We were lucky to have a mild dry evening for Fireworks Night and after the crowd had enjoyed the display Gill got armed with a litter picker, bag and hoop. As the crowd dispersed she started on the task of cleaning up the litter left behind. Fortunately it was not as bad as in previous years and Jackie arrived to help with the final stretch and the field was looking clean again. They also helped reunite a frantic looking woman with her lost phone, so a double dose of good deeds tonight.

Luton GoodGym attended to help an elderly gentleman have better and safer access to his garden after a recent hospital stay. Brambles had taken over and after much hacking and pulling, 8 sacks of brambles were removed so that the lawn could then be mowed. The gentleman seemed very happy at the end of the session, commenting that it not only “looked better, but smelt better too”.

Another fabulous session for FoodCycle today, with Gill starting off our contribution by running the 3 KM from her home before the session to turn on the heating for the water heater to make sure there was plenty there when we started cooking. Dani and Lucie provided a much needed boost to the cooking team, and while Gill had behind the scenes made sure there were plenty of pumpkins to add to the rest of the food saved from landfill, and there was plenty of veg for the main, today's pudding was a simple chocolate cake with yogurt and banana. But it was all delicious none the less. Abdulrahman bought his usual cheery approach to serving the guests and clearing up afterwards.

4 of Luton’s Goodgymers were happy to brave the dark chilly night to run to Penrose to do some late Autumn gardening. The flowerbed, which had been awash with colour during the summer, was in need of some attention. So armed with shears and head torches we got stuck in to cutting down the dead stalks and flowers. It looked like an enormous task but, keeping focussed and moving to keep warm, it didn’t take us long to get the whole area back to ground level. And of course we couldn’t leave the garden without raking up all the cuttings into several large piles. With the tools stashed back in the polytunnel, we ran back to the town centre for a cool down stretch before heading for home, satisfied that we’d done a great job.

7 Luton Goodgymers joined the Friends of Leagrave Park for their monthly litterpick. The sun was out on a fresh halloween morning and everyone got stuck in to the task with no scary incidents. The team collected 17 bags of rubbish and rather than bobbing for apples we pulled a buggy, and a suitcase out of the river (not face first though). All in all, it was a very productive morning. Well done everyone 👻👹💪

It was Lucie's birthday last weekend and so there was a celebratory atmosphere in the kitchen at FoodCycle. Lucie, Gill and Dani joined in the banter with the other volunteers, as we laughed and joked while taking on the serious business of turning the meagre amount of food surplus into a delicious three course dinner for our guests. Lucie had bought along cakes to share with everyone and we all wished her a very happy birthday.