At our monthly sessions at the Community Hospice the head gardener, Jason, always has lots for us to do.

Today we were clearing brambles and nettles from a corner of the garden that had gone feral.

Sturdy gloves are always useful for tasks like this, but Jason's supply of yellow leather gauntlets were a gamechanger! The prickly and stinging plants didn't stand a chance!

It was a big patch, but we got about half done: check out the before and after photos above! The rest will have to wait until next month.

Just as it was time to finish there were a few spots of rain in the air, so we quickly put the tools - and gauntlet gloves - away and some of us headed to the Hospice canteen for a tasty lunch and lots more varied conversation.

I wonder if I should ask for a pair of those gloves on my Christmas list!

A lighthearted report from last night’s leafletting task, inspired by Lisa joking that we were the Four Musketeers...

It was a brisk, dark evening when four valiant GoodGymers took to the streets, armed not with swords, but with leaflets promoting the Community Hospice’s Boogie Wonderland, a fundraising party night. The quartet's quest: to spread the word, one letterbox at a time, before the forecast rain could test their courage.

Jogging merrily along, the fearless foursome deployed a tactical masterpiece known only to the most elite of leaflet couriers — the leapfrog manoeuvre. With impeccable coordination (and plenty of chatting), they moved swiftly from house to house, ensuring not a single front door was missed (with the utmost respect, of course, for 'No junk mail' stickers).

Their out-and-back route conquered, the chivalrous posse posed for the all-important post-task photo — a tradition as sacred as any Musketeer oath. It was then that Lisa, inspired by their gallant efforts, bestowed upon them noble names fit for legends: Saros, Johnamis, Lisos, and the dashing M’Artagnon.

No sooner had the photo been snapped than the skies began to weep; perhaps tears of joy at such heroism. The Four Muskateers, ever undaunted, headed home glad to have been of service. After all, a little precipitation could never dampen the spirits (or the plumed hats) of their new alter egos.

All for one, and one for all — and all for the Community Hospice!

(With apologies to Alexandre Dumas and credit to ChatGPT)

On Saturday, our GoodGym team rolled up their sleeves and joined Jason – the wonderful gardener at Community Hospice – for a mission that was all about soil, sweat, and smiles.

The job? Clear out the flower beds in the Sensory Garden, sieve all the soil, and then put it back in. Sounds straightforward? Well, it was a proper workout! Buckets were filled, sieves were shaken, and the odd stone or stubborn root put up a fight.

By the end, the beds were ready for a fresh start. Jason and his gardening team can now plant a whole array of new, beautiful plants to brighten up the garden. It’s more than just flowers – it’s colour, life, and cheer for the hospice patients and their families who enjoy that space every day.

We left a little muddier, a lot sweatier, but very proud. Sometimes the best way to spread joy is to get your hands dirty.

It was an early start in Avery Hill Park to give a hand to the amazing Community Hospice team for their Fun Day setup. The air was crisp but our GoodGym spirits was high.

First task was unloading the van. With good team work and some heavy lifting, the gear and boxes were soon laid out ready for action.

Then came the nine marquees 🎪. With four of us pulling together on each they popped up like giant umbrellas. We fastened weights round the legs and hammered in pegs to anchor everything down 🔨. No chance of these structures taking flight on our watch!

We then fitted the back panels and laid out tables, making the space ready for the event.

With perfect timing we headed across the park for parkrun 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃‍♂️.

A perfect blend of doing good and getting fit on a Saturday morning 💥

A perfect morning at my first ever GoodGym session!

After a nice half an hour stroll up Bostall Hill, I took in the breathtaking gardens as I arrived a little early. Walking up to reception, nervous and full of excitement, Sarah and Johnny welcomed me into the GG community. I met the lovely head gardener, Jason - aka Van Gogh - credit to him for the pun in this title!

We made a start as the rest of the team showed up, with the mission to clear the pathway at the entrance and battle the thorns. A team of eight was the perfect number. Teamwork makes the dream work! Within an hour, we transformed the entrance.

Zita was a powerhouse, attacking the ivy in minutes, snipping and raking. She never stopped. Ceci was a pro with the shears and came up with great references for everyone: Sweet Caroline and Simon Says. She couldn't resist sharing a few dance moves at the end of the mission.

It was so lovely to start the weekend off with a rewarding workout, feeling that we are contributing to our local community. I discovered that Caroline went to the same secondary school as myself and met her husband at a pub in Bexley.

After a few photos, a few of us shared lunch, which was the perfect ending to the day! The hunter chicken was a great recommendation, although the lasagne looked just as tasty! Thanks to Robert for sharing his chocolate cake with us.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again next month.

Last night we ran and pedalled our way to Days Lane to do some leafleting for the Community Hospice - mixing our cardio with good deeding from the get-go!

Then we power-walked along one side of the road, posting leaflets through letterboxes to spread the word about the Hospice's fundraising Fun Day (coming next month!) and an epic Great Wall of China Trek (making 2026 the year of scenic strides).

We returned down the opposite side of the street, completing a neat flyer circuit and a great step count!

We met, we moved and - fingers crossed - we've reached some curious families and adventurous trekkers!

Next week we make a return visit to Wonder Zone Nursery to help them tackle a list of tasks. See you there!