March of the Toy Soldiers (and Two Very Good Dogs) 🎄🐾

We wrapped up the year in festive style with a Christmas Toy Soldier social walk, bringing together good company, seasonal cheer and just over 4km of walking and talking.

Our mission was to track down the sometimes elusive Toy Soldier statues scattered along the route. Spirits were high as we searched, spotted and celebrated each one — stopping frequently to strike poses and capture an impressive array of photos along the way. Some soldiers were easier to find than others, but the challenge only added to the fun and we did have 1 very strong contender for a stand in 😀

Adding extra joy to the walk, Roxy and I brought along our dogs, Mali and Hudson, who thoroughly enjoyed being part of the adventure. They even had their own special photo moment in front of Toy Soldier number 5, clearly embracing their roles as honorary GoodGym mascots.

To round off the evening, a group of us headed to the pub for a well-earned festive drink, sharing laughs and reflecting on a great year of moving, helping and socialising together.

A perfect way to close out the year — thanks to everyone who came along, and here’s to more good deeds and good times in the year ahead!

It was another rewarding evening at our local church school as we continued supporting their Winter projects .

On arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Head Teacher Helen and Premises Manager Richard, who was on charge tonight.

Barbara and Paul wasted no time, heading straight off to paint the corridor outside the staffroom bringing a fresh burst of brightness to a well-used area of the school. Meanwhile, Roxy bravely took on the challenge of repainting the ladies’ staff toilets — a task not for the faint-hearted, but one she handled like a pro!

I teamed up with Richard in the main hall, where the school were keen to start adding some festive cheer. My role? Design consultant. Richard’s role? Climbing a scaffolding tower far higher than I’d have liked! Together we worked to hang long lines of Christmas bunting across the ceiling, transforming the hall into a wonderfully festive space. After a solid 1 hour and 15 minutes, the bunting was up, the paint was drying, and three separate jobs had been ticked off with smiles all round.

A brilliant evening of teamwork, creativity, and a touch of Christmas spirit. Well done, all! 🎅✨

Following the busy and well-attended Care for Veterans Christmas Fayre, the GG team once again stepped in to help the Care for Veterans staff by putting everything away at the end of the event. After such a long and tiring day for the team, it was rewarding to be able to ease their workload and ensure the hall was left clean, tidy, and ready for the residents to use again.

Ricky, Sue, Barbara and her sister Jacquie, along with Roxy and myself, worked together to fold tablecloths, collapse tables, stack chairs, and return all equipment to its proper place. Their willingness to help and the cheerful teamwork made the clear-up smooth and efficient.

I was especially grateful for the fantastic support from everyone, as I was limited in what I could do due to having had a foot operation just ten days earlier. The team’s kindness and hard work meant a great deal and ensured nothing was left undone.

A huge thank you to all involved. Your efforts not only helped the Care for Veterans team but also reminded us all that Christmas is fast approaching!