As we said goodbye to September, GG Hackney were also wishing a fond farewell to Coach Ellie from Brent, as they hosted her for one last fling with the East.

After a bitter-sweet housekeeping, an energetic team of eight adventurers took to the streets to conquer the creeping cold and complete the mud shifting task for the Narrow Street partnership.

With a swift shuffle to Wilton Estate to collect the tools with Debbie, the team split into 3 sub crews and at varying speeds weaved their ways through the back streets up to the meet point to begin.

The people of Mare Street didn't quite know what to make of the red shirted army of spade yielding warriors as we hot foot it through the crowds. Luckily though, Ellie's safety briefing beforehand saved any casualties befalling the night... "don't hit anyone coz we'll get sued" Right you are then!!

Arriving on task the team worked furiously stuffing bin bags with soil from the old flower beds and stacking those bags into pile upon pile. The combination of lifting and squatting, worked up a sweat, got the blood pumping and kept spirits high, despite the holy bags and outpouring of the already collected mud!! Our hard work only to be undone and completed again twice over!!!! Aghhhgghhh

Despite the set backs, the time crept away and the crew wrapped up the final throws with a total of 12 full bin bags and 5 empty troughs!! Good work.

As quick as we'd arrived again we were on the move, with a weaving and bobbing manoeuvre extravaganza and last wheelbarrow push up to Wilton for the final drop.

Upon Steph's request and to the..... Ahem... Delight?!?? Of the rest, the night ended with a masterclass in squats and a team who were schooled in "engaging their glutes" and conditioning their hammys. Becoming experts in no time (despite the odd accidental twerk) coach Ellie was proud and set the homework to continue the good work started and invited them to GG Brent to keep it up!

Stretching to finish and a collective team brain scratcher to come up with the pun....I'm.still waiting for team entries LOL The night was at a close for another week.

Until we meet again Hackney Crew, you've been a delight and a breath of fresh air, to this westy out of water. See you again soon!!

FEEL GOOD. DO GOOD. INSPIRE

Migrating back East from her home in the west, coach Ellie's wings spread far and wide to rejoin the awesome family that is Hackney GG.

Meeting as usual in the E5 bakehouse, the crew trickled in under cover from the last of the rain. One by one, the Girl Power posse packed the rafters. Ellie, Antonia, Annetto, Sophie, Jo, April and Kate were only accompanied by one fair gent this week - Christian, who held it down proud for the boys!!

After a brief housekeeping the team were ready to hit the Hackney pavements hard achieve whatever the task was that lay ahead.

This week it was: Emptying the Decorative Soil Boxes on Narrow Street, to make way for the resurfacing, modernisation and general beautifying of the area.

This amazing community project has happened as a result of several partnership organisations coming together to improve the community for the people of Hackney. That partnership is made up of - Hackney Council, Wilton Estate Community Gardens, Cordwainers Community Garden, St Mary's Secret Garden and The Stroke Project on Well Street!!!

So, with raincoats zipped, we hit the road, journeying through London fields for a quick equipment grab from Wilton Estate, before hot footing it, with wheelbarrows and spades, towards Narrow Street and the task.

It has to be said - Nothing is funnier than watching the madness of GG red tees hurtling through Hackney centre brandishing all array of gardening tools to the horror of the locals! Hillarious.

Before long we'd arrived at point 2, where the fab Anne from Hackney Council was there to greet and explain the task ahead. Getting stuck in straight away the team rolled up their sleeves and began the work.

We began with Vigor - Shovelling soil, filling giant white bags and identifying good from bad (our technique was.... Crunchy? not Crunchy?)

After 40mins of graft the team were out of puff, but with still more work to be done, we shall see them again next week. A swift run back to the equipment drop and an even swifter tail back through the Fields and we were back for a stretch to close the night.

Great task, amazing team and a GoodGym Hackney done for the night!!

My take on last night is a bit sketchy... except for one key moment. The moment I stuffed a piece of Jay's cake in my mouth.

First, let's cover off the events before then;

We met. We made sure we didn't defecate in Papa's. We welcomed the lovely new people. We congratulated Beth on her drinking marathon. We congratulated ourselves on GoodGym's speed volunteering award from Boris. We split into two groups. Group one ran to Palace Road Nature Gardens. They did some gardening. They ran back. They ran a good 6-7km. Group two ran to Brockwell park Greenhouses. They shoveled manure and cleaned out the pond. They got free veggies to take home. They ran about 5km. Everyone met back at Papa's.

AND THEN JAY ARRIVED.

With Jay, came the most wonderous of cakes. A flourless chocolate cake, laced with orange and rum, covered in fresh cream, blackberries and raspberries. It was possibly the best thing I have put in my mouth. EVER. And I have put some magnificent things in my mouth in my 34 years. I have never heard so many "OH MY GOD"s and "WOW"... it really was that good.

I feel sad for all those who didn't get to taste it. Perhaps a lessen will be learned though. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS COME TO GOODGYM!!.