As i got blown east by Storm Ali, slicing down and through London, I just thought "i'm so happy this is a westerly, cos i'm knackered". Funny how a few smiling faces, good conversation and a run can re-energise a depleted body.

A solid 14 of us went out under the moody grey skies, we discussed "what's your favourite cheese?" About half of us love some cheddar, Kev and Shaz like it 'double extra & tripled matured' as it's got to 'make your tongue itch'. Punchy. We had a few European cheeses infiltrating in, Gouda, Halloumi and Camembert for the cultured taste buds. Nutritional yeast for the ethical Charlotte - they need to rename that something more appetising!

We caught up on the canals and made our way over to Cody Dock. With Simon back at the helm after a seemingly fantastic trip to North Tuscany, we took his instruction. Sanding and painting about 8 rails roughly 2 metre in length. One of those jobs where I think to myself "we'll give it some energy, but we ain't finishing that today". Well, yup, you guessed it, all complete, with photos to corroborate. That dark sticky weather proof paint mainly went where it was supposed to, for the exception of a few of our hands, kev's shoe and charlotte's face - commitment right there.

We bombed/pootled it back with head torches now a must on our runs, if you go head first into the River Lea I'll very reluctantly fish you out, so stay safe peeps. Hilary brought the most divine orange infused brownies, all home-made. My goodness, that really was sumptuous, flavoursome and....full of sugar, just what we needed.

Hilary joins the black t-shirt clan, with her 50th deed on the weekend gone, now climbing the numbers chart as she regularly helps on missions too. A team player, a parkrun smasher, GoodGym Newham Band's leader and a top baker it seems! Great work Hil, here's to the next 50. We also had Dave break through to 50 as well, for which we all had no idea as he's done most of them in Tower Hamlets, another inspiring level of consistency, focus and benevolence in this quick-fix and short attention-spanned era of social media and online shopping. Something to be commended I reckon.

Right, that's enough from me - have a bloody great Parkrun in Folkestone. On the sea front, nice and flat...let's get after some PB's. Have a quality day out.

till next week sign up

B