Litter picking round Chelmsford with GoodGymers - what better way to spend your birthday?

I met with Rich, Andy, Laurie, Ben, Erin and Joel (henceforth JJ) at HQ. We started with the usual run brief, and for the first time ever, "Are there any illnesses, injuries, or pregnancies?" was answered with a "Yes". Congratulations to Erin & James.

We ran to the old Iceland shop, where we met Sallyann and late sign up Martin, who was able to join us after finishing work in time.

Rich, Laurie, Andy, and I started on the grass verge by the roundabout. There were lots of food wrappers we think had been thrown from cars. Meanwhile, Erin, Sallyann, Martin, JJ and Ben found a grot spot near a bench used by drinkers; the bushes were full of bottles, cans and cigarette butts. Sallyann took the heaviest bottles round to the bin.

We found an abandoned shopping trolley filled with rubbish (which has been reported to the Council), then went behind the car park, where there was more litter in the bushes. In a very short distance, we had collected three bags full, which were left for the Street Care team to pick up.

Back at HQ there were birthday cakes for everyone, and then some of us went to the pub for a post-task pint, and to watch some Morris dancing. Good work everyone.

Next week we are doing a deep clean in the kitchen at Sanctus.

Wise words from Joel McKeown. One of the only things he has ever said I agree with.

Great fun was had by all - good selection of food, great selection of beers!

Same again next time! Rich was clearly still feeling the impact of the pints when he tried his trademark jump on Saturday.

Jesus it was basically a one person show. Walker arrived separately to the runners, and did an insane amount while everyone else tidied in the wake of the good work.

Obviously i am talking about Jane, not Rich who showed up late with his most flattering lycra. Jane was a one woman shearing army, not seen such devastation with shears since Andy took his last haircut. Ben made picking up piles of thorns look very easy, great commitment to the cause.

They were very impressed with the job we did on a hot day, shoutout to Sallyann who had to endure me somehow hitting her constantly with a rake.

On the way back we stopped for a brief ice cream break, Leanne stopping the dithering men by shouting SOLERO at the freezer.

I am excited for next week - task and beer fest - but not as excited as Russell is for Binface to hopefully win the by-election.

Who wanted to watch England play in the World Cup anyway?! Not us. When we set off England were 1-0 down, but on our run to the task we heard a loud roar, and Ben ducked into The Wheatsheaf to check that, yes, England had equalised.

The lovely garden at Hearing Help needed weeding, especially the lawn, which was a bit of a jungle. Rich and Jess got the tools out, and after a quick safety briefing of DON'T GO NEAR THE HEMLOCK! we started pulling up weeds.

Another loud roar soon told us that England was now 2-1 up.

Ben and Martin got straight on it, I was distracted by a low flying kestrel but eventually put my bird app away and started work.

Fay and Sallyann arrived on foot, and together we filled a big rubble bag with weeds, and left a nice patch of cleared lawn for Hearing Help to enjoy.

We had nearly finished when Andy turned up. He's settling into retirement so well he's forgotten what time it is.

When the tools were away, we watched the house martins flying round the mill, and went home to watch the highlights.