Four GoodGymers turned up to help the Friends of Maidenhead Waterways run free boat trips at the Maidenhead Festival Summer Sounds event. Help was needed to help people to put on their life jackets, and collect them in again after their trips. It was so lovely to see the children so excited about their trips, and chat to the parents while they waited for their turn. Great to help the Friends promote their activities with the local Waterways and help people appreciate their local environment. Well done to Christine and her daughter Anna taking on the initial shift, with Jen, Meggie and Sheila finishing off the afternoon's activities.

Winter is coming. In the Riverlands a silent enemy is advancing. The brambles creep slowly and menacingly from the banks of York Stream, ready to wrap their thorny stalks around the bodies of unsuspecting canoeists. Fortunately Dominic, Sol and Sheila from House GoodGym were on hand to help. Armed with loppers, secateurs and a hedge trimmer they joined Friends of Maidenhead Waterways volunteers for the Battle of the Brambles. Slashing, cutting and slicing, the heroic warriors advanced, pushing the enemy back. Sheila was in the maintenance boat Yorkie and Sol was on the banks, both fighting with courage, filling a dozen large bags with green waste. When you play the game of thorns, you win or die. House GoodGym prevailed.