weeds in between the slabs.

We welcomed Abi who is from Climate Coalition who came to join in and find out more about Goodgym Liverpool for Great Green Week.

It was such a lovely atmosphere with so many people working together. Plenty of opportunities to chat as we worked which is always a plus (in this report writers opinion). Michael from Friends Of St James Park also kept us entertained with his vast collection of jokes.

One of the great things about our tasks is that you see such great results in just an hour. Many hands really do make light work. The difference between the start and finish surprised us all. We still have a bit to finish so will be back next week to finish the task.

With a busy weekend, Miriam and I were able to co-ordinate availability and agree a time to move some furniture together for Mr R, whose room had been displaced when it was recently plastered. We were advised the chest of drawers would need 2 people to move, which certainly proved correct as it was a large heavy piece of furniture. However we soon had it back in place and had the bedside table all set too.

Next job was clearing the bed so Mr R could return to sleeping in his own bedroom. Despite lots of belongings being piled up on the bed, we managed to clear it efficiently and ensure there was a safe, clear path for Mr R to access his bed. Mr R has mobility and health issues and was struggling in the back room, so he was very pleased to be able to access his own bed again.

We identified several empty boxes which we broke down (with Mr R's permission) which are now ready to be recycled giving him even more space.

We hope Mr R enjoys finally being back in his own bed in his freshly plastered room! Good luck with the boat-modelling Mr R, and take care on those steep stairs!

It was raining on and off all day so I was worried I’d have to cancel but it was only raining lightly come the time and I thought even if I can’t cut the grass, I can probably get things cut back with my secateurs. When I got there I could see the front garden was overgrown so I thought that’s what I should tackle. Mr R said he had a green bin out the back so I followed him through the house. Argh! The back garden was so overgrown with brambles that I couldn’t even reach the bin! I set about clearing this as a priority and as it was still raining it was the perfect job to get started on. I cut away and filled the green bin with brambles. Mr R made me a coffee with whipped cream on top. Once I’d filled the green bin I pulled it out to the front of the house for collection but it was quite difficult with the path being overgrown so that was my next essential task to get that cleared so he could wheel it in and out. I told Mr R what I’d done and he seemed really pleased. He told me about his love of trains, especially steam trains which was really nice to hear. Look forward to tackling more of Mr R’s garden for him.

Well a few of us met at the suitcases to run to Everton park and the others met us at task near the "love, love parks, love everton park" wall.

But the LLPLEP wall was not the object of our affections this time but a different sort of hidden natural granite wall which was "mosscared" to reveal a lovely place to enjoy the views by Miriam and Dan. Need to get our new good gym word approved by Susie Dent or at least on the panel of "I’m sorry I haven’t a clue"!

While we could hear the delights of satisfaction from the mosscared team the rest of us where trying to identify baby saplings in the grass bank and remove them to avoid them taking over the whole area. We also gave a few trees a trunk trimming or technically limbing up to trim away the baby branches.

John our Everton park leader presented us all with a leaflet of all their events where the good gym team are proudly there front and centre on the cover! We ran home thinking of all the fun times working in Everton park, filled with gratitude and appreciation that we have had the opportunity to work with John over the past years helping the Everton community.

P. S. - While some of us ran home, Naser continued to pick up another couple bags of rubbish making the green space even more fabber! Take a look at the additional photos uploaded to site the final greeness without rubbish!

P.P.S.- I so think it would be sound to have goodgym dictionary !!!

Getting to do some gardening near LFC’s ground gives me an opportunity to use this pun! Back at Mrs J’s I requested to hear Michael Jackson again and she kindly obliged. I tackled more of the ivy in the front yard and gave the grass a mow. The ivy is STRONG. It was like arm wrestling! There’s a lot to clear, I think with a few more sessions it should be sorted. Twenty minutes in the heavens opened but I had a waterproof with me so I kept cutting back the ivy with my secateurs in the rain. Then the sun came out after that short downpour so I was able to get the lawn mower out. All in all another satisfying session and nice to see Mrs J again.

Goodgym goes running!

Heetu and I signed up for the Knowsley Harriers Fab 4-Miler starting and ending at Halewood Environment Centre. After some sat-nav issues which delayed us slightly, we got super lucky with parking and were able to collect bibs, pin up, and make it to the back of the crowd just in time for race start.

We were slightly intimidated by the amount of professional looking running bibs, but it turned out to be a very friendly and supportive crowd. We were given fair warning of an ominous-sounding hill at the start, but after that it was plain sailing under the canopy of the trans penine trail and we were even able to cheer others on as they passed us - on their way back! - after the turning point.

Despite feeling like the turning point was forever out of reach, we eventually got there and headed back. We paced ourselves well for the last mile and managed a strong finish.

This was the second in a 4-race series, and there's a mystery prize for those who complete 3 out of 4. This lovely route certainly peaked our interest, whether we can make the next 2 remains to be seen...