Arrived at Ms G home after Acton Junior Parkrun and this time alone to sort her front garden. Kash and I were here not long ago and did the back garden. On arrival noticed the bags we filled in the front garden from our last visit. I knocked and rang Ms G, but no answer. As easy access to the garden(no locked doors or walls : started to pull the dry vegetation as easy to get out of the soil and started putting in the bag that was not full. In the meantime Ms G came out as heard my voicemail : apologised as fell asleep. Gave me more bags and I got the rack and spade just in case it was needed. During the mission I had the company of 2 cheeky squirrels and then a cat who literally just watched me work from inside the garden. I filled 6 bags and put them with the others ready for collection. The garden now looks great and Ms G already had some bulbs growing so left them to grow. Cold morning but the body was in motion so kept warm.

Cold but sunny Sunday morning with the sun on the horizon in a frosty park, but this did not stop the 29 children to turn up and run with parents. Volunteers were present with gloves, hats, extra layers and warm coats to keep warm. Some icy patches near the roundabout, but that was it on the course. The ground was hard and the pond was frozen. Alan, Michelle and Steph Ducat were marshals today. Michelle had a new position we did not know about - the one near the logs on the path going up to the top of the park. Joanna was at the finish line giving tokens. Everybody survived the cold and went back safely to their next occupations.

Steph Ducat ran solo from Ealing Broadway as the usual suspects were away. Early start in cold weather - very cold but sunny. Icy patches on the route, but no ice skating and no falls on the route to Acton Junior parkrun. Arrived and did a small lap around which was in fact the route for the junior runners later. Caught a beautiful sunrise in a freeing park.

New Year, New visit, New shopping list, New items - grocery shopping for Ms F. Another visit to Ms F in Camden and this time we wished each other a Happy New Year 2026. After some catching up, was given a list with a twist - new items on the list as Ms F had some discount vouchers but also a free item to collect. She also wanted some slightly different items to cook and was in need of some clothe washing liquid(not critical but helpful as heavy for her). Got all the items including more vegetables than usual, but no battered haddock once again from the fish counter. Is the haddock vanishing? Got the salmon and the veg so all good. Different cheese today : Wensleydale cranberry cheese. No Boxton water, but got Evian as spoke to Ms F to see if ok for Evian. It was also discounted today. After getting the items, had to find the free voucher item : Waitrose Pink Champagne Truffles - what a treat. Another mid winter saving trip to the shops as the truffles were free, had 3 discounted vouchers and did savings on the day with the Evian water(- £1.50) and the the laundry liquid(- £3). Total saving of £13 between the vouchers and the products I found cheaper. Ms F was delighted and was also very curious with the truffles as did not imagine "truffles" like this. Before I left, helped Ms F retrieve her winter hats and a bedquilt from above a massive cupboard as she could not reach them and didn't want to fall over like she did last year which ended Ms F with injuries. As I am tall, got them so can stay warm during these cold days. She will be able to have a warm sleep with her warm quilt and go out to the local park with lovely warm hats.

The first session of the year at Feeding Ealing was chilly, despite taking place at the warmest part of the day. Joseph had a solution for the team, a task to keep them moving and keep them warm. The remnants of a large pile of wood chip and bark would be used to refresh the path into the community growing space.

Steph, Kash and Sevan got shovelling and wheelbarrowing the new path topper. Joseph took on the task of raking it into place, even though he'd recently injured his foot in the orchard. There was no convincing him otherwise.

"I can't sit and watch others work for me while I do nothing" - Joseph

Between the 4 of them, they completed the path in an hour, smoothing out the lumps and bumps of the dirt path underneath. That made the entrance to the growing space accessible to all, even those who are a bit unsteady on their feet.

With the hard work done and the GoodGym team being kept warm as promised, they needed something else to keep that feeling going once the task was complete. Joseph produced a thermos of water, some tea bags and 4 mugs to warm their fingers and stomachs while chatting about Joseph's big plans for 2026 and beyond at Feeding Ealing.