About a dozen earthlings seized the day by taking up the opportunity of partaking in another fun task at Oceans Youth Connexions. Task owner Kamal opened the room divider to reveal a space we hadn't been in since we started our tasks here 2 years ago. The partition removed, we stepped into another dimension - a well sized room which used to be a carpet shop. A bunch of the gang put on some protective overalls and gloves before getting to work here, painting all walls white. Rohan had some unfinished business with an unpainted patch next door so he swiftly sorted that first. In the carpet room, the team started low, gradually moving up. None of the carpets turned out to be magic but we did have ladders to help us reach higher places. Conversations flowed as smoothly as paint rollers on exposed brick. Lots of chat about running endeavours, past and present. Good luck to those running Brighton half in a few weeks! A few drops of paint ended up on some visages but most of it covered the intended surfaces.

Outdoors in the yard, this was a paint free zone. The team here got to work clearing up leaves, other foliage and rubbish. The theme outdoors was South American with two of our group travelling there in the coming weeks. Bon Voyage to those soon embarking on adventures, be they travelling, culinary, or expressed through the medium of dance. Whilst this team mainly worked behind bars, this was no prison. They roamed back and forth, from the smaller yard, to the bigger yard, to the magic circle outside where the leaves have a temporary stay. Once the free-range roamers had finished up, they joined the decorators indoors.

We ended the task with the customary group photo and a somewhat tuneful rendition of Happy Birthday for Anna.

• Shout outs to:
• Anna on her first task, and crossing the Thames to do so!
• Robert for also crossing the Thames (not his first task)
• Anna for it being her birthday week - happy birthday!

We'll be back here next month (date TBC)

A cold February evening, softened by the silvery whole moon up high, turned into a very successful, and highly commended, burst of litter-picking activity. In short, half a dozen volunteers filled two large rubbish bags half-full of litter, in just half an hour... and that doesn't cover half of it! Buckle up for the full story...

This mission had been arranged by John as a garden-clearing challenge at the Cranbrook Community Centre and Food Garden. However, by 7pm, with our group of eight Goodgym volunteers (mostly) assembled, Eileen informed us of the sad news that Janet was poorly. Thus, the evening's activity could not proceed as expected.

We all wish Janet a strong and speedy recovery back to better health.

Back at the site, and with untapped garden-clearing energy on ice, our initial team of six considered the alternative outlets to pour forth the bucketfuls of positivity that come from any Goodgym gathering.

The mutinous thought of an early return home to enjoy a hot bath, tempting though it may have been, had not even started to cross our dedicated Goodgym minds. Well, perhaps there was a quickly murmured suggestion, but such ideas stalled and shrunk into silence, when, all of a sudden...

Dan seemed to pull off a miraculous conjuring trick, presenting a complete set of litter-picking equipment, Mary Poppins style, out of a modest-sized rucksack. With credit and thanks to Dan's GG Liverpool friends, his neat collection of picker, two bags and a hoop somehow near-perfectly provided for our team, keen to spread some clearing-up love around about the Cranbrook surroundings.

Rohan, whose kudos earnings were already high for cycling to the mission, set out to begin a careful and thorough picking operation, teaming up with trusty John and an unstoppably dynamic pair of Emmas.

John's responsible commitment to health and safety ensured everybody had gloves and knew why - apparently not just for keeping warm and dry, and preserving nail polish. No, gloves guard you from the not-immediately-identifiable and possibly sharp, possibly spiky items lurking in the undergrowth. So, hear this rubbish hunters, wherever you are picking: gloves on!

Fresh from birthday celebrations, Emma J. strode off, aglow with her usual vitality, such that most litter she encountered simply tidied itself into a nearby bin of its own accord. Completing that quartet, and undeterred by a recent nasty collision with a reckless cyclist, (Southern) Emma whirled her way around the area, taking excellent photos of all the best litter-picking action.

The remaining pair of pickers, Chris and Dan, stepped out at a purposeful pace, in strong agreement about the transformational improvement of litter-free flower beds, pavements and benches.

Also noted were the virtues of that finest of everyday walk accessories, the litter-picker: for Chris it was the comfortable reach it offers and for Dan it was the wonder of its dexterity, picking litter of all shapes and sizes. As per the gloves reminder above: OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES!

Oh! And, as per the photo evidence, whilst all off busy delivering our revised Monday night activity, there appears to have been a fly-by drop-in litter-pick moment from Lobo and Anna... They came and, like the eye of the (full) moon flashing open and closed between passing clouds, they slipped away into the fresh dark of the approaching night.

Rejoining up as a nearly fully unified team from respective adventures, we enjoyed, even indulged, that warm sense of satisfaction, some might say smugness: in the space of a half-hour or so's rubbish hunt we had collected enough litter to present the aforementioned pair of half-full rubbish bags.

The prize for top find was awarded to Emma J., who retrieved a completed school report card (see photo), which gifted the opportunity to generously self-assess our evening's efforts with a resounding "full marks". The inspiration for this report's self-congratulatory headline, too!

One final time, team scores on the doors: "Full marks, GG team!" That said, whilst some clearing up was necessary and noticeable, all agreed that this neighbourhood's hygiene rating was impressive. The local area appeared well-kempt with just a scattering of litter dropped here and there. To Tower Hamlets folk it is fair and right to share our praise and recognition: "(Nearly) full marks, TH!"

Goodgymmers from around the country got involved delivering plastic tubs to Greene King pubs to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support!

Well Done everyone and I hope you all got to enjoy the contents first!!

(if you have delivered tubs but are not registered let me know and I will add you on!)

Great work by everyone who took part in the January Bingo. Hopefully you felt inspired to do good and get fit this January!

Everyone that has submitted so far had completed at least one full line with most people finishing the full challenge.

If you still have any photos to submit, please email jen@goodgym.org so I can get them uploaded.

Final week of delivering tubs to Greene King pubs! thanks all involved. Hopefully lots of money raised for Macmillan Cancer support.