As we bid farewell to November and start to think of all those December parties coming up, 9 goodgymers met for their weekly task in Cardiff.

We welcomed, for the first time Henry.

CROESO

We also had a celebration for our Flo, who had decided to celebrate her 50th, 100th and 200th in one go. They had not fallen on group runs so tonight was a special for them.

Our walkers took to the streets first, whilst Lucy led the warm up. Once we were warmed up and raring to go we started our run to the task.

It was a cold evening, but the Winter lights were on and this made up for the temperature.

The runners arrived first at Samye, followed by Flo, and then the walkers. We were all inside warming up for the briefing, tonight's tasks were some painting in one room and then bringing down the Xmas trees from the attic and putting them up in the relevant rooms.

Before we started, Flo was given her wings to wear for her 100th.

Henry and Michael we're straight on painting duties, once our task leader, Lorraine let us into the room.

Lorraine then took Su, Martin, Lucy, Rosie, Flo, Dylan and Neda to sort out the decorations.

With Michael busy painting, Martin, Flo and Su were also on photography duties for tonight's report. Trees out of the attic and it was time to put them together and decorate.

The smaller tree had to be stripped of decorations so that it resembled a tree once more, whilst the rest we given plenty of bling for the season.

The trees were then moved around to three different rooms, but the lights will be held back until Monday for a December 01st switch on.

Now that the tasks were completed, it was back to Flo, but this time for her to pop on the goodgym Cardiff cape for her 200th task....

Well done Flo 🎉

As a treat, Lorraine had made us soup with a choice of Minestrone and Carrot. It was soon eaten, with some lovely bread and a selection of baklava that they had spare.

We gave our thanks and headed back to our start location. We will be returning in two weeks to help one more time this year.

Henry, it was great to meet and chat with you on your first run and task with goodgym, and we hope to see you again soon.

GoodGymers, join us next week as we help a new place for the first time.

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On Sunday 16th November, I was back volunteering with Cardiff juniors parkrun. It seemed like any other Sunday, what could go wrong?

One of the storage containers for the parkrun kit, a literal black box rather than an orange recording device found in airplanes, was missing.

This meant we had no lanyards, or tail walker vests, and maybe some other things. But these were the notable absences.

Without a lanyard, the barcode scanners would not have the Event QR Code needed to upload the results at the end. I was a barcode scanner. As a run director, I also had access to the Event QR Code through the management system. This meant I could help the other barcode scanners. But, I couldn't help myself. I would have to find one of the other run directors, have them access the management system, to use their Event QR Code. Luckily this wasn't an issue.

All in all a successful event, showing that we could adapt to challenges.

You'll all be pleased to know that the black box was located by the next event on 23rd November.

Our yearly task, helping the Christmas for CAMHS charity with their paper chain project.

We met as usual at the Glassworks, then headed out for our run. Tonight, different to usual, we were doing the task at the Glassworks where we had a table booked.

Michael had started the cutting process earlier in the day, cutting 20cm strips of wrapping paper. The team were given the page of jokes and the bag of pens, whilst Michael started to cut the smaller strips.

And the work started, who could complete the most?

It was a crazy time of writing as onlookers started to ask what we were doing. And in hardly any time our task came to an end.

Everyone stayed to take part in the Christmas Charity quiz, raising money for Macmillan cancer support.

A great night, and we will return to usual next week as we run to Samye.

Well done to Flo for completing 33 on her own.

Smashed It

One goodgymer (because Michael slept through his alarm) helped Cathays Community Gardeners plant lots of bulbs ready for spring

Not even the end of November and we are already finishing our last card task. There will be a few community run / cycles coming up to deliver cards around Cardiff though for anyone wanting to join.

Tonight was all about the craftiness, as Michael found his newest happy place. A shop so perfect that he didn't want to leave.

All ready with craft materials, they went to pick up the runners. A quick run out and about Cardiff, ending at the task location. We met with the walkers and cyclists, grabbed coffee and muffins and it was time to start.

The task, to get creative and make some cards which would be delivered out to our charity partners in Cardiff. As well as a few extra which would be going out to the care homes.

There was a lot of excitement at the pack of stickers that had just been purchased, and with good reason.

We made a great selection of cards, and will eagerly look forward to the community task to get them delivered.

Michael and Flo were at Cardiff junior parkrun on Sunday for a spooky special. Flo was marshalling at the playground, and Michael was barcode scanning.