Bravo to Dave for making 2 visits to the North End Street Garden today! He and Jen had an early morning visit to put up our wooden sign, beautifully made for us by Southbourne Men's Shed. Later, Dave joined Sinéad, Abby and me for a gardening session.

We weeded, litter-picked, planted daffodil and tulip bulbs and Abby gave some of the overgrown shrubs one of her infamous radical winter haircuts!

We had the bench audience to keep us entertained, and a few thank-yous from passers-by.

Ms K had a long list of jobs for jobs, but we got started with the most pressing. We were asked to deconstruct an old garden bench, but due to rotting wood and rusted screws we turned more to a brute strength destruction instead.

We also cut back the ivy and passion flower in the garden to clear a path right along to the back gate.

Just before we headed off, we unloaded some compost bags from Ms K's car, which have been stranded there since August!

Mr P was concerned that he could no longer clear up the Autumn leaves from his garden, so he was really pleased that GoodGym could help.

I gave 1 hour and my energy.

I gained a fitness work-out and lovely time in the fresh air.

Mr P gained a neat and tidy garden and peace of mind.

I can't be-leaf how good GoodGym feels!

We responded to the call from Santa's elves for toys for the children of Portsmouth and dropped off a good selection to the North End Food Pantry!

I spent the morning operating outside my default grumpy old man state by smiling and laughing with Tesco customers in a successful attempt to get them to donate food and toiletries to top up Foodbank stocks.

5 hours saw several crates filled with all sorts of staple foodstuffs, toiletries and Christmas goodies for onward distribution to Foodbank clients across Portsmouth.

The battle was won, but the war will go on..

I helped Friends of Milton Common chop back the brambles to encourage grassland and small wildflowers to grow on the exposed ground.

This is part of the important work that takes place every year and it's working; pyramidal and bee orchids are now flourishing on the common.

oh and I have to add that the group was very welcoming and the hot chocolate and cakes provided delicious!