*News flash: This was Mikey's 100th good deed with GoodGym - whoop whoop!! *

On a hot Sunday morning, Mikey and I made our separate ways to meet up with Mr R to cut back his overgrown hedge - Mikey running 8.5k to the task and me, well, let's just say I was running late. When we got there we met up with Mr R who was a lovely chap. He had been referred to GoodGym by the Council as they had instructed him to cut back his rather long, tall hedge that ran around his corner property and was impeding pedestrians on the pavement. Unfortunately Mr R has been physically unable to finish the job. He also doesn't have that much time to complete it by the date the council requested, due to having to take care of an elderly, infirm mum at home.

After introductions, we had a quick look through the shed for equipment - Mr R had a pair of loppers which were too big for type of hedge, a petrol strimmer which was WAY too heavy, and an electric strimmer which was just right. He also had a leaf blower, but as it would be too noisy, we decided to leaf it alone.

Anyway, out we went with Mikey strimming and me sweeping (with an old fashioned broom) and gathering up all the leaf detritus. Interestingly, while we were working a young lad came over to ask if we needed help. I thanked him for his kindness but explained briefly what we were doing and why. He said he knew Mr R and his mother and knew they needed help. But he agreed that maybe he could do something else for them both during the school holidays. It's nice to be reminded that there are some great people out in the world and that children can be as altruistic and helpful as ever!

It was hot, it was tiring, but we did it - I'd say we tidied up at least 100 feet of long tall bushiness, in about 2.5 hours. It felt very rewarding in the end, especially as it satisfied someone's mild OCD about gardening. However, my own OCD was frustrated when I discovered half a dozen bottles in the green waste bin, rather than in the recycling bin - I mean, who would do such a crazy thing!!!

Then it was time to say our goodbyes and depart but not before we took a few more photos (with me looking like I got dragged through that hedge backwards!). Hopefully Mr R will no longer be chased by the council, at least not until next spring when the hedge bounces back. When I last saw him, Mikey was running off into the blazing hot sun. Now I'd make another pun about the run, but I'm trying to cut back :-)

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