Beating the impending heatwave (number 3 of 2025), we gathered in the shade at Workout (except Roddy who was determined to stand in the evening sun) and set off in two group - the runners with Richard now as a fully-fledged Fitness Leader (taking charge of the requisite First Aid Kit) and the walkers where no-one's really in charge and conversations are many and varied.

We had a plan, we knew we were preparing table cloths and decorations for the Festive Friends lunch on Friday, and watering the planters that were very dry. Except none of the decorations material shad been left out, so we kept ourselves busy with watering and weeding the edges of the building and front/side walls so he outside would look lovely for the Festive Friends. At least there wasn't a big pile of bunting to untangle!

There are planters of herbs and many fruits - a fig tree that's looking amazing (note to self - ensure we have a visit in 5 or 6 weeks' time when they should be ripening nicely), raspberries, gooseberries and wineberries where scientific sampling was carried out.

Then the Top Excitement of the evening overshadowed all other finding, conversations and puns as a little hedgehog was spotted and we ensured it found a quiet, shady spot to curl up. I say ensured, when we went back to check it had found itself a good temporary spot, but we're happy to take the credit as we COULD have helped if it had been needed.

We discussed a fitness session as the foot/cycle bridge is quite high, steps and slopes so lends itself, if only there'd not been an impending heatwave, and the pollution levels from the motorway below are possibly not ideal...

Soon we were climbing and descending the bridge just the once on our way back to Workout where it was the perfect evening for sitting out on the terrace.

Fantastic GoodGymming, Bristol!

Return to bunting tidying upping was the done thing this evening. For Clown School lovers, and who isn't?, it's back on in St Werburghs! We made short work of the task, despite a lack of string and the kitchen being the hottest place imaginable to stand in for half an hour of bunting rustling. The biggest news of the day was this coming Monday, is National Richard Day, so Happy Richard Day to all who celebrate a d we look forward to the cakes Richard B said he will bring on Tuesday!

It was still daylight, with a beautiful sunset to appreciate as the runners and walkers left the cobbles outside Workout to head for St Werburgh's Community Centre for Caroline's 500th good deed - mild congratulations, Caroline, who doesn't think it's worthy of a cheer as it's just turning up, but this week she'd not only turned up, she'd brought vegan chocolate brownies - hooray!

We were helping the centre prepare for their Green Feast event on Saturday - emergency counting of spoons and forks (the easy bit) and detangling two whole boxes of bunting - some cotton, some cardboard and LOADS of thin, fraying fabric ones that were knottier than a knotty thing. I can't think of a knotty thing - answers in the comments section, please.

With a time-lapse video showing how productive we were, it did take the whole time we were there and we left the bunting so tidy that each individual section was lovingly rolled up and tied with string and it all fitted into the Hamper of Bunting - maybe we'll be asked back to pack it away again instead of de-tangling it before the next event?!

Back to Workout, except there was speed dating on, so a diversion to the very warm Bar + Block upstairs seating area (who knew?) for aforementioned brownies, cups of tea and other tipples. Much happiness all round.

Puns don’t kill people, wrappers do (not really)

What a wrappers delight! Now what you hear is not a test, I'm wrappin' to the beat… (I’ll stop now)

The task this evening at St Werburghs Community Centre was a welcome indoor one, and what a task. Eighty presents to wrap and an hour (ish) to do it in, ready, set, GO!

No spoilers (unless you look at the photos) on what we wrapped in case the wrong person reads this but there were decisions to be made.Tough decisions. Once we got into a rhythm we raced through them and before long we had finished. What a fun task. Ho Ho Ho, I’m off to room 7 for a lecture in my clown suit.

Until next time…

Six brave GoodGym heroes came out when the weather was atrocious! The weather surprisingly cleared so we remained dry while we weeded, and used the stepping stones in the underpass. (despite Richard and Caroline recreating the iconic Gandalf/Balrog battle!). Four runners made it all the way back and were treated to some excellent donuts from Ed as it was his birthday! Delicious and of the 11 donuts, 4 people ate a total of 9 :-).

Three shiny new GoodGymmers joined the Bristol Group Run which, this week, was 40% "starts with" F - Faye and Finbar were the new Fs on the block with Ciaran being the newest GoodGymmer for only a couple of minutes in Queen Square.

All three were up for joining the running group so set off with Vaguely Northern Darren in the lead, Richard B backmarking and Freya and Timtryingvto match each other's stride length.

By the time the walking group of Melanie, Richard G and Frances arrived (having not been accosted by any small dogs taking umbridge at Richard G this week) the front of St Werburgh's Community Centre was already looking less weedy, or at least all the weeds were now in piles waiting for the two very-well-used brooms to sweep by.

As is so often the case with GoodGym Bristol group runs, a yoga class was taking place inside the Community Centre, right by where we were weeding and we tried really hard to be quiet-ish but we do get carried away with our chatting... Anyway, should there have been a fire, the yogis escape route would have been much less weedy than before our GG skills had been deployed.

We were soon tidying up and enjoying the Lime and Cardamom biscuits Frances had kindly baked and brought along to celebrate her 102nd good deed - very tasty, looking forward to the recipe being added to the comments. It was inly the mention of biscuits that finally made Freya and Ciaran finally stop sweeping and tidying, such dedication to the task.

We were soon Workout-bound, back through the parks and streets of Bristol and into Club Haus where we sat out by the river by choice and not because there was speed dating at the tables inside. Lots more time to chat and hear about goings on, especially Richard B's bonkers long-distance running and Darren and Melanie's long-distance travelling to parkruns.

Another great evening, everyone, and already looking forward to the next one.