It was a lovely sunny evening to be in one of our favourite Monday evening places - Stepney Bank Stables. We started the evening with some fantastic news - Sport England has pledged £10,000 to the current Crowdfunder! This takes them past their initial target and opens up the stretch target. There are a few days left donate - if you'd like to help this wonderful charity keep doing their amazing work with local children with differing needs, here's the link Stepney Bank Stables Crowdfunder

So to work! Sara left me with a list of jobs to choose from. Not being averse to hard work we decided to walk up to the top stables to continue the cobble clearing that a few of us started a few weeks ago. When I say started, I should really say re-started, as it's one of those painting-the-forth-bridge type jobs that we and other volunteers have done before. For Max, who we were delighted to see back for his second task, this was a new experience, but despite having tweaked his back earlier today, he got stuck in with the rest of us. We had a slightly slow start as we couldn't find the hook-y scrape-y things (horse hoof cleaners) that we use to remove the muck between the cobbles, and our improvisation efforts were unsuccessful. Fortunately, Sara came to the rescue! We made up for lost time and I'm pretty sure you'll be able to see the difference in the before and after photos. In any case, with the horses supervising and Scout inspecting our work, there was no chance of us baling on the job!

On the subject of baling, Sara had one last task for us - moving a big hay bale from the yard into the barn. I decided at this point to heed the warning, too many cooks spoil the broth, and to stand back and take photos! The team made short work of the task and we were done! Thanks to Elliot, Aimee and Chris as well as Max for another productive GoodGym Stepney Bank Stables evening!

Check out the website for three, yes three tasks to get stuck into over the coming bank holiday weekend!

I promised this evening would be a satisfying one and it really came through with the goods!

It was a back-to-back task after also being at Stepney Bank Stables last week but we love to support them and this is one of our favourite jobs to do. It was great seeing Rob back for his second session tonight without the promise of a quad bike and cake like last week! Also interestingly tonight I was the only female GoodGymer at the session, and I don't think that has ever happened before!

It was a simple but satisfying job for us tonight as we were tasked with cobble cleaning at the top stable yard. Not the most glamorous of jobs and definitely a proper workout as you use tools and broomsticks to clear debris from deep between the cobbles. Hopefully you can see the difference in our photos- a member of staff stopped to praise our efforts too. This is one of those jobs that the regular staff and volunteers just don't get the time to complete and really makes a difference.

We finished off with some hill repeats tonight, a super workout to get legs moving, lower backs loosened off after the task and hearts pumping. Another great start to the week, and we even missed the worst of the rain.

“This turnout is massive!”

I’d had some warning last week that our group run this week would be big, and big it was, closing in on pre-Covid numbers for the first time in a while. We welcomed a massive 12 new GoodGymers from Newcastle University along to give us a go for hopefully the first time of many!

With less than perfect weather Stepney Bank Stables was a perfect setting for a big session and a great chance to show off our base to those who will be hopefully back to another session in the future. A quick recap on the weekend’s fun and sharing the plans for the sessions ahead done, it was into teams and off to work.

It’s always a varied evening with Stepney Bank Stables and tonight there was a heavy cobweb theme... we were:

Brushing and de-cobwebbing the arena

Brushing, dusting and de-cobwebbing the stable walls and doors

Carrying many many rugs from downstairs to upstairs (see photo evidence- aching arms expected tomorrow!)

Litter picking the area between the top yard, stables and car park.

Cuddling horses.

It was such a top workout for everyone tonight with everyone getting stuck in and truly making a difference you could see right before your eyes, with Task Owner Sara telling us at the end how much this session had helped to get on top of things.

Not sufficiently worn out, everyone opted IN to the fitness session which was a big team game of dishes and domes with a hill sprint forfeit. Everyone took this in very good sprits including Damu who we accidentally left standing at the top of the hill. In a tshirt. In February.
Sorrrryyyyyyyyyy!!

Loads of other good stuff this week ahead:

Leaflet dropping for FoodCycle Benwell on Wednesday Help out at South Shields parkrun on Saturday or with Urban Green Newcastle at Elswick Park Then on Sunday we are selling daffodils for Marie Curie in Byker As well as another Urban Green mission at Hodgkin Park .. phew !!! It is possible to do all four of the weekend community missions with a bit of careful planning but as ever even a little bit of your time can make a massive difference.

Thanks all for a brilliant start to the week. See you next week for a Plog on the Tyne followed by drinks at The Ship Inn!

I was delighted earlier today to see the weather forecast showing that the wind would drop in time for our task tonight - it wouldn't have been great if the leaflets had blown away! I was less delighted when it started to rain! I came prepared with plastic bags to avoid soggy leaflets but fortunately we were blessed with a dry, if slightly chilly and breezy evening for our task helping out the lovely people at the Guide Dogs charity.

When I arrived, two members of the group were taking advantage of our meeting point outside Greggs and were savouring that great Geordie export, the Greggs pasty - perfect sustenance for a cold dark Newcastle night!

Tummies filled, we set to work. Although I was the task force rep tonight and so perhaps could be considered the group's guide, it was very helpful to have the street layout knowledge of former local resident Elliot to guide the guide for guide dogs! With Elliot's expertise, we delivered the whole batch of leaflets, covering the streets suggested by the task owner, in under an hour - almost as satisfying as a Greggs pasty and a great end to GoodGym Newcastle's bumper January!