Our first litter picking task since the mammoth January challenge, we are here to stay active and get things done.

5 goodgymers met outside the glassworks, or usual start location. After a catch up chat, we made the decision to walk out to the beginning of the task as one group.

Lots of chatting on the way, where we have lived, life experience, general chat..... Now lets get to the task.

Michael handed out gloves, litter pickers and bags and it was time to start. A few wondering eyes from passers by as we set up in a corner of the street.

Hopefully the goodgym logo will be emblazoned on their minds after tonight.

2 teams set out, litter pickers and ploggers. The conversations continued as we cleaned the streets, filling bags with various items including a drinks dispenser, not a television... It was too big for the bag. Michael even found himself distracted when the crew pointed out a spring base from a mattress, rusty and old looking, but still full of bounce.

Like a toddler on a trampoline

As the plogging came to an end, it was time to drop our bags at a designated council bin for collection. Take a group photo, and then head back to our start location to complete the 5km.

Our driest day this month, so let's get helping outside. Tonight we were back at Cwtch Together for some well needed help in the garden.

10 of the goodgym crew were eager to help, with 6 running from the meet point, another 3 running from homes and 1 walker.

Once we arrived it was time to chat with our organiser, Sarah. She took Michael on a walk showing what needed to be done so that he could split up the group as required.

Tasks for the evening:

• Reattach and paint the bottom of the gate.
• Remove some wooden posts attached to the wire fence.
• Remove ivy from the back wall.
• Cut back the overgrown brambles, ivy and everything else on the side of the building, up to the roof.

The play group had discovered one of their young people had become accustomed to using the overgrowth as climbing apparatus. Our job, to remove every opportunity for this, and make it safe.

We split into groups,

Su and Rosie were at the gate. Rosie a machine with the cable ties, securing the wooden bottom back to the gate. Su getting involved with the painting.

Darren ripped those posts out, on a rampage for freedom.

Lucy, Martin and Jake were the Ivy league when it came to weed removal from the garden wall.

Michael, Llion and Dylan were squashed in the corner. Llion leading the way with Loppers, Michael scaling the walls to attack from up high. Dylan cleaning up as brambles and ivy fell from every angle. It was all hands to work for the final part of the wall as ivy was ripped away to reveal a corner that hadn't been seen for some time.

Dylan joined a little later but still got cracking with the gatekeeper.

This was a good evening of tasks, with some clear work on show. The usual ending group photo, and we headed back to the city centre for a catch up.

The January challenge had been a great success, now well rested it was time to get going for the rest of the year. We were back at St. Dyfrig and St. Samson for our first task with them for 2026.

From Little Things Big Things Grow

A simple sounding task tonight, helping to clear the growth in the carpark from over winter, tidying up the space.

The carpark is vital to allow those with access needs to get as close to their church as possible. The Church also opens up as a warm space and for regular community activity, offering hot drinks and a vital form of connection with others in the local community.

With 9 goodgymers braving the cold, we had a quick warm up and Chat before heading out for our active travel to the task. As soon as we arrived we were welcomed by our organiser, Julian.

A little light work

A group of volunteers

A BIG DIFFERENCE

We split into groups to cover the different areas, one groups straight to work on the main part at the back of the Church. The second, larger group, tackling the side where the most growth was.

Julian used the lights from his car for the large group to get to work, whilst the goodgym powerful light was used for the smaller group.

Everyone was hard at work, removing greenery, soil and and rubbish, sweeping and separating for the correct bins. Jonathan even allowed his pocket boy out for some extra work...well done Dylan.

It was soon time to down tools for the evening, thanks as always to our wonderful volunteers. Whether your first visit of the year (Su) or smashing out every group run in 2026 (Jake). You are all equally awesome.

A quick group photo and then two group heading back, the joggers and the walkers.

Our last group task of 2025, and on a stormy night... Thankfully the four of us were not blown away by Bram and made it to the task. Even with 4 tonight we managed a runner, a walker and cyclists.

We were back at Samye, having been here only 2 weeks earlier it was great to see the decorations that we had put up, and the lights now turned on on the trees.

How FESTIVE 🎄

Tonight though, our task was a little different. Lorraine, who we has been our contact now for several years, had started making cards for sale.

as quickly as I make them they sell.

So to help, she was asking us to cut out the felt from templates and then assemble them as cards.

What a great way to end a year of goodgym Cardiff group tasks.

There was another task, to try to fix a paper lamp (temporarily), so Michael accepted this so that everyone else could be together making cards.

We had foxy cards and reindeer....plus those doves, the dove from above...

coooo, cooooooo

It was a great way to end our year, we had soup and toasties after the task and chatted with Lorraine about holiday plans. No one was in a rush to get away tonight, but leave we must.

We finish our group tasks, having completed....

596 good deeds

We still have the odd weekend task avail e, but a big thank you as always from me. You all amaze me, every year.