The evenings are dark and chilly now, but that didn't stop Dean, Diya, Georgeta, Jack,Kanika, Nicola, Ruth and Sophie joining me this evening to get fit and do some good. A big welcome to newcomer Jack - he only moved into the area 9 days ago and its brilliant that he's got stuck into GoodGym so soon!

We started the fun by playing the beans game to warm up - pretending to be jumping beans, runner beans, French beans (we did the can-can and Diya added a beautiful 'ooh la la'), and so on. Perhaps the best thing about this was how Dean arrived and didn't seem to find it all odd that we were all wiggling and wobbling around being 'jelly beans'.

Then we set off on the school run. Kanika and Diya walked approximately 1.5km, while the rest of us ran a more circuitous 3km. Kudos to Dean, who threw in an extra hill here or there just for fun, and thanks to Georgeta for back marking.

Our task at St Edmund Campion School was to refresh the paint on a colourful picket fence and to paint some new playground equipment with preservative. Sophie and Nicola made a bee line for the play equipment (it looked like a bar, so...), while the rest of us tackled the fence, chatting happily about everything from sailing to scaffolding as we worked. As the designated section of the fence neared completion, Jack, Kanika, Diya, and Georgeta drifted over to the bar to help 'quality controller' Sophie with the finishing touches.

Then onto the highlight of this evening - time to celebrate Kanika's 50th good deed! Kanika joined GoodGym Windsor & Maidenhead around 6 months ago, bringing with her a handful of good deeds from GoodGym Newham. She's been on a roll ever since - helping out with everything from weeding to spreading woodchip, with a particular penchant for painting and an awesome commitment to helping at the Maidenhead vaccination clinic. Kanika embraces the fitness side of GoodGym too, with lots of bike rides to community missions in Windsor, walks here, there and everywhere, and a new-found enjoyment for running too! Kanika we love having you as part of the team. Congratulations on your fantastic achievement!

We celebrated with 50 jumping jacks, 50 squats of various kinds, a medal presentation, and by scoffing lots of coconut macaroons. Yum!

A special mention also for Georgeta, who completed her 25th good deed this evening! I'm sure it wont be long before we are baking and making medals for you too Georgeta...

We finished off the evening with a 1.5km run back along Altwood Road and Boyne Hill Road, and some stretches. All in all a great evening! Well done team.