Well this summer continues to evade us, with a lovely day turning into patchy rain by the time we set off to Vicarage Bowls club yesterday evening. Luckily the rain didn't last and we navigated our way through the streets of Brighton out to the bowls club.

We have been regular visitors to the bowls over the years but sadly our host informed that this will be the last season the club is in use. After ninety-six years the club can no longer get the support it needs to keep running so will be closing come September.

With this in mind we set to work to make the planting look its best for the club's final hurrah! The main task was clearing a huge bed of overgrown brambles and weeds. All nine of us set to work cutting and pruning out any unwanted intruders. We had soon created a huge mound of debris filling eight bin bags!

With all this hard work on a humid summer's evening our kind host brought us water and biscuits to keep us fueled up. We then continued on clearing the bed, whilst some of us refreshed the path, with Jane in particular wielding her own weeding knife to great effect.

With such a big task we stayed later to try make a larger dent in the bed, skipping the fitness session. After a few photos we all ran and walked back into Brighton. If this is to be the last time we help the Vicarage Bowls Club then it was a great session to go out on and maybe we'll be back in future to help with whatever replaces the club. Thanks for everything VBC!

With the sun shining again, ten Good Gym runners and one Good Gym cycler met to run to Preston Park. We welcomed back new members Daniela and Edel. It was good run or cycle ride to the Vicarage bowling club, which is the other side of Preston Park. We met Jenny who told us there used to be five bowling clubs in Preston Park but sadly there are now just two remaining. She said bowls were for all ages and anyone was welcome to join. Sherman, Ben, Frannie, Daniela, Rebecca, Angela, Edel, Sarah, Jane and I helped clear the ivy from the flower beds and weeds from the path. It was a large area, and we could see there was more to do so it would be worth a return visit. Afterwards, Pippa led a fitness session involving some hill sprints and balancing exercises in Preston Park 😎

Another clash of the titans as England took on Germany in Euro 20/21 and Brighton Goodgym took on the elements!

A few understandably dropped out of tonight's session as they looked out of the window and saw the torrential rain or perhaps looked at the tv and saw the possibility of England football glory! Frannie dropped out due to the terrible weather and a long commute but ultimately came to her senses and realised that weeding in the rain with lovely people is the best way to put a smile back on your face after a tough day at work!

As we pulled out weeds at the Vicarage Bowling Club garden we were updated on the state of play by the cheers coming from the nearby pub.

And Rosie found a football!

Was that the rainiest Brighton Goodgym ever? I think our launch night back in 2017 might be a contender but it was definitely top 3!

And a message from the bowling club

I just wanted to say thank you very much for your bravery yesterday! Well done to everyone and thank you again."

More weather dominated report writing I'm afraid..... It's been so cold so I layered up to the max to cycle to the bowling green near Preston Park. But would you believe it the sun did shine and it was warm, almost even hot!

So our small group had a lovely, sunny time cutting back large shrubs and trying to free the lovely plants in this raised bed from encroaching weeds and grass.

Much progress was made thanks in large part to our special guest ....My Mum (aka Jenny) who actually does know the difference between a plant and a weed and isn't afraid to say it.

Seven of us met at the Vicarage Lawn Bowls Club including Val who we welcomed back after nearly four years away. I say we met at this particular venue...we had to make sure we were at the correct one as there happen to be two bowling greens on the one site each belonging to a different club....the other being Brighton Bowls Club. Now that's what you call a local derby! Our main job was to weed the borders that run adjacent to the bowling green. Large borders they are too and while not overgrown there were plenty of weeds including lots of the sticky stuff! Extricating it was quite hard at times due to the lack of rain but Michael, Tara, Rosemary, Phillipa, Val and myself pulled and plucked while Amro did an amazing job as chief weed collector. Still lots to do....