A welfare check for Mrs A presented a good opportunity for a lunchtime run along largely familiar roads (so no risk of getting lost then...) to Upper Clapton. The run itself in the sunshine was pleasant, the odd loud shouty pedestrian aside, but unfortunately, after a couple of loud knocks at the front door, it appeared Mrs A wasn't in.

Mr M greeted me warmly, and before I'd even got my phone out of my pocked to take down the list, he'd issued his instructions for this week - 3 potatoes, 2 tomatoes, 3 vegetable soup - and with that I was off to Tesco to hunt for his treasure.

It seems Sardines are in short supply at the moment - another week where the shelves were bare of all varieties (albeit there were no little gems nor courgettes either). Mr R is convinced that people are stockpiling "essentials" in preparation for "something". Occasionally doorstep conversations with Mr R can take a darker tone...

As I watched Run Director Rue lead our 62(!) intrepid junior runners in the infamous Hackney Haka at 0855 this morning, I did wonder if he'd deliberately timed its welcome return to coincide with the start of the Rugby Premiership season, having put it out to pasture (as it were) over the warmer summer months that we've just lived through, where such vigorous warming up wasn't in much demand...

Not that it was too chilly under the big tree this morning, well clearly not judging by the amazing turnout, including lots of absolute first timers to junior parkrun (10), whom we hope to see regularly over the coming months. Ably assisted by Sarah at her usual tree, Hilary at her now familiar spot at Gate One, and Nick doing finish tokens and barcode scanning, Run Director Rue was able to get the crowd away on the dot of 9, and soon the field was spread around the fields, with our usual speedies having a close battle at the front, followed by the more relaxed (and smiling) runners and walkers taking things at a slightly more leisurely pace, although we did still have 15 PBs, so clearly they hadn't skimped on breakfast.

Before long the first finishers were coming down the funnel, and a steady stream followed after that, and so concluded another successful morning at the bright and sunny Fields.

More of the same next Sunday if you can join us - we'll certainly be needing more Hi Viz volunteers as quite a few of our GoodGym regulars are busy with other activities.

It's fair to say that most Friday's Mr T's communal lift can contain some pretty peaky fragrances...usually, but not always, of the weed induced variety, and you get to inhale quite a bit of this on the ride up to his floor. Clearly someone had decided they'd had enough of these particular scents, and had used (and then kindly left) a can of Old Spice in the lift to give it a "freshen up"...eau de changing room sprang to mind.

When I got back to Mrs S's with her shopping this morning, she asked me if I'd passed anyone on the staircase coming up. I wasn't sure if this was an observation or memory test (or both), but could only reply that I hadn't...Mrs S then explained that a nurse had visited only moments earlier to take an armful of blood from her (well a small vial's worth...) and all had gone painlessly...rather like her shopping for this morning (thankfully) - even the sardines were back.