Four of us met-up this morning in Cricklewood to kick-off the third Barnet back-to-back Community Mission Saturday of 2019.

Our task-owners Anne and Betty were there as ever, and despite grim weather being forecast, it was glorious out. Our numbers were dented somewhat by the GoodGym weekend away in Sofia, but the ‘G’s of ‘grit’ and ‘gusto’ were with us in the shape of Sam on the tourist trail from Ealing GG, who was there first, and already stuck right in proving the deeds don't stop cos some overseas banter is being had.

Spread a bit more thinly than usual we each adopted a different role and got on with it…

That’s the sound of the beast

After some litter picking amongst the bushes, Sam went out to the front of the park, and accompanied by the sounds of the traffic and of police horse’s hooves, devastated the weeds amongst the paving and along the wall; making the place look significantly more presentable. It’s also good that people passing see that something is being done about the place, such that they may wish to come along and contribute themselves next time.

Gym and Juice

Barnet co-trainer Damian was able to mine a deep and heretofore unknown seam of expertise today, in that of petrol lawnmowers. Like the Lawnmower Man and the Lawnmower Boy before him, this son of the Garden of England knew how to pull on the string bit to make them go alive, where the juice goes in the mouth bit, and not to give them too much juice otherwise they drown or something. Amazing!

'D’ for 'damager’

Amongst the portfolio of mowers they have there, he was able to get one moving, and used it to carve a huge ‘D’ into the grass,

'GGs up - Hoes down

Around one of the benches the grasses and weeds had really taken hold, so I pulled and hoed to try and make a dent in it, so that it’ll be more straightforward to get the dog-ends and bottle caps up in the future.

1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 - all it is to me is a mystery

As for Rupesh, he disappeared off into the park to I-don’t-know-where, and I was so busy with my hoe I’ve no sense of what he was up to – I guess it will remain forever a mystery...