On a cool, wet Tuesday evening a decade of Goodgymmers gathered in Sainsburys car park for tonights group run to the Toothill farmhouse for a session of weeding in the grounds of the recently refurbished junior youth club.

After the introduction to the session by Run Leader Simon we had a Olympic related dilemma in the ice breaker, What sport or activity would you like to see included in the Olympic Games? We had a variety of answers ranging from Tiddywinks, snooker to Tracey sleighing!!

All our congratulations and best wishes were offered to the recently married Mike and Emily Oakes.

The group decided to all walk together with Gina back marking and Simon taking the helm at the front, quite a dangerous move as he initially could not find the way out of the car park!! The footpath taking us towards Wootten Bassett road was found and off we went!

We were met at the Toothill Farmhouse by Shelly and her crew who set the tone for the evening by greeting us with “Tea or Coffee?”. The majority took them up on their offer while the weather took a turn for the worse and the heavens opened. While we waited for the rain to ease we took the opportunity to look around the farmhouse and a catch up on what has been achieved through COVID and the lockdowns. The transformation is incredible with new carpets, fixtures and fittings and a funky colour scheme. They are nearly ready for the grand reopening in a few weeks time.

Some of the group sorted out the arts and craft while the rest of us braved the conditions to weed, trim and tidy up the entrance and court yard. The rain persisted, but so did we and 2 dumpy bags were filled with garden waste before time was up and it was time to head back.

Despite the inclement weather we all had a fantastic evening and we look forward to returning to the farmhouse in the near future.

This week, we scrabbled together a team of 19 great GoodGym’ers to clean a kitchen and sort some board games!

This week’s achievements:

• Welcome along to Sarah for her first GoodGym Swindon task

• Congratulations to Jo for the unveiling of her shiny new 50 good deeds black t-shirt

• Well done to everyone at GoodGym for completing the January challenge of 8,000 Good Deeds, and 10,0000km in January – 113 deeds and over 1,700 of which were from Swindonian GoodGym’ers!

Before we left the Oasis, this week’s icebreaker was in honour of the late Nicholas Parsons, who presented ‘Just a Minute’ on Radio 4 well into his 90’s. We shared who was the most inspiring older person we had worked or volunteered with.

This was an icebreaker that really provoked some interesting and poignant stories. These were a real mix of fondly remembered family members and friends who worked to a ripe age before sadly passing away, to inspiring tales of people still actively contributing to parkrun, their workplace, or charities into their 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 100’s!

Inspired by these tales, we were soon off running and chatting, although maybe not through 'Manningtree' (Mannington Rec) marshes as per Rector Run Leader Richard’s original route!

We arrived at Toothill Farmhouse, and split into two groups. But this was no trivial pursuit – team 1 sorted a heap of board games, while team 2 gave the kitchen a winter spring clean.

Need a cluedo of who did what?! Was it Mr White in the kitchen with the fairy liquid… or did he have a monopoly on mug cleaning?

We soon had the kitchen spic and span, and the games shifted and sorted, not to mention our hot drinks quaffed, and biccies bitten.

Back at the Oasis, we shared what’s coming soon!

Next week’s Group Run we’re painting and DIY’ing for Men in Sheds @ Chippenham Close Community Centre. Sign up here!

We’re also on the lookout for Run Report Writers. We have a small team, and we could do with two or three more to help out. Is this something YOU could help with? It doesn't take up much of your time and can be as short or as long as you like! You also don't need be an English Literature Expert to write our reports; anything goes at GoodGym. Please come forward and help out!

Also, how about an Easter Social. What should we do, where should we go? Any ideas – get in touch in the comments!

Tuesday saw GoodGym Swindon visit one of our favourite venues, Toothill Farmhouse for a spot of sanding in between sips of tea and bites of bourbon biscuits!!

Wonder Mike, for those familiar with 70’s Hip Hop pioneers, the SugarHill Gang, came to the rescue to stand in for Poorly Paul ‘the Scientist’ and lead the run. We forgave him for not thinking of an ice breaker, so after a well done for those completing the Swindon 10K last weekend and a quick name and number we illuminated our head torches and body lights, set our watches, or if you’d rather, Strava, and set off with Mike at the head and ‘Safety First’ Simon at the rear as back marker.

