We gathered once again at the ever-reliable Phoenix Cinema, braced for another properly cold winter’s evening. With the last few days dipping well below freezing, this Tuesday proved no exception and with the added prospect of snow and icy surfaces later on, safety came first.

Our task host at Shepherd Hill, Pat, made the sensible call to cancel the session there due to slippery conditions and a light covering of snow. So… Plan B it was. And when in doubt, you can always rely on GoodGym’s most generous task of all: litter picking.

We warmed up in the cinema foyer, where conversation turned to New Year’s Eve plans past, present, and imaginary. Answers ranged from the sensible (“go to bed early”) to the surreal. Subham absolutely won the night with his story of accidentally meeting Mike Tyson on a staircase in a famous New York nightclub Tyson going up, Subham coming down, polite smiles exchanged. Subham briefly considered pushing him down the stairs and claiming victory… wisely deciding against it.

It was also great to see John from Camden joining us, and the beauty of litter picking meant plenty of time to chat while quietly doing good around the local area. Always surprising (and slightly depressing) how many cigarette ends lurk around trees though there was a small victory when a blocked drain was cleared using nothing more than a litter picker and determination.

As the cold finally began to bite, we headed back inside for the important stuff: hot chocolate, refreshing drinks, and a rather large box of popcorn, courtesy of George much appreciated.

Thanks to everyone who came out, adapted, laughed, and still made a difference. Next week we’re at Stephens House & Gardens it’s a great one, so bring a friend!

Run, chat, do good see you there.