Take That Emmaus reorganisation!

A huge number of Bristol GoodGymmers took to the task of moving the big furniture to the ground floor of the shop which was already dull of the bric-a-brac that was going upstairs in the shop which was already full of the furniture going to the downstairs of the shop - a full-on Tetris challenge to create some space to start the manoeuvres.

The smaller items started being carried upstairs whilst the lift was used for the bigger items, although the lift seemed slower than lugging things up or down the stairs so it wasn't long before some much chunkier furniture was being carefully manhandled around the bannisters.

Fortunately, there was also a lot of chat to catch up on with GoodGymmers who'd not seen each other for a while making good use of the "lift waiting" time, springing into action like coiled springs when the ding of the lift warned that the door was soon to open with mystery objects and GoodGymmers inside.

The temperature increased with each lift-load being carefully tessellated into gaps to keep some floor space clear and our 50-minutes was soon up with a lot already moved (and a task for the Emmaus team tomorrow to find a lay-out that works for them).

We made sure two of the sofas were accessible for our end-of-task photo before heading off with many joining GoodGym Eats at Crispy Dosa, moving even more furniture around to have a big enough table for our lovely group.

From shifting sofas to Crispy Dosas - the crispiest dosas on Earth!

7 runners and 1 walker made their way to Emmaus to help sort out their over flowing shelves. They've had a number of house clearances recently, and a lot of the crockery and glassware that wasn't selling, needed sorting. We sorted, boxed up, and...the shelves still seemed full! Only one item was broken, and far be it for me to name names, but i think it was part of their 50th year bucket list activities (maybe Roddy knows?) A few of us learned how to use the box taping thing, and only one of them was broken when we left. Again, no names, but I think Caroline knows? Great to see Jordan on a Tuesday night, a d hope he's back soon, although we think he may have opened a cursed tin of hair, so fingers crossed he's back in this mortal realm in one piece when work allows. We were asked to keep anything new and trendy looking, and it was a surprise to find out that what looks new and trendy to those of us born in the 70's, is nit the same as to someone born in the late 90's!

A very balanced group of 4 running GoodGymmers and 4 walking GoodGymmers set of for Emmaus in the dry after one of the wettest 24 hours I think I've ever seen.

Charlie met us and showed us the two overflowing cages to be sorted into saleable, usable, PATable and recycling. The recycling won hands down but some quality finds were evident as ever.

Woohoo, it's nearly Christmas AND it wasn't raining as 13 GoodGymmers, including Callum for his first ever good deed, Chloe for her first Group Run and Jo for her first Bristol good deed - we love you being part of GoodGym Bristol!

The running group and walking group set off for the sights and sounds of St Paul's, negotiating Christmas shoppers, revellers, roadworks and building to arrive at the lovely warm Emmaus office with lovely Xanne ready to tell is all about the charity and tonight's tasks - one indoor and one outdoor.

The outdoor group were filling a big and a small planter with compost and then being trusted to plant cyclamens, ivies and something we don't know the name for. Xanne knew there was a distinct lack of spades so there was a traditional GoodGym scouting-about for anything that looked spade-y and bucket-y. Winners were an actual spade, a couple of snow shovels and some desk in-trays (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to fill a freezer drawer and other receptacles at great speed. Only to empty them into the planters and start all over again!

Meanwhile, indoors, the floor was deep in crates of Bric (as we professionals call bric-a-brac) to be sorted and shelved with all sorts of 70s and 80s reminiscences for those of us old enough to remember the 70s and 80s. We had a brush-o-matic that i remembered as soon as I saw it!

The outdoor team were soon laying out and planting the new plants, getting into the groove (other Madonna songs are available) with brushes to leave it clean and tidy - fit for a Queen (who we can now reveal was visiting two days later on Thursday). Sometimes we are actually quite good at keeping secrets. Not much of the tine but some of it.

Withe the outdoors finished, everyone headed indoors to help with the sorting and to find something to wear as headgear/hide behind for the team photo.

Off we then shuffled, via the excitement of the Christmas Market (sheds) for our post-task socialising as Workout's Club Haus had a private function- so mulled drinks and interesting hot chocolates it was.

Roll on next week for the pizzas we've pre-booked at Club Haus to celebrate Christmas GoodGym-style.

Christmas came early with GoodGym Bristol's annual trip to Emmaus so sort out the donated Christmas trees into saleable, shop window and SPARKS big store in Broadmead.

It was brilliant to have Mateusz on his first GoodGym task and Emily joining us in Bristol from one of those London GoodGyms.

Much dusty fun was had with everyone in the festive spirit as Christmas trees were assembled to check all essential parts were there, and re-boxed for onward transport.

The run and walk back finished after the debrief with a big thumbs up for mini stroopwaffles from Melanie's parkrun adventures in the Netherlands and planning for Christmas as we were in the mood!

As Richard walked back he tried to remember what had happened that evening.

There was the swan that thought it was a boat, a guest appearance as run leader and a monkey dressed as a yeti. All before we got to Emmaus. One of those might not have happened.

Our task this evening was a bit of a spruce up of the area outside Emmaus. A lop, a chop, a bit off the top. Some litter, getting fitter, do you know the way to that shop? Happy 10th birthday to Frances who has done her 10th good deed this evening, with hopefully many more to come. I’ve probably missed something but I’m almost home now.

Until next time…