'Tis the season to litter pick the streets of Oxford, so to Headington we headed for an evening of nattering and trash clearing.

We focused on the area surrounding the Oxford Brookes Headington campus, finding plenty of the usual suspects; cans, bottles, crisp packets etc. We were just chatting about how rarely we find pants these days, after a spate of unearthing them on almost every litter pick, when lo and behold Ben spotted a pair hooked on the railings. It's like we manifested them.

1 hour, several heavy bags full of trash, and a potential new recruit later, we deposited our haul for collection and headed off home to warm up.

This evening a gaggle of Goodgymers turned into Christmas Elves.

Gathering in a cosy Oxford pub (chips were indeed consumed) we scribed Christmas cards to be distributed around care homes in the UK.

Heads were scratched and inspiration was found in the form of doodles, Christmas Cracker jokes, poems and sharing of favorite decorations and food.

These tasks can feel a bit daunting sometimes, where to start when writing to a stranger? But we amassed a brilliant stack of cards to be sent off for distribution. I'm sure that they will spread a lot of joy at a time of year that can be very lonely for some.

Thank you Goodgym Elves!!