Fabulous progress in the Battle of the Bramble at Brunswick with Mark joining for his first visit.

Knowing his prowess with a saw at Ashton Court, he set to on a mahonia and buddleia to reduce the height and dragged his “clippings” to the growing pile of green waste for the gardeners to collect.

We also made progress on paths, de-butter cupping and chopping back some of the smaller tall grasses.

2026 is looking good in the cemetery!

As well as the spring bulbs putting in an early appearance, we were back at Brunswick to tackle more weeds loosened by the wet weather and before it freezes solid. We even managed to plant a grass from my balcony - weed for my balcony, hopefully quick to grow bigger in a flowerbed!

We spent the morning giving Brunswick a last tidy before Christmas. Pulling out some weeds and brambles and making the path more visible again.

We were joined by a Christmas Robin who kept an eye on our progress hoping for some early presents 🐛

Another task switch for the ever-flexible GoodGym Bristol team as the task beneficiaries couldn't make it - plogging to the rescue with different routes for runners and walkers.

The runners agreed (well, were persuaded under duress) to pop into Old Market Assembly if they were passing to checking they DO have a booking for the panto theatre-goers after far too much "Oh no, they haven't", "Oh yes, they have" email exchanges and unanswered phone calls and messages. Phew.

Ousmane joined us for the very forst time having already conpleted his TaskForce training AND had volunteered as photographer - thank you and welcome! And Becky was back, having not waited 5 years again this time.

Everyone chipped in with Caroline backmarking, Vaguely Northern Darren run leading, Jason choosing the runners' target zone, Richardpromoting GG to everyone with his merch-wearing and Kingsley keepy-uppy conversations about footballing. Or something. Ed and Melanie were even helped by a petrol tanker driver who brought litter to us so we didn't get too close to his tanker delivery. Excellent team effort, everyone.

Looking forward to the rest of our December sessions :-)

It's definitely dark at 6.45 now, a twilight/twiiterlight walk and run to Brunswick Cemetery where we met Di and the tree popper/root puller. It's a genius invention for clamping on roots and using a fulcrum to lever the root out - physics meets gardening!

There was lots going on at the spiral with path being widened - the rain had made the ground give up the weeds more easily but the gravel path was dry enough to sit or kneel on - perfect for weeding and chatting GoodGym style.

Everyone who'd been at the task was also coming to Eats so an incentive to get tidied up and on our way for more chat and an unexpected casual game of dominos at Turtle Bay, though the domino rally was thwarted by the real wood unevenness of the tables. There was identification of the reggae versions of 80s tunes, there was awe at Richard G's hand-knitted bee race medal, there was planning for keeping Melanie sane-ish after her foot operation. Marianne took over responsibility for the Loaned Padlock, promising shed cone along on Tuesday except the one where she's Morris Dancing for a TV dating show's fake summer fair. All good slightly bonkers loveliness. Standard stuff for GG Bristol.

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.