Nothing focuses the mind on how hard it must be to be homeless like freezing temperatures. And so, in the bitter chill, we did our first January group session distributing leaflets around North Oxford for The Porch day centre's fundraising appeal.

The appeal has raised £30,000 so far, which is about 1/10 of what they need to keep the doors open all year. The Porch provide help towards gaining employment, laundry, hot showers, mental health support, and warm food.

Spotted while leafleting:
* Blue Plaque
* "The Cat is Irrational" door sticker
* Keys left in front door (posted back through the letterbox)
* Beautiful stained glass doors and windows
* Tapestry making
* Ice galore
* Christmas lights

Happy New Year everyone!

• To the tune of Jingle Bells...*

Dashing through the streets,
on a chilly winter's day,
Around the roads we go,
Laughing all the way.
Leaflets for The Porch,
Funds are very tight,
Oh what fun it is to do,
A Good Deed task tonight.

Letter flaps, Christmas lights,
Chatting all the way,
Oh what fun it is to help
The Porch this December day.

Last night we delivered flyers around the streets of Cowley, raising awareness of The Porch centre's Winter Fundraiser.

The Porch Day Centre provide day-long support for homeless and vulnerably housed people wanting to move forward in their lives, away from street-life. They focus on housing, health, wellbeing, education and employment, providing healthy food, practical help, companionship, learning skills, work related skills and opportunities for development.

Wednesday evening's task was a race against the sunset: We just about won!

Throughout autumn and winter Boundary Brook Nature Park do a lot of work to maintain their grassland areas. This mostly involves cutting back the brambles, which can easily take over and swamp more delicate plants, then digging out their roots. After all the recent rain this proved to be a very squelchy task, and the roots tenacious, but we managed to dig out several wheelbarrow loads of bramble roots before darkness stopped play. We were hoping to spot some bats in the reserve as darkness fell, but sadly none were visible - perhaps they were hiding from the rain?!