Wednesday 13th November
Written by Lucy Hill
It takes two to tango, and at last nights task it only took two to traid. Jonny and Lucy teamed up at Hammersmith Traid to help clear the shop floor for a fresh new delivery.
Sunday 3rd November
Written by Kash
On a Sunday morning, Sevan and Kash ran 6.5 km from Ealing to Shepherd's Bush to wake themselves up. The run didn't seem enough to awaken their fullest potential, so the duo popped into a coffee shop for a dose of caffeine. The brew was tasty, but did it unleash a flurry of energy? The team decided on the next step: a visit to Mr M's.
Mr M's first reaction to the familiar GoodGymers' faces was to offer them more coffee. But the visitors wanted something more punchy. If Sevan and Kash had a bad case of restlessness, Mr M had the cure: his back and front gardens.
The backyard had regular and seasonal jobs available: grass cutting and leaf sweeping. The lawn transformed since Sevan and Kash's last visit to Mr M's this year - it still hardly had any grass on it, but the type of weeds changed. The previously omnipresent bindweed was almost nowhere to be seen, replaced by alkanet and an easy-to-pull weed that neither Sevan nor Kash could name.
Kash wasted no time to get familiar with the plants to be exterminated. Instead, she let the weeds get acquainted with the lawnmower. When she removed the mower's basket for the second time to empty it, the trimmings were nowhere to be found.
"Where did it all go?" Sevan asked.
Both GoodGymers had a perplexed look on their faces. Kash turned over the mower and uncovered a mash of wet grass and weeds stuck onto the bottom. The cuttings become green pulp.
While Sevan was digging out weeds and sweeping the leaves, he noticed that Mr M, whom he could see through the kitchen window, changed his top from stripy to plain. It wouldn't have been so bizarre if Mr M hadn't changed back again. And again. Sevan then heard Mr M talking to someone and, shortly after, saw two Mr Ms in the kitchen. A doppelganger?! Later, Sevan learned that Mr M's look-alike was his cousin from Egypt who stayed over for a couple of days. Phew, nothing paranormal going on on Sevan's shift!
Fifteen minutes before the end of the mission, Sevan and Kash were ready to tackle together the front garden. It was a real blitz! In such a short time grass was scraped from the paving, all weeds pulled and a young tree, hiding behind the bins, cut down. That last 15 minutes was the kick Sevan and Kash needed. Energised with the gardening workout, they ran 4 km to Acton to build a bed for relaxation.
Saturday 5th October
Written by Liz (She/her)
A warm and sunny morning greeted us for today’s task at the Vine Road Community Growing Project in Barnes. We met at the polytunnels and shifted a bit of garden furniture before dividing to conquer separate jobs involving compost and mulch. Classic.
The mulchers set about coating the raised beds in some rich organic material to nourish the soil and remaining crops over winter. Meanwhile, the others were busy shovelling and sieving matter from the compost heap to remove larger bits of wood, roots, worms, and more than a few coffee pods, to leave a most pleasing fine and light compost. Lovely.
Most of the group also stopped a little longer to enjoy well-earned coffees and baked treats in the sun from the community café. Welcome to all those who joined us for the first time, whether from other areas or new to GoodGym. We hope to see you and the friendly bunch at Vine Road again soon.
Tuesday 17th September
Written by Lucy Hill
Two task Traid Tuesdays are the best, as you get to hang out with your friends not once, but twice!
Having cleared the racks at the Hammersmith store, five of us continued the evening of good deeds by repeating the job, this time in the Shepherds Bush shop.
With the staff at the store, we cleared the racks, boxed the fashion and packed up the hangers. There were also some musical bangers, or should I say hangers, on the radio, and everyone’s ears were delighted to be blessed with Lucy’s dulcet tones singing along.
We did a rail-y good job of emptying the store ready for its new delivery overnight, made even better with friends.
Tuesday 17th September
Written by Jonathan (he/him)
Back at TRAID to help them out with their charity packdown.
Main take aways were the psychedelic which hurt too long to look at.
Thanks all for coming!
Sunday 8th September
Written by Sevan
Mrs R had sent up a flare to ask for help after receiving a warning letter from Hammersmith & Fulham council. It said that there would be a hefty fine for any bushes or trees that were overhanging the pavement. As Mrs R is now housebound, she needed help to trim the front hedge and a tree in the front garden.
The flare was seen from Ealing borough, with Kash and Sevan arriving to help after their morning task at Acton Junior parkrun. At first glance, the hedge and tree didn't look too bad, certainly not compared to the house next door! Mrs R was keen not to get into any trouble, so Kash and Sevan headed out to the street with 4 secateurs - one per hand? - and a ladder.
Sevan went low and Kash went high with the ladder. They moved along the front wall from right to left, trying to level the hedge and tree with the front wall. Rain had been forecast for the day, which hadn't materialised. The left overs from last night's thunderstorm were still hanging around however and gave Kash and Sevan a refreshing shower each time they chopped down a branch.
They only paused their work to explain what they were doing to Mrs R's downstairs neighbour and later, to receive complaints that they'd been renegades, cutting back too severely. The hedge would regrow and he was directed back to Mrs R who'd given the GoodGymers their instructions.
After bagging the cuttings, Kash showed Mrs R the before and after photos, which she was very happy with.
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