With the promise of a relaxing evening bulb planting, the number of red tshirts (some hidden under many layers) was promising as we headed off to RUSS Community Housing, only to find out we weren't planting bulbs but instead shifting topsoil!

In true GoodGym spirit no one minded the change of task and it was definitely a task that kept us warm!

Part of the group stayed by the time capsule (and hopefully didn't open it!!) ready to receive the bags of top soil and empty them onto some pre-laid out cardboard.

Another part of the group tackled digging up the top soil and putting it into bags. There was a good rhythm going by the end including some lovely delicate shoveling with the small spade!

The remainder of the group wheeled the bags to and from both locations! There was a variety of modes of transport, some could handle the job and some looked like they might tip over at anytime - the modes of transport, not the GoodGymers!!

We were then treated to tea and biscuits to warm us up before we headed back to Glass Mill for a quick cool down. Not before we admired Vic's running technique as she disappeared into the distance and decided to try our best to replicate but we might have all ended up with pulled muscles so we'll leave that to the experts!

It's not often the GoodGym stars align as well as they did last night to give us a brand new task, brand new tools and a distance where we felt like we'd got a run in but also left plenty of time for doing good!

Welcome Diana to your first GoodGym session, hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for getting stuck in!

Onto the task for the evening, we needed to clear the overgrown allotment space so that the Refugee Council can begin their project. We set to work cutting back the tall grass, raking the cuttings and borrowing Eric's wheelbarrow.

Steve was doing an excellent job collecting rubbish, broken bits of wood, bricks from anyone who called his name. And then managed to drag up not 1 but 2 buried tarps!!

The plot looks completely different to when we first arrived. Before we left we hid the tool box and returned Eric's wheelbarrow (thanks again) and made our way back up to the gate.

Excellent effort last night everyone, it was a tough task and hopefully there's not too many aches this morning. Oli is in charge next 2 weeks!

It was a short run to St Mary's this eve and after a warm up of heads, shoulders, knees and ball which warmed up everyone's with all the laughter and smiles than actually bodies, it was time to head to the task!

Sue and Marion and the team are always very organised when we visit and last night was no different. We had a number of tasks to tackle which included: - raking the wildflower meadow - cutting back some overgrown areas - digging 2 big holes for the trees - wheelbarrowing compost - trying to work out why one of the graves has iron railings (that one was just me) - planting the 2 trees

It was such an honor to have this dignitary help plant one of the trees at St Mary's i.e. sprinkle a spade of compost on top! Thanks Vic - all in a days work and allowing us to use our pun we'd already thought of!!

After all our hard work, we were treated to cups of tea and sandwiches and biscuits in the church. If you're reading this St Mary's team, we are very grateful!!

Next week, we are heading to RUSS Community Housing and the task is going to involve straw. And we also have a social after - location tbc.

Another trip to Luxmore Gardens before it gets too dark and the gates as shut early. As usual we needed to tackle the green alkinet and any bindweed that was taking over the plants. There's always a lot of each of those weeds, they end up taking over the plants and stealing their nutrients and water.

Luckily we had a large team of volunteers from Friends of Luxmore Gardens to complete the task even quicker than normal. Well done team!

We'll be heading back to Luxmore Gardens one last time this year to tackle some mulching.

A group of us headed to Mamma Dough for pizza which after a long hiatus was very good pizza!

Next week is a longer run to Seniors and we'll be doing some big tasks in the garden. See you there!