A lovely sunday evening visiting Mr S and bringing him more of his favourite crime fiction books. Mr S might be in his 90s but he is waaay ahead on new AI technology that me and he even teaches, so we had a good chat about that. A lovely way to spend my evening!

A lovely morning catching up with fellow goodgymmers whilst doing good! Sharon was planting the new season annuals - petunias and impatiens and tidying up the planters with extra bark chips! James did a super speedy job of filling up all the reservoirs whilst I was watering on top of the planters.

Everything is looking so much better now! Thank you everyone!

Next session is on the next bank holiday monday to hopefully replant a couple of older planters that are in need of fresh plants!

6 of us helped out at Frenford Foodbank today. Eddie and Linda set up and got started with the picking and packing, followed by Peter and Natalie who got stuck straight in. 4 helpers from friends of Frenford also pitched in and the usual convivial, jostling and bantering took place in the hustle and bustle of the narrow shelving area.

Everyone there were old hands at the job and despite a few issues with incorrect shelf labeling we were done in no time. Addie had had problems with transport and Louise had intended to join us for the last hour so both turned up just as we were packing up. We wanted to take advantage of their fresh energy and eagerness to help so got them tidying up the shelves and sorting out the relabeling.

Amazing that people take time out of their busy lives to help out. Well done all of us.

Oh dear, where has the time gone! On the 7th November three of us did a massive revamp of some of the planters at hainault station - completely fresh compost, new plants and bark (which has been working a treat and helps to reduce people sticking cigarette butts in!)!

We also fully watered and filled reservours for all c. 15 planters - lots was done and great work all!

What a dry spring we're having! It's lovely to enjoy sunny and warm weather but when you're taking care of living plants, you notice that a bit of rain is actually not a bad thing! All the planters were in need of good watering so I spent 45mins lugging watering cans to give some water to all the perennial flowers and plants. They were looking immediately better!

Additional bonus - hardly any spillage from filling up watering cans! I'm becoming a pro lol

The evening started out nice, but there was a hint of something in the air as we gathered at base. Ambra confirmed the suspicion, her weather app predicted a chance of rain at 8ish...

So we got going with the aim to be back by 8.

With the light lasting longer, Leyton Flats was now an option for a plogging session. Pleasantly surprised we didnt fill more than a bag between the 5 of us. Sadly the bags did end up filling up once we crossed through the Green Man roundabout, right on schedule to drop the collected litter at the council bins we use more often as drop-off point.

James, Elegia & Linda took the short route back, while i kept Ambra company on a longer scenic route, arriving at base not long after the others.

Job done, right on time, because on the way home it started raining, just as Ambra predicted!