We took an unexpected left turn into the depths of Murder Alley. Did Mike know where we were going? Had he enough time to plan his route? Of course, we were in safe hands, as Mike took us on a deliberate route, missing the predictably marshy Mannington Park, past the Outlet to Toothill. A really nice convivial run, as the whole group pretty much stayed together for the whole run!

As we approached the Farmhouse, familiar faces seemed to appear from the darkness as Tracey, Jason and Kay joined us at the venue.

After quick introductions from Shelly who we discovered was an old flame of our very own Andrew we got going sanding the walls and others ‘skirting’ around the issue of the soon to be painted art room.

Up and coming Community Missions and the Christmas lunch became the topic of conversation. Who was going to wear a Christmas Jumper, described differently by ‘Sandy’ Sam, would Simon wear the spacious sprout pants modelled at the recent Community Mission at the Night Shelter Warehouse? So many unanswered questions. All will be revealed this Saturday at the Bakers Arms.

So, with woodwork sanded, tea and coffee drank, biscuits demolished, all the necessary photos taken it was time for us leave our grateful hosts and return from where we came and register another great GoodGym Swindon Group Run.

Our next Group Walk and Run is at Ferndale School where we will be putting up Christmas decorations. Dig out those tutus - we are going to be Christmas Fairies for the evening! Interested? Don't forget to sign up here!

With three tasks lined up, it was brilliant that we had a large group to tackle it all. Special mention to Sharon, Kirsty H and Tracey who despite injuries met us there and Jo who seemed to teleport straight from work.

Round the group we heard about everyone's weekend running exploits: parkrunners, 10k first timers, Lungbusters and half marathon pacers...oh and birthday weekends off. Will let you away with that one Emma. Happy Birthday to our hard working trainer and Simon for supporting.

Now we are Toothill regulars, Paul could actually find his way without getting lost. Outstanding from our new runner Clare who had never run more than 5km before and kept up over the 7km through hard effort. The power of running in a group.

The flower boat was looking good in the light, weed-free, that didn't need any attention but that didn't stop the injured crew from completing some gardening before we had even arrived! Mavis had set up some picnic tables inside for sanding (Sandy Sam's eyes lit up) and painting. A second group took on the green paint: fences, doors, any other random green articles that needed a coat. Carly decided that included her forehead, as well as the fence.

Meanwhile something else was going on upstairs, I'm not too sure what. The only picture to surface was Stuart playing basketball, I think it was "filing" officially. Of course there was also lots of time for tea and coffee drinking and biscuit eating, hearing about the issues Toothill Farmhouse still has with the lease.

The final task was an inspection of the teddy bear playhouse. Windows intact - check. Base intact - check. Teddy bears on front - check. No time to sort it out this time but that is first on the to-do list for our next visit. Sheddy, Teddy, Go!

Want to join us next time? The good news is that there are two tasks in the next week: a Community Mission on Saturday to Swindon Night Shelter; and our Group Run next Tuesday to Swindon Shock Wheelchair Basketball Club. Don't delay - sign up today!

With rumours of snowmageddon hitting Swindon to coincide with this week’s task it wasn’t looking promising on the numbers but we couldn’t let Toothill Farmhouse down so 11 runners met at the Oasis and after the usual strapping ourselves into our lights (will we ever get used to putting them on?) we headed out into the cold. A quick share of childhood hobbies with a definite 'active' theme, a round of applause for Emma the Trainer who has hit the 20th task milestone, and we were off - led this week by Emma. Tracey had found a high-viz vest while checking her car boot for snowmageddon supplies, and so the job of back-marker was hers.

After avoiding snow on the 4km run out, with the only obstacles being the odd pond sized puddle, we were soon in the warm glow of the farmhouse. Mavis, who is used to hosting us by now, immediately ushered us into the kitchen for refreshments. But we know the drill and we were keen to get going so tea had to wait. It really was like a well-oiled machine tonight – Mavis had everything prepped to perfection (covering the roller trays with plastic bags to save washing – genius!), each job on her list found a suitably enthusiastic owner, and tea and biscuits were delivered to order by a Farmhouse Volunteer and consumed on the job for maximum efficiency.

