Watch us melt the ice, watch us melt the ice, watch us melt the ice.. nice! (Aka essential gritting volunteering to assist the council.)

Fortunately there wasn't yet any ice after team Saturday did a great job, but there wasn't much grit left either so a top up was in order. Stocks were running low in the master pile too, but Grand Master Michal had been on the task earlier in the day and delivered a recycling-box-full from his local grit box.

Somehow ever-late Debs was 15mins early, so dropped by the Doves to pick up the keys, plus a bonus Ellie. We were soon joined by Ben and a freshly-run Egg, and loaded the remaining grit into 3 barrows. This was looking a little sparse for our needs, but eagle-eyed Ellie had spotted their local grit bin on the way in, and was dispatched with a barrow and a Ben to fill another.

Meanwhile Abi and Dom rocked up and barrowed it up to the far playground, Lizzie arrived with more layers for chilly Egg, then they took the bottom end, and Michael and Debs set to in the middle. It was nice to grit a different bit of the park to normal, but somehow we had ended up with the route with ALL the steps.

Clearly everyone is a gritting pro by now, and despite disagreements over whether you have separate gritters and pushers or everyone multitasks (definitely the best way), we were a slick operation and met nicely in the middle by the far gates, with all paths done and no grit remaining. Then it was back to the store for a photo and a brush-down of the tools to help prevent corrosion. The park is now being locked earlier so we did have to have a long-distance shouted conversation with the security guard to say we had a key, and yes, we would lock the gate behind us. We're not quite sure how he thought we were standard park-goers with wheelbarrows and headtorches, but clearly it takes all sorts! Another job well done; bring on Ed and the team tomorrow! Will there be snow?!