Do we really know what we're doing?

Someone asked.

Know where we can find a book on painting?

Was how our happy group of 8 started at Belsize Community Library on Wednesday evening.

We'd already braved and toppled a sun drenched Haverstock Hill, and we busily combined our rehydrating efforts with pouring paint into trays.

The office and corridor walls had previously been painted by a local group of children. Who'd done a brilliant job, but just on parts of the wall. We were there to fill the gaps and apply a new coat.

Which we got to speedily and whilst catching up with one another.

It's a joy to be in special community spaces, in spring long evenings, and whilst the usual hubbub has passed. We enjoyed the space and we made a difference across a fast 45 minutes.

Thank you, all, for your work, time, and joy - it was lovely to see you!

It's a 2 mile run tonight, folks!

We'll stay completely together, too!

What a gorgeous evening for a run, hey!

Isn't the last road a big hill?

Well...

It's called Haverstock Hill, right?

Ummm...

That sounds like a hill, Alex

Look! A bird!

Which was how our happy evening started.

Our wonderful group of Akshay, Faye, Jackie, John, Steve, and I met by an evening King's Cross, and we took a sun peppered run through Camden, past Chalk Farm, and over to Belsize Park.

Arriving at the special Belsize Community Library, we were met by the brilliant Emily, who'd cycled on down.

It's a special site, this community library, nestled by an allotment and within an innocuous North London street. It's become the de-facto meeting space for the local community, and we arrived to the evening's final readers and a local council residents surgery.

Fay and Jackie got to one task swiftly, heading out to paint one of the bike racks a fresh shade in weather resistant paint; whilst Akshay, Emily, John, and Steve took to the inside, picking strewn litter under the bay window seating, vacuuming the cleared area, and giving the top shelves a well needed dust :)

I, on the other hand, browsed the books. It was great. Consumed, I was! A little noise from some folks in red 'doing good', but all in all, the perfect reading environment!!

Thanks, everyone, for your time, work, and lovely company - here's to next time!!

24 Goodgymers ran between 3-7km to stack logs for Skip Garden and garden for Belsize Community Library!

Welcome along to Elize who was on tour from Lambeth! No newbies last night but plenty of regulars, always lovely to see you. Please do sign up for group runs so I can plan tasks accordingly.

In the news this week:

1. The GG Christmas Party is on Saturday 1st December near Elephant and Castle - dress as something beginning with C for Camden like Clint Eastwood, Cat Woman or a the Canal! - full details here.
2. Frances is leading a 16km long run this Saturday along the Southwark Circle - sign up here.
3. Plus there is a Community Mission helping Crouch End Open Spaces on Sunday, free picnic to finish!

After our introductions we warmed up and split into two groups:

Skip Garden Report:

Frances led a team of 11 to help Skip Garden, managed by Global Generation this amazing charity in the heart of St Pancras puts on educational programmes and activities for children and adults.

The task this time was to stack up tons and tons of logs which will be used to make pizza's in the kitchen, which in turn funds the charities activities.

After the task was done the guys enjoyed a progression run around Granary Square and an early finish to the pub.

Belsize Community Library Report:

A team of 13 of us headed up, up, up the hill to a new task - Belsize Community Library is a charity and community run centre of learning that puts on lots of meeting and activities on top of the obvious quality book borrowing.

The Hills Have GOOD!

We met Emma, the Business Manager, who tasked us with sawing away a tree, sweeping up and weeding. We split into teams of 3-4's and got to work. Weeders weeded planters and pots, sweepers swept leaves and rubbish and sawers tidied up an overgrown tree. We made sure most people had a go with the sawing - nice!

After 30 minutes we'd collected up 6 bags of leaves, weeds and tree that will hopefully be composted by our friends at Antrim Allotments. On our way home we went via Primrose Hill and learnt how to effectively run down hill - flying!!!

Well done all! Sign up for next week here.

PB out