On Thursday I met Tom at The Hamlet to take on the challenge of cleaning down and ‘cuprinolling’ their garden furniture so that their students could enjoy the outside space. The challenge was met by Jen. Tom left Jen to the task, advising Alexa could be asked to play some tunes. So a singalong was had whilst listening to some tunes to keep up the pace and complete as much of the task as possible. The Table wasn’t achieved (but there was no more Cuprinol left!). However 2 single and 4 double chairs were cleaned, sanded and then painted. A good hours work completed (challenge set and met I’d say). Tom seemed very surprised at what was achieved. All the best to Jess who had to withdraw from the task due to illness. Hope you are better soon.

With the two sweeping brushes available, it was indeed a difficult decision to make as both were of two extremes, either one fit for a borrower or the other for the BFG! Robert and Mark kindly demonstrated using the brushes for a run report photo.

However we did make good use of both as the car park was transformed with moss and weeds removed in quick typical Goodgym fashion as the team of Robert, Mark, Elizabeth, Jessica, Penny and Jonathan got straight to work with tools and gloves ready.

Thoughts were with Goodgym member Ali Mohammed who previously had helped at the Hamlet centre in 2018, and who featured coincidently in a past picture from that mission that was used to promote the task, before news of his passing had reached Goodgym members. Many members shared their memories of him on social media, of which there were many! A photo of him with the rest of the Goodgym team at that task has been included in this run report.

I like meeting at The Forum even more this time of year with all of the Xmas lights and the tunnel of love (light) nearby.

We had 3 new runners this week so a big welcome to Laura, Helen and Jane.

Thank you to Amy for being back runner this week.

Alice was completing her 10th good deed and Sophie her 25th good deed! Well done to both of you.

Katy, Bill and Jasmine walked to the task.

We were visiting the Hamlet Charity's Adult's Centre to play some games with their members. These games included limbo (which I'm pretty poor at!) a bell obstacle course and then we finished up with a game of just dance (which I'm also pretty poor at!).

It was great for their members to have us join them.

There were some pretty good limbo skills in the GG crew, notably Hannah, Elliot and Emily!

Next week we're doing some pruning at Norwich Train Station.

I'd been looking forward to this task for quite some time and it didn't disappoint. Between Jan-Apr this year I'd been delivering adapted sports sessions at The Hamlet Adult's Centre and this is where we got the link to come and do a GoodGym visit with their out or hours club.

Darren was Walk Leader with Catherine and Brad as Back Runners.

We had a 2km each-way run, which included some hills towards the end ;-)

Once we arrived, the members were still arriving so we went off on another 1km hilly loop to let them settle in before the fun began.

There were 3x games areas. In the main hall we had Skittles and Giant Snakes & Ladders. In the activity room we had New Age Kurling, Hockey and Giant Badminton. Outside we had Jenga, Bowling and Table Football. We put the GoodGymers in 3 groups and they rotated round so they could experience all the activities.

To finish up the evening we all got together outside to have a game of Limbo, led by Hamlet member Katie, who may I add was very good at giving instructions and keeping everyone in order. On our way out, we all (attempted in my case) did the limbo and high-fived some of the members.

It was such a lovely evening, it's a great experience to socialise with people with learning and physical disabilities, which many of the group haven't had the chance to do before. We can't wait to visit again later in the year :-)

The evening was finished with a small group of us grabbing some food at the pub.

Next week we're visiting Mousehold Heath.

Usually it rains until about 5pm on a Monday but tonight it was raining until literally 6.30pm when we left The Forum but it was technically dry for the whole run.

Tonight we were visiting The Hamlet Charity on St Leonard's Road, which for those of you that don't know... is at the top of Gas Hill! We visited them in January to paint the communal room we were doing a 2nd coat of paint tonight.

We had 3 fantastic new runners this evening with Sarah, Neil & Jack. I promise we don't run up Gas Hill every week so don't let that put you off coming back.

Congratulations to those who did the Valentine's 10k on Sunday and Tim who was attending his 20th GoodGym good deed.

As per Catherine's request we did a little warm-up inside and then headed to the task, via the quaint Cathedral Close... and no I didn't lead the group to a dead end this time haha.

Claire met us at the task and explained a little bit about what The Hamlet Charity is and what they do and then the large group of GoodGym-ers got ready to paint and do some general cleaning.

A photographer then arrived from The Eastern Daily Press as they will be doing an article on us that should be published on Wednesday.

I then had to deal with the Emulsion Scars that Sarah left me.

You've got paint in your beard Steven.

No Sarah that's my grey hairs coming through!

Just for men is on the next shopping list haha.

After finishing painting and our photographs being taken, we got ready to head back. Now Calum aka Norfolk's finest Scottish/Canadian baker, had mentioned on the WhatsApp group that he'd made some chocolate brownies for us all... #myhero but this meant I needed to build up everyones appetite. So... we had a longer route back via a certain hill in Norwich!

Judging by everyone's verdict, the longer run back was definitely worth the brownie, they were delicious and moist plus I couldn't taste the nuts.

Next week we have one of our longer runs when we visit the Sprowston Grow Your Community.

Despite it raining pretty much all day in Norwich, we had a record turn out of the year with 24 runners wanting to do good in their community.

We had 3 new runners in Hayley, Helen and Darren.

Runners to join the '10' club tonight were Lucy, Mel and Jasmine.

There was also Robert who joined the '20' club tonight after he smashed the Snetterton 10km the day before.

It's great to see so many returning to do good in their community.

We were returning to The Hamlet Charity to do some painting and (attempted) glossing. On the way there I threw in some walking lunges and push-ups before the wonderful site of 24 GoodGym-ers caning it up Gas Hill.

Most of us stayed inside to get a whole room painted while 5 glossers went outside to do the outside windows. The before and after photos show what a good job everyone done inside... sadly I didn't get a before and after shot of the glosser's work, although rumour had it the masking tape wasn't used to it's best effect!

I think a few people got more paint on them than they did on the walls haha, I thought I was all clear until someone noticed I had a white sleeve on my base-layer.

40 minutes later and 10 minutes of everyone attempting to wash the paint off their hands, we made are way back to The Forum... with some star jumps and tuck jumps along the way ;-) while Bill, Tim and Calum tackled Gas Hill once again because they are CRAZY!

To finish we had a 120-meter sprint race up Gentleman's Walk.

Afterwards it was time for a drink and some food at The Bell while listening to Calum rabble on about stuff!!

Next week we're going to the new EACH Charity Shop on Plumstead Road.