10 goodgymers, another week, another new location.. Back with our friends at Grow Cardiff, helping their location at Lansdowne Surgery for the first time.

5 runners, 3 cyclists and 2 walkers made their way to the location, it got dark quickly.

Michael and Chris had already planned the task, so we arrived with our usual kit bag, no wait there seems to be 2...

Thanks to Darren for carrying the second for us. This meant we had plenty of gloves, bags, first aid kit and 6 lights to illuminate the area. Chris was already there with all the tools required and garden waste bags.

After a briefing from our task organiser (Chris) it was time to get started. The task, to remove the unwanted greenery of nettles, thistles, a lot of dock plants and creeping buttercup. Chris said, these are good but take over the bed and I don't know about you but I don't like others taking over my bed.....

It became a mission to see who could loosen some of the most stubborn dock plants that I've ever come across. Who could lift the biggest?

Dylan gave it a good go and his best length ended up in Jonathan's pocket. He didn't do so well with the next as it didn't have enough girth to get a good grip. Darren certainly did the best with the fork up of the biggest root ball.

The competition continued for who could do the best pose as Jonathan and Lucy kept those poses coming.

After a good 30 minutes of volunteering, from digging to pulling we kept ourselves warm. A quick photo for the group and it was time to make our way back.

Thanks to all for coming, and as always to Grow Cardiff for supporting us.

A lovely evening of sunshine, with a lower temperature, perfect goodgym weather.

6 goodgymers were keen to get going, after a last minute change of task. The newer task helping the Salvation Army hostel. E had hoped to plant 60 foxgloves, but unfortunately they had been left unattended in the sunshine still in their delivery jackets. Now, a handful of wilted worried plants.

We met at our usual place outside the glassworks, warmed up on a slight walk before staring the jog. The runners took a slightly longer, but less hilly route, whilst the walkers were more direct.

Upon arriving, Michael got the remains of plants out, along with chicken wire and posts to make a leaf mould area.

Martin, Llion, Darcey and Dylan got to work planting anything that looked as though it might live again.

Flo and Michael went out back to build a fence, as much as possible in a stony floor.

A bit of swearing but the make shift fence got made. We made our way back to see how the planting was going, only to find it all completed. A quick tidy up and just enough time for a group photo.

Still jobs to do at this hostel, so we should be coming again before the end of the year.

Diolch

What time is it?

It's goodgym TIME

At our usual start location of the Glassworks, we met walkers and joggers alike. We gave a great BIG goodgym welcome to our newest member - Mel. Glad that you could make it along.

CROESO

3 cyclists, 5 meeting us there, 2 walkers and 4 runners in total making a good 14 volunteers ready to help the SAMYE foundation once again. It's always a pleasure to return to this charity, one of our originals from the days that we started up in Cardiff.

Today, there was an extra suprise and our mascot for the task - ROSIE.

As per, there was a whiteboard list waiting for us when we arrived, and whilst everyone (mostly Jonathan) were busy with the dog, Michael had a quick walk around with Lorraine to see the big jobs.

On the list for tonight was,

• Hammer a drawer front back on in the Dolma flat.
• Saw the curtain poles to size in the Tara room.
• Clean building 252 - mop the floor, clean the bannisters.
• Put a pick axe together - brand new from the box.
• Sweep under the gazebo and collect all of the leaves and soil that have fallen.
• Weed around the doors in the front.
• move the chair and table in able to turn over the rug in the counciling room.
• Finally - the BIG JOB, dig up the large daisies, lavender, rosemary plants that have spread too much in the back garden.

Plenty to be getting on with, so lets split up and get to it.

David went straight to sorting out the drawer, Jonathan wanted nothing but the saw.

Mel and Neda got gloved up and were after all of the leaves.

Dylan and Rosie got to cleaning those doorways.

Turn around, Michael and Jenny. It was rug time.

Llion and Dylan were on cleaning duties, quietly due to sessions going on.

David then joined Lucy, Darren and Emily for the pick axe session out back. First to break down the roots, so that the spades and forks could be used to try and dig out as much as possible.

There was even a bit of extra time for Jenny & Llion to weed the vegetable beds and find some potatoes.

Before we knew it it was time to down tools and head inside for a treat of home made soup from Lorraine. Will the dog be here next time we visit? You'll have to join us to see....

Our second week back with Cwtch Together, helping them with the move around.

6 joggers and 7 walkers, made their ways to the wonderful charity. There was talk of the weekend, where some of us had gone to experience the Butetown festival. The conversations of Xmas also came up, but only for planning of our party, and even our 10th birthday celebrations next May.

Once at the hall we were welcomed by Sarah, back in between her Bon Jovi tours.

Our tasks for the evening, to move the items moved last week into there new store room. A group in the store was sorting items into groups making them easier to find for activities. We had a couple outside, weeding the path and finally, a group washing and drying a couple of boxes of toys.

Time flew by, even Michael lost track whilst helping drying toys. Lucy and Emily took to the Blue Raz dip and lick, ending with their blue tongues and lips.

Smurfs anyone?

Another wonderful task, ending with a quick conversation about Halloween and if our annual fancy dress run could be to Cwtch again - watch this space.
Join us next week for a return to Samye.
Find out about Samye, how we've helped in the past and sign up for next week here