A yellow weather warning meant a change to our set plans.

We decided to support a local small business instead (Ok we went for a coffee and tasty blue lemonade).

We did still want to help the community so performed a litter pick on our walk there making Castle Park and harbourside a bit more beautiful for local residents.

We had a surprise drop in to say “hi” from Dushyant who was passing.

David, Mel and the Brunswick ladies led a very varied but linked conversation from parkrun—>Challenges running all the Perodic table initials—>Noble gases—> Playing with mercury as children—> Sun safety and back to gardening and exercise.

A bit of IT Support from Melanie getting one of the Brunswick's ladies emails back working on her phone and giving me info for writing my first mission report (Ed - first of many, Helen!), and time to head back between rain showers for lunch.

We were quick off the mark setting off for Brunswick Cemetery with new recruit Chloe joining the runners who'd taken enough hand forks to start pathfinding on the spiral - totally normal in Bristol to run with small gardening implements.

We all thought we'd only have a short time before the rain was back so even more enthusiasm than normal and Richard B's determination to find wooden edge finally paying off, though it was disintegrating so were still not entirely sure where the edge is.

Helen and Frances also found edge at the end of the spiral which may be the start of the spiral on one side. its all so exciting...

With lots of soil shifted, and still dry, we were back off to Workout for many intriguing conversations of philosophical merit, if you can remember any of them, leave a comment!

A fabulous turnout of four GoodGymmers alongside Jo from the Friends group meant huge progress in a corner of the park that we hadn’t tackled for a while.

Big buddleia chopping, bundles of bindweed and buttercups bagged, discarded sharps boxed and general important conversation including whether insect repellent works on spiders or is it only 6-legged creatures? Probably doesn’t work on octopuses.

Transformation complete, it was time for coffee for those not dashing off to other fun Monday activities - a great start to the week.

A bumper Monday morning or brambles, buttercups, moss and other weeds that were an easier task than usual due to the occasional torrential rain we’ve had over the past few days - even the dandelions were pulling out!

Lots of chatting between the friends and GoodGymmers, too, so a good way to start the week all round. Mand a new plant learned - Garlic Mustard - can be used to cook but also known as an invasive plant as it likes to take over…

Bit of a scorcher so shade sourced and much gravel revealed under pesky weeds (or nice grass and comfrey growing where we don’t want it).

Loss of chat around the mound then off for lunch along with the whole of Bristol - first stop closed their kitchen as they were so busy so popped next door for lovely veggie lunch and much-needed re-hydration. Lovely stuff.

Another heatwave, another morning of chasing shady spots around the cemetery with lots of small progress across the gardens. And a lot of water breaks!