Christmas starts early when you are a Goodgym member! Not in the annoying way that shops starting playing Mariah in early November, but in a Christmas task that had us preparing paper chain packs for the CAMHS project.

This is the 3rd year of us helping and it is always a fun and rewarding task to take part in. Now Halloween is over why shouldn't we start to get into the Christmas spirit...actually just bring on Mariah........and Slade......and most importantly East 17!!

Some folks met at the task, some did a loop run from the meeting point and Adam and Darren were late so did a naughty boy run on their own! Once we had all got together we crack-ered on with cutting up lots of wrapping paper to make the paper chains.

A cut above the rest

Rosie was a chopping machine - cutting the exact sized chains using her rather stylish pink guillotine! Neda was also in charge of a more traditional guillotine, the likes of which most of us have not seen since school! DISCLAIMER - don't worry they did their Elf and Safety training first

The rest of the team were a well oiled production line, writing jokes and decorating with Christmas stamps. During the task we produced a mass of paper cuttings to be used in the Paper Chain packs.

Chain in the membrane

Thankfully Michael reminded Darren to put on some Christmas tunes while we worked, this helped us churn out at a more efficient rate I'd say!

CROESO Sav

Welcome to Sav , thanks for joining your first group run. The corny Christmas cracker jokes are a good taste of what is to come at Goodgym! Yule love it here, well done you sleigh-ed this task! ;o)

The time flew by, sadly we could not Stay Another Day, it was time for us to head off into the night!

As Halloween approaches, it was time to get those costumes dusted off and ready for running.

10 goodgymers heard the call, the T-Rex leader made their return, joined this year by a pumpkin, Lord Farquaad, a ghost and the mighty DUFF man.

As is usual now for this run, we made our way through the streets to cheers, car honks and laughter. It's good to brighten up people's evenings, especially when the clocks have gone back and brought darkness with them.

Our task, to help Cwtch Together prepare and decorate for their weekend of Halloween parties.

We arrived to a list of tasks, and we all know how much Michael loves a list.. 😍

• Bring in 30 + pumpkins and create a display
• Cover tables with black bags
• Put up hangings on fence, securing with cable ties
• Erect the cardboard shop / stall
• Bring in the box from the unit
• Move the wood from the back unit to the front gate, ready for collection
• Empty the cupboard under the sink
• Blow up balloons
• Hang decorations... Including the glow on the dark skeleton

Our task organiser, Sarah, had prepared well tonight. With a long list of tasks we had no problems getting straight to volunteering. We always enjoy this task, it's good fun and lighthearted, the groups got going as the photos show. A last minute task joined the list, as the paperchains that had been put up were drooping too low. With a bit of macgyver thinking we came up with a solution. Using wool and ceiling fittings, an old walking stick and a clothes peg. Threaded through the chains, then raised at either end, the paperchains were moved up and away from children's heads (we hope). The same technique was then used to hang the skeleton, a nice spooky addition.

It was suddenly time for our group photo, get those costumes looking their best. We headed back for a bit of a social and discussion of the Christmas events coming up.

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