After a day of torrential downpours or April power showers, the sun shone for our task with Colchester in Bloom at the Bergholt Road allotment.

It was slightly chilly but we warmed up as we 'Jeffed' for 3km to the task where we were met by Pam. Our task was a very good arm work out emptying roughly 30 hanging baskets and boxes ready to be replanted and hung across the city centre. We completed it, even saving some of the plants in boxes and saving Colchester in Bloom loads of time!!!

Off we trotted into the sunset, another task complete and looking forward to seeing the flowers in the coming weeks.

Good luck to Frazer for his 5k on Wednesday and we'll done to Sophie for performing in a BSL choir in Chelmsford to a large crowd!

It was in Spring and Summer 2017 when I realised the inpact Goodgymers had in Colchester. We had planted bulbs and gardened around the city centre and then the colourful flowers appeared! Very satisfying!

Spring is again starting to show and the evenings will be lighter still in two weeks when the clocks change, so whatever help we can give our flowery friends is worthwhile.

The gardens outside Firstsite, like so many in Colchester, need tending to regularly and tonight we cleared the way for the green shoots of spring to shoot up.

Thanks Pam and well done Frazer.

2024 is here and the January Challenge is under way! Time to do good, get fit and self-log good deeds plus all your Kilometers on Strava!

After meeting Annabel at The Mercury for a Doc Check we jogged the short distance down Balkerne Hill and met Pam and helped Colchester ready to Bloom!

Yesterday Storm Henk kindly shook a few extra sticks down to join the leaves around Middlebrough fountain but between us we stuffed 6 bags full of leaves and left the a little bit of Colchester history looking tidier. Bravo!

We also sprinted up Balkerne Hill twice to get some air in our lungs start the year as we mean to go on...

Tonight we helped out Colchester in Bloom on a very festive and sparkly High Street. Our task was to deadhead the flowers in all of the flower display boxes along the High Street! A more delicate task than the usual removing plants by force.

It was chilly! So we worked fast and then went to get warm outside Firstsite, doing a circuit of sprints, press-ups, squat jumps and triceps dips!

Next week we are singing Christmas Carols so here is my adaptation of an old stool Christmas rap.

Don't you give me all that jive about things you wrote before I's alive 'Cause this ain't 1823 -- ain't even 1970 Now I'm the thing named GG Colch and Christmas is one thing we know So every year just about this time, I celebrate it with a rhyme

Gonna sweep it, gonna wrap it, gonna make it good Gonna snip pick mop it through your neighborhood Gonna run it, gonna walk it till it's understood My rappin' 'bout to happen like a knee you've been slapping Or a toe you've been tapping on a hunk of wood 'Bout a red-suited team with a friendly attitude And a sleigh full of good deeds for for the people on the block Everyone is welcome, maybe we look kinda weird And if you ever see us, we can give you quite a shock

Who doesn't love a Christmas rap...thanks Kurt's Blow for the inspiration!

https://youtu.be/9xUFnGWWtoQ?si=tUN5iXS9_Q0xZDdx

Three is the magic number and with amazing efficiency we completed the task, took photos, chatted to passers by and saw a moving brass-band performance choreographed in time with the statue (Knife Angel) being lit up.

Our task was to remove all the flowers from the High Street boxes...and we managed it in record time.

If you are interested in the Knife Angel the official website is gives this description: "National Youth Anti-Violence Tour & Programme – The Knife Angel The sculpture, made from over 100,000 seized blades, was specifically created to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour whilst solidifying our critical need for social change. Not only does the Angel act as a catalyst for turning the tide on violent and aggressive behaviour, but it is also acts as a beautiful memorial designed to celebrate those lives who have been lost through these violent and thoughtless actions."

The Firstsite gardens looked lush with purple verbena, a foxglove type pink flowers and grasses. Our job was to weed, litter pick and make a bit of space to plant!

Firstsite was looking good in the setting sun and tucked away next to the Minories, the garden is a welcome sight to many.

We worked hard in the bushes and enjoyed the chatter...all six of us. Or was there 8...