That 12 days of (GG) Christmas was incredible...your talent is endless!

Looks like we might have managed this socially distanced and outdoor Christmas Carol task in the nick of time. Residents at Worsnop House and John Lampon Court watched, sang and clapped along from the comfort of their living rooms and balconies as the super talented Emily provided the music and Ella rekindled her GG version of The 12 Days of Christmas! For some of the GG Colchester squad it was the first taste of our Christmas carols and I am sure it will not be the last.

In my day job, at home and at Goodgym there has been a lot of time to share and appreciate each others unique Christmas traditions. This weird couple of years has given us all time to reflect and by gosh it is amazing how adaptable everyone is. The patience people show, the caring and the understanding and I hope that is the most contagious thing to come from COVID - with Goodgym leading by example.

In this reflective, festive time of year it is so important to celebrate difference and culture. Would you like to write a run report...make it into a reflective space to share some wisdom and what Goodgym means to you? Tell us about you memorable Christmas times or what you celebrate in your family?

Oh yeh, and welcome to Lottie for a chilly sing song.

3 tasks over 3 days of eventful organised chaos that contributed to a great Eco Festival! Thanks to all those who helped on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday, Jade, James and Robin helped to move barriers and set up gazebos in preparation for the Eco Festival, with the aid of electric cargo bikes and electric trailers.

On Saturday, Naomi and Tiff gave out programmes to people coming to the Festival, while Jade helped with washing up mugs at the bowling green.

On Sunday, James came to help move 125 barriers with volunteers across the park using a mix of 3 electric trailers as well as some good old fashioned muscle.

Hope everyone enjoyed helping out - If there is an Eco Festival next year we'll be calling on Goodgym for help once again.

This week and for some time, Colchester will be tinged with sadness. On the week that Goodgym Colchester turned five a five year old tragically lost his life in the town. I was unsure whether to address this in a run report but Goodgym and all people whose careers help others and who give their spare time to help others can reflect and remember that life is precious and acting selflessly is a privilege.

In a ground breaking move, Goodgym Colchester have accepted support from The Gym, whose Assistant manager and Goodgymer Chloe, approached us and offered us a place to start and end our runs and a chance to spread the Goodgym vibes a bit further!

We went on a litter pick in Castle Park and by the River Colne. As we and many know, when there is warm weather there is litter. Just a reminder to anyone reading this who drops litter - it is a myth that people are paid to pick up your litter. The park rangers have plenty more to do, the council also have endless jobs to do other than pick up your litter and volunteers often do it. We do not want to. Dropping litter makes the park unsafe for toddlers and children, for wildlife and pets and the plastic in the river ends up in your food...fish ingest plastics and you probably eat fish! So use bins and take litter home. Simple.

But we love our park and we love the feeling that we make a difference. Safer and cleaner park. YES!

After our litter pick we set up a quick GG Colchester Olympics, with an obstacle course and hurdles combined with a relay! Just like at Parkrun, we were all winners! TEAM GG smashed it.

On our return to The Gym we had some cake and reflected on a lovely and reflective evening.