A trip out to Mortlake this Monday evening to help with some cutting and laminating for recipe cards at AFC Powerstation. Spring has just sprung and with that comes with warm welcome of more comfortable temperatures, longer daylight hours and shorts for running!

This evening we welcomed Tatielly for the first time at what turned out to be a perfect first time task: lots of chance to chat and do DBS checks for social visits alongside doing good for the amazing work they do at Achieving for Children.

In addition, it may not be one of the t-shirt milestones but its certainly a big one as Jp hit 750 tasks! What a massive contribution to Richmond-upon-Thames ❤️

What looked like it might turn out to be a pleasant morning surprised the 5 GoodGymers who met at Richmond station to go leafleting - the temperature stayed unpleasantly low and it was quite gusty. But the weather didn't dampen our spirits as we set out armed with a pack each of leaflets from the Richmond Good Neighbours charity. We headed to the streets off the Kew Road, one of Richmond GG's happy hunting grounds for leafleting, and split into teams.

Adam and Luis started off going to the southerly roads while Cathy, Harry and JP tackled those further up the main road. Around half-way through we met up again, crossed the Kew Road and weaved our way through the residential areas on the other side.

We finished up after around an hour having delivered the vast majority of our leaflets, with Cathy offering to take the surplus back to ETNA. Then we headed on our way to enjoy the rest of Saturday and the weekend!

A trip out of Richmond centre to Petersham Common to pick up the litter that is sadly discarded along the roadside.

A welcome return to Sea Scouts this evening, though not via the river path that has been underwater a lot the last few days!

Task Owner Russell met us there to explain what needed to be done in the dark: cut back all of the hedge coming through the current old wooden fence in preparation for the old one to be removed and a secure new metal fence to be placed.

Choppers, loppers and a trimmer were the tools of the day, along with some floodlights, and with Russell joining in too, we managed to cover a long section in 45 minutes, as well as some driftwood sorting into the bonfire piles.

The evening finished with a steady run back to Richmond, but not before a sudden interruption for a passer-by who had heard a strange creature in distress - we came running and found some mating toads who were not keen on any help! 🐸

Friday night is for most people pub night and maybe a pub quiz to start off the week end. Two Goodgymers decided to join Mind at their Mind Quiz and Curry night at St Stephens church in Richmond. Susan arrived early to help setup and give hand in the kitchen. Steph Ducat a bit later to meet lovely Jo and Suzanne who he already knows from the Elf Mind fun run. Assigned to raffle tickets with some great prizes. The quiz master kicked off the evening after everyone had their lovely home made curry. MIND your business was the rule for the evening : no cheating. Susan was minding her business with the other volunteers in the kitchen. Half time and it was rush hour at the bar and raffle table for more drinks and chances of winning a fabulous prize. Fantastic evening and yes 2 undercover Goodgymers - GG Tops under the Mind T Shirts.

Six GGers turned out for our first visit this year to Richmond Furniture scheme.

Saturday's job, assigned by RFS CEO Simon, was to strip down a stash of pallets so that they could then reuse the wood.

Provided with claw hammers, crow bars and other bits and pieces from the workshop, we set about our work.

JP and Luis proved adept at hammer time, Suze, meanwhile was tasked with the challenging removing the nails from the wood once It was broken up, while Harry, Chris and Adam attempted to take it in turns with a particularly stubborn pallet that was too well constructed.

Overall,however, this mission proved a smashing success!