An incredible 11 Goodgymmers turned out to help our friends from Norden Farm with their annual Community Lantern Parade. The Parade is a celebration of community and the arts and encourages local people to get together, creating fantastic artwork, dancing and parading their fabulous creations through Maidenhead town centre. And it didn't disappoint! This year the theme was Take Flight, and the lanterns were all bird and insect-themed. We welcomed Alison to her first Goodgym task, and we were put to work straight away, putting out the sticks containing the lights and batteries, ready for the lanterns. In the preceding weeks, Norden Farm had held workshops at schools for children to make their own lanterns. These then needed to be fixed on to the sticks, the LED light put in inside and the battery connected up for the children to carry. There were whole flocks of seagulls, cockatoos, magpies, parrots, blue tits, woodpeckers, bullfinches and robins. And a swarm of bees. The excitement grew as the entertainment started, and we were treated to fire-eaters and stilt walkers as well as music from the magnificent Dhol Drummers. The giant Nodenia puppet also made an appearance , this time sporting an Advent crown. And then we were off! We all grabbed either some of the larger show lanterns or spare lanterns, and joined the back of the parade.. It was amazing to see all the lanterns bobbing along the streets, all in time to the music provided by the Dhol Drummers and Babel Brass Band. A strong wind provided some challenge to keep some of the larger lanterns under control, but Goodgym were up to the job! There was a great atmosphere, and there was a good turnout of people to watch the parade. It was lovely to be part of such a fun and joyful community event

This was my third gardening mission but I didn’t report on the previous two because both times there were no or limited gardening tools provided, even though there should have been… I did my best, but it wasn’t very satisfying.
So it was exciting to use Mrs L’s lovely secateurs to do a little pruning of roses, lavender, ferns and some other shrubs. She also offered me a cuppa! The lovely rose in the picture had somehow “survived” up to now so was rescued from the green bin and given to Mrs L to enjoy indoors.

Amy, Alex and Jess met at All Saints Primary School to help them out marshaling cars for their open evening.

It was lashing it down and the wind was picking up but that didn't stop them cracking a smile and a cheery hello to everyone coming to the school.

Amy and Alex manned the front gate guiding cars into the carpark, where Jess and others directed them to the parking area on the playground.

The prospective students and parents are clearly eco-conscious as not many arrived by car and so there was plenty of time to chat with the other volunteers (mostly PTA members) about the school and how they ended up living in Maidenhead!!

With the start of the Headteacher's talk the students who had been showing off their school headed home and the marshals were relieved of their duties. However, Amy and Jess were not soaked enough and headed off to the usual Maidenhead Goodgym Group Run for more fun in the rain!! Alex was far more sensible and headed home to get warm and dry!!