The start of a new era at GoodGym Newham with our first group run as a community led group.

Paige joined us for her first group run which was excellently led from the Print House by Hilary following completion of her fitness leader training.

We have retained the random weekly question and this week was 'favourite weekend activities' - answers included trips to the seaside, city breaks, cinema, brunch, being out in nature and Im sure some you can guess who gave these replies: paintball and parkrun.

A gentle evening run to Emmauel Church where we meet Sybil and some of the parish leadership team.

Planting was the job of the evening, some of the plants had seen better days but looked better after a good water and we are sure Sybil will look after them.

As usual refreshments had been provided by the Sybil some fruit and ice lollies.....a welcome cool down before we headed off into the setting sun.

Next week we are heading to Newham Hospital to help tidy their Globe garden

Swansong session yesterday, with a tremendous turnout of some of my favourite people, a lovely conclusion to a job that gave me so much.

It transpired that I've run out of Random Weekly Questions, trying to refrain from a deeper enquiry about change or anything of the tear-jerking variety, hence I was blank; so we rolled a positive and somewhat sentimental question: "Favourite GoodGym organisation ?" Turns out there were loads, no clear winner, an indication of how broad our church is and how many remarkable local projects there are.

I then proceeded to say a few words, delving into what GoodGym has given me. For those who know me know that discussing and interrogating my emotions isn't what I consider a night out, I'm a huge advocate for the dated practice of bottling things up, but the occasion was worthy.

To reiterate what I may have mumbled, I'm mostly grateful for the lifelong friendships, enforced by the experiences of volunteering, running, British weather, travelling, racing and drinking. With a special nod to a lovely couple, whose relationship was forged by a series of Wednesday evening connections. Proud, for the impact we have had on the locality, the number of messages I get saying "how amazing your volunteers are". Equally, proud for the transformational change many of you have undergone through running. Loss, because I will miss you all. But I always end with this positive feeling; I think because it's now left in a very capable set of hands; arise Task Force.

Amongst this milestone, we did actually do some good yesterday, in the form of my least favourite task, flyering. The morale was high, so it was hit easily absorbed. With the return of some long-serving sisters, Mel and Ruth (and later Charlotte), it felt like 2019 again, what a treat to see you, appreciate the effort to come. With big numbers comes big effect, and we managed to get our flyering done in no time, leaving many moments to loiter and talk curb-side.

With the realisation I can't summarise nor do justice to my thoughts on my tenure, I'll wrap this up now. But not after a huge thanks to my lovely photo-book compilation.

It's not bye, but see you later.

Till next time,

B

Good squad out again yesterday, with Rebecca back from over the pond, Ryan making a special gust appearance for a hatrick of Princes and the newly engaged Dimple getting stuck into some celebratory landscaping. Nice.

But first, for those who made it to the Print House, we were presented with an RWQ of much scope; "What's the most anticlimactic or over-billed thing?" New Years Eve (no one's disagreeing with that), Taylor Swift (some might disagree with this), a Paint Ball competitor (niche info win), McDonalds (my answer was anticlimactic in itself), Endinburgh Xmas Fare (plausible) and this weeks winner...Art (all of it, but with a nod to new stuff).

Our numbers increased at Abbey Gardens, where we met the supple trio who had just done some yoga on site. Fully limbered up to work on levelling the ground for the greenhouse, laying the timbers and stones, clearing the weeds, and sorting the dead hedge. It also included a date with an unpredictable and stiff sink that we had to wedge in and out of position with a well-synchronised display of muscle. All in an eve's work for East London's premier do-good and get-fit outfit.

Next week we whip down the Romford to assist Super Sybil with the gardens (probably), she's upset we weren't there last week as we had some crossed wires, so get me out of trouble with a big number showing of GG grunt please. Sign up here

Till next week,

B

Hilary lead some of the team from the Print House in the absence of Brahma who is unwell......Get well soon B

The Print House team went along the greenway to meet the rest of the team at Park Village Oasis

Suzie met us with a couple of jobs this evening,clearing a disused area that they plan to plant a wild meadow and dismantle a gazebo which had become twisted and broken in the recent high winds.

