This session was a collaboration with Wild Cookham and a team from Waitrose and Partners.

Wild Cookham needed help with a Ragwort invasion at the Odney Club and Waitrose had people looking for a wellbeing activity. It was meant to be!

GoodGym connected the two groups and Kristina and I joined in for our own wellbeing boost too. It was great to catch up with Kristina, who is one of the few GoodGymers who has been with us since launch.

The weather and setting was beautiful and we had a really refreshing and sociable 45 minutes pulling up ragwort roots and chopping off and bagging up flower heads to reduce the spread. We were picking up where previous working parties had left off and although we didn’t complete the (rather big) job, we made satisfying progress.

Thanks to everyone involved!

Maidenhead Library was hosting 'Maidenhead's Big Read' this weekend, timed to coincide with World Book Day. This is a free event that always attracts a large number of families. This year's theme was outer space, and what a treat was in store! There were author's giving talks on various topics, story-telling sessions, astronomy exhibitions including a viewing telescope, and an immersive planetarium dome. Amy, Kristina, Nicola, Sheila and Tessa all went to help out. Tessa was manning the information desk telling people about what was on and answering any questions, and Kristina had the coldest job at the entrance welcoming people and recording attendance. Amy, Nicola and Sheila were all manning the planeterium at various times. This exhibit was very popular, so we were kept busy with crowd control and signing people up for upcoming sessions. A certain amount of juggling was required as there were quite a few no-shows but also a queue of people without bookings all keen to go in. The volunteers had a special viewing at the end of the day - you could lie down on cushions in the dome and look up at the ceilings on which images were projected accompanied by commentary. Everyone loved it. Sheila finished off at the story-telling corner, enjoying some space poetry read beautifully by Sue Palmer. The library was busy all weekend and it was great to be able to contribute to this amazing event

**Report written by our brilliant Quest Quizmaster James Lovell:

Well done to everyone who took part in the Mad March Quest, and especially to the amazing eight people who got all the questions, Juli, Sophie, Claire, Michelle, Matt, Tara, Amy and Jess!

Looking back on it all now, what an exciting month it was. Juli leapt into an early lead with a stonking 10 on the first day, a lead that she would never relinquish for too long. Jason put up a strong challenge early in the month keeping Juli on her toes. Meanwhile Sophie and Claire gradually accumulated away. At the end of the first week the most popular question was about a pub – perhaps we were all dreaming that they were open!

At the half way mark, Juli, Sophie and Claire were all within 10 of the end, but the clues were getting trickier to get to. Sophie and Claire ticked them off one by one, edging towards the finish over a couple of days. Juli on the other hand went on one long run, smashing the last few clues to jump to the top of the leaderboard and be the first to finish. Sophie followed within hours to claim silver, and Claire a few days later for bronze. Juli’s effort was particularly impressive, not only did she finish first, but she also completed all of it on foot – 160Km in 18 days. A special mention also to Matt who started late, but completed it quicker than anyone else, in just 15 days.

One of the main challenges for the Maidenhead-based people was how to get the Windsor questions. Sophie and Claire, and Paul and Tara, went on epic bike rides to achieve this – Sophie in particular complaining of a sore rear for days afterwards! Paul and Tara were on a birthday outing and racked up a massive 32 answers, the most in a single outing! What a way to celebrate! On a separate occasion, Tara demonstrated her route planning ability, plotting a route in the shape of a large…finger.

There were interesting scenes in Littlewick Green where they were filming a Midsummer Murder about scarecrows, and a couple of people reported asking bemused film crew members to go and get the answer for them. From scarecrows to scary, Jess and Sophie terrified themselves on a ghostly night run in the woods looking for a memorial to a crashed WW2 plane.

Some incredible distances were covered in pursuit of the truth. Jess completed her first half marathon by accident, just going for one more clue a few times too many. Clare had an amazing 30km walk/run adventure around Cookham and Hurley, fuelled by ice cream delivered to her on route by her husband.

But for me the highlight of the month long quest was Sophie and Jess, at dusk by the river, having to ask two men smoking ‘special’ cigarettes to move off the bench they were sitting on to see which organisation had donated the bench. Well done ladies!

Congratulations to everyone who took part, here is a links to the finishing leaderboard and answers.

This week is all about the numbers, second dose patients are coming back. We have 1000 vaccinations planned for each day and now running seven days a week. This means more vaccinators and more volunteers. We were very fortunate to have the Army helping out this week, meaning 14 stations for injectors were able to operate. More new faces joined the volunteering team, there are about 180 regular volunteers at the Desborough Suite. They are well looked after with lots of cakes and biscuits being donated, with one patient turning up with ten bags of donuts! Donuts means tea, our tea breaks are an opportunity to rest our feet during the five hour shift, tea-riffic!

Another busy week for the GoodGym crew at the Covid Vaccination centre in Maidenhead. It was all hands on deck with the normal tasks: Booking patients in at reception, marshalling, cleaning and manning the health pods. Great team work!!! Everyone who attended this week are true superstars!!

Thursday: Sani & Kristina Friday: Tara Saturday: Paul, Sara, Jess and Catriona