So, Tuesday 19th Nov. And it’s cold. The blizzard earlier in the day is not going to cool the burning passion of these goodgymers to aid the community. Not only braving the cold, but also the unknown! A new task! Chandos road gardens. The community group that looks after the gardens asked for some help clearing the streets around the gardens from litter and leaves. Turned out the latter was in greater abundance!

It was in fact an absolute classic goodgym task, with about a 2 mile run to get there, no specialists skills required (just a willingness to graft), lots of bending, lifting, raking and sweeping, an enthusiastic host helping to steer us in the right direction, and best of all, an output at the end of it that could be neatly measured in bags! (The council even came out to collect them!).

Special mention also goes out to Mabel (the dog) for her first task, she wasn’t so hot at raking, but made up for it by giving all the leaves a good sniff.

Also big thanks to the Friends of Chandos Road Gardens community group who hosted and were also out in force leading by example and providing equipment and tips.

Random weekly question was “if you could keep any species of animal as a pet (that you wouldn’t normally keep as a pet … and danger was not a limiting factor) what would you choose?!”

I can’t say I got a complete set of answers, but some examples were polar bear, panda bear, silver back gorilla, badger, shark.. various bits of logic for those, big warm cuddles, protectiveness/protection, help with workouts, for scaring people (I’ll let you imagine which reason goes with which animal!). All good answers.

Next week’s Tue evening task still to be confirmed, likely to be flyering or furniture building, but if you’re free and fancy being an absolute local legend then sign up here!

So, St Mary’s Allotments, they’re having an AGM on the 12th October - the Tuesday night mission, for those who chose to accept it - to move some trestles, some tables, some chairs, some display boards and some gazebos from one shipping container to another. Goodgymers chose to accept - course they did - and moved the hell outta that stuff.

Random weekly question, to celebrate the start of October, what’s you fave scary movie? Here’s some of the top choices:

• Alien
• The Substance
• Silence of the Lambs (classic)
• The Birds (even more classic!)
• The Ring
• Blair Witch Project
• A Quiet Place
• Scary Movie (which takes the P out of almost all the above)

Thanks to Elaine and her husband for having us and resolving all the locked gates/doors challenges with their huge key ring of keys!

Next week likely to be flyering, Tuesday 8th Oct, meet at the Printhouse 18:45, with possible pub quizzing after. Sign up here

GoodGym Newham assembled at the Print House on what might be the last warm session for a while if next week’s weather forecast is anything to go by.

This week’s Random Weekly Question: “What instrument do you play, or would you like to play?” Guitar is a popular choice – Paul and Eugene would like to play, Adam does play and the harmonica at the same time. We’d like to see that… Similarly saxophone – Paige plays and Brad would like to. I think Eugene said he plays the drums, so perhaps we have the formations of a band? I play the cello, and should confess that the question was essentially an opportunity to shamelessly plug my next concert with South East London Orchestra – 12th October in Dulwich, which is a bit of a trek from Stratford, but it is lovely.

The run up to Hackney Marshes Adventure Playground might be one of my favourites – almost entirely traffic free, and along the canalside. We were met by Ange, who had forewarned us of the task in hand – to move 4 tonnes of sand to replenish the sandpit ahead of their playground inspection tomorrow. Oh to be a playground inspector - I wonder how you’d get into that line of work?

As we began, the mythological Sisyphus sprang to mind (not that I could remember that it was Sisyphus who was condemned to roll a ball up a hill for all eternity – had to google that one later), but thanks to the efforts of the team – Adam heroically distributing the sand around the slide on receipt of delivery, whilst Brad, Eugene, Paul, Paige and I filled up the wheelbarrows, heroically taking turns on the one with the flat tyre – we managed to shift the lot. So we’re all heroes and it turns out sand is a bit more dense than mulch, well done everyone!

We wished Ange good luck with the inspection and set off back down the canal, stopping off for a drink and a chat at Here East, ever so convenient for this task.

Next week we’re at Abbey Gardens, so hope to see you all there 😊

And finally as mentioned on the WhatsApp, we’re planning to start listing sessions on a Tuesday evening from October onwards because this will really help with Taskforce availability – but do let us know if you’d like to see sessions on other days, we’ll certainly try to be flexible.