Our first ever graffiti cleaning session! Thanks to RBWM for giving us two very smart graffiti cleaning kits to use on this task. Also thanks to Diya for giving us a great big reason to celebrate after the task. More on that in a bit...

Let us spray...

The combination of special spray, wipes and elbow grease worked wonders to clean up signs, walls, green electrical boxes, bins and lamp posts. We focused on the area from College Road, over the pedestrian railway bridge, down the Crescent, into one corner of Kidwells Park, and part of the underpass that leads from there to West Street. We don't think we accidentally erased any Banksy's, just lots of tags and, um...submarines?

We were a nice big group, so we litter picked too, filling up three big bags. As ever we had lots of fun on the task, chatting and laughing as we went.

We put the 'fit' in graffiti cleaning

As it was a hot evening there wasn't much appetite for running, but we still got our fitness fix with some squats, press-ups, and Rhi, Jordan and I threw in a few hill reps too. After the task as a special treat we had access to some of my Pilates kit and did a mini foam roller session, challenging balance and core mobility. There may also have been some play fighting with the foam rollers...

Diya think she could be any more awesome?

Then came the moment we had all been waiting for! Our celebration of Diya's 100th good deed. Thanks to Georgeta for making a show-stopping Victoria Sponge, and to Anita for making some scrummy sesame biscuits for the occasion. Here is my poem to celebrate Diya and her fantastic achievement:

A round of applause for Diya,

And someone get her a beer!

A big day in her GoodGym career…

Her 100th good deed is here!

I first met Diya at the weir…

Using fancy raking gear.

She had moved from Newham to Berkshire,

And it was great to see her.

She’s given the weeds a clear,

And she’s painted far and near,

In every month of the year,

With GoodGyming she’ll persevere.

On social visits she’s a listening ear,

And her smile is always sincere.

Diya means light, and like a chandelier,

She brightens every sphere.

Diya’s also a keen sight-seer,

Loves to explore a new frontier,

For a photo op she’ll magically appear,

And her selfie-skills are top-tier.

At parkrun she’d say she brings up the rear,

But that’s just her modest veneer.

I want to write about football and cycling here,

But alas I’m not Shakespeare.

So let’s here it once more for Diya,

A truly exceptional volunteer.

Let’s give her a huge cheer,

And make this cake disappear!

Eleven Goodgymers signed up for tonight’s task to continue the clear up of the Vale Road Cemetery. We met in the car park at the Pirate Park in Windsor slightly dismayed by the inclement weather, but that soon passed as we greeted Michelle to the group.

From the car park we moved ( some more reluctant than others !! ) towards the Clewer Recreational Ground where we spent the first part of the fitness session doing fun exercises including the ministry of funny walks and some dance steps, lots of laughter was had by all.

We paired off and ran or walked the inner circuit of the park, meeting our partner with 10 squats or 3 burpees.

Then we were off to the mission, we all decided to walk the short distance; the dead giveaway that we were in the right place was the mountain of black bin bags full of ivy and brambles.

Sue, the task owners met us and led us to the end of the cemetery where we split into groups, one clearing ivy from graves and the other filling large hippo bags of ivy and brambles. After a hour of weeding with no grave mistakes and all the ivy covered our time was up!! We were all twigger happy and lined up for a team photo.

With our spirits risen we returned to our meeting point to say our goodbyes and wish Amy a very happy holiday.

The Spencer Denney centre in Winsdor provides actvities and lunches for local older people. Their outside area was in need of a tidy-up, so just up our street! Diya, Kanika and Sheila cycled to the task, and joined Rhi, Jordan, Juli and Rachel at the centre. There we met task-owner Rachel, who got all the equipment out for us and explained the tasks. Rhi took on the grass-mowing, whilst the others started sweeping and weeding the patio area. All the biodegradable material was moved to the compost heap, and any other rubbish tidied into a black bag. Rhi was so successful with her mowing that the mower over-heated and needed to have a break to cool down before the work could continue. By the end of the session, the garden was looking spick and span. Maybe we could return some day to repaint the multi-coloured fence? Great work everyone! Thanks to Rhi for the title pun

This evenings group run saw 11 GoodGymmers enthusiastically set off from Bray High Street to our destination at the grazing land near Bray Lake. Amy, Georgeta, Rachel, Rhi, and new member Harriet took set off running while Jen led the walking group of Jess, Diya, Kanika and another new member Kate. Welcome Harriet and Kate! Along the lanes and over the bridge they all went on one of the longer run/walk on #wednesdaynightisgoodgymnight.

At the grazing site we were met by the task owner Kristina and a big pile of scrub. The group got stuck in loading up the prickly (a few 'ouch' sounds bore witness to it) brambles into large bags to carry over and dump on the other side of the creek. While the group was busy loading, carrying and dumping, a herd of cows got very interested in the proceedings and decided to get a closer look. Some cow whispering by Georgeta and Kate was needed to stop them from getting too interested in the group's backpacks.

The pile this side went down as the pile that side went up. Some 22 hippo bags worth of scrub* was moved by the group.

Amy wanted the group to do a plank, but by then the cows had decided they'd had enough human company for the day. So off we went away from their grazing land. As soon as we were safe, we were hit by the plank!

Then runners took off running and walkers took off walking and chatting, back to our meeting point to wrap up a very satisfying mission. There's a return mission planned for Tuesday 24 May - sign up here if you're keen to help or just want to see the cows! The session is listed from 9am-4pm but you are welcome to stop by anytime you're free during the day.

*No frogs were harmed in the completion of this mission. Rhi made sure of that - evidence is in the photos.