Tonight was not only about one of our favourite tasks of the year and welcoming Nadine to GoodGym for the first time, but about celebrating Adam reaching a phenomenal 250 tasks! The evening started at our run meet-point in Richmond where Adam was adorned with the ceremonial cape, given a card with lovely messages from the group and a warm-up was led involving a lot of his signature move: double thumbs up!!

A lovely steady group run along the river took us to Lynde House Care Home where task owner Gitana had two Christmas trees to put up, many balls of lights, four reindeer to build, a light-up snowman and a lot of tangled baubles! The home was already well-decorated inside which made for a lovely festive welcome as we walked through to the gardens.

An hour later, the lights were all on and the garden looked wonderful! Double thumbs up all round before the final run home!

Sunday 1 December 2024 saw 7 GoodGymers discovering their inner Elfs (Elves?) spending a wet but wonderful Sunday morning helping to set up and marshall a 5km ‘Mental Elf’ fun run that was all about raising money for the Richmond Mind Charity. https://www.rbmind.org/support-us/mental-elf-fun-run-2024

Africa, Adam and Steph arrived early to help set up the event, with Adam and Steph going on to trail blaze the three lap circuit as Elves 001 and 002.

Harry, Chris, JP and Anita joined the second wave of volunteers, helping to marshall the 3 lap route around Marble Hill Park, Twickenham , directing and cheering on the 100+ participants.

Elves of Richmond we salute you.

Saturday after, walked to Ms J property from my half marathon to sort her garden out. Ms J welcomes me and said her son does ultra marathons as she asked if i was running earlier - probably my shorts ad running gear gave it away. We walked into the back garden that needed attention. Where is Wally? No Wally around but where is Sheddy? The shed could not be seen as not only the overgrowing tree and ivy was covering it. The plants around it decided to wrap it like a gift. Lets free the shed!!Then had to clear the area around it as the path to the compost area was non existing. The portion of garden to plant vegetables was also with loads of grass, weed and ivy. It was also full of holes left by the foxes in previous months when they used to come here ...not the case anymore so some leveling to be done. Near the entrance of the garden, the ivy took over the patio, so tidying up required. 90 minutes after the shed was free and we could see it properly. The compost area was accessible for Ms J. Cleared all the ivy and the moss near the entrance. Ms J was overwelmed and could not stop thanking me.

Seven super heroes in red shirts (although covered up tonight in warmer layers) came to help out at St Christopher’s Children’s Home in Twickenham.

A regular task, we were back and having made easy work of the front gardens, tonight we went back to back. We searched the shed for tools, and got cracking.

Africa, Chris, JP and Lucy took on the bush-tucker challenge. Although there was less tucking and more chopping, as the shears gave two of the unruly bushes a good trim. Down in the vegetable patch Adam, Cathy and Susan started on clearing the weeds which had run wild in the allotment. Little mountains of hedge trimmings, leaves and green leafy weeds piled up on the compost heap, and before long we have two neat and tidy bushes and a tidy patch. It’s always amazing to see the transformation that we can do in such a short time. Well done tonight gang, bush chopper challenge complete.

Setting off for a run outside a cosy pub on a rainy night may have a touch of insanity about it but when it's part of a group and you're off to do good, it's surprisingly possible!

This evening's 2km run took us through Richmond centre and out to Petersham Common, via many dark puddles to dodge! We met task owner Ken by Petersham Farm gates where he took us through the simple instructions to plant 300 native bluebell bulbs in the woodland, away from the paths. Between the lot of us the task was soon complete, even through the rain, and Ken shared out kit-kats for the team.

At the end of the session the cosy pub beckoned us back to Richmond and the 2km run back ended with a Taskforce meeting in the warmth. 🔥

For our final visit to RFS of 2024 Adam, Chris, Harrison and JP were tasked by Volunteer Co-Ordinator Lucy to give the delivery van a much needed clean start.

Armed with a hose, sponges, washing up liquid and buckets we set about getting amongst it.

Chris, with his extra height, certainly could get the hard to reach spots, while also alternating with JP on hose duty, although at times soaking fellow Good Gymers Harrison and Adam, unintentionally of course! 😉

Harrison and Adam, meanwhile focused on the more intricate details of tyres, mirrors and windows and we finished up by giving it a thorough hose down.

Overall a job well done, ensuring a clean start heading into 2025 with the RFS.

Sign up for the upcoming tasks by using the link below. https://www.goodgym.org/v3