17th August marked 3 years since the first GoodGym Luton group run and task, so it was a good time to have a social to celebrate. Although there were fewer of us than last year (so many people have holidays at this time of year), what we lacked for in numbers we made up for in enthusiasm. Gill put on a fabulous spread in her back garden, including a celebratory GoodGym Pavlova. Associate Goodgymer Anabel also enjoyed the GoodGym Key Lime Pie! After food had been digested with lots of chatter and snoozing there was then an opportunity to get involved in some activity - perfect way to burn off those calories. Perhaps we need to set up a regular GoodGym badminton team... or perhaps not. 😂😂😂

This week we had two tasks on offer again as we continue to make the most of the good summer weather.

The walking group headed off to meet new task owner Rajab from the Safer Luton Partnership, supported by Kevin from ABCD luton who provided tools. The task was to clean up the communal garden at a sheltered housing block so that the residents can regain control and start looking after the place themselves and enjoy growing nice plants instead of weeds.

Meanwhile a combined running and biking team headed out to the distant Bradley Road allotment where previous clear ups have brought this allotment back into a tidy state nearly ready for new allotment tenants. Our task this time was to clean up the entrance area and the access road of the litter and fly-tipped bundles of tree branches to make the approach more attractive. bollards will be installed on the track to prevent.

When both tasks were complete each team headed back into town under the glow of a sunset rainbow 🌈 to complete the evening.

We used to think that we loved running, but tonight we weren’t sure,

And we couldn’t wait to do lunges right close to the floor.

But when we got to the hat fact’ry, right into the town,

The sun was still baking, so hot it was making us frown.

☀️

We’re walking in sunshine, 🚶🏽‍♂️woah,

Some running in sunshine, 🏃‍♂️woah,

And cycling in sunshine, 🚴woah,

And don’t it feel good?

☀️

We met with our new guys, and set off for something to do.

The runners were keen to get started but slowed down it’s true.

FC 61wanted us back for some painting

Come back any day, oh yeah yeah,

And once we had got there we happily painted away.

☀️

Woah yeah!

☀️

We’re painting in sunshine, woah,

A GoodGym team of nine, woah,

We’re starting to feel fine, woah,

And aren’t the posts good!

☀️

We did arrive, with lots of drive, the posts revived, that’s really real

We all did strive, snacks helped us thrive, we all survived, that’s really real.

☀️

Walked back without sunshine, woah,

We all had a good time, woah,

We’re cool now and won’t whine, woah,

☀️

And don’t we feel good?

😀

On Saturday 13th January 6th, after Parkrun, David , Gill , Martin, Dani , Duncan and Laura made their way up the hill from Wardown Park to The Biscot Mill pub to deliver their donations for the Tub2Pub campaign. There was lots of discussion about who had eaten the contents of the tubs, but obviously it couldn’t possibly have been them. ;-) The bar staff were pleased to relieve them of the tubs, which will be shredded, sold for recycling with the proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Care.

Then on Sunday 14th January 3 more GoodGymers made their way to the Jolly Topers after an afternoon of litter picking on Stopsley Common. Yasin, Julius and Ehsan enjoyed eating a few of the last few Quality Street from the bottom of one of the tubs before handing the tubs over to the bar staff. Meanwhile Miriam had headed to Harpenden with her tub and handed it over at The Old Bell.

On Wednesday 17th January Ella completed a solo Visit to The Ewe and Lambs with her empty Quality Street Tub and deposited on the bar. She had a chilly walk there and back but racked up another 5km towards our January total. Neil then braved the cold, wrapped up in his duvet coat on Thursday the 18th, and made his way to The Anchor in Bedford where they took charge of another empty Heroes container.

Lizzy had been biding her time to take 2 Celebrations Tubs and a Roses tub to The Bumble Bee at Flitwick on the 21st. Hope she didn’t eat all the chocs by herself 😃 although with all the cycling she’s been doing she probably needs the energy!

If you went down in the woods today, you sure of a big surprise,

If you went down in the woods today you'd probably meet these guys,

And all the litter that there was

Was gathered up without any pause,

Today's the day the GoodGymmers went to Stopsley.

🌳🌳🌳

Every GoodGymmer who's been good was sure of a treat today.

Lots of empty tins of beer were hidden behind the hay

Beneath the trees where nobody sees,

They poked about on bended knees,

And even found some time to take a quick pic.

🌳🌳🌳

Litter pick time for GoodGymmers

Yasin and Julius were having a lovely time today.

Welcoming our new recruit

Sophia joined us and we all said Yay!

Duncan threw some cans about

Ehsan bought a meter out

And Gill found an old green chair

At 3 o'clock, our Dani and Marti

Then took us to the hedge

And with our bags full they gave us spares.

🌳🌳🌳

If you go down in the woods today, you won't even have to moan.

If you go down in the woods today there will be no litter thrown.

For GoodGymmers don't need no applause

They cleaned it up for certain because

Today's the day the Goodgymers did their litter-pick.

🌳🌳🌳

🎉Congratulations Sophia for your first GoodGym task. 🎉 We hope to see you again soon.

(Apologies to Martin whose name I had to shorten to get it to scan).