Our green-fingered contact Sybil at Emmanuel Church invited us over to St Mary's Allotments to help get the site spick and span ahead of their Cabin Open Day on 18th July — and for once we got to see the place in glorious daylight! Three of us — me, Adam and Eugene — jogged down from Freaks and Geeks to get some extra kilometers in before the graft began.

There was plenty to be getting on with: creeping ivy to cut back, weeds to chop and clear from around the social area where the plot holders hoped to expand their gathering space.

We tackled the area under a magnificent plane tree first, setting about the carpet of dried leaves and weeds — raking, bagging and clearing until the ground was transformed. With that conquered, Adam spotted the creeping ivy that had been quietly plotting a takeover of the fence line and embarked on a side quest that proved difficult to drag him away from. There's always one more strand of ivy, apparently.

One thing the task description didn't mention: the dust. Every armful of dried leaves sent up a cloud of it, and before long the allotment echoed to a chorus of sneezes. But by the end of our time there we had a dozen or so bulging bags of garden waste lined up under the tree, a beautifully cleared social area, and fence lines on the way to being liberated from their ivy overcoats. The before-and-after is genuinely satisfying, and the space is looking ready to welcome visitors on the 18th.

As is tradition, Sybil's legendary generosity appeared right on cue at the end of the task — this time in the form of mac and cheese croquettes and spring rolls amongst other things. Seemed like an excellent idea at the time, less so on the run home. Worth it though.

Huge thanks to Sybil and the plot holders for having us back and working alongside us — it's always a pleasure, and as Sybil says, it shows what can be done with a bit of effort, determination and teamwork.

If you fancy getting fit while doing good in Newham, come and join us — new faces always welcome!

Tonight was group run meets community mission with Graham leading a small group from the Aquatic Center while the rest of us made our way from home.

Tonight we has been asked to remove and unsafe fence for one of the allotment community,taking things apart is always fun and we had some extra helping hands from a couple of the other allotment tenants.

This is a wonderful little community and as our friend Sybil from Emmanuel Church also has a plot here she made sure after task refreshments arrived for us.

Sunday we are having a party to celebrate our 11th Birthday

We welcomed Ibrahim to his first visit to GG Newham.

Graham led the group from the Aquatics Centre (yes back at our original base)

Kevin and I headed there from home with a gentle run through West Ham Park.

Elaine and Sybil greeted us and showed us to the allotment plot that needed a very large old shed dismantling ready for collection. It is hoped that the plot will then be let out to a new resident.

We started with clearing some debris from inside the shed before it was attacked with a sledgehammer,with a final group push the shed was flattened.

Elaine and Sybil had laid on some wonderful refreshments.

We said our good byes and headed into the sunset.

We will see Sybil next week at Emmaunel Church.....so will be more post task refreshments sign up here

So, St Mary’s Allotments, they’re having an AGM on the 12th October - the Tuesday night mission, for those who chose to accept it - to move some trestles, some tables, some chairs, some display boards and some gazebos from one shipping container to another. Goodgymers chose to accept - course they did - and moved the hell outta that stuff.

Random weekly question, to celebrate the start of October, what’s you fave scary movie? Here’s some of the top choices:

• Alien
• The Substance
• Silence of the Lambs (classic)
• The Birds (even more classic!)
• The Ring
• Blair Witch Project
• A Quiet Place
• Scary Movie (which takes the P out of almost all the above)

Thanks to Elaine and her husband for having us and resolving all the locked gates/doors challenges with their huge key ring of keys!

Next week likely to be flyering, Tuesday 8th Oct, meet at the Printhouse 18:45, with possible pub quizzing after. Sign up here

Good eve in Stratford, with fresh faces, soft golden sunset light and a hugely appreciative local community.

It all began at The Print House, where we discussed "things you've quit for the better?" Remote working, eating crumpets, smoking and drinking wine. We then wiggled our way to the task down a google map endorsed route, leading us through narrow alleys out of various housing estates.

Big community effort at St Mary's allotments, where we provided some horse-power and grunt, but it was definitely a team effort. As we emptied one shipping container to another, each side was supervised and organised by someone from the allotment. Youngsters were chipping in and locals came out to deliver freshly made samosas to the running do-gooders. The kid helping out asked his mum " do they have jobs?". Clearly gobsmacked by the graft on top of a 9 -5.

Special shout outs to Adam and Eugene. Quality to jog and chat together, hope you're taster session was good, look forward to seeing you again. Plus our 600 good deed boss-lady, Sharon, quite an unfathomable number, you bring up all our standards and put so much back into the community, an honour to have done some of those deeds with you.

Next week, we help the church dig out some beds and plant some bulbs, sign up here

Till then,

B