Saturday 14th September
Find out about GoodGym TaskForce
Report written by Kash
Sevan and Kash landed in Southall after the morning of running alongside the canal in Hanwell and chopping nettles in a hidden community orchard. They needed fuel before the next assignment which they have found in an Indian vegetarian place, yum! Within a 10-minute walk away awaited Mrs P and her paved back garden. The mission listing photos presented a rather humble task of weeding two unassuming flower beds. Quick and simple? It is never the case!
Apart from weeding the beds, Mrs P wanted a large paved area moss- and dust-free, which Sevan and Kash were to achieve with one metal brush and a broom. But that's not all! There was also an alleyway leading to Mrs P's garden, which Mrs P wanted to be swept. The path was covered in patches of moss, so some scraping was necessary before picking up the broom. With tasks multiplying rapidly, Sevan asked politely, which was the most important as the GoodGymers had only 90 minutes.
"I don't know what to say. Everything is important!" Mrs P said.
When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority, so Mrs P had to make tough decisions, and she chose scraping the paved area. In practice, Kash was sent to clear the alleyway, including removing leaves and dirt from the drain covers there. Kash took the metal brush with her, and Sevan had no other option than to start on the flower beds. Mrs P envisaged all the garden cleared, so she stayed with the GoodGymers throughout the task, helping out by brushing the corners (she was quite a perfectionist!) and holding the bin bags when Sevan and Kash wanted to pack the waste. Despite Mrs P's stellar support, the team completed two, not four jobs. One of the flower beds and the alleyway were spotless, but half of the other bed and three-quarters of the paved area needed more love.
It is definitely material for a follow-up mission, but Mrs P was grateful for the GoodGym help so far - Sevan and Kash lost count of how many times she said thank you!
Ealing
Help make surplus food available to anyone and everyone from the local area