Tonight's session kicked off with a Doc check for a wonderful GoodGymer who explained that he was a single parent and brings in childcare so that he can go and volunteer on coach visits! Wonderful. That is the GG spirit right there.

With a happy heart the AA was ready to welcome tonight's intrepid runners who would be off to the far flung and remotest climes of Brixton.... actually it was up the road to Dexter's Adventure Playground which is all of 900 metres away.

First to arrive was Katy and it was lovely to have her back after a little while away, our enthusiasm to see her had NOTHING to do with the fact that she came bearing 4 tupperware boxes of delicious gooey chocolate brownies. AA was able to create a Bond villain-esque welcome for everyone with hand lamps shining at the new arrivals while sitting behind them speaking from the gloom (after all it's nearly Halloween) and pre warm up discussion turned to how warm it was this evening and impromptu stripping of layers while running through Brixton - no names mentioned - " just anther Tuesday in SW9" Sarah rightly pointed out.

This week's intro topic was favourite and least favourite pizza topping which didn't lead to the controversial and heated debate expected as everyone was broadly aligned (although Nathan later insisted that pineapple is anathema on pizza), then the key question from the group - when does a soup become a stew?! Answers in the comments below please.

Enough chat, time to set off and we decided to a loop around the area to stretch the run a bit and then up to Dexter's to meet the inimitable Pam (and Nathan who came straight from a shopping task) who would be looking after us. Well done Maya for running the day after a brutal Pilates reformer session! After rapid fire instructions we divided into two groups - the 'woodchip' group and the tree stump clearance group and set to work.

Sarah and Frances made light work of the stubborn tree stump in the planting beds, then began prepping the planters (probably down to having fewer layers on!) and the rest of the group faced off against tonnes of woodchip, which oddly seemed to be steaming away..... Perhaps not only woodchip then? It was only mildly disconcerting that there was a loo sitting just behind the pile as well, wild wee anyone??

Conversation turned to App recommendations (Paprika cooking app sounds awesome), local places to eat (Adulis and Asmara Eritrean both very good) and the quality of Lidl and Aldi wines and by the end a huge load of woodchip had been spread around the giant slide ready to give Big and Small kids alike a soft (and steaming?) landing.

And that was time up so a quick run back and then time for those well deserved brownies - SO GOOD!

Thanks everyone and see you next week.

Adam, Liv, Will and I got stuck into some light gardening to support BIG KID Foundation’s ‘January Jumpstart’ at Dexter's adventure playground. Will already works with Ruth and her team, so it was easy to get cracking with some brand new tools, tidying up the perimeter of the site. As we cleared away leaves, weeds, soil, branches and moss outside, local residents inside the event warmed up with some aerobics before being led through a singing workshop. It was also great to see kids enjoying the playground again.

Having filled more than 20 bags with garden waste, it was time for us to leaf*

(Leaf. Leave. No? 😬 )

A fab group of five of us met at Dexter's adventure playground to help the awesome BIGKID foundation (they run an after school programme for local kids) with some painting of the outside fences.

Unika showed us the area she wanted us to cover with some lovely bright yellow and slightly duller (but still nice) green. It had clearly been quite a while since it was last painted so the fresh coat we gave it attracted many a positive comment from passers by! 🎨

One man (a pro decorator) even went home to grab us a brush extender so we could get up to the top!

After a solid hour and half, we'd finished painting our stretch of the fence, with a thorough job done by everyone.

There are still loads of jobs to be done at Dexter's to get it full ship shape, so keep an eye out for a return visit...

Nice work guys 💥👌🔥