We had a number of GoodGymers signed up for FoodCycle but Gill noticed that they were going to be short of one volunteer in the kitchen. After an early morning shout out , Martin heroically stepped into the breach, signing up to join the cooking team. The afternoon soon arrived and we awaited the delivery of food surplus with hopeful anticipation. We had lots of potatoes, carrots and cream and soon decided upon our menu. Gill had arrived early and had already made the base and fling for 5 chocolate pie puddings using some of the cream, a random selection of biscuits and some dark chocolate Easter eggs. Lucie put together some amazing potato dauphinoise to use some more of the cream and then a side dish of braised cabbage, while Dani and Martin created some sausage like roast carrots and parsnips. Neill arrived front of house and was busy setting up for the diners, before being joined by Sam to start serving the food. Sam then joined us equally heroically in the kitchen as we didn't have a pot washer. She's an absolute godsend at the kitchen sink. Fabulous team work and a very tasty meal too.

We arrived at the temple at 4.30 to find it almost empty apart from the two people in the kitchen who we would be helping. Putting on our headscarves and washing our hands we asked what we needed to do. They were waiting for a group to arrive from St Mary's church youth group. But 5 o'clock came and there was no sign of them. By 5.20 they were still not there and it was decided that we should clean up the kitchen and help pack away the rice and side dishes. Dani started washing up and Gill was putting away the unused ingredients when there was a noise at the door and a group of 9 or ten young people arrived with their leaders. Dani and Gill made them welcome and showed them where to wash their hands and put on head coverings, before showing them to the kitchen. They watched the cooking demonstration and we all ate the biryani rice, pakora, chutney and raita.Then Gill, after requests from the youth leaders, took them upstairs to the worship area and, drawing on her previous skills as a teacher, gave them an impromptu talk about Guru Garanth Sahib and other traditions while Dani stayed in the kitchen to wash and tidy up. At the end of the session we were given a take away tub of more delicious rice and dahl for our partners to enjoy tomorrow.

Two GoodGymmers made their merry way to support the monthly friends of DD & Winsdon Hill Litterpick. A surprisingly sunny and mild morning, we enjoyed being out in the fresh and and getting stuck in tackling the large amount of rubbish. Bagging up the smaller pieces and freeing the larger bits from the overgrowth. This is a heavily littered area, and the team are keen to clear it up so that the local community of people and wildlife can full enjoy it. Today we focussed mainly on the path to the left of the hill and headed up to where there were several ‘dens’ hidden by bushes and thorns which were covered in rubbish. We’ll be back again next month to keep up the good fight!