We had quite the turn-out for our excursion to Emsworth this evening, which was super-handy as there was a lot of work to be done!

Rebecca, the Head Teacher, and the Caretaker had started some prep work, so we got stuck straight in to the task. Katie and Sam got stuck straight in with scraping and sanding, whilst Judy and Andy were on priming duty for the woodwork. Double Dave caused Double Trouble with an exploded tin of green paint. Sinéad arrived after her run around Thorney Island to lend a hand. Birthday Gal Val found her calling as a wallpaper instructor, helping Rebecca to get the lining paper on some of the walls.

Val also provided music and snacks, so we got to channel our inner dancing queens with an Abba soundtrack.

A contractor had quoted the school close to £5000 to do the work needed, so GoodGym's efforts have certainly helped to keep school funds supporting the children, which is wonderful. Well done, you are all awesome!

After cleaning a pretty immaculate flat on our last visit, we found out we'd cleaned the wrong one! Our task this evening was to climb up even more secret stairs to a second apartment, and give it a jolly good clean.

David took on the role of bin-bag shifter, completing multiple trips up and down the staircases with bags that Sinéad, Andy and Harry had filled.

Katie and Sammy tackled one of the bedrooms that had clearly had an uninvited, four-legged visitor. Henry the Hoover was put to the rest this evening!

Beds were stripped, windows cleaned, cupboards scrubbed and floors washed. It was amazing how much was achieved in such a small amount of time - amazing work from everyone!

The main part of our session, clearing out old charity donation bags from an external cupboard, was postponed after the door (which has been flapping open for two years) was inexplicably wedged shut. Attempts to open it with techniques varying from Brute Force to Delicate Tickles, we gave up, and instead set a record for the most people involved in putting up two poster boards.

Always one for a dalliance with a power tool, I put myself in charge of drilling, whilst David and Laura did the arm work, holding the boards in-situ. Dave probably wasn't the best person to act as a human spirit level due to the ongoing vertigo issues, but he did a sterling job! Fingers crossed the boards are still up in the morning - the screws were a little short!