As it was too icy to do our original deck clearing task the Holgate Allotments Association asked us to clear an empty allotment ready for letting. It was great to see lots of last minute signups to boost the numbers. We welcomed Jane to her first GoodGym session. Leanne quickly claimed her as an "friend" for her bring a newbie square on the bingo. We quickly got stuck in and moved an old frame as well as cutting back trees and brambles and clearing weeds and by the end of the session we had cleared the majority of the allotment. We covered the big pile of weeds, brambles and branches and weighed it down with a barrow and bricks before tucking into my "omlette" cake.

The groud was too frozen to undertake the digging part of the task so instead we got going on cutting and clearing long bramble and other branches from an area and building a dead hedge along one side. Luckily David had dead hedge building experience so he built whilst the rest of us cut and cleared. At the end everyone appreciated the cake and hot drinks provided by the Friends of Danesmead Woods and we arranged to come back to do the digging in February.

The Juniors were not hanging about this morning! They skated past 10 Goodgym ice marshals to speed home. From the lead lad to the last little snowman, they all showed cheerful enthusiasm. No one cried this week, - and neither did any of the kids! Ha ha! Thanks for getting out of your warm beds to help out on the ice rink, GGs. We also spotted two dancing dogs on the ice and a gaggle of geese, maybe flying off to warmer climbs. There is something about ice that kids are drawn to. It's good to become a kid again. Just take it n 'ice and fr'eezy out there!