on our first head torchless run of the year, we headed to Holgate Allotments.

We were met by Paul and tasked with breaking up an already flattened shed and carrying it to where it will be collected.

By using a range of techniques, including sawing and jumping, half the group completed the task, whilst the other half cut back brambles.

By the end the plot was in slightly better shape so hopefully it can now be let.

We then finished with a game of peg pinching with the prize of re usable cable ties. The enthusiasm for both the game and the ties varied but overall another good group run out.

Shout out to Jenna for the delicious baking back at base too!

It was all hands on deck as we teamed up with the lovely guys from the Arts Barge for the first time, but certainly not the last.

We arrived to a very comprehensive task list and soon began getting stuck in. The majority of the team began clearing debris from the landing and shifting the gangplank (not entirely sure if these are the correct nautical terms but they sound legit). Meanwhile the rest of the crew got on board with clearing the barge's deck and giving it a good sweep.

The most interesting task was snapped up by first mates Hannah and Leanne who were clearing rubbish (mostly loaves of bread) out of the water around the barge, using a basket attached to a rope and basically playing a life-size game of the claw-grabby things you get in seaside arcades. The basket wasn't going to cut the mustard with the floating sleeper and door which required a more novel approach involving floating it further down to some steps where we could just about reach into the water and rescue them

We managed to get a great deal of work done, much to the delight of the task owners, but there's still plenty more that needs to be done before the barge is ready to figuratively set sail again. So keep an eye on the listings for the arts barge mk.2

Our last head torch group run for a while saw a bumper 26 GG Yorkies turn out for the choice of either soil inversion at Rowntree Park or prepping a flower bed at Southlands Church.

Knowing full well how difficult it can be organising a group of GGers (what is our collective noun?) at the end of a task, tonight started with a warm up which saw Ed introduce some of the exercises the gang would be doing later on as part of the fitness session. We then set off a steady group led by Nick to Southlands church, whilst Laura backmarked the bigger group which headed to Rowntree Park

After the brief run across we met Vicky at the task who had been left instructions by task owner Christine, who unfortunately couldn't be there tonight. Whilst Vicky is confident she got the details about the task correct, we're bot entirely sure that the tools were quite right as there surely must have been better options for shifting wood chip than a small bucket and two children's wheelbarrows! To her credit, Charlotte did make the most of the only full-size barrow, even if it was pretty broken

Whilst one group tackled the wood chipz the rest of the Rowntree Park crew cracked on with soil inversion at two designated areas. One proved significantly easier to get the spades in than the other so there were a few grumblings from Nikki when she was moved over to the tougher area, although her suffering didn't last long as she was handed a tiny wheelbarrow and joined in with the wood chip spreading

Over at Southlands Church....

The two groups came together at the end of the night for a fitness session (with some of the moves we'd rehearsed earlier). The workout featured 10 exercises, with 20 seconds rest between each one, and with each exercise being done for 30 seconds. Vicky was so disappointed that there was no can-can as one of the exercises that Ed caved-in and added a bonus exercise at the end. And this time we were determined to get it right. So after a quick tutorial from Leanne, everyone lined up, linked arms, and performed what felt like a perfect can-can. Although the video tells a much different story!