Jobs completed Suzie invited us to their Oasis embrace the Irish event on Sunday 24th March

Next week are heading to help Get Out so Sign up and hopefully Brahma will be well enough to join us

Rolling into the New Year with double digits and making a sizeable impact at one of our local community partners, I ask you - what's not to like?

The group caught up at base and had the pleasure of meeting and welcoming new member, Ian. Hopefully a good experience for him - and the first of many for our man from Sheff. The RWQ was "highlight and or lowlight of your festive period?" Christmas dinner, persuading a whole family to do a parkrun, hosting NINE people, spending time with family, walking up a big hill and dinosaur lego were some of the positives. Illness, train delays and making a million teas were the downsides.

Xuan welcomed us at Abbey Gardens, having been there since 9am, that's a proper shift. Creating a wildflower meadow and weeding the 'gabion' stones were on the agenda. Much digging later at the bee enclosure, the little life-givers were buzzing away in hibernation, we'd filled about half of a rather huge meadow section. The weeding team seemed to fill up a load of buckets, a good spread of work done I'd say. And importantly, we finished with cake, thanks to Boxing Day Birthday girl, Rosie. Jaffa Cakes are never a bad way to conclude an evening's work.

Next week Up Garden awaits, along with Suzie's infamous to-do list, be ready! Sign up here - let's keep the momentum rolling through January guys. There's also the January Challenge (do as many deeds as we can in Jan) to keep us on it, let's compete with the other GoodGym areas through Group Run attendance and the load of incoming community missions (mostly Saturday).

Good to see you all, and Happy New Year again.

Till next week,

B

Just back from a wonderful long weekend in Bournemouth.

Glad the tube strike was called off as made getting to Waterloo easier for those who traveled down to Dorset on Friday.

Quick stop for a beer before heading to our accommodation for the weekend,after a freshen up we headed towards the beach to find fish a chips for lunch.....which took a lot longer than we anticipated but it was worth the wait as they tasted wonderful.

Rosa and Graham had decided to add to the weekends entertainment by setting us Taskmaster challenges.Graham was our taskmaster and Rosa played a beautiful Little Alex Horne.

One of the tasks was to by another team member an outfit to be worn at our pasta party on Saturday night,sadly we had missed the shops on Friday so we headed for more beer and to play shuffle board before going out for dinner a slow bimble back to our apartments so we would be ready for parkrun on Saturday.

Paul with much persuasion agreed to go to his first parkrun,I think he decided that was easier than the taskmaster forfeit for non attendance which was to write a poem so Dimple,Kevin and I began to regret not getting up but on the plus side for the park runners we had a full english breakfast ready for the runners on their return.

Dan and Tim also had the joy of poem writing while taking the replacement bus service to Bournemouth.

A trip to buy the outfits was followed by a beach picnic with Dan and Tim finally able to come and join the fun,a few of us went for a swim and it was fine once you got in.

Pasta filled the teams stomach and the fashion show was so much fun as was watching the videos that 'Alex' had recorded of us completing a task from earlier in the day.

Dan was crowned taskmaster champion with Tim coming last and gaining a forfeit of the Taskmaster picking his outfit for when we went out for Sunday dinner post race.

Sunday was a very early start for the 10ks as we had a bus to catch to get is to Hengistbury Head for the start of the race at 9am. A lovely course with a little up hill at the beginning before turning round to head down to the prom to run in to Bournemouth including out and back along Boscombe and Bournemouth pier.

A lie in for the half marathon team who had John join them after making his way down late Saturday evening. A few more hills for the half and because it started at 11am was a lot warmer for them.

Post race we headed into Boscombe for dinner and a few drinks Dan and John had to leave as had buses/trains to catch to get back to London.

A couple of the half marathoners headed for a nap while the rest of us took a walk along the beach to watch the sun go down. After a nap and batteries recharged most of the team headed in to Bournemouth for some beers and a quiz night.

As I had an upset stomach before the race I decided an early night was in order and Kev stayed to look after me.

A final walk to the beach this morning to have breakfast over looking the sea.

This is our 6th GoodGym Newham on tour and planning discussions have already started for our next trip.