You have to hand to the Friends of Sydney Gardens, they like to rotate us around a variety of jobs when we visit, just in case we get bored or something. Recently, we've been weeding, clearing away earth (I think we down to the 1960s now - in joke) and trying to blend GoodGym red with Jane Austen bonnets and Empire Line Dressed (totally failed that one btw).

But today it was sand, as there is a rather rapid churn of the stuff as a consequence of the trampling feet of a thousand pesky kids. We've done this before, and as I have frequently pointed out, the distance from the place the sand has been delivered is a about as far away from where it needs to go as possible, yet still be in the park.

Nay bother, although logically it means we can deliver less trips, but we made about ten trips I'm guessing. Enough to replenish about a quarter of the sand pit, but no more. GoodGym stalwarts Aaron, Nev and Meyrick rolled up their sleeves for what is always hot work.

I know what we'll be doing when we return to Sydney Gardens on the 23rd.

It ain't summer anymore is it? It was a great one, I can imagine when we are all retired we'll be like, "remember the summer of 2025? That was awesome wasn't it?" I shouldn't complain too much, it wasn't that cold on Sunday as six eager GoodGymmers rocked up to Sydney gardens for another session with our colleagues, The Friends of Sydney Gardens.

We never know what's in store for us, although it will be something gardening related. It was a pretty good turn out this week, so we were Gill divided us into two groups, one weeding the flower beds around the tennis courts, the other digging up more earth around the entrance to the grotto.

What were the names of these six heroes? Newcomer (and very welcome you are too) Nev, regulars Cosmo, Aaron, Bennath were joined by new Taskforce member Tanya as well as Meyrick.

We made quick work as usual, and the weather can't have been too bad as we retired to the Holburne Museum Cafe afterwards and sat outside drinking our beverages.

I have to admit, this Summer still has plenty to give. It's already been a wonderful summer, at least if you don't have to worry about crop yields and test wickets. Even at 10 am this morning it was sweltering, this mainly due I think to the total lack of wind.

Undeterred, three GoodGymmers arrived fully committed to the cause. Aaron, Cosmo and Meyrick gathered together and met our contact with the regular Friends of Sydney Gardens crowd and this time we were back on sand duty.

You see, there is a quite fantastic play area for the kids, but the sand keeps disappearing, probably being redistributed by playful hands and carried away on uncaring shoes. Inevitably, this sand needs replenishing, and that is where we came in.

This is one of those situations where the heavier the substance that needs moving is further away it is stored. So in the tiny hour we had, much of that time is spent moving the sand, in wheelbarrows, most of the way across the park. I suggested to our leader there, that if the sand could be delivered to a location closer to the play area, we could probably do the whole thing in an hour, as it was we probably managed 15%. It was a sic work out though, we were all wiped out by the end.