Three GoodGymers and one member of the St Mary Magdalene Church congregation turned up in light rain on Sunday morning to deadhead the cyclamen flowers planted around the Great War Memorial outside the Church. As the organ played in the church Ken showed us the technique to twist the spent flowers to the corm base of the cyclamen. After 1 hour and 15 minutes we had deadheaded all 250 plants and swept up the surrounding York stone and sang out last hymn for the day.

In a few weeks’ time we will enjoy another flush of our brilliant floral display which was all planted by the GoodGym on 1 October.

This heavy-lifting heavy task put the gym in GoodGym, thankfully an awesome foursome were on hand. Using a mix of shimmies and strength we shifted sofas, chests of drawers and other large furniture from the showroom to the storage room.

It was interesting to hear from Simon about the charity's expansion plans and how it prices items, so that customers can get a nice sofa for around £43.50. Look forward to returning soon.

Monday’s Richmond Group Run took off from the Tap Tavern, speeding out along the Thames Path towards Buccleuch Gardens, Richmond for our monthly task at The Three Pigeons Plot and The Arcade Rockery. With tools and equipment ready to go, Anita was standing outside the Arcade. Ken and Adam had already woken up a leaf blower to say good-bye to the blanket of leaves, dropped by the towering London Plane trees surrounding the Arcade.

A bollard downed was put back in place by Salwa and Liz.

And Sam, Katie, Susan, Jp and Lucy pitched in to weed, sweep and prune.

A struggling Christmas box was given a new home by Rosie.

And pretty soon the Arcade was looking awesome and spry.

Everyone pitched in, sweeping up leaf debris, Composting weeds, bagging up leaves, everyone a community hero. With all our equipment packed, we were ready to leave, jetting back to the Tap Tavern for our monthly social. We do know when we’ll be back again (at Buccleuch Gardens): Monday 12th December for a festive gardening session. Enough said, I have to go. Anita (with apologies to John Denver).