I was in town early for the mission, taking some time out for myself and relaxing in Victoria Park reading my latest book on the origins of life in the Universe. Gradually intruding upon this wonderful calm was the growing rumble of thunder, getting louder by the minute.

Looking up at the sky I could see what this fuss was about, there were a fair number of cumulonimbus clouds bubbling up from the east. As a trained meteorologist, I fired up the lightning checker app on my phone (lightningmaps.org if you are interested) and could clearly see the lightning hitting all around the area between Bristol and Bath, and getting closer.

There is a meaning to this story trust me. I quickly scarpered, and besides it was all but time to head to the mission. Back at St John's Court again, to help make the place a brigther and nicer place to live for the elderly residents, I was met there by Emily, Tanya and James.

Ann, our steadfast coordinator at St John's, led us around the back to a couple of new wooden tables and a planting station that needed painting, this being our job for the evening. However, no sooner had we started than the heavens opened, and one of those cumulonimbus clouds I mentioned earlier was now above is and the downpour was merciless. Seeing as it's been quite warm and muggy it may have been nice to stay outside and get drenched (painting was out of the question though). However, I was a real killjoy and told everyone to go inside in case there was lightning (there was thunder after all), as not only was I concerned for the safety of my fellow GoodGymmers, as mission leader, but I didn't want to do a pile of paperwork.

When the rain ceased we had a half hour left of our mission but what we had been painting was now drenched so Ann had us do some weeding at the front.

Well this is always a slightly sad occasion, taking down the decorations at St John's Court that we had so enthusiastically put up at the beginning of December.

Never quite as popular as its retrospective counterpart, there were still a good number of GoodGymmers on hand to do the deed. Tanya, James, Bennath and Meyrick were brave enough remove all traces of Christmas for the lovely elderly residents of St Johns Court.

On a positive note, it only took about 40 minutes so we were able to leave early. See you next Christmas St Johns!!