On 5 July 2021, GoodGym Bexley headed to the brand-new BMX Pump Track in Martens Grove Park, to give it a thorough tidy ahead of its official opening by the Mayor next day. In the drizzle we collected fallen leaves and picked up litter, leaving the track looking ship-shape for its big debut. As this was during the COVID 19 pandemic, we kept socially-distanced throughout, of course!

This morning we were back at the track, this time in the fog, getting it ready for Bexley Bike Club's free community session (supported by Access Sport), giving local children the chance to get into BMX cycling.

While the coaches ran a warm-up and skills drills on the neighbouring sports court, we worked alongside two other volunteers to sweep away the soggy autumn leaves and scoop up the puddles after Storm Claudia passed through last night.

It was a full-on workout, but 45 minutes later we were rewarded by seeing the young cyclists zooming around the track we'd just finished preparing.

The monthly sessions will resume in March next year and we hope to keep coming back to support them. Watch this space 🚲.

Marianna is on the Days Lane Primary Parents Association which puts on the school's annual fireworks display, so when they needed extra hands, of course we jumped at the opportunity to help.

And what a fun and colourful evening it was!

We were assigned to the non-stop-busy Glow Stall, where neon wands and rainbow light sabres sold faster than you can say 'Let it glow!'

After a whirlwind hour of seeing children's faces light up (literally), it was time for the main event... we grabbed mugs of hot chocolate and mulled wine, tasty burgers and hot dogs* and headed onto the school field to enjoy the fireworks.

After the last sparkling rocket faded we packed away the stand and said our goodbyes.

Well done to Marianna and the team for a glowing event. Please can we come back and help again next year? And well done Frazer on your very first GoodGym task. Great to have you as part of the GG Bexley posse.

• (Shout out to Tom's butchers, just up the road!)

Last night we had a busy and brilliant evening celebrating Luke 's 50th good deed, welcoming Manish to his first, and doing a poignant good deed - helping Discover Welling take down the Remembrance poppies along the high street.

When we did this task last year it was a struggle cutting through the cable ties in the finger-numbing cold.

This time, thanks to the eco-friendly reusable ties we’d used to put them up, and a much milder evening, the job was far easier!

Afterwards we found a big table at the pub for a lovely social with eats, drinks, lots of chat and laughter.

As well as forgetting to take any photos during the task, it turns out that we missed a few poppies too. But Julie was in the area this morning and collected them in her highly appropriate Royal British Legion bag.

The poppies and cable ties will be safely stored away so that Welling can pay its respects again next November ❤️

After finishing our donation sorting session at the Community Hospice, we headed out to make the most of the lovely morning and use up the last of Discover Welling's Welling Sparkle stickers. With the High Street already covered in our group session last Wednesday, we aimed for the busiest side streets to add a bit more festive cheer to the lamp posts.

It didn’t take long — and it was a great way to spread some Christmas spirit around town!