20 of us – including 16 new people - met at Highbury Pool today for what must have been the sunniest GoodGym this year.

Following an extended briefing – including making sure everybody knew about the hot topics we debate at Islington and our reliance on biscuits – we set about playing an Islington classic: cups and cones. We split into two teams whose goal was to either make the plastic objects (ok, they’re called cones, but that’ll just confuse things) into cones or cups depending on their assignment. Cones narrowly won it by one, and for the first time ever in the history of the game nobody cheated.!

Despite a suggestion from cheeky Hackneyonian John that Megan – with recently-achieved 50 good deed black t-shirt – should be the group leader (he may have a point) due to superior good deed count we set off on a gentle jog to Olden Garden with Simon leading and Megan ensuring nobody fell off the back.

Once there we were greeted by the enthusiastic Jennifer who showed us our “feeding station” with bananas, apples and water (the healthy show was soon ruined when chocolate digestives and Oreos were added to the mix) and we did a little tour of the garden and said hello to the gardeners.

Settled in, it was time to do some of that good we’re always banging on about. A few keen volunteers got stuck in with some weeding, turning over and distributing soil about raised beds while the rest started loading up and distributing mulch from the giant pile near the entrance. There was also plenty of soil and sleepers to carry down the garden’s slope.

With wheelbarrows waggling, buckets brimming, shovels shaking, rakes rocking, spades spinning, bags banging and forks furrowing we got stuck in for a good hour and when it was finally time for a well-earned rest and biscuit and banana we had done absolutely bucket-loads (literally) of work; tons (literally) of work; bags (literally) of work.

We thanked Jennifer et al for hosting us and headed back to the pool. We noticed a hill on the way and it only seemed right to blast up it (John was so keen he blasted down the other side too).

We’d worked pretty hard and done a significant portion of the “gym” part of the day, but with the sun out and an audience we felt a little more was in order. So, in teams of three we set about running a 30 metre continuous relay for a minute. Doesn’t sound like much written down, but by the end of that we were puffing. What do you do when you’re knackered? A little bit more of course. So, after another Islington classic: driving arm drill in pairs, we set off again to see if we could pick things up. Not bad.

Proper exhausted now there was only one thing for it: another minute. This time it was all about good posture (apologies for the flailing arms demo, but it did look pretty, eh? - Simon). After a final smash it really was time to call it a day and relax with a nice gentle stretch before saying our goodbyes.

Newcomers were not spared the obligation of debating an important pressing issues of our times. Today’s question: what is the best chocolate bar? Suggestions:

• Kit-Kat. Not chunky, not peanut butter, just a plain old Kit-Kat for Juan
• Curly Wurly for Simon. Or maybe a Star Bar
• John couldn’t think of a funny enough chocolate bar, but mentioned an Aero, so we’ll stick with that.
• Ryan likes Snickers. He has tried the extra caramel and extra peanut varieties, but isn’t a fan.
• Yasmin likes Pixie Caramel. Another upside-down chocolate bar. Get one here
• Kinder Bueno for Emily, Fruit & Nut for Anna (or Alice?) and plain old Dairy Milk for Matt.
• Lucy likes Boosts (peanut ones). So does Anna (or Alice?) (the biscuit variety). And Kaitlin is a fan of Moreo – an Irish and/or New Zealand choccy bar or something, which is basically a Boost, so Boost wins.

It was a truly enjoyable day. We got loads of good done, gained loads of fitness and met loads of great people. Can’t wait until the next one. See you there!

Simon

P.S. Remember that Olden Garden hold volunteer days monthly and will be more than happy for anybody to pop in and help (see photo for dates and times)