The church hired a skip to coordinate with our visit, there was a certainly a slight expectation on us to deliver the goods. By that I mean provide enough people, energy and can-do spirit to clear out a densely packed room full of furniture, boxes, obsolete electrical bits and more.

With just Hils, Rebecca and myself jogging it in from base, it could have been a long eve, but we had confidence the squad was showing up on the Romford rd. "Favourite thing about British culture?" An easily amended question off the back of last week's francophile brainstorm. Queues, sarcasm/wit and this week's winner from Rebecca....pub culture.

The team showed up at the other side, five more power-houses of benevolence ready to get stuck in; including a long-time absentee, Miriam, a lovely surprise to have you back. We got straight to business, decanting the old out of a store room, through a narrow and ancient church passageway, and a door befit for the vertically challenged. Took us a good fifty minutes to load it all into the skip, breaking it down when necessary with screw-drivers and highly technical Kung Fu kicks.

The church are hugely thankful, a job that's "given them nightmares" for so long. You guys rolled in and nailed it in less than an hour - just another example of what this little regular outfit in Newham does so well.

Next week I've reshuffled our plan to go to Abbey Gardens, instead we'll help assist Cody Dock with event set-up.

Till then,

B

We headed to see Sybil at Emmanuel Church this morning.

Weeding was the first job to completed to make the bed ready for planting. When the bed was clear we planted peonies and tulips in the flower bed on the front lawn of the church.

A little late but we also planted daffodils along the side wall of the church.

Tea and cheese bagels awaited us in the church as a thank you.

We hope to plan a Saturday in February

Last hurrah of 2023, forecasted to be a select few, until it became apparent that people just didn't sign up, lovely surprise really. We discussed "what makes you feel old?" as our weekly opener and the answers flowed like Frank Sinatra at a Bingo night.

• Getting told you give off "dad vibes"
• When an adult is born this century
• The severity of hangovers
• Looking in the mirror
• Excitement levels of buying a new vacuum
• Being the longest serving employee (by decades !)
• Seeing NOW 3654 being released when you bought NOW 01
• When someone thinks you were in education in 70's...and your in your 30s. Low blow.

Right, now that's been shared, and I've re-cackled, let's dive on into a superb end of year swansong. Featuring a jog down a scenic Bow Road (think I saw a fox eat a pigeon), then into the church. Matt and I rolled in, doors locked, and another chap was waiting to come in too, clearly not yet of the red t-shirt persuasion. Ajenny opened the door and said "GoodGym?" He said "yeah Jim, how do you know my name" at which my brain caught up with what had happened and started a very noisy internal laughter that meant I literally couldn't speak. After regaining myself, I said to Ajenny, "we're GoodGym, he's Jim". Anyway, he was looking for another church, I hope he found it. Legend.

We were there to butter a load of sandwiches, I've got the figure three hundred in my head, sounds plausible. It's usually done by two people, who start at 530am and finish around 8am. Not this time. We lined up either side of a table and got to it, buttering white and brown bread, then repackaging it for the fillings to be added later. If anything we were too effective, wrapped up in thirty mins or a dash less. We discussed coming back to help again in late January, then we ambled over to the Forest Tavern for our Xmas Do. Excellent night with new and old members, celebrating your evening efforts and what you've done over the year. So many hands lent to some incredible grass roots organisations, quietly propping your community up - marvelous bunch. We eventually had to leave as the pub was too trendy and gave Kev hives, that's gentrification for you.

I'll see you beauties on Jan 3rd, have a few lined up in the NY, but will list and share pronto.

Thanks again for your efforts - and making wednesday a pleasure - hats off to you all.

Till next year XXX

B

Hilary and Graham headed to Emanuel Church after completing a very soggy Wanstead Flats parkrun.

Kevin and I took a leisurely bimble to join them.

The task from Sybil today was to clear an arch of grass,removed weeds and rubbish,dig in some compost and plant a mixture of spring glowering bulbs.

The advantage of being at the front of the church was being able to let local residents know what we were doing.

Once all the bulbs had been planted,grass and weeds placed on the compost pile we headed in to the church for refreshments.

One of Sybil's fellow church members Ajennie had made us some cheese toasties,drinks and also cut up some fresh fruit. Revered Chigor also joined us and they told us about the weekly projects they have to help the local community and that they have a place a bid for funding in The Big Vote

We will be listing the information regarding how we may be able to help with their weekly projects.

We started the day at Wanstead Flats parkrun, followed by breakfast at the golden arches before heading to meet Sybil at Emmanuel Church.

We split into two teams with Steve,Frances and Hilary heading off with Sybil to dig over and weed. Rosa,Graham,Kevinand I weeded our bed as it had already been dug over.

A lesson on how to use a bulb planter and off we went planting two varieties of tulips,no near straight lines thrown and random placement.

With refreshments on the way a final push got the last bulbs planted.

Tea/coffee,cheese toasties followed by a mix of fruit all kindly donated by the local Tesco rounded off an awesome morning.

Plans for a return visit on 21st October

Second time at The Romford Rd Parish yesterday, Hils and I jogged over and discussed her weekend music festival at her pal's house on the South Downs. I offered nothing in return - " went for a cycle and had a pizza at my brother's ". Must up my game or start making things up.

Over at Romford rd, GoodGym t-shirts greeted us in the form of Shaz, Kev and Rosie. We got the brief off Sybil, who almost remembered all of our names and then got stuck in. Rosa joined us after waiting for us outside for a bit. We touched on this week's RWQ, which Hils and I forgot to delve into, "what's your favourite/least favourite saying?" "Live Laugh Love" a strong contender from Rosie, that was in the least favorite genre (Kev!) to clarify. "That's life" a personal dislike of mine, a lazy bundle of words, if you catch me using it feel free to call me a hairy melon. Goodies were "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" in Kelly Clarkson vocals. "Slow is smooth - smooth is fast" the motto of a national killing machine, The Navy Seals, I actually quite like. It's the same as "haste makes waste", but different to this gem I just found "marry in haste, repent in leisure". Excellent.

Right, back to the good things you did, digging out a tonne of nasty weeds, then piling in 10 - 20 large bags of compost. Honest graft for our friends at the church, we'll head back next month and I'll set up a community mission on the 30th of September, post parkrun I believe. They love the help you're giving at the church, bravo for chipping in, when the flowers bloom the fruits of our labour will be apparent (lob that on the good saying list).

Next week we're at Cody Dock, going to set up the listing now, then go and scorch myself on a hill session. ' Till next week

B