😁 21 fantabulous GoodGymmers met on a cool but dry Monday evening ready to #runbrightatnight for our group run 🌠

💪 We were thrilled to congratulate Michal and David on their epic Ultra running this weekend. Incredible stuff guys 🏆

🥳 As the task was a bit further tonight, Laura led a party pace group who led the way to the task, into the moonlight 🌛

🎆 Meanwhile, the rest of us named, numbered and warmed up whilst stating our favourite thing about Bonfire Night. Turns out there are a lot of fire-lovers among us (and food-lovers, but we knew that anyway) 🔥

🏃‍♀️🏃 Soon, it was time for the rest of us to set off, with Pete leading this group to Derwenthorpe, along a pleasant route via a well-lit cycle path. After some confusion (and much wandering whilst Google Maps-staring) as to which part of the housing estate we were meant to be, we made it and were met by a very happy Maria from St Nick’s. She was excited at the prospect that work on the meadow was soon to be completed, having started a good few months ago 👍

🌾 Maria showed us the tools available and we were particularly excited by the prospect of a brand new tarp (as well as a few with holes in, aka what we’re more used to!) After trying to trick as many people as possible into using quite possibly the world’s heaviest rake, Max got to work, along with the rest of the group. Smaller groups were formed as we divided to conquer the meadow. The rakers raked whilst others (particularly David) enjoyed pitching said rakings onto the tarps to be dragged to their collection points 👨‍🌾

🍄 Oh, and Abi found a large mushroom, which was cool 😎

👌 Pete and Jenna were so efficient that by the time I’d reached them with some extra pairs of hands for their patch, they’d finished! En route to help, Abigail and I spotted more rakings to be gathered and tarped. Cue the embarrassing moments when we subsequently lost said rakings temporarily. They were eventually rediscovered and gathered into the fold with the rest 🧐

📸 The overwhelming efficiency of (most of) the group meant that we finished our task with aplomb, much to the joy of Maria (and the rest of us). It was therefore time for a group photo before we said goodbye to our party pace crew (significantly larger than on the way out). There were still a few brave souls left for our “explosive” (tenuously fireworks-themed, obviously) fitness session, which we continued into the run back to base with inter-lamppost-sprints. With four different paced groups on the run back, we were soon reunited back at base for stretching. And then it was on to The Ackhorne for our monthly social, good times everyone, and thank you for a great evening 🍻

This week at the Oaks we took a break from Bingo and went back to the tried and tested card game - Newmarket. Fortunately Debs remembered the rules so we could get the game started whilst Ed played around with the Oaks' new toy, an electric card shuffler!

As the night progressed some key themes emerged. Big wins at either end of the table, some terrible shuffling by Ed, and Tristan and Beryl coming absolutely nowhere near winning whatsoever.

The games drew to a close with the offer of a glass of Sherry. This time Louise had well and truly learnt her lesson that sherry was not for her!

We'll be back again on 17th March, hopefully for a little wheelchair walk!

For this month's games night at the Oaks we were joined by GoodGym newbie Megan, and Hartrigg debutants Louise and Steph, so give them all a big cheer

On bingo calling duty this time was Simon who did an excellent job of reading out the numbers and not succumbing to any bribes by cheating residents and GGers. despite Megan's pleas for 'a number in the 20s'

The first non-GG winner of the night was Beryl who looked slightly surprised by her full house, but Paula assured her she was indeed a winner. she went home with a lovely new glasses case.

Our final game of the night saw 4 people all wanting the same number to be called out. A lesson in not allowing Ed to sort out the bingo cards has well and truly been learnt

Good times had by all

Armed with a list of bingo calls from Ed's phone, Egg stepped up and did an excellent job of reading out the numbers. Whilst the other GoodGymers took their seats next to the residents to help them tick off their cards

After an initial flurry of excitement from Joyce, it was Jenny who romped home with the first complete line and with it the first prize - a stuffed mouse.

As the game progressed it became apparent that there was some cheating going on from Craig and Margaret. Not that Rich would have noticed, as he was far too busy enjoying a sherry and a mince pie.

A final call of 81 (J-lo's Bum) saw Margaret pick up the final win. possibly undeserved, but you can judge for yourselves by taking a look at her 'winning' card in the photos

Good times had by all

We learnt some things at Goodgym tonight.

1. Goodgymers are terrible at telling the difference between the different suits in a pack of card. We particularly find clubs and spades especially challenging

2. Some nights the residents play bingo without us. We want to play bingo!

3. Debs will be late for every task going. This is just a fact and we should all be used to it by now

4. Craig will constantly accuse Ed of cheating, regardless of whether it is warranted or not. Most of the time it is fully deserved

5. Paula has either never won a card game before in her life or is just the most excitable person ever. No one has been more excited to win a round of Newmarket, ever!

6. Photos in front of a mirror where you can see the back of your head are never a good idea. Especially for blokes in their mid-thirties

Good times had by all!

It's was black history month at the oaks (and presumably everywhere else as well) so for October's games night Tracey decided that we could play a game called Mancala with some of the residents. One of the oldest known games in the world, with its origins in Africa

A fantastic idea on paper. However teaching the game to dimwitted GoodGymers and dementia sufferers proved a bit trickier. Especially when 'expert' Craig started adding more complex rules to poor old Prescilla who was yet to get to grips with the basics.

Well travelled Nan had played a different version of the game and looked completely baffled by this configuration of buttons and holes despite Deb's guidance, whilst Pete, very sensibly, joined in with Vikki who seemed to have grasped the basics.

Over on Egg and Leanne's table the Mancala board was swiftly pushed to one side and a giant dominoes tower was being constructed and toppled. Further proof that GG York are probably better off with destruction than learning new games!