"Say again?" > "What did you say? > "I think they said..........."

These were the whispered sentences (amongst giggles) that filled the beginning of our evening. We were playing a game of (warm up) Telephone. Which is where folks pass a message (via whispers) around a group whilst trying to avoid subtle (then large) differences emerging.

Our wonderful group must have played Telephone before. Single words were too easy for these expert whisperers and listeners. Yet full unique sentences weren't. I can't quite remember the correct sentence in our last round, but I do remember it ending up as something like "SOMETHING SOMETHING HAHA FENCE SEA FLOOR.

We soon took our warmed bodies on the short stroll to the King's Cross Story Garden. Met by Megs and Karari, we soon split into two groups.

Charlie, Matt, Jackie, and Steve each grabbed large brooms and voluminous buckets of soapy water, and they began scrubbing, wiping, and hosing a large poly-tunnel. It'd attracted the season's muck and detritus, and this group were there to clean it. In 25 minutes, they brought a clear shine to the outside (and inside) of this space. Their work has made a wonderful difference.

At the same time, Gosia, John, Natalia, and Rose picked spades and wheelbarrows, and they started work on a freshly dropped (and quite huge) pile of wood chip. Local tree surgeons donate wood chip to the garden, and the team use it to create natural and walkable pathways. It is natural sustainability in action. This crew were a blur of digging, wheeling, and raking, and the pile shrunk by the minute. By the end of the session, we were all (wood)chipping in :)

Thank you, everyone, for your time, work, and positive energy - it made for a special evening and a big difference!!

Here's to next time!

P.S. if you want to see Gosia's masterfully creative video from the evening... just click here!

I have discovered that many hands (courtesy of Charlie, Gosia, Jackie, John, Natalia, Rose, and Steve) really do make light work, even when said hands become icicle-d and numb.

It was cold last night. Passersby at our warm-up spot (by the Crick) walked on huddled within 10 or more layers. They barely looked up at our competitive game of Simon Says.

It was so cold last night that two other runners attempted to join our group (presumably for warmth). They joined the back of our group at the traffic lights on Royal College Street - and I could tell by our group's furtive glances (and missing red goodgym t-shirts) that these new-joiners were unexpected joiners - but before anyone could ask them whether they were lost, the two runners planted themselves in the middle of our pack (presumably for warmth). This mayhem persisted for some time. It was very dramatic. More dramatic than Simon Says. But then... they ran on.

It was so so cold last night that Charlie and Steve hit solid ground whilst digging at Cressfield Close Sheltered Housing (our task for the evening) - perhaps it was sheer ice, I thought - but then Charlie and Steve told me it was stone. Not that I had time to dwell, because I was busy being in awe of our special group, who dug a hole for a fruit tree, planted several areas with bulbs, turned (and revitalised) the soil in a resident's garden, and pruned a pear tree.

It was quite wonderful to witness. So many tasks completed in little over 30 minutes, and all whilst stories and laughter were shared :)

Thanks so much, everyone!!!

Here's to next time!

When I was a child I think I was middle-aged.

Other children liked Pokemon - or Power Rangers - or other popular past times like playing.

Not for me - I knew what I liked - and what I liked was the 8pm-9pm slot on Monday nights on BBC One: Ground Force and Changing Rooms.

And last night - thanks to the frost-beating efforts of this wonderful group - I felt like my childhood friends (Alan Titchmarsh and Carol Smillie) were present in shaping our very own garden makeover at Cecil Sharp House!

Seven of us - Alex, Gosia, Jackie, John, Rose, and Steve (and me) - met in the King's Cross buzz and we became the only group (of adults) in London to be outside playing Simon Says whilst icicles formed.

Taking our smiles (like Carol Smillie) with us, we started our journey up and through Camden, meeting Emilie early en route!

Arriving at Cecil Sharp House, we met Natalia and Yumei, both of whom were on their first day of GoodGym good-deeding - a huge welcome, both!!

And then our makeover started. I am not certain how it happened. All I do know is that I turned round to find my gardening gloves and a million scattered leaves had already been placed into a neat pile.

It genuinely was miraculous - the lawn and paths were a sea of fallen leaves... and then they were grass and paving again - it could even have been a spring night :)

Thank you, everyone, for your work, time, and fun - it was great to see you!

Here's to next time!