Dearest gentle reader...

The end of one Season appears to be upon us, so let us take these opportunities to promenade along our beautiful river...

(Sadly I'm not a period drama writer so that's as far as that goes....) However - a warmish late summer evening meant just that for 8 GoodGymers, as we made our way from the Royal Naval College for a run along the Thames to Christ Church in Greenwich, where we had plenty of autumnal tasks to keep us busy. Lots of chopping, pruning, and sawing of branches ensued, (we saw some great teamwork reaching those high branches with litter pickers and long stemmed shears...!) making for better drainage & natural light entering the building. Other team members re-planted shrubs which needed saving from their broken planters, ready for the new season. Dusk crept up on us too quickly, and it was time to move on for a pint at the Yacht. Happy birthday to Jenny and special welcome to Jackie on your first session- it was lovely to have you with us.

Have a great week all 🙂

Next week we're at Charlton Manor Primary school. Until next time!

Some of the following GoodGym Report is based on a pack of lies.

In the last session at Christchurch of this summer, we did a lot of things. Most of which, however, your affectionate author did not see due to moving a big hydrangea. So I’m reliably informed we…(and delete as applicable)

put up ivy, trimmed some ivy, met someone called Ivy, shifted some soil, shifted gear, Richard Gere, planted bulbs, saved some bulbs, met the cat, scared the cat, found some snails, made conversation, made hay, hey ya, Hey hey we’re the Monkees

Let’s cut to the chase - the best thing about evening was being treated to Nosecco and pastries at the end. Richly deserved and a lovely way to finish our collaboration for another year. A huge thank you to our hosts, who have been a pleasure to work with over this summer. We look forward to being back and continuing to develop the garden!

It was definitely not forecast to rain until the end of our run. So when it was raining at the start we decided to forgo our warm up despite having cling film at the ready and we set off for Christchurch to meet Kate and Cherry for our scheduled evening of frivolity. Welcome back to Tam, lovely to have you along and look forward to welcoming you to a Woolwich run soon!

Before starting our marathon 1km run, we voted on who was a nose breather and who was a mouth breather, clarifying whether the mouth breathers are mouth breathers by simple and carefree ignorance (me) or pure, unadulterated defiance (Brin). Imagine how fearless, how reckless, how [insert what adjective Kerry would use to describe Brin in the heat of an argument] you must be to understand the benefits of mouth breathing and to forgo it? Luckily, for those of us claiming ignorance, we had Tom to explain to us the benefits in a 2minute elevator pitch and proceed to invite us to a 2 hour podcast listening GoodGym social to fully appreciate the science of mouth breathing in all its glory. (Apologies, I think I'm busy that night).

Anyway, enough on nose breayhing until a later feature. At Christchurch a few of us moved a big planter to what we were assured is a more sunny spot and it looks rather fetching there. And another grouo of us dug out the ivy and saved another plant from a planter that tonight died a long awaited and peaceful death having been held together by all the roots. This planter was a year older than Brin and I. Farewell comrade. By the way, We were born the year of the first case of successful somatic gene therapy on a patient...what year was it? Post in the comments- no googling!

We saved some bulbs and some snails and worms and the soil will be spread back around the garden. Beautiful work. We then had some comparing of who soiled themselves the most. Thankfully, being a mouth breather, I was spared most the most distressing parts of this. Time for a soggy photo and some lovely biscuits and cherries and then we were off and parted ways to squelch back home.

Thanks everyone! We're at Woolwich Works next week and don't forget our next social picnic in August!

A Fab-Fifteen GoodGymers, including several visitors from other areas, descended on Greenwich Naval College where we speculated on our dream 1:1 tuition, before decamping to the college lawns. There we embarked on a fun-filled warm up in the sunshine, featuring a frantic game of tag, followed by “pass-the-cuddly-toy”, while avoiding a well-dressed march-past of dignitaries.

We then ran (some people power-walked) to the Peace Garden at Christ Church. One group took apart a planter and shovelled the soil into large bags and flower-beds. Others cleaned flower-pots and cleared the bits-between-paving-stones of stubborn weeds. The difference we made in a short time was a sight to behold.

Returning to the lawns, now fortified with water, grapes and biscuits, we embarked on a few knee-creaking exercises, before staggering away for food and rest, reflecting on another job well done.

Good evening, I’m Bob Bigglestone…

…and I’m Bob Murtough

And we’re delighted to bring you today's match report from Goodgym Greenwich’s tricky away fixture at Christchurch. Here’s Bob with the teams.

Thank you, Bob. A few changes from last week - near full strength, a few on international duty and one or two still on the treatment table.

Anyway, you could say this one was a must win, Bob. Some of those branches were set to cause havoc if left to grow.

Yes indeed, Bob. And JC did an excellent job at pruning back the opposition’s big man up front, the Buddleia.

He certainly did. Attacking it from both wings I saw. I reckon he’s ambidextrous Bob.

I don’t know about that, Bob, but he could certainly use both hands.

There was an excellent turnout this week, made a real difference to this church garden. Some lovely interplay between those chopping and carrying. Reminiscent of Liverpool’s pass and move game from the nineties.

Pass and move, it’s the Goodgym groove?

Was there Goodgym in the nineties, Bob?

Don’t think so. You just had to tune into GMTV and Bob’s your uncle, Bob - there was Mr Motivator. Goodgym began in 2009.

You’ve done your research, Bob!

Had to be something useful in this report, Bob.

There was a lovely moment in the warm up where the team were asked about the best freebie they’d got recently. Ever got anything for free, Bob?

Does shoplifting count, Bob?

Probably not, Bob. Unless you count the free cup of tea at the police station.

Didn’t even get that, Bob - a proper tight Bobby. Not even a sandwich. No such thing as a free lunch.

You can say that again, Bob.

No such thing as a free lunch, Bob.

There were free biscuits at full time though.

Yes indeed Bob! Favourite one?

I am partial to a Viennese Whirl.

I thought that was a dance move, Bob.

That's the Bourbon Waltz, Bob. Game day snacks are always welcome though. Ever had a half-time orange?

I haven’t Bob. I used to get pulled off at half time.

Wow! We only got oranges! We should also say a big shout out to all those, including our very own Olivia Waller, running the London Marathon this weekend. And to all members of this parish volunteering at the start line.

Yes, Bob. Good luck to all, and remember - it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

I think they know that, Bob.

And always run with traffic. Hold on is that with traffic or against traffic? No, with traffic.

I think they close the roads Bob.

That’s going to make running on them a bit tricky isn’t it?

I think we should wind this one up, Bob. We’re going round the houses a bit.

Good practice for the weekend, Bob.

Thanks for joining us for this special report. We’ll stop leading you up the garden path and let you get on with your days.

Speaking of garden paths, Bob, do you know the first name of madness?

What’s that, Bob?

Suggs coming up your drive.

Shut up, Bob.

A quick and late - oh so late - report. Please do forgive my tardiness, friends!

We started and it was hot. Proper summer hot. And our glistening faces could first be seen in a large circle in the Naval College. Where we were - admittedly - a little silly.

Lassos, snakes in boots, bandits... the joy of an old drama game made us all a little silly in the sun.

And then we were off - down a rather wonderfully historic part of Greenwich - and through to the lovely garden at Christchurch on Trafalgar Road.

We weeded and tidied and (as you'll see from our photos) we grabbed up a fair amount of nature's excesses, and all in time for that lovely community to enjoy their garden over the summer.

Nice one, folks!