Twelve of us gathered at the Ray Mill Island rise to help out with a few tasks.

Some took up the hose and watered the thirsty plants. 🌱🌿

Others took up saws and pulled out branches from among the brambles to use for a fern bed. 🪚🪾

And one took up a brush and painted some signs, in the exciting company of some rats 🖌️😬

Shout out to W&M newcomer Yvonne who joined us from Bracknell! Hope to see you back for more.

When we finished, it was time for a special celebration - Diya's 500th deed! We had delicious cake 🍰 - thanks Georgeta - with a clever topper (which flummoxed the only accountant amongst us!). Sheila made a beautiful medal 🏅 and had a great idea to have everyone say some words about Diya... here's the full list: Enthusiastic, Fun, Horse-manure, Kind, Thoughtful, Football, Warm, Camaraderie , Guinness, Friendship, Racquetball, Mad, Inclusive, Funny, Party girl, Always very hungry.

And we were all treated to Diya's biggest smile 😃 - warming our hearts on an already warm day! 🥵

I was flying solo at Ray Mill Island this week however after the heatwave the planters and beds needed a good watering so that was the job of the day.

Our group of dozen of Goodgymers and first time Wednesday session leader Anne-Laure were happily participating in refreshing the beautiful drawings on the ground of Ray Mill Island. Organised by our lovely Nivi, the painting involved finding the right colours to match the drawings made last year by the same Goodgymers. The weather was lovely, the vibe was great, the quest to find the perfect red colour unfortunately failed. But it didn't stop everyone to recreate the beautiful letters, drawings and games. The rainbow ended up very personalised.

The evening finished with not just one but two celebrations! Roberta celebrated her 100th good deed and Rachel her (unofficial) 250th. Well done to them! Rachel spoilt us (again) with her amazing skills of baking and her creative poem writing.

A successful session, 2 amazing cakes and beautiful colours on the island! The good gymmers have spread a little bit more of joy in Maidenhead!

The weather was not too kind, so we didn't have many volunteers at Ray Mill Island today. I opened up the shed area for 2 D of E students who had a task to repair some signs. Meanwhile I weeded an area which is destined to have some new planting.

Goodgym duty today was continuing to weed the winter heliotrope from the main bed and rockery without stepping foot on the rockery.

There was plenty of it encroaching onto the path to tackle and it was very therapeutic listening to the water from the fountain trickling and the geese and ducks quacking.

Mick, Meggie and Sheila spent a peaceful afternoon at Ray Mill Island, watering the newly-planted areas and weeding out the rampant winter heliotrope. Mick also fashioned a plant retainer out of dogwood stems to hold back the Japanese anenome. It was lovely to get lots of positive comments from appreciative passers-by