9 lively Goodgymmers ran to the Haringey Learning Partnership tonight to lend a hand with a few tasks, as we stood in solidarity with all the striking teachers at the school.

Zen Gym

Having been scheduled originally to come and help dig out the foundations for a big toolshed, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the GrowN22 crew had done all the hard work over the weekend. So, instead, we were tasked with finishing the paths on the allotments area, prepping a side passage for a fence installation, and then we had to remove some old planks of wood from the allotment area and transport them to the composting bins. There must have been something in the air tonight as our usually rowdy bunch of Goodgymmers found themselves in a more introspective mood and they were very well behaved. The chat was quiet and deep, the banter demure and inoffensive. No one even made it into a bin (though there were some Julie-sized wheelbarrow shenanigans). A lovely, recovery run type of night for our crew.

Our Goodgymmers worked tirelessly and before you knew it, they were putting tools away and were getting ready for selfies.

A nice, quiet night full of zen in North London.

Join us next week as we no doubt descend into chaos again as we visit out old haunt at Tottenham Green.

Yesterday we headed to the pump house museum to help paint a new community centre.

Latoya, Louise and Kris arrived at the pumphouse first. While they were waiting to start the main task (painting) they also unloaded a delivery for the museum.

Then the work started on painting (after donning lovely blue boiler suits). The room was very high so some scaffolding had been set up to provide access to the ceiling and higher level. Kristina did an amazing job up high all morning. I arrived fashionably late and helped with painting the lower skirting and walls for a few hours before lunch.

After lunch (in the museum) I headed off and Louise and Kristina carried on with the task. Even by lunch time we could see a big improvement in how the room looked and Sean (who was running the task) said the room was much more inviting than before.

The museum is a lovely place (open to the public on Sundays)! While we were there, some chefs in the cafeteria were prepping for a supper club in a tube carriage, which smelled amazing (better than paint anyway).

Claire and Richard were the first Goodgym runners at Penn Road Community Gardens this morning, ready to help the local crew with their busy seasonal garden preparations (every 4th Sunday of the month, from 10-12am). Shortly after 10.20pm, Alison, Latoya and Simon arrived after running over from Highbury Fields junior parkrun this morning.

Tasks for today included plenty of sweeping, raking and clearing the entrance passageways for garden visitors, and loads of weeding on the main flowerbeds. We also helped with shifting some new mulch, composted from the bins we assisted with building about a year ago. Between us, we completely emptied one compost bin,and spread across the flower beds. Within 90 minutes, we also filled the compost bins with freshly shredded green waste from petrol driven chipping machine.

Fantastic job everyone. Great way to spend a Sunday morning!

4 Goodgymmers from Islington and Haringey joined Area Activator Simon to lend a hand with Highbury Fields junior parkrun this morning. Between us, we assisted with course set-up, barcode scanning, marshalling and warm-up leader roles for this wonderful free weekly timed 2km event for 4-14 year olds and their families.

It was wonderful to catch up with Goodgym Islington legend Ernestas, a regular at Highbury Fields junior parkrun, who was also celebrating his 100th parkrun volunteering shift! Congratulations!

As we closed down the course for the day, Simon, Alison and Latoya warmed up with a cup of coffee at Urban Social, Compton Terrace before running 2km together to Penn Road Gardens, ready for their next community mission!