With the first month of the year out of the way, seven Redbridge Regulars welcomed two new faces, Jess & Reece (give them a cheer!), at our Goodgym home, the Wanstead Community House. There the conversation soon turned to possible reasons why trainer James might be running late:

• he got lost (unlikely after 3 years)

• stuck at work

• public transport (Central Line, do I need to say more...)

• missed/delayed flight (one of his foreign trips)

• kidnapped & tied up by elderly lady after a coach run

Though perhaps least likely, the latter seemed the most popular explanation...

Anna, the manager at WCH, had asked a few weeks ago if we'd mind doing a tidy-up around the grounds, so this seemed a perfect moment to do so. Tools were gathered and tidying done, from removing leaves to pulling weeds and cutting back a bush protruding into the path, all got stuck in.

Although the temperatures during the day were in double figures, it was definitely cooling down in the evening, so when tools got packed away it was time to stretch some legs and go for a meander through Wanstead. Perhaps unsurprisingly it was John kick-starting a conversation about escaped hungry aliens... although the suggestion he'd go ahead and be bait to lure the alien away wasn't quite what he had in mind!

Just about 3 miles later, we got back to base to stretch and rest, an energetic Jess & Reece continuing with a (partial) run home. Back in our room, Linda had a lovely surprise of cookies to celebrate her 50th deed the week before - she was already showing off the well deserved black t-shirt!

Thanks to all for coming down and Linda for the cookies, for those wondering which of our guesses about James was the right one, tune in next week to find out!