This week we were invited to the Central Community Centre to help with some much needed weeding outside this historic building to make way for the growing plants. The Central Community Centre is a listed building situated within the Railway Village in Swindon. This area, around the Mechanics Institute is being re-developed and our help was needed to tidy up before this work begins.

We headed outside and got started with this week’s getting-to-know-you question which was whether anyone had any tattoos or piercings. There were those that had some, those that had none, those with tatoo stories including Teresa’s (which is not repeatable here!) and those with ideas of what they would have, like Jase the Ace (another one not repeatable here!). Tracey is in negotiations with Charles to get co-ordinating GoodGym tattoos in readiness for their trip to the Shindig in the summer - watch this space!

Normally ones to whip out our GoodGym t-shirts at every opportunity, tonight our super-hero gear was concealed under warmer weather gear. Blue skies gave way to an epic black cloud – if you can imagine the scene in Independence Day when the mothership UFO hovers over New York, you’ll be close to knowing what we experienced. Helen won the prize for being the most inadequately prepared but she wins points for having her GoodGym t-shirt on display throughout the task. During the short run we got caught in a hail storm and the usual chatter had been replaced with increasingly loud owws and some frantic waving of arms (because that fends off hail). Those little balls of ice hurt! The route also took us through “Murder Alley” and everyone knows the one at the back always gets it. There wasn’t a Walkie Talkie group this week so Walk Leader Jo stepped up to do backmarker duties. Did she make it? Stay tuned to find out!

Kay met us at the Community Centre to take us to 17, we had a quick brief, and then got started with the weeding. This particular task required some additional entertainment to get us through the weather. This week it was what loot we could find in the flower bed that we were clearing. Our booty included a pipe cleaner, a pen and a pirate balloon. Oh, and a penny, which we picked up and passed on (to the nearest railing) for some GoodGym good luck. Also entertaining us was Emma the Trainer who was heard asking “what do I do with this big thing?” which translated means ‘how do I use this large fork?’ followed by “I think I’ll use this little thing” which translated means ‘I think I’m safer with this little fork and that will make the risk assessors happy’. We’ll be honest and admit that the task was a little bit wet and a lot yucky! There was much talk of showers and disinfectant afterwards but we are GoodGym, so we tackled it with all the enthusiasm that our hosts have come to expect from us – we really are superheros but without the capes - and as always made a huge impact in the short time we had.

The route back took us through “Murder Alley” for the second time. Crazy Legs got us doing Indian Files so everyone took turns being at the back this time. This replaced the advertised “marshmallow eating and puppy cuddling session”, which we now know is a cunning ploy to get us all to stay for a post-run beasting, except for Jo who is allergic to dogs. We’ve not found anyone who is allergic to marshmallows yet. We’re very pleased to report that that no one got murdered, including backmarker Jo, and the risk assessors can breathe easy for another week.

There was a great group of us tonight for post-run coffee and catch up – word is getting round that all the cool kids do it! And there was much evidence that following a bad day, an evening among our GoodGym family will ensure that all will be well with the world again. It’s not just our hosts for the evening that we help out! And they do say that weeding is a weapon of stress reduction.

Next week we are returning to the brilliant Toothill Farmhouse where hospitality is at it's warmest, and we'll be fixing and painting Teddy Bear Cottage, making improvements in the garden area and ensure that children can play in the cottage. We will be meeting at the usual time of 18:00 at the Oasis Leisure Centre; just look out for us in the red GoodGym tops! Don't forget to sign in online.