It was all hands on deck (and trowels in the soil) as a crack team of GoodGymmers—Jana, Emily, Emma, Sabir, Farzeen, and Anna—headed to the Bradbury Day Centre to help them get summer-fair ready! With Clair from the Centre giving us our marching orders, we set out to transform the outdoor space in just two hours… and what a transformation it was!

Farzeen didn’t waste a second, diving into a corner of the garden destined to become the Silent Disco Zone—because who doesn’t want to boogie among the begonias? With her speedy hands and creative flair, she not only cleared and cut back overgrown plants but also helped place a perfectly summery bench in the area. By the end, it was practically begging for a party.

Emma turned multitasking into an art form—sweeping, weeding, brushing, and even giving the windows a shine. If there had been a "Best All-Rounder" medal, she'd have earned it before tea time.

Emily took on the artistic challenge of the day: painting the raffle tombola. But that wasn’t enough—she then went into full transformation mode in the greenhouse. Despite a surprise ant invasion, she bravely cleared out old debris and reorganized the entire space, turning it from “abandoned jungle” to “garden showroom chic”.

Sabir arrived and brought his weeding A-game to the front of the centre, steadily amassing a mountain of weeds like a gardening machine. His dedication made a huge impact—especially to the front-facing first impression.

Anna arrived fashionably late (thanks to a very late night on the dancefloor!) but was full of energy and good vibes. She brightened up the space by hanging bunting inside and out, transforming it into full-on summer fair territory. Glitter optional, joy guaranteed.

Jana tackled the patio, giving it the weeding equivalent of a deep tissue massage—by the end, it was ready to welcome a hundred fair-goers with open slabs.

We were powered throughout by cups of tea and an excellent biscuit selection—essential fuel for community transformation. As a bonus mission, Emma and Jana took to the streets to flyer the local area and even charmed their way into a church to get a poster on the notice board. Local outreach: complete.

To wrap up (literally), we bundled up prizes for the Lucky Dip and admired the results of a job very well done.

So here’s to a fabulous fair on Wednesday—we’ll be cheering you on, Bradbury Day Centre!

On a sunny mission for Goodym, Emily and Jana rolled up their sleeves and got to work transforming the garden at the Staywell Centre in New Malden. With just two hours and two determined volunteers, the challenge was clear: tackle the overgrown patio and the cracked, thirsty flowerbeds that residents overlook each day.

Emily and Jana began their garden conquest at opposite ends of the patio, digging out stubborn weeds from the paving stones until they triumphantly met in the middle – a perfect horticultural harmony! Then it was time to take on the flowerbeds. The parched, cracked earth put up a fight, but a well-aimed hose brought it back to digging condition.

Emily showed true grit clearing the weeds beneath the shady oak tree, while Jana took on the flowerbeds with focus and flair. Halfway through, the cavalry arrived in the form of Clair, the Centre Manager, who cycled in to lend a hand and, most importantly, brewed a very welcome cup of tea for the hardworking team.

As they sipped their tea and admired the transformation, there was no doubt: the Staywell garden was looking well and truly weed-free, thanks to this green-fingered duo!

On a glorious sunny Sunday morning, we gathered at Staywell Day Centre with 2 hours on the clock and a mission: to give the vegetable patch, flower beds, and driveway a good weeding makeover! Armed with trowels, gloves, and an eagerness to get stuck in, Amy, Alexis, Farzeen, Emily, and Jana wasted no time diving into the task.

As we worked, conversations flowed freely, with stories exchanged about our professions and daily lives. A highlight of the day was hearing about Emily's exciting news: she’s being presented with a prestigious Majors award tomorrow evening! We all shared in her excitement, which certainly helped lift the atmosphere as we tackled some particularly stubborn weeds.

At the halfway mark, we took a well-deserved break to recharge with biscuits and chocolate. Standing back, we admired our progress so far.

With renewed energy, we powered through the rest of the time, determined to make the residents proud of their newly spruced-up outdoor spaces. By the end of the session, the transformation was complete, and we couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment as we surveyed the clean, tidy garden and weed-free driveway.

It was a fantastic day of teamwork, sunshine, and stories for a worthy cause, leaving us all with smiles (and maybe a little mud) on our faces!

What do you get when you mix determination, sticky clay, and a bit of rain? A Staywell garden makeover, of course! Emily, Farzeen, Jana, and Jana’s dad were on a mission: they had two hours to transform the space, no matter the challenges thrown their way.

The first task? Filling a trench that had been dug to lay cables. Sounds simple, right? Not quite. The soil was sticky, heavy, and as close to concrete as dirt can get. It clung to everything—shovels, boots, and even spirits. But Farzeen jumped right in, tackling a significant chunk of the trench before moving on to other tasks, including clearing frostbitten plants from the entrance flower beds, picking up paint-covered debris from a spillage, and weeding the driveway. Talk about multitasking!

Meanwhile, Emily, Jana, and Jana’s dad soldiered on with the trench, battling both the mud and their own endurance. As the work heated up (literally), a few layers of clothing had to come off. Mud-streaked but determined, they powered through until the tea break arrived like a beacon of hope.

Halfway through, chocolates from Staywell and Jana’s homemade banana cake provided the much-needed energy boost. Just as everyone started to feel recharged, the weather decided to spice things up. The heavens opened, and the wind howled, but quitting wasn’t an option. With rain pelting down and mud doubling its clinginess, the team rallied together to finish the job.

Amazingly, every task on the list was completed! The trench was filled, the garden tidied, and the driveway weeded. By the end, everyone was soaked, muddy, and dreaming of hot showers, but the sense of achievement was undeniable.

We hope the visitors of the Staywell Day Centre enjoy the fruits of our muddy labor—and we can’t wait to come back for round two!

"Two Hours of Team Power: Sprucing Up Staywell Day Centre"

In just two hours, our team of Emily, Jill, and Jana made a big impact at the Staywell Day Centre. We focused on tidying up the front entrance, pulling weeds, and tackling the moss build-up on the driveway. Jana’s dad joined the effort with a fantastic job clearing oak leaves from the flowerbeds in the back garden.

A well-earned tea break with mince pies kept spirits high, and we wrapped up feeling pleased with what we’d achieved. We hope the refreshed outdoor areas bring joy to the centre’s residents in the coming week!

On a crisp autumn morning, Jane, Helen, Petra, Jana, and Jana’s dad took on the daunting task of clearing the day centre terrace of its leafy blanket. The mission was made especially tricky as we discovered there wasn’t a broom or rake in sight. Armed only with bare hands, we dove in with determination and a good dose of humour.

Before long, our efforts were rewarded, and we cheered as two wheelie bins and three bin bags overflowed with evidence of our hard work. A well-earned tea break followed, where Petra and Jana’s dad kept us entertained with nostalgic stories of growing up in the Czech Republic. The camaraderie made the chilly task feel warm and lively.

However, just as we toasted our progress, a playful gust of wind arrived, scattering a fresh wave of leaves onto the terrace. Undeterred, the team switched gears and began tackling weeds lurking between the paving stones.

One final sweep (by hand, of course!), and we declared victory over the terrace. Huge thanks to the team for their energy, laughter, and hard work. Great job, everyone—until the next round of leaves falls!