Firstly, on a rainy, windy day we have to congratulate our first timer... Misbah

HUGE Welcome / CROESO

After welcoming the crew at the start point, and setting off the walking group, Michael led the joggers up to task.... All Hill and chatting.

We skipped the queue and went straight to task tonight, fighting to miss the worst of the rain. Our mammoth task, The Salvation Army, young person hostel was having a clear out. Bed bases, fridges, microwaves and sofas... All broken and needing to go.

Could we CAERPHILLY fit them all in the big yellow SKIP.

All hands gloved up, Michael’s freshly laundered gloves provided for all. Everyone got to work, picking, carrying and then filling the skip. Some items needed breaking down... Is that a job for Jake? According to “little boy Jonnie” it may need a real man. However, Lucy was having none of this, even after coming up with Jonnies new nickname for the night. Between them, the crew managed to smash a double bed base and a sofa. Filling the skip to the brim (see photos for their amazing workout)

Walkers arrived during the mayhem and skipped their way through to the nature task. The hostel had found some waste whilst clearing for a new woodland and wildlife garden, it gets sunlight first thing and will be an amazing space for the residents in summer. But to make the space, several overgrown and over bearing buddlejas had to be removed. Whilst they are good sources of nectar for butterflies, the plan is to seed the space with lots more native mixes providing nectar and seeds for a selection of wildlife throughout the year. The volunteers were tasked with taking the cut down branches and stems, to create a dead hedge against the wall of the garden entrance. This would have climbing plants eventually planted, and provide somewhere safe for birds, insects, voles and maybe a hedgehog or two.

As soon as the skip was nearing its capacity, Michael encouraged some volunteers to join the hedge building.

Tasks completed, one last trip to skip for the group photo.

Only our second time helping out at Colum Road, the age assessment hostel in Cardiff. On what had been forecast as a possibly very wet evening, we were very happily surprised to have the rain wait until our task and run were over.

8 GoodGymers met at Glassworks, on Wharton Street. Michael planned a run that would still allow for a run close to 5km total, there and back, even though the task location was pretty close by.

We had a lovely jog to the task, chatting to each other about recent events, parties and gatherings.

After 20 minutes, we arrived at the task location. Michael had already been here once today, as he dropped down some tools for the team to use from his full time job with The Salvation Army. They were met by Tari, his beaming friendly smile welcoming them into the hostel.

Our task tonight had a few different jobs,

• Weed the gravel out back
• Tidy up the leaf fall
• Remove the Christmas lights we put on the railings last visit
• Wipe down the tables and chairs
• Cut down the buddleja
• Weed the front of the building

Our eager volunteers had no problem smashing out the tasks, working methodically through the list. Ruth and Lucy were top of the group for fun tonight with the cordless leaf blower.

Once the back yard was complete, everyone was sent out front to help cut down the pieces of buddleja to fit in the garden waste bag. Unfortunately, the green bin was still full at the hostel, so some last minute plans were put into place.

30 minutes soon went by, and after a group photo taken by Tari, it was time to head back.

It was another busy night in Wandsworth yesterday, featuring a bit of thinking outside the (cardboard) box, a lovely visit from Cardiff GGers, a beautiful plough moon and the monthly pub quiz!

It all kicked off with some cheering for Annabel and Pritesh, who smashed the Olympic park half marathon yesterday, a reminder that there are two Missions this weekend, and welcoming Ben to his first ever GoodGym session. We then did our warm up, each had a guess at which country has the most islands (well done Felix!) and then set off for Doddington community garden.

We arrived soon after to find Beth, Johnnie, Catherine and Veronica already hard at work, and settled down to the tasks. These included pulling mallow, clearing grass, digging a trench (lovely job, Johnnie!) and laying down cardboard.

Turns out that it was the perfect day to be doing it - the plough moon traditionally marks the beginning of the growing season. We couldn't have timed it better! With such high energy levels we whipped through the jobs. Check out the very impressive before and after shots!

Not quite finished, we headed down to the square for fitness. This week we got competitive, pairing up for a challenge that involved dashing round the circuit combined with strength exercises. There was some amazing form from everybody, but Jordan and Felix's tactical approach saw them take gold. Great work everybody.

Next week we're back at Larkhall to do some prepping and planting - hope to see you there!