Second day back at Goodgym after a six month absence, and I find that none of Brahma, Kevin or Sharon has made it back to school this evening. So, a bit like the pub goalkeeper who gets to play the F.A. Cup semi final due to a series of freak accidents to the first few choices, I find myself unexpectedly nominated as run leader and report writer. Which is why the report's late...

As the most directionally challenged of all Goodgym Newham, and probably all Goodgyms at all, it was a slight concern that nearing the venue at Malmesbury school, the street signs started referring to Tower Hamlets. I hadn't realised there'd been some boundary changes during lockdown and that Newham had indeed taken over the neighbouring boroughs. In fact the school is essentially Newham's because the headmaster Frank, was formerly deputy at Manorfield, another school Newham claims as its own. So it's Newham to all intents and purposes.

This said, upon arriving at the task in Newham Hamlets we were very grateful to see the friendly faces of Leo, Becky and Jo, from the former people's republic of Tower Hamlets. With the addition of Jean Christophe, a Greenwich mean regular, we'd enough for a football team. Unfortunately, the under 10s were no longer around, so we didn't have chance to shine. We'd definitely have probably won.

Fortunately we still had a chance to shine. Amongst the multiple tasks for the evening, the main task was to apply a coat of woodstain to multiple planters. It was getting quite dark by the time we finished, and the shiny planters looked great, at least the shiny bits did. Possibly less so in daylight, but we'll be back next week to apply another coat, so I'm sure it'll be fine, officer. In the meantime, JC and I painted one and bit panels of fence a delightful shade of blue, the bits we missed suitably hidden by a very large container so I think nobody will notice if we don't say anything...

Thanks of course to the Newham regulars in attendance, Rosa, Hilary, Graham, Phoebe, Aaron and Chris, and to our visitors to Newham Hamlets. Is still a bit strange to see everybody disappearing home in different directions rather than running back to base, but still great to be back and at it. Great job, crew.