GoodGymers from Maidenhead and surrounds signed up to do a litter pick in their areas at a time suitable to them. That's the good thing about litter picking, you can do it anywhere, anytime. The bad thing is, well, the litter!

I was so curious about how much litter I collected that I weighed it when I got home. A whopping 8.2kgs! Very satisfying. If this caught your attention, keep an eye on more litter pick listings coming in Dec and Jan.

If slightly cleaner neighbourhoods aren't enough reason to celebrate, we had a big one — Viv's 100th good deed 🥳. With some last-minute re-arrangements, a bunch of us celebrated this milestone at Rachel's home with a delicious homemade chocolate Yule log, a crafty medal by Sheila and a poem by Amy:

Back in June 2024

An Angel with the last name Shaw

Brought Viv to the Battlemead Balsam war

And there she started her good deeds score

Thus the GoodGyming seeds were sown

and with Viv’s green fingers they’ve grown and grown

Always with a smile and never a moan

She now has 100 good deeds to call her own!

She’ll do good in rain, fog, or snow

Often with faithful dog Flora in tow

Lanterns, leaves, and litter – Viv is in the know

She’ll jump on her bike and off she’ll go!

And if a pigeon should invade your local church hall

While you’re meant to be exercising with a Pilates ball

and then get trapped behind a false wall

Trust me, Viv is a good person to call

When I type hi-vis, autocorrect thinks I mean

Hi Viv, because she’s the GoodGym hi vis queen

She helps us and the logo be safe and seen

More than we otherwise would have been!

Thank you for being so awesome Viv

And for all the kindness that you give.

You make a huge difference in the place you live

Now shall we have some cake? Answer, affirmative!

Six GoodGymers (including Frosty the Snowman aka Amy) gathered at Wessex School to continue with the task of digging out and dismantling some raised beds Barrowloads of soil were deposited either in the skip or on some spare ground . We celebrated every time we extracted a shrub root. Each one was hard earned! We managed to clear 2 beds, but there is plenty more to do next year!

Today’s adventure with the Friends of Ray Mill Island was less “gym” and more “DIY Olympics.”

• 🚗 Cardboard chauffeur duties: We liberated a car stuffed with cardboard and wood, proving that sometimes the toughest workout is just unloading.
  
• 🛖 Shelter building (spectator sport): A collapsible shelter sprang up thanks to others’ handiwork—my role was more “cheer squad” than “construction crew.”
  
• 🌱 Groundwork genius: We laid cardboard across the nursery ground, giving weeds their eviction notice and future plants a fighting chance.
  
• 🪵 Wood whispering: Sanding timber for tree signs—because even trees deserve a bit of spa treatment before getting their nameplates.
  
• 🎨 Painting (artistic abstention): Brushes were wielded, but not by me. I left the creative flair to the painters.
  
• 🔨 De‑nailing duty: Nails and screws were prised out of old wood, recycling it into two shiny new workbenches for the nursery. Who knew carpentry could feel like treasure hunting?
  

Sue and Jen in Windsor town,
GoodGym stars who never frown.
Five mini buses lined in a row,
Waiting for sparkle, a gleaming glow.

With hoses spraying arcs of light,
Brushes scrubbing with all their might,
Sponges dancing, cloths that shine,
Each bus transformed, one at a time.

Laughter bubbles with suds that gleam,
A duo powered by purpose and team.
For People to Places, their care runs deep,
Promises polished, commitments they keep.

By dusk the buses proudly stand,
Clean and bright from loving hands.
Sue and Jen, with spirits high,
Washed the wheels as kindness passed by.

An early foggy dog walk turned into a bottle litter pick up along the pyg track. Searching through the newly planted crops to pick up broken bottles too!

Was nice to see the amazing work this team are doing, hopefully helped a little too 🙂 Lovely to see Carol back from her travels and to welcome Shelley to her first Baby Bank mission. We certainly helped clear the decks ready for the next clothes-sorting session. A never-ending task!