A cold a frosty morning began with parkrun for four of todays team.

Hilary joined Nick to celebrate his 100th Mile End parkrun Kevin and I headed to a very frosty Wanstead Flats.

A spot of breakfast before heading to meet up with Dimitra who had already arrived at The Up Garden.

Quick round of introductions before our list of tasks for the day off Suz.

1 paint pergola front legs turquoise back legs coral 2 bench turquoise and coral free choice of how 3 tape up and spray paint pergola roof panels

Suz was in charge of roof panel taping Kevin,Dimi and I tackled the pergola legs while Nick and Hilary brightened up the bench.

After completing the pergola we took it in turns to spray paint the panels.

Dimi headed off after an awesome effort of pergola leg painting...was great to meet you and thanks for all your effort today.

Suz then showed us the piano that had been donated and was made in Newham a mere 10 minutes walk from the garden....Hilary and Nick double checked it was tuned...it is.

We said our goodbyes and headed off.

A celebratory beer and food to finish off a wonderful day.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ADDED THANKS TO SUZ

Tuesday we are heading to Hackney Adventure playground

Sun's out guns out, and all that. No traditional gun-show type folk with arms like WMD's, but we had plenty of firepower to assist the good folk at The Up Garden. Four of us discussed "your favourite sport's book or film?" I kicked off with The Best There Never Was, a book that unravels a complex story about politics, history and the human condition. The Challenger is a new highly recommended tennis film, by Rebecca...and Brad, must be good. We also had the superb Michael Jordan series, plus the Barkley Marathon documentary, which was recently completed for the first time by a woman, the force that is Jasmin Paris.

A hot jog to the task, we covered the eurovision song contest, Trump hush-money and Get Out leaving their Bow residence. Kieran is keen for a social send off, make note. National telly regulars and RHS winners greeted us, as we returned back to the vibrant gardens for the first time in light this year, looking magnificent, I'm sure you agree. With Dan, Kev, Shaz and Matt working on the herb garden clearance, the rest of us went and cleared the second zone. Armed with forks and a hotly sought after rotator, we cleared a small zone ready for a sand pit.

Was a good gentle workout in the evening sun, everyone completed their tasks, to Catherine and Suze's approval. I've just had a message re The Pride event their hosting, they're keen for help, will list that when we have details. Nice one for the salty goods Dan, nice to mix up the post session snacks, as long as no one brings a soup or something next time. We all wish you the trip of a lifetime, you'll be missed, be well.

Next week, we help the folk at Emanuel Church, sign up here

Bone biting winds swept across London, part of a lovely cold-snap we're in, seemingly undeterred were the other seven goodgymmers that rolled up last night.

The ones who met at base discussed their upcoming training goals; Landmarks Half Marathon for Rebecca, Ian committing to regular runs through weekly Wednesday goodness, Hils aiming for Manchester Marathon and lastly me, looking to run a fast(er) Parkrun with the buggy.

Catherine and Suze lined up a few jobs for us at The Up Garden, namely deconstructing/destroying rubbish and re-jigging the material heap area and bringing in fences. Karate kicks and hammer blows rained down on an unsuspecting pallet, it held its ground but only for so long, goodbye worthy foe. Shelves and chairs were pulled and ripped apart too, in an inadvertent course of midweek therapy.

Glucose levels were topped up by King Kev's offerings of cake, Crunchy/Mini Rolls/Soreen all there for us athletes to re-fuel on. A mighty seven years for Kevin, he's quietly helped transformed tens of projects with a relaxed competence, jovial spirit and a lethal consistency. We doff our caps - and say thank you.

Next week we head to Cody Dock to help with an event set-up, sign up here , let's keep the good momentum rolling people.

Till next week,

B

Brisk fresh air marking the middle of November, four of us met at The Printhouse, discussed the task ahead, the ongoings last week and this week's Random Weekly Question: "who's your most played artist?" Radiohead, Maria Callas, Taylor Swift, Jamiroquai and Stephen Isserlis (googled 'best cellist' and found him).

