On a drizzly (or was it mizzly?) Saturday morning, three keen runners - Aimee, Lowri and Ellen - ran to the house of Mrs M, in Penarth. We were told to expect to help tidy up her back garden, and all 3 of us brought our own gardening gloves for this (we're learning!).

However, once we got there, Mrs M's daughter informed us of a problem - it was a ground floor flat, with the only access to the garden being through a back gate and not through the flat. But they couldn't find the key! Mrs M's daughter was awfully apologetic, and we didn't want to stress her or Mrs M out any more than necessary - these things happen.

At this point, we faced a decision about what to do. But as a very wise man once said: "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." So rather than just jog on home, we asked if there were any other tasks we could do to help her mother. Well yes indeed there was!

The house had a front well with steps down to the basement level. At that level, there was a small patio with some potted plants, and lots of weeds. There was our task - to weed and tidy up that small patio, before the winter so by next spring it will be all ready for new planting. And we got to it ... Around 30 minutes later, we'd finished - we'd done the best job we could with the task at hand, with the time we had.

A great result all around, even if wasn't the planned one. Hopefully Mrs M will find her garden door key. Or find she needs a helping hand in the near future with some other physical task. If so, then we'd be happy to go back.

On my way back into town, I ran across the barrage and experienced it going up for the first time, to allow two sailboats to slip through. Apparently it is scheduled to do this every 15 minutes if there's a need - wow!

Oh and guess who we bumped into?! Bender, from Futurama! Looks like he had a bit of a bender out in Penarth the night before, lol.