This week, a lone GoodGymer joined the TRAID core team to tackle a mountain of donations, with over 50 bags of clothing needing to be moved from the basement to the shop floor. Forming a human chain, we got into the fabric of the task, passing bag after bag upstairs and turning a daunting pile into a manageable one. Once the heavy lifting was done, the core team earned some well-deserved pizza before getting stuck into hanging the clothes on the rails. Sadly, I had to make tracks before the slacks hit the racks, so I missed both the pizza and the hanger marathon. Still, it was satisfying to help keep tonnes of pre-loved fashion in circulation and one step away from landfill. A seamless team effort, even if this GoodGymer didn't stick around for the extra toppings. 👕♻️🍕

A late addition to Mr R's list was a tub of his preferred Greek yoghurt - he hadn't written it down but noted that as I'd been to Greece recently, it wouldn't be too tricky for me to remember...of course I then nearly forgot the milk.

I couldn't help but find myself thinking biblical references this afternoon - Mr R's short Saturday list was his usual fare, but at the front door he'd made extra emphasis on me finding the Sourdough and the fresh Salmon...no 21st century miracle required today, just a trip to Tesco.

A neat and tidy list for Mrs S today - I think we're now in a pretty familiar routine, and fortunately the world's politest supermarket was on its best behaviour (unlike the weather, albeit the rain is much needed...), except for having a "bunch of basil", for which I diverted (out of curiosity) into Sainsbury's on the way home, and lo and behold they had multiple sprigs.
Mrs S was delighted with the full house on her list, and hoped I hadn't got too soaked...

Last night’s GoodGym session in Westminster took us back to St Andrew’s, where our task was to tackle the vast amount of arts and crafts supplies and sort everything into trays ready to go into the new storage before the kids return next week. There was an incredible amount to get through — paints, craft materials, games, and all sorts of wonderfully creative things for the children to discover and enjoy. Looking at it all laid out, it was easy to see what a brilliant resource this is: not just fun, but materials that can help children develop skills, express themselves creatively and even use art as a form of therapy.

It was also eerily quiet without the children around. We’re so used to the voices, music and activities happening all around us that the silence felt quite strange. Still, there was something surprisingly therapeutic about working our way through the supplies. Khai, Adrian and I settled into a good rhythm, sorting, organising and gradually turning the chaos into something much more manageable.

We even came across one particularly intriguing bag of equipment that was definitely not very kid-friendly — more suited to adult consumption! Let’s just say we were careful not to let any bunny business get mixed up with the children’s crafts. 🐰

By the end, we’d worked our way through the supplies and everything was organised and ready to be moved into its new home. Adrian was really pleased to see it all sorted, which made the evening feel particularly worthwhile.

Another visit to St Andrew’s, another good deed done! It’s lovely to know that the work we do helps keep such a valuable community resource organised, welcoming and ready for the children who rely on it. We might not have heard their voices last night, but we could certainly imagine the noise, creativity and fun that will soon fill the space again.

Thanks to Khai for the punspiration this week!

As I wandered towards Mr R's front door, I noticed the street was full of (early) fallen horse chestnuts aka conkers...another tree confused by the unseasonal weather. In a strange coincidence Mr R's shopping came to £10.66 - I half expected to see a knight on a horse on the way back (or a large tapestry), but instead got the heavy bass from nearby Notting Hill carnival instead for company...