Don't run with scissors! So they said, before the event where I asked everyone to bring scissors. Hmmm...what an irresponsible Area Activator I am, but hey ho good thing we have such sensible GoodGymers in Greenwich, for the most part. And well done to our runners, meeting at the Naval College for an uphill dash, led by the fearless Geraldine .

Last night was something different for us. Instead of painting, getting our knees dirty weeding, clearing bottles of wee off pavements and all the other glamorous things we get up to on Wednesday nights, we were sitting down enjoying a drink and crafting! So we saw each other in a very different setting, with some people donning glasses we didn't know they needed, and a few who wished they'd brought them if they'd read the listing properly hahem. We also learned that Ashton is just as quick churning out paper chain slips as he is filling bags of litter. And yes, I will be finishing the rest of the jokes in all of my spare time over the next few days so I'd better get on with this report so I can get back to that.

Anyway, three shout outs are in order for last night. Firstly, we had Esha along for her first task, and what a sophisticated session you picked as your first one! Lovely to have you along Esha and just be prepared to look less sophisticated for the next one you join 🤓 Secondly, it was Iyabo's 50th good deed last night! Congratulations Iyabo, it's been a wonderful getting to know you this year 🥰 Thirdly, Cecilia recently completed 200 good deeds, a super speedy achievement from probably our smilyest GoodGym face!

The reason for sitting down, looking sophistacated and enjoying a drink and crafting was to support Christmas for CAMHS. Their mission is to make sure the young people on CAMHS mental health wards over Christmas feel remembered, special and included during a time that can be especially difficult to be in hospital. We were busy measuring, cutting Christmas paper strips and writing jokes on them and we'll send them off to CAMHS who then distribute to children in hospital to finish the job and fashion them into paper chains whilst enjoying a cracking jokes along the way.

Our icebreaker question was: “If we could invent a new holiday, what would we choose to celebrate?”

The ideas ranged from parties to help us get through the winter months, to a cheese party, a dumpling appreciation day (Esha’s suspiciously well-thought-out response – and, by the way, I’m absolutely down for that), a day to bring volunteers together to socialise and celebrate, a free public transport day, a day dedicated to learning about neurodivergence, a Neighbours’ Day, and so many more beautiful ideas.

It was lovely to see such a wonderful mix of fun, thoughtful and community-minded suggestions! Let's see how many of these we can implement during the GG calendar in some way!

Well done team paper chain!

Next week we're back at Prince Philip.

This weekend we're gardening at Hervey Road, clearing the Eaglesfield Pond and cleaning up Charlton.

And remember our Christmas do coming up soon!

Until next time, lovely people!

Rachel 👋🏻

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, you’re going up ridiculously early!

This was the earliest date we've ever put the Christmas decs up at Senior! A group ran from Glass Mill and the rest of us met up at Seniors ready to put the decs up in advance of their Christmas Fair at the weekend.

It's one of our favourite tasks of the year and it did not disappoint as we had brand new trees, not just one but three brand new trees. And new tinsel, and new lights but not new baubles.

Gone are the days having to carefully balance the trees to ensure they stay up and trying to fill the gaps with the bits of tinsel we could find. This year the trees looked even more spectacular than usual.

Not forgetting the excellent team work from Jenny and Lindsay to make sure the garlands were evenly spaced across the ceiling!!

An intrepid trio of litter pickers made short shrift of litter in their areas.

Adi was in Sydenham's Mayow Parkwhich was glorious in the mist. Paul was in Deptfor's Brookmill Park where there was a surprisingly large amount of beer cans and bottles despite the inclement weather.

Ivar returned to last week's location by the A2 in Kidbrooke. It is clearly a litter hot spot, with dog poo bags 'decorating' trees and copious amounts of litter.