Spring is a time of newness and today saw us celebrate two new things: our first Thursday group run and, more importantly, the wonderful Geraldine leading her first group run. Congratulations Geraldine on getting through the training and taking on this important role.

The evening saw us back at More To Childcare, a nursery in East Greenwich, which has been a GoodGym Greenwich regular for many years. We met at the Naval college, and after a short debate on whether we preferred the sea or the mountains, we were on our way, diverting from the direct route to dodge some tourists and enjoy a run through Greenwich park and by the river. On arrival we were met by Eve (and the friend that Eve forgot she was meeting that night) and we got to work in the garden. Weeds were removed, trees were trimmed, long-lost toys were extracted from the undergrowth and the alkanet was given a good seeing to. Soon the nursery was looking a lot more shipshape we ran off into the evening.

Your chance of rain this evening is 100%

This was the BBC's welcoming message on the morning of our good-deeding jaunt. From 7pm, there's a 100% chance of heavy rain. Yet, despite our certain drenching, our steady group of sign-ups continued to grow throughout this grey Wednesday.

So convened and huddled our group of 9, under the eaves of the Naval Colleges, sharing our stories of the week and reconnecting together against the cold.

And we were in celebratory mood, congratulating Kerry on an amazing 50 and Julian on an astounding 400 good deeds!! Your presence make our volunteering community so wonderful, and your efforts make our wider community that bit better - thank you, both :)

We followed this by warming up and thinking ahead to our task, which was this week at the lovely More2Childcare. Taking a longer route through an empty Greenwich Park, we arrived to friend of the group, Eve, who showed us her myriad collection of cleaning, scrubbing, and sanitising tasks. We removed stains and remnants of toddler play and learning, gave the floors a sparkle and shine, and finished the evening with a mop and tidy.

I know just how much Eve and the More2 appreciate our regular visits and efforts, and it felt good leaving knowing this space was that bit nicer for the kids arriving on the Thursday.

Great work, folks!!

Folks, I hand you the weather controls - if you could escape this evening's touch of heat and stifle, what would you change the weather too?

Which is how we started our time together on Wednesday.

We had the same but a little cooler - and storms - even snow.

Oh, and also cyclone... I always love a little evening gardening in a cyclone.

Anyway!!

We started smiling, and after limbering and loosening our bodies, we took a longer round-a-bout route through a summer evening Greenwich Park, before flowing down Maze Hill into one of our old haunts, More2Childcare.

Since our last visit, nature has visited, and a good group of us got straight to grouting the paving, weeding the beds, and pruning the overhangs; whilst another group headed out back for painting fences and blackboards, jet washing chairs, and building a quite wonderful drain-based game.

Every year, More2 takes an August week when they shut their doors for a reset and refresh, and it was a joy to have our group get to grips with so many jobs so quickly - we filled 6-7 bags of overgrown nature, added the paint and cleaned the chairs that'll give More2 a new-school-year sheen, and shaped a game to keep More2's kids busy and happy.

You did so much this week, folks, and looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Welcome back to Midweek Goodgym Live with Bob Bigglestone and Bob Murtough. This week, a tricky away fixture at fixture More2 Childcare. Not far to travel for this one, Bob.

No need to board the team bus, Bob.

No indeed, Bob. There was plenty to do - gardening, digging up soil, cutting back vines, and putting up a trellis.

And some fruit, I hear Bob.

Yes, apricots! Usually two bob a bowl, Bob.

Did I see some pears, too?

Well until they got pruned themselves.

Prunes as well?

Forget it Bob. But you’re right, I cut down two pears. But you know what they say, pear in the hand is worth two in the bin.

Shame we had none in hand, though.

Anyway, the evening started with a whizz round for ideas for upcoming socials.

Ever been on a social, Bob?

Went to a Bangladeshi restaurant once. Waiter came over after a few minutes and said ‘curry okay?’ I said I might do Summer Nights after I finish this.

Not sure that joke works on paper, Bob.

Not sure it works at all, Bob.

Speaking of paper, we had a strong line up this week. Bit of squad rotation saw a few changes from last week’s match.

Some solid work at the back saw the soil transformed. Reminiscent of penalty areas in the 70s, Bob.

Certainly was, Bob. And some cracking work up front from Marta and Jenny saw the trellis take pride of place.

Looking forward to cleaning up at the Woolwich Works garden next week, Bob.

Any chance of a free comedy ticket, Bob?

Hedge tickets are probably your best bet, Bob.

8 Greenwich GoodGymers made their way 1km to help out at More 2 Nursery.

Gathering at the naval college we celebrated the achievement of GG Greenwich runners and volunteers who all did a sterling job this weekend at the marathon and we introduced ourselves with our dream post marathon meal! We then celebrated the 50 good deeds for run leader Jennifer - congrats Jen!!

Then onto our run - short but sweet - along the river to More2 Nursery where sadly there were no nursery rhymes but a lot of grime to be cleaned … we washed paint off radiators, sticky patches off floors, cleaned the chairs, tidied the garden and spruced up the mud kitchen. So much achieved in such a short time! We posed for our group photo under the calendar bunting trying to stand by our birthday month till we realised we were all born the same time - clearly the best people have October birthdays!

Back along to river for a wall sitting competition (well done champion Andy!) and some well deserved stretching. We headed home enjoying the fact it was still daylight - just!

Who says Christmas ends in January!!??

Well, quite a few people actually. Because there's 12 days. And those 12 days end in January. And you can't really get around that. Because it's set. And established. And that's that really.

The end. It was a good Wednesday run.

OH COME ON ALEX DON'T GIVE UP SO EASILY.

Who says the Christmas spirit has to end in January!!?

Now we're talking. Because we had a festive-esque task ahead of us last Wednesday.

This merry (pun absolutely intended) group were off to the lovely team at More 2 Childcare in East Greenwich, and we had some Christmas trees to sort out.

One tree - having given love and happiness to More 2's team and kids over the last few years - was due to be taken out and recycled into chippings - and one other tree - young and small and having just had its first Christmas inside - was ready to be planted and nourished.

And so we headed over, singing carols and wearing bright red suits and hats (perhaps), with a little Christmas spirit in our midst.

Met by the wonderful Eve (no pun intended), a few green-fingered folk amongst us volunteered for the tree up-rooting and tree down-rooting tasks. Whilst others volunteered themselves for cleaning, and sorting, and mopping, and fixing. And we got busy doing some of the jobs the team at More 2 don't have the time to get to.

40 minutes later, we were smiles and goodbyes, with some heading straight off to the east of the borough, and others jogging westward back to our starting point.

One tree in, one tree out, and one community nursery healthier than it had been just 60 minutes before, this group captured an evening of generosity, friendship, and kindness - so perhaps the Christmas spirit did follow us last Wednesday :)

Thanks, folks, see you next time!!