Portsmouth Hive put out a request for Valentine-themed decorations for a Care Home, so we responded to the call.

There was some at-home crafting and a lunchtime MAKE session.

Plenty of love-themed crafting was the result.

GoodGymers applied their grey matter to the puzzling problem of jigsaw checking.

We enlisted partners, kids, pets and fellow GGers to complete puzzles ranging from 500 to 1500 pieces. The puzzles could then be returned to MAKE for sale in their shop.

7 Goodgymers spent a sunny Saturday morning at Make cutting up and plaiting old t-shirts into dog toys to benefit the RSPCA. Even with only a bucket of dull scissors to help us along the way, our going rate was about one toy per minute. In one hour we were able to make and deliver 58 toys to the RSPCA Fratton shop across the road. All proceeds from the sale of the toys will benefit RSPCA.

Of course no crafting session would be complete without pots of tea dressed up in knitted cosies and a big slice of cake.

But we did enjoy it very much, once we had all learned how to make the twists and knots.

Abby, Sammy, Wilson, Vicki and Vicki's Mum, Rosalie were very good students. We managed to chat and giggle, even while concentrating hard - and miraculously, old t.shirts and sweatshirts became dog tug-toys for Battersea dog and cat rescue.

And there was time for coffee, cake and doorstop sandwiches afterwards!

We took up the challenge to check jigsaws for the MAKE charity shop.

There may not have been blood, but there was plenty of sweat and tears!

We met the challenge like true GoodGymers (and enlisted the help of friends, family and pets). We burned the midnight oil, and displayed our completed jigsaws with pride.

We returned the jigsaws to Make ready to be sold to their customers.

Wilson and I started making a dent in the scarecrow festival leaflet pile with a walk all the way down Tangier Road and Baffins Road. We also felt it necessary to sample the newly opened Hellenic Aromas cafe to keep our strength up!

Jen and Alice dodged the torrential rain on Monday and did Locksway Road. Tony went to Hayling Ave.

Tracey took Prince Albert Road & delivered up & down there.

Let's hope we see some scarecrows going up as a result!