This Monday we were back again supporting Mulgrave Street Action Group with the Urban Space Community Garden for a weeding task. Not sure how a month has gone by already. Four Goodgymers ran from the suitcases with Jess cheering them all the way! The rest of us met at the task. We were all warmly welcomed by Khan, who as all dearest readers will already know, has far too much faith in our weed identification skills. Each time he gives us a new nugget of information to support with our weeding endeavours and on this occasion, the advice was "do you like it" and "does it bring you joy"?

Now this of course prompted much debate especially as anyone who knows Sallyann will know that anything green and alive brings joy. The humble dandelion got a particular shout out for the joy it can bring. However, Bekah and Jess were on hand with a clear and methodical approach - "it's spikey, it doesn't bring me joy. Get it gone!"

Tonight also marked the inauguration of one of our new Litterpicker Leaders - Clara . Without haste in this new role, a litter pick around the community garden and surrounding area was carried out by Clara and Ellie, both of whom received lovely words of thanks as they went which motivated them further with the task. The task ended against the backdrop of evening prayers from the local mosque. The 4 bags of weeds and 3 bags of rubbish and knowing that we are returning in a month certainly brought us all joy. Speaking of joy - congratulations to Aatefa who has now completed 5 tasks, to Jess who has completed 20 and Ellie who has completed a whopping 70!

A fabulous group of keen runners met promptly at 6.30 pm on Monday to run to our task! We were all looking forward to our second week at Pagoda Arts Centre, helping them prepare for their Chinese New Year celebrations. We completed a lovely 2km run through the Chinese Arch and recieved some enthusiastic cheers from passers by.

It was the night before the New Year, but unlike the night before Christmas, lots was already stiring at the centre on our arrival.

After being joined by the rest of the group we had some quick introductions and the all important safety briefing!!! The task owner, Zi Lan, gave us our directions along with some education about the three core symbols of the Chinese New Year celebrations; longevity, good fortune, and, prosperity. We were then given free reign in hanging and decorating lots of lovely artwork and decorations including setting up the display on their main feature wall!

We split off into groups, with various people measuring, planning, hammering and decorating and others assisting in moving and organising items that needed to be stored away for the festivities.

After a lot of planning, hanging and organising, we all came together at the end to finalise the main feature wall. It was lovely to see the wall finished by the end of the task and even better to complete it as a team.

I was delighted that most of the runners were happy to go back to the suitcases the long way, resulting in a total of 4 kilometers run together. A great success all round!

11 goodgymers headed to Pagoda Arts Centre on Henry Street on a cool night. It felt like there was a hint of spring in the air. The front of the centre had a snake decoration around the doorway for 2025 and in a couple of weeks the Chinese luna calendar will usher in the year of the fire horse. There were many tasks to take on to get the centre ready for the celebrations. Ellie and Sallyanne cleaned inside the centre, Nasser moved boxes and put up pictures, Liam and Laura cleaned and cleared the entrance, Bekah, Leo and Jess did some up hill gardening and litter picking, me and Sophie cleared the car park of leaves and litter and Steph got to grips with a pile of papers that needed shredding in a temperamental shredder. All while a tai chi class was in progress which we tried hard not to interrupt. We were rewarded after our tasks with Chinese tea and chocolates.

We have two sessions booked in in February and March at the Mulgrave Street community garden, for weeding, maintenance and planting. Ahead of these sessions, task owner Khan had asked us to come down as the litter was 'ripe for the picking' so we could get the area nice, clean and clear ahead of digging in the week after.

12 Goodgymmers turned out on what was a freezing cold January night. After introductions, admiring Chris's shiny new '50 Deeds' black Goodgym t-shirt - well earned, congratulations Chris! - and the usual litter picking safety briefing from Bekah ("please no wandering off in the dark on your own!") we got to work. With a good sized group we'd soon cleared the lovely garden Khan has created, and set our sights further afield to the surrounding streets, planters and bushes.

The hedges just next to the garden are so thick, it was like a crystal maze challenge trying to maneuver the litter pickers through the railings, between the trunks and stems, grab the litter and maneuver it back through the undergrowth without dropping it. At some point several of us were actually in the bushes, reaching and stretching in very elegant positions.

We found quite an array of items, including a golf club (which was in very good condition, actually...), a tyre (much worse condition), a left shoe and a right boot, a table tennis bat, and a table leg. Plus we managed to fill 13 bin bags full of litter. It was cold - oh, so very cold - and absolutely no-one was dramatic about the freezing temperature ;) However the amount we collected made it all worthwhile and after an hour we called time and gathered to dispose of the bags and take the group photo.

Khan closed the session with huge thanks to the group, sharing that Goodgym is a massive part of maintaining this garden and the litter picking makes such a difference to the local community. We were all glad to head home to the warmth and pleased with a good job well done.

Next week - we head back to Mulgrave Street for weeding and maintenance, prepping the site ahead of our March session when we'll be planting. See you there!