A lovely 5km run tonight around Cardiff Bay, a little brisk but much quieter than the bustling Xmas market in the City Centre. Thank you to everyone that braved the chilly evening and kept me company.

Our task, writing Christmas Cards for the Care Homes in Cardiff. Writing cards is a slightly dying art, but one that should continue as it can brighten someones mood and remind them that the sense of community still exists, and more importantly - CARES.

Michael had done their usual and hit the cards shops earlier on, buying as many charity packs as they could find, an extra bit of charitable work as the money goes to;

Teenage Cancer Trust, MIND, Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer's Society and Make-A-Wish.

To add to the challenge, and for an extra workout, Michael decided to carry all of the supplies in their bag during the run.

Our location after the run once again, Muffin Break - time to treat ourselves with Muffins and Vegan sausage rolls.

YUM

The supplies came out and we got to the task at hand, coloured pens, brains trying to think of messages and some outstanding Artwork.

A special Shout Out - Condurache, your cards are fantastic! And of course,

Welcome to GOODGYM

Just 2 group activities left for this year, so get signed up Now. One more session writing cards, we managed 60 this time around..... Let's beat that next time. I'm hoping for 200 in total.

https://www.goodgym.org/areas/cardiff/happenings/group-runs?available=true

Our Winter change has come in again, we met up as usual and stored away our bags before heading out for a nice run. Tonight, we did an out and back run for 45 minutes, and then got back together to do the task for the rest of the evening (and a little longer for some of us).

The task

Cut out strips from the Xmas wrapping paper (provided by AA Michael) and then on each one write a joke. The strips are being packaged into groups of 50 and then will become a pack for a young person in a CAMHS ward to make their paper chain.

Paper chains, as well as being an awesome decorations that are suitable for most CAMHS units, symbolise connectedness. For young people in CAMHS units it’s really important to feel connected to the outside world and to not feel forgotten. Making these special paper chains, which will be a team effort between the community and the young people on CAMHS wards, is a real opportunity to provide a tangible reminder of that we are all still connected despite everything. >

TO WORK ELVES

Take me running, painting in the rain Feel it washing over me, oh oh Join us, running, painting in the rain Cover me in ecstasy , oh oh

So that's out the way now and possibly stuck in your head! Last night 11 goodgymers got together, despite the rain, to make their way on a lovely night time run to help out with some painting of railings.

Michael, led the crew on the quickest route tonight, so that we could get as much painting done as possible. First, we had to get into the office for the equipment. Luckily the key holder was in the Choir and could see us looking all confused at a locked door.

We're IN

Just as we had the equipment out and we started, our organiser Julian arrived, just in time to get stuck in with the rest of us. We were brushing the railings with wire brushes, being followed by the painters. We split into a few groups, with three of us heading off under some trees to paint, which we were thankful for when it started to rain!

Time to Call It

We cleared the equipment and put it back into storage, as we got warmed and dry with a quick bit of food from the lovely Choir with no name. A quick group photo, and it was time to head back for a nice social.

7 Spooky Volunteers met up, even with the threat of rain.

Rain cannot stop the Zombie....

But wait, what's this I see.... Witches and the one and only....

Harrrrrrryyyy Potttttter

To the goodgyming, we ran through the wet streets, trying not to frighten people. Our tasks tonight, cut the 'spikey' brambles in the garden...... In the RAIN. Help to tidy up the store room and make space for a new storage unit.

It wasn't long until the timer ran out and it was time for a trick or treat.....

Treat please...

Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Double, double, toil and trouble; Something wicked this way comes!

Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and howlet's wing.

We see an old fence and we want to paint it black.......

Well it turns out our last trip of the year to the community hall was not as we thought, we returned to help with the mighty task of painting the fence.

11 goodgymers huddled together on a chilly evening, ready to take on the WORLD

Back for their second time was Chloe, welcome you regular you. And we had the return of one who started us all those years ago...... Benjamin

CROESO

Off we went on those mean streets of Cardiff (not really mean, us Welsh are very nice) and we had a nice steady pace to St. James Community Hall.

Tonight's task, to wire brush the fence that we had previously freed from the ivy..... Whilst the rest of us painted as much as we could in the time we had.

You could definitely feel the Autumnal crisp chill this evening, but we were soon warmed by the gratitude of the choir as they came out from the hall to see what we were getting up to. Impressed by the amount of us, they even offered us the food they had left.

DIOLCH

We made our way back to the Daffodil, to warm up and catch up. We will return one more time this year.... As its a BIG fence.