We were definitely getting noticed by the community on our litter puck of Redcliffe this half term - someone parking a car offered us hot drinks, laughed saying we made him feel like his Mum tidying up his room and came back to offer us his torch, and then, the piéce de resistance (thats French, Vaguely Northern Darren will know from his French A-level at the all girls school) was a van full of Police turning up complete with blue flashing lights as someone (presumably someone else?) had reported an attempted break-in in-progress at the next-door Nursery School/Children's Centre where we help out. They were laughing, too, as they disembarked the van and could see our bags, litterpickers and headtorches as soon as they arrived.

They were more than happy to join in our end-of-task photos before grtting on their way to a probably-more-challenging evening.

Meanwhile there was much chat about Roddy celebrating his 50th year and it turning out that Jason is, too, being just 9 days older. Celebratory Eau de Roddy is unlikely to catch on, though.

Much chatter and 50th Birthday/school tales/80s TV discussions continued with Caroline, Richard G , Richard B joining Roddy, Darren and Melanie as the speed daters were back at Workout's Club Haus. At least we were there until Richard G declared he'd lost interest at Michael Fish in the rendition of John Kettley is a Weatherman by A Tribe of Toffs - definitely not a description of us, Winchester or not.

More next week?

The first head torch gardening of 2025 saw a small but perfectly formed group of GoodGymmers tackling the emerging sticky bud and grass in one of the beds - the one some guerrilla gardener had strimmed to an inch tall in the autumn and were hoping will recover this spring. At least we've managed to get put all the hidden litter and broken glass!

With lots of "help" and "support" for Paul's upcoming professional exam, we're suddenly all interested in Lasagne Night heating solutions.

See you all next week?

It was a lovely, dry evening to celebrate Ed's 50th good deed and imminent new t-shirt - congratulations!

Back at Dame Emily Park for emergency bulb planting, the tyres moved previously had been stacked as planters and filled most of the way with compost.

Our task was to get the bags of sprouting bulbs into the tyre-planters, right way up, then top-up with woodchip and hide some small bulbs in the top. Much carrying of buckets of woodchip and avoidance of buckets of manure (destined for the raised planters) getting mixed up - top science knowledge from Richard B.

Planters filled, we still had more bulbs so started planting around the wicker dome we lovingly tie new growth into - this time the bulbs were going into grass so some L-shaped lawn-lifting was deployed to hide a bulb each time. Or throw them at Richard G.

We saturated the grass with our bulbs and time was nearly up so it was time for Polish wafers from Ursula, end of task photos (we did enjoy it, honestly!) and off back to Queen Square for GoodGym Eats at Suyuan, stopping off at the off-licence for those who wanted to BYO alcohol.

Much food and after some flowering bulb knowledge shared with Harsheh, we were on our ways home, with one GoodGymmer declaring she was rushing to get home as she was on an early shift tomorrow, until Frances saw there was no queue at the Bristol Light Festival swings and she was off in a flash.

Special thanks to Vaguely Northern Darren for run leading (no-one mention bulbs), Caroline for back-marking and Jason for beating me to Workout to meet other GoodGymmers as they arrived.

Six GoodGymmers met at Windmill Hill City Farm on a sunny but chilly morning. We did great work shifting compost (didn't get too stuck in it!), chatting and seeing the animals.

It was fab to have Ruth join us from GG Bath. Thanks for the pun! Hope to see you again soon!

*also great to see Jade again, our very own Dora the Explorer!