GoodGymmers, warmed by hats and thermal layers and gloves (and the spark of Christmas lights), nattered by the Queen Anne Building in the Old Royal Naval College complex last night. It was 6:45pm. And then, ten to. And then the great Naval College Bell chimed seven times, and we were still busying ourselves with catching-up conversation…

*** Then it was 8pm! 9! A number of us revealed ready-made meals from bags and poured brandy-laden drinks from flasks, sharing these around to warmed smiles and cheers. Midnight passed, and 1, 2, 3, 4am, and then some started to yawn and said they’d better make a move because they had work in the morning and others had children to put to bed, and… a murmur started: did we forget to go to More2Nurseries for our GoodGym task? Perhaps? Has this happened before? Some looked to the rising sun for some kind of meaningful answer, and then we left, agreeing to meet the same time next week for a catch up…***

… Promptly Alex started his welcome talk. It was great to see Matt, who was returning for his first GoodGym Greenwich group run since March 2020, and to welcome Jennifer for her first Greenwich group run – lovely to see you both!

Before we started, there was an announcement… last night was Sarah’s 50th good deed! In accordance with GoodGym Greenwich tradition (dating back, I think, to 2016), the 50-good-deed cape was hauled out of storage (thanks Sara and Claire!) and placed over Sarah’s shoulders. A huge well done, Sarah!

The session kicked off with a game of stuck-in-the-mud on the Naval College green with Vic and Pieter our two taggers. Within moments we were sprinting about, dodging, and getting tagged against the backdrop of Canary Wharf’s lights. And after a few minutes, others were added to the tagging team, and most of us were niftily caught and stuck in the mud. Out of breath and warmed, we headed to More2Nurseries, a favourite haunt of GoodGym Greenwich.

Once there, the wonderful Eve directed us into groups throughout the nursery’s rooms and we started to hoover and clean and scrub tables and chairs and toys. Quickly, we got through our tasks and joined others who weren’t quite finished, and before long, the place was looking spruced and fresh. We finished with another GoodGym Greenwich tradition and visited Sid, More2Nurseries’s giant African snail, who after a while came out of his shell and waved at us with his long, tentacle eyes.

Then, we departed into the night and finished with some nattering and stretching back at the Old Royal Naval Colleges. A lovely evening guys, hope to see you all soon 

*** These are the dangers of good conversation!

On a mild night, 10 Goodgymers headed through the murky depths of Plumstead to the wonderful hive of activity at Glyndon Community Centre.

Andy welcomed us, briefed us on the task at hand and we split into two groups and set to undercoating the skirting board in preparation for a fresh coat of paint. Thanks to some top-notch planning by Alex, our runners had met earlier so we could get to task quickly and complete the mission in good time. Well done to everyone for deviating from GoodGym Standard Time to meet 15 minutes earlier! After some healthy competition - where we decided the group I was in had won the painting neatness prize*, we headed back out, and those running switched their head torches on and bobbed away into the distance.

In two weeks we'll be back to start on the walls and then finish off the skirting boards - what a satisfying job!

Well done to Jonathan for his second group run and to Sarah who has almost completed 50 good deeds! Take a bow, people.

We're at More2Childcare next week to pay Sid the Snail a visit...and do some jobs around the centre.

See you then!

*This might not be true - after all, I was in this group

Some people like to count down to Christmas. Just this week someone told me it was 7 weeks to go. Eeeek. And they didn't even look especially festive, so it must be fairly common.

And some people count down to other things. Like birthdays - or holidays - or (my favourite) pay days.

But we, in Greenwich, had been waiting for something a little more unique. In addition to birthdays, holidays, and pay days. Because it'd been 602 days since our last group run. I know this because I tattooed a very small 'GoodGym' logo on my body for every day that went by.**

And last night the waiting was up and we were off to start spreading our good-deeding energy across Greenwich again. Most of us met at the very lovely Charlton House for some pre-session nattering, giggling, and chatting. GG Greenwich old-hands (and friendly faces) were joined by Jonathan, who was on their first GG outing, and Debbie, who was on their first group run with GG Greenwich - welcome to the family, guys!

It was a full moon last night and after a quick warm up, we collectively howled 'RED THUNDER'*** to mark our come back, before setting off to the wonderful Glyndon Community Centre in Plumstead. Which is where we were met by the lovely GG Greenwich Area Activator, Rachel, and all-round wonderful souls, Jennifer, Pieter, and Matt.

In 2 weeks, we'll be coming back to Glyndon to get painting. But last night was prep night and we got to work sanding and sugar soaping. It was quick and swift, but with 19 hands a-working, you can always get a fair bit done.

After that, it was back to the roads for a steady and happy jaunt back to Charlton. Where we celebrated being back and together with a drink at the Bugle Horn.

A big big big thank you to Rachel for organising everything yesterday :)

Here's to the next one next week, and the one the week after, and the week after that...

Nice one.

** Maybe...

*** Maybe...