..but it turns out there was a task to do.

Back at Meadow View it's nice to see all the work Goodgym has helped with week on week but there's always some pesky weeds to deal with (especially with this weather) .

We emptied out some big raised planters for a change of layout (those planters coming soon to a marketplace near you!) and then added a nice polka dot feature to the lawn.

It threatened to rain the whole time but we got out dry and only slightly bitten. Some of the gang buzzed off for side quest: bee collection in town. Prizes have been promised. I'm sure there will be unbeelievable photos.

This week we went to Meadow View Cottage for a spring clearup of all the weeds that had sprung up since our last visit.

Regulars in the toolshed we cracked out the bags, forks and all the left handed gloves we could find and broke the task down into three groups.

Benedict, Laurie and I unearthed the compost bins under the watchful eye of a robin.

Jane took many stings for the team as she Mohammed, Andy and Rich cleared the area beside the pond.

Fay and Sallyann weeded Leah out of the flower beds with the lovely new Livia who came along for her first session!

After blasting through the to-do list the crew ran off into the sunset (and into banana tree).

We met in the sunshine and it was great to see Dawn back for her 2nd run. Leah and Jess had messaged to say they would be a couple of minutes late and that we could leave without them, but at Goodgym no-one gets left behind , we move as one.

While we waited for them we heard about Andy's holiday and Joel's tour of Chelmsford cafes and other eating establishments. Leah and Jess arrived and 9 goodgymers set off to the task.

Jane led the way ( sporting her new Goodgym tshirt) and the directions were simple: run down the high street until you reach Toast, then turn left. After a short run along the river we arrived at Hearing Help Essex for the task; weeding the paths and raised flowerbeds that had overgrown. I had found some tools in the greenhouse as the shed was locked and everyone set to work. Fay and Sallyann were already there getting stuck in and appeared to be the only ones to read the memo about bringing gardening gloves. Dawn and Mohammed did a great job on the path, while Richard took a rake to the back bed, bringing out some giant leaves. Jane and Joel wrestled up some of the deep rooted weeds, while Leah and Jess started on the path next to the pond. There were plenty of prickles and nettles but Andy found a way to bundle them up using massive leaves. Before long we'd filled 3 large rubble bags with weeds and the garden looked ready to be re planted and enjoyed in the summer.

We put the tools away, admired the beautifully painted picnic benches ( our hard work from a previous task) , compared stinging nettle injuries, and enjoyed a chatty run back. Great Run EVERYONE!

Next week we will leafleting with either the amazing David or the wonderful Laurie

until then,

RUN HAPPY

Rich

On a glorious sunny spring evening Jane and I arrived at the old factory gym ready to strut our sexy selves along to Hearing Help Essex .

Tonights task was to paint some of their picnic benches in their garden ready for the summer months. After a brief chat about Robert's excellent double half marathon weekend and Mohammed's brand new Goodgym T-shirt we set off at our usual Sexy pace ( apart from Erin and Jane who ran off chatting away ).

Just before we arrived we met Sallyann in the car park as she is recovering from a sore back but ready to paint those benches.

Unfortunately, Sophie from HHE wasn't able to meet us as she had a family emergency but left us instructions of where to find the paint and brushes, and what they were wanting us to do.

Richard and Mohammed posed for a photo with the benches before we got started ( before photo) and then we moved them onto the grass, the benches not Richard and Mohammad. The paint and brushes were in the greenhouse and as i collected them i realized that the 2 pots were different colours. I decided which one looked nicer and we set to work. Kate was alittle worried about getting paint in her goodgym t-shirt until someone pointed out Joel's t-shirt and that all the paint and stains were in fact badges of honour for years of service.

With all 3 benches painted we washed the brushes and trays and stood for a group photo (after photo). I took this as an opportunity to try and do a group heel click photo. Some heel clicks were done internally 😜. Andy's , as always, needs work 😎

A job well done, we set off into the sunset with a smile on our faces and again continued our sexy pace back to base.

If you'd like to know more about sexy pace please read https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/24/slow-running-revolution-sexy-pace-enjoy-the-race

its a way of life and what we are all about.

Thanks for coming guys and see you all next time.

Run Happy

Rich

We rendezvoused at our usual spot, Erin concerned her legs might not work after spin class but they ended up doing good, and most of us had a light jog down the highstreet to Meadow View Cottage (not Rich who got competitive with the local youth and took off in a sprint).

Sallyann joined us there armed with her trusty gloves and we divided into two groups to tackle some light weeding at the carpark and small jungle clearance at the back of the garden.

David enjoyed making hoe jokes - but not when Laurie was in earshot. We found out poor Martin can't eat chocolate, distracts himself with courgettes and cheese.

The Peaceful Garden was full of anarchy as Joel and Richard showed us what could be done with the power of love pure rage. Richard especially wasn't going to call it quits until every last stalk had been hacked down.

Good luck to Meadow View on their open day on Wednesday! Hope the weather holds out for you and thank you for inviting the Goodgymers.

Have a great week, enjoy parkruns and pizza until next time.

We all welcomed Elliott for his first GoodGym session, and also had the exciting news of Richard E getting a ballot place for the 2025 London Marathon, and Andy's perfect parkrun heel click at the weekend.

Thankfully on such a warm evening our task was only around a mile away, so we took the most direct route and were shown to our task of clearing a couple of large beds ready for some new plants.

I did mention in the briefing at the start that everyone should try to avoid hitting each other with tools and vegetation, but Andy clearly took no notice and channeled his inner David, throwing plants at the waste bags with such force that he nearly took Sallyann out. Angela also made a cameo appearance on her way elsewhere, clearing a few plants and posing for a photo.

In usual GoodGym style, the group made light work of the task, turning the beds from overgrown to completely bare, and filling three big bags with plants.

We'll be back at Meadow View Cottage in August, helping to get everything ready for their open day.

See you all soon!

Laurie