We strode down to The Up Garden, with one mad fan joining us along the way, discussing hospital visits with kids, the vocal range of welsh people, the new UCL building and more. New joiner Sybil heroically caught up with us, after just missing us leave. Kev and Dan further bolstered our output. A simple trough decanting session, we shoveled and dug, removing the soil, then tipped it over and finished the job. A few other small tasks to finish; shifting breeze blocks and moving a table. A somewhat low-key session for the Up Garden, but that's no bad thing.

Really great to have some new faces, hope Sybil and Rebecca enjoyed their shift. Next up we have a brand spanking new session at Park Village Oasis. Just getting the details to set it up, will share on the whatsapp group.

Have a good one peeps.

Till next week,

B

Good midweek vibes in Stratford supplemented by the fact it wasn't hammering it down. We discussed that burning question on everyone's mind "what conspiracy theory irks, baffles or makes you laugh most?". Some informative answers, namely the fifteen minute city conspiracy and the PM of Australia VANISHING in 1967 -need to look into this more, remarkable stuff. Plus some good solid conspiracy idiocy, like everything Russell Brand says, David Icke's lizard lunacy, Q-Anon's viral rise and Covid state-backed ideas. It's a confusing world, let's simplify it with barmy unfounded claims - it's alluring.

Anyway..back to topic, Up Garden side-project, led by the towering Dom. He's keen to grow food for the residents in a little plot gated off from the public-accessed Up Garden. We went to town on it, tearing and tugging out weed membrane. Managed to roll it off like sticky carpet, really satisfying stuff actually. We then spent the rest of the time violently attacking an unsuspecting stump. Expedited by onlooker Hilary, finding some pruning tool that sliced right through the roots. Some more jostling, digging, pulling ensued, but eventually we were stumped no more. Should allow for the project to continue towards the planting phase, bravo team.

Think next week is a certain Charlotte's last session before she dances towards foreign shores, come and give her another send-off, it might be the last time for a few weeks. And she's bringing a bloody good cake. Separately, I reshuffled the sessions, Plaistow Primary now in two weeks. Cody Dock exhibition hall demolition next week, should be a good one, sign up here

Have a gorgeous week and weekend, see you next week.

Till then,

B

Washout forecasts didn't deter some community action, socialising and jogging yesterday. In fact, statistically speaking, it seems to have encouraged it. You guys are nuts, and I for one love it.

The institution of the RWQ lives on, it went something like this: "there's a worldwide pasta shortage and hence a ration, you're allocated one pasta type forever, and a requisite sauce of your selection, what do you pick?" Endless pastabilities, eh? Rigatoni alla Norma, Arrabiata w/ mozzarella and bacon, Penne and Pesto and Rigationi Amatriciana were some good early answers. We also had some outside the box thinkers, who tried to cheat the system carefully in order to be fully prepared for this rather unlikely hypothetical scenario; "Fusili because it can be used in a salad", "lasagna so the sheets can be used to prepare other pastas". But my favourite: "Rigatoni, tuna AND chicken, so I can pick out one of the proteins to suit my appetite".

We jogged north through the rain, discussions ranged from rowing back on green policies, cycling into a headwind and travelling to the North East Coast. Perfect work for the weather awaited us, hard physical labour, to be more precise: shovelling stuff into bags. We had Team Soil and Team Sand. Both clearing tonne bags into smaller black bags. The time flew by, I'm not sure exactly how many bags we filled, but probably a cumulative forty plus, we definitely made a dent in those bags. Bravo squad.

I've just a received a message from Su, saying how super appreciative they are. I'd reiterate that, but especially for grafting through nonstop rain.

Next week we head to Rosie's place of work, Plaistow Primary. We're going to be back on the tools, digging around the edible garden and filling up beds. It's going to be glorious. Get stuck in, sign up here

Till then,

B