A ninja squad comprised of Fantastic 4 braved the hills and the elements as they made their way to the Stroud Green and Harringay Library this Wednesday #LoveYourLibrary

Unbeleafable, Jeff

Our four Goodgymmers made their way to the Stroud Green and Harringay Library on an unseasonably warm evening, pregnant with the constant menace of imminent rain. Undeterred, our Goodgymmers met with Peter from the Friends Group who had arranged an array of rakes and brushes for us, ready to clear the library's emergency pathways from a slippery blanket of dead leaves.

Under a rapidly disappearing huge moon, we brushed and palmed and bagged the leaves, making the emergency entrance safe again as clouds gathered threateningly above us.

Before you knew it, the skies cracked open upon us and Peter, happy with our handiwork, released us into the night early. We took advantage of the unexpected boon of unscheduled time to take our good do-good-get-fit-selves to the pub where we imbibed the wares of the land as we reminisced on a yet unwatched Soviet retelling of a beloved classic.

In short, we got drenched sweeping leaves and dried up a bit at the pub innit. Standard.

Join us next week for the first of a few painting sessions at the Community Hub.

 

8 Goodgymmers met up on a warm night to help the Friends of Stroud Green Library clear their back passage (stop fnarring at the back).

Clearing the blockage

Plentiful innuendo aside, the hops, weeds and brambles need to be removed to open up the route from the emergency fire exit. We set about the over exuberant grenery with gloves, rakes and other tools to make evacuation easier. We also welcomed newbie Eren, who quickly got stuck in to the piles. There was also a cornerful of building waste in bags. Using our tried and tested human chain technique, we speedily removed the lot! We even had some time to marvel at the local wildlife - a very friendly cat.

Exit, persued by secateurs

After that, we transported the green waste and bags of rubble to more appropriate spots. This included transporting the hops by dumpster bin to the nearby compost heap, a multi-hand job.

In a day marked by resignation fever, 7 Goodgymmers stuck to their guns and ran up that hill to Stroud Green and Harringay Library for an evening of literary scrapes and giggles.

The Great eScrape

Our seven Goodgymmers joined Peter from the Friends of Stroud Green and Harringay Library on a balmy Wednesday evening for a spot of scraping. The outside of the beautiful library building  has been renovated but a section of the skirting was left unfinished at the time.

The Friends have come to the rescue and will be painting the skirting soon but they needed a hand from our GG heroes to prep the area for painting.

Our Goodgymmers scraped the skirting, getting rid of any loosened bit of old paint that might smudge the painting when it goes on over the weekend.

They also did a hard core pruning of some beautiful but spiky plants to offer easier access for the painters.

Before you knew it, about another gazillion ministers had resigned and our Goodgymmers got ready to leave. But not before playing a game of squat sprinting up the hill and as it was a draw by the time they got there, Neil found it appropriate to reward us all with a game of squatting Sally too. Aces.

After photos were shared on social media and a rather unfortunate textual faux pas took place in the group chat, we all ran our merry way home, refreshing the news websites for even more resignations shenanigans.

Join us next week when we'll be lending a hand to the Friends of Tottenham Green.

And don't forget to sign up for the Goodgym Rounders game next weekend - sounds like it's going to be a blast!

Six runners, walkers and (public transport) riders descended on the Stroud Green and Harringay library's overgrown flax plant. We were joined by two new GoodGymmers - Hannah and Nicolas . They soon got into the swing of things, even learning how to photobomb on the spot!

Crouching Goodgymmer, hidden bicycle

The flax was overhanging the path, creating a scratching hazard for anyone walking past. It was also threatening to swallow a bicycle. We quickly got to work, chopping away with a selection of scissors... and one very coveted pair of secateurs.

We also tidied the rest of the libraries garden, with a variety of sweeping and digging actions going on. A great upper body workout! We also found a large amount of snails, probably enjoying the recent damp weather. Various puns were thrown around while we hacked and shovelled - thanks to Sarah for the report title!

7 Goodgymmers grabbed their overdue books and ran to help the Stroud Green and Harringay Library.

Kudos Corner

Latoya is now a 300 Good Deeds Club Membership card holder and we couldn't be any prouder. They grow up so fast!

And it was perhaps quite fitting that as we were high fiving Latoya's feat, we were also celebrating Carolina's first Good Deed. And boy, she was a natural, and took all the lunacy around her in good spirits. Welcome!

The Talk of the Town

GGHaringey Goodgymmers usually spend most of their Mondays wrapped in egg shells and immersed in ice baths, re-energising for our usual Wednesday hangouts.

However, when the good folk at the Stroud Green and Harringay Library come a-calling, who are we to say no! Tonight we were meant to be helping them relocate some boxes into the library but a clash with a talk at the library means we ended up helping sort out the grounds outside instead.

With their usual sisyphean fortitude, our intrepid Goodgymmers rolled a heavy bin up a hill, filled it up with garden detritus, only to help roll it back down the hill again.

We did some brushing, some leaves collecting, some japing. And then a very suspicious Gramps tried to convince a few Goodgymmers to get into the back of a stranger's van. You had to be there for that one, I think.

Selfies here, air-kisses there - we all went our merry way into the night.

Join us on Wednesday for more adrenaline-fuelled capers!

"The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy." <3