The news has been bad this week so it’s always nice to be able to do something good in the world when everything else seems so out of your control. Even if it is just a small corner doing something feels like getting back a bit of control.

It was a bright fresh spring Saturday morning and Vikky, who is both a GoodGymer and a coordinator for Friends of St James's Gardens had booked us for a task to help keep the gardens fresh for the spring.

Stef, Nasser, Ellie and myself went with Vikky onto the St James’s mount side of the beautiful Anglican Cathedral. We all said it was a part of the gardens we hadn’t realised was there and Vikky explained that it was a part that was often overlooked. For this reason it had become overgrown. We set about litterpicking on the mount and Nasser and Ellie got stuck in pruning back the privet hedge. The litterpicking was wild, the mount had attracted some unwanted attention and there was all manner of crazy items to be found in the bushes from tents to saws. The hedge made great progress. It was very satisfying to see.

Once we finished the task. I had a wander back through the main gardens and saw some of the fruits of our labour from last spring in the shape of some snowdrops looking so beautiful beneath the graves. The news at the moment might be deeply troubling but small shoots remind us that we are not helpless in making change.

After a week of dreadful weather, the stars - or rather, our one big closest star, the sun - aligned to make a gorgeous morning. It was bright, and positively mild, such a treat after the wind and the rain. Spring was in the air, as was excitement at Goodgym Liverpool... It was Sticker Saturday, hooray!

12 of us turned up for 9am on a Saturday morning to Princes Park ready to take on the course. Miriam kindly turned up to cheerlead and take pictures, and it's always so nice to see a friendly face waving as you go round the course. Some sprinted, some ran, some jogged, some speed-walked, and we met at the finish line congregate for the group photo.

We then headed to fan favourite cafe Maw on Aigburth road, where we met Ellie and Anjie who joined us for breakfast (always allowed - you still get a sticker for coming to breakfast!) and Steph, who'd had a head start after meeting us earlier and then done her morning walk. Despite the lack of hash browns (not that I'm still going on about it or anything) Maw has an extensive menu ranging from a full vegan fry up to beef quesadillas, so everyone was happy (mostly. I'll get over it 😉).

The nice weather had inspired the runners and talk turned to upcoming runs. Thanks Vicki and Clara for some lovely ideas we might have to explore - watch this space! Whilst there we heard from beloved member Lucian who is undergoing an operation today. In a speedy attempt to catch him before he went in, Liam recorded a group message of support which we hope made him smile - good luck with your recovery Lucian, we're all thinking of you and sending our best wishes.

After much chatter and catching up, we slowly started to drift out to get on with our days after a lovely morning. Ongoing and heartfelt thanks to our fabulous Sally Ann, whose continual efforts with Sticker Saturday meant 15 people got some fresh air, exercise, and social time this morning. It's really captured our imagination, and the enthusiasm shows no signs of letting up!

The cafe for next month will be decided very shortly and the listing is available now to sign up. See you there!

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!