Mike and Sam had the tricky job of painting the bannisters on the stairs and Sam adopted a very graceful reclined position to get to the hard-to-reach bits. Richard and Andrew were busy at one end of the hall making the door and door frames shiny new and trying to work out how many layers of paint the house had seen in its long history – we guessed about 1,379? Graham and Helen were busy at the other end of the hall getting alot done with the teeniest of paint pots and then not wanting to be left out joined in the bannister action. We all know that girls like to go to the bathroom in twos, so Sharon and Jo did just that and started a fascinating conversation about the science behind happy cows – actual happy cows! - whilst a radiator got restored to white. Jase the Ace and Tracey teamed up on the really difficult job of painting two very smooth doors (!) but a certain amount of synchronised leaping was required in the absence of a stepladder. Jason also gave a fine demonstration on how to eat a shortbread with no hands - impressive!

As usual there was lots of chatter and laughter and getting to know each other better. Another round of biscuits, and it was time to clear up, followed by much concern that everyone had been to the toilet as tea and running don’t always make comfortable companions! But then little did we know that Toothill Farmhouse was harbouring a secret upstairs! A Disco Room!! What a great space for the kids. Disco lights were ablaze and there were a few GoodGymers who looked like they could throw some smashing shapes on the dance floor given half a chance. Maybe at the next GoodGym night out? Time for one final group photo by Emma where tools of toil were held aloft, or biscuits if no tools were to hand. We all agreed not to be judgey of those whose biscuit consumption needed two hands to be counted on – names have been omitted to protect the innocent.

This isn’t the first time in history the farmhouse has been revamped….. Jasper Yorke who held the lease in the 1700’s, got into a quarrel with another chap who accused him of neglecting the property. In a letter, Jasper predicted "and when those Repairs are Perform'd which I am doing, the Farm House will be a Sufficient Tennantable House for this Farm for a Hundred Years to Come." And like history repeating itself, in 2019 Jason could be heard predicting that...

those toilet doors won’t need painting for a least another 20 years!

That sums up our work nicely and a fab job was done by all.

And so, after we played our own part in the farmhouse's history and when there was no more fun to be had, because the biscuits had run out (still no judging!), we set out on the run back to the Oasis and arrived shortly after. There was disappointment that there was no beasting, just gentle stretching (we missed you Crazy Legs!) before heading home. Did everyone make it after a sneaky road closure had popped up in the short time we were gone? Don’t forget to check out next week’s run where we’re back helping out the Swindon Night Shelter. There is a potential venue change to the one listed, so sign up here and keep an eye out for updates. We will still meet at the Oasis ready to start at 6.00pm on Tuesday. Hope to see lots of you there, or maybe at parkrun on Saturday?

16 Runners turned up promptly tonight for a quick getaway back to our favourite place, Toothill Farmhouse. OK Lily was a little late but that's normal! Again we did not have any new faces but we expect come spring that will change. The hardcore winter crew continue to go strong.

Its a nice run out to Toothill, 2.2 miles mostly along flat cycle paths and away from main roads and when we get there Mavis always gets the kettle on straight away. No wonder this was our third visit, and we are coming back next week.

Run out was split in to two groups the Steadies and the Speedies, this is the advantage we have of having multiple volunteer run leaders at Swindon GG. The Speedies managed an overtake but looped back so we all arrived together, for our advertised task of Sanding! (Hold on I thought it was Painting?!)

Mavis had not had time to prepare the surfaces for painting so instead half the group sanded the stairs and doors and the other half went off to check if anything needed moving outside. Turns out nothing needed moving so it was a ghost tour, biscuits and tea for group 2 before they got stuck in too and we all tidied up.

Steadies then set off back followed by Speedies, who went slightly less speedily since it had got icy. A handful stopped in the cafe afterwards for a second cup of tea, or chocolate milk. Well it was cold and you can't OD on Tea...I think.

Reminder for those who need to get their documents signed, the system is changing so please speak to run leaders about the new process.

Same again next week, where we should get on with that painting. Emily will be leading. Click here to sign up!