🏀 The residents at Hartrigg Oaks were keen to try out their ball skills this evening. We warmed up with the giant marble run - always a challenge! - then attempted to get a hole in one (or two, or three, or four) on the mini golf. Seated basketball is always a firm favourite and we upped the ante this time with a bit of passing - some of us harking back to our netball days - before finishing off with the giant football! ⚽

Four fantastic Goodgymers got a good arm workout hauling out boxes to set up the monthly book sale at Tang Hall Library. There were lots of great books on all sorts of topics: James indulged his love of the celebrity memoir, while Holly checked out the very latest styles in (1970s) knitwear and Amy picked up an introduction to nothing (?!). All the proceeds will go to support this great community venue.

A hardy bunch of GG Yorkies assembled to help out the annual Brass Monkey half marathon race once again. Various roles were covered including marshalling and manning the water stations. One not so hardy GG-er (me) was nice and dry as I was on baggage duty for the first time and it was great fun! There were several GG folk running and lots of familiar faces from other local running clubs. Well done to everyone for doing a great job out in the rain this morning - your support was very much appreciated by all the runners.

T'was our last Hartrigg evening of 2025

Where four goodgymers met outside on the drive

We bundled inside with new games to play

But where were the residents? Only two had arrived to have their say!

Nevermind, Lucy beckoned, “We can still have some fun!”

We grabbed a drainpipe each—oh, this game had begun.

We passed them around with a wobble and cheer,

Soon more folks joined once the laughter drew near.

The ball started rocking, it rolled with delight,

Soon we had mastered, it was time to move on

To bowling and bingo, what a fun festive night!

We were having so much fun, we could have continued 'til dawn.

But the clock had struck 7pm, Claire had to leave for her ball...

Alas, the bingo wasn't finished, the cards were not full!

So we decked and we donned, we sung the christmas songs

'Til finally we claimed team the winners - team Ding Dong!

If you went down to the Knavesmire today you nay have got a pleasant shock as 250 Santas were running around chasing a pudding or mince pie!

All to raise money for the British Heart Foundation!

Thank you to all the volunteers who made it possible, from setting up the course to marshalling or handing out water. We couldn't have done it without you. ❤