Somehow Mr R's list of 24 items (ok, that total does include 8 bananas...) came to £29.50 at Aldi today...even now I can't believe he got so much for his money (and that we came in under budget) - the two bags full also gave my arms and shoulders a decent work out on the way back in today's welcome lunchtime sunshine...

Miss S already had a few of the bags by her front door when I arrived - when she disappeared into her kitchen to say there were a few more, including "one big one", I wasn't sure what to expect - thankfully it was a manageable load and conveniently her bin was right by the front door.

St Patrick’s Day gave us the perfect excuse for a festive GoodGym outing — and this week came with an extra celebration: Nick’s birthday. We gathered at Freaks & Geeks, wished him a very happy St Patnick’s Day, and set off towards The Greenway Orchard with a strong crew and even stronger energy.

The 4km run took us into the dusk, head torches flicking on as we approached the Orchard. Waiting for us: tools, gloves, and a meadow that had long since stopped behaving like a meadow. Our mission was to help clear the overgrowth so the Orchard team can sow new seeds and bring the space back to life.

Tackling the Meadow (and the Meadow Tackling Us) The brambles were particularly scratchy — the kind that seem to reach out and grab you even when you’re sure you’re nowhere near them. But the team got stuck in: - Cutting back thick tangles of bramble and long grass. - Pulling up stubborn roots that did not want to leave. - Using head torches to illuminate the darkest corners, where the brambles were definitely plotting. Despite the scratch factor, the transformation was clear by the end. What started as an impenetrable thicket now looked like a space with real potential again.

A Birthday Bramble Blow‑Out In honour of the occasion, Nick celebrated by blowing out… well, not candles, but a satisfying number of brambles. Not quite as glamorous, but arguably more useful — and definitely more GoodGym.

Wrapping Up We snapped a group photo, jogged back to Freaks & Geeks, and rounded off the evening with a well‑earned St Patrick’s Day drink and chips. A perfect blend of doing good, running well, and celebrating St Patnick in style. Had some really nice feedback from the task afterwards too, to cap it all off - well done all.

Shout‑outs - To Nick, birthday hero and bramble‑vanquisher. - To everyone who braved the scratchiest vegetation we’ve faced in a while. - To the whole team for bringing such great energy to a brand‑new task.

A brill evening all round