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 👋🏻

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.

One lonely runner set of from Charlton for this week's group run. At Woolwich the numbers grew, two more runners and 4 walkers continued on to Plumstead and soon we numbered 12. And we needed all the help we could get for our litter pick around the Plumstead-Thamesmead borders.

The area was in a disgusting state: cans, paper, and crisp packet abounded along with a few bottles containing fluids that we may have been better off not emptying (my nose won't be forgetting in a hurry). The team worked like troopers, wandering off in all directions and in Ashton's case deep into the woods to really give the area a comprehensive clean. And what a difference we made: after just an hour we'd filled over 25 bags with general waste and recycling ready for the council to pick up the next day.

This isn't the nicest task that we do, but it's one of the most important and we left the area so much cleaner than when we started. A job well done by all.

And thanks to Ivar for the amazing pun for the title

Next week, in something of a contrast, we're making paper chains for kids for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Hope to see you all there.