8 goodgymers braved the slightly wet weather to paint the town (i.e. Ocean Youth Connexions) white (pun credit:Ilana. Task owner Kamal provided us with overalls to prevent us getting covered in paint. A few drops snuck in somehow but we all emerged relatively unscathed.

Rohan, Kareem, Dnyaneshwari and Tom were team Green Container. I hear there may have been some tuneful humming to make the most of the acoustics.The rest of us headed to the stairwell to paint everything but the stairs. Partway through Oliver upgraded his roller by attaching it to a big stick, allowing him to reach the taller parts of the wall.

Team GC needed to change paint partway through as the stuff they started with wouldn't stick to the walls - a paint rebellion! But Kamal soon sorted them with a more co-operative emulsion.

Team Stairwell made their way slowly down the stairs, leaving behind fresh white walls in their wake. No trips but potentially some drips.. Not wanting to mark the stairs, Ilana may have caught some with her own head - very considerate indeed.

It was an enjoyable, focused task. We all seemed to get so into the rhythm of painting that we seemed to be painting anything and everything white by the end. In fact. Team Green Container were so engrossed in their work, they stayed for an extra 5 minutes, determined to get the job done. The pull of the paint is strong.

Well done all and a massive congratulations to Kareem for completing his 50th task!

At this month's monthly social gardening club we were following the lead of John whose landscape gardening company completed the transformation into the appealing space it is today.

GoodGym's task was to lay a pebble path. We loaded bags of the muddy stones into wheelbarrows, rinsed them until their natural light colour returned and unloaded them on the snaking path.

Join us for the next social gardening club on Wednesday 19th November

A return visit to Mr R's to build a(nother) table for him - this time onto which he could position his DVD player. He showed me the box, and where he wanted the table, and I prepared myself for a bit of construction - however the key bag of fittings/screws that were needed to attach the table top to the folding legs was nowhere to be found either in the box or on the floor of his living room, and after explaining this to Mr R, he called Amazon who agreed to give him a full refund (and not require him to return the table).

Mr R subsequently ordered a new table online, which hopefully will arrive with all the necessary parts in the next few days, and a new mission will then need to be set up to get this new table built. He then asked me to take the existing (not quite a) table down to the bin store to dispose of it.

Before the task, early arrivers indulged in a spot of bat watching and we were introduced to the bat detector!

At 7pm, we gathered around as Ken took us through the ABCs of bulb planting. Then we were on our way across the park with our trowels and head torches. We dug deep (to save the bulbs from the squirrels!) and planted 200 bulbs between us around the park. Looking forward to spring to see our handy work bloom and the park come alive with tulips and crocuses!

Shout out to our newest members of the group Beth and Ryan. See you all again soon!

#faithfriday Movement is motion but also the way we turn care into change, one small action by one small action! #thewanderinglondoner

This morning in Bow was to run and restore, to bring energy, attention, and compassion to the streets we share. A pair of gloves and a litter picker were enough for the pavements and green corners of the Bromley by Bow Centre neighbourhood, collecting discarded cans, wrappers, and forgotten fragments of city life.

What might seem like a simple act - picking up litter, is, in truth, a powerful way of reclaiming space, both for our communities and for our mental wellbeing. Each piece of rubbish removed isn’t just a cleaner path for someone else; it’s a small gesture of respect, a reminder that the health of our environment and our minds are deeply connected.

Community litter has an unspoken weight. It quietly tells us that neglect is normal, that no one cares. But when we take time to clear it, that narrative changes. Clean streets encourage connection. Tidy parks invite play and conversation. Seeing others act reminds us that we’re not powerless, that we can be part of a living, breathing effort to make things better.

Volunteering with GoodGym offers that rare blend of movement and meaning. It transforms exercise from a solitary act into a shared purpose. For me, today’s litter pick wasn’t about improving Bow, it was about belonging and using physical action as a form of kindness. Every bag of rubbish is a small victory for hope, visibility, and the idea that consistent, modest actions really can ripple outward.

Through regular GoodGym missions, we learn that community change is about persistence. Week after week, we run, walk, or cycle towards small acts that collectively add up to something profound. Cleaner streets. Stronger ties. Happier hearts.

Because when we move with purpose, we remind ourselves and others that every step counts and that caring, in motion, is a force of real transformation.

#goodgym #dogood #litterheroes #thewanderinglondoner

If darkness hadn't quite fallen by the time we arrived at Sivill House, it was certainly teetering over the edge. There was some illumination from the estate lights, and people brought head torches, but our main concern was the effect of the gloomy conditions on those all-important task photos!

Task owner and GoodGymer Ed directed us to a very large pile of woodchip which had been donated to Columbia TRA. It was happily sitting in the car park, but it really needed to be in the gardens, the other side of the estate. It didn’t look too large a pile, until we realised how far back it went…

Still, we had five wheelbarrows, plenty of shovels and bags, and most importantly a 17-strong squad of GoodGymers. It felt like a real workout as we persuaded the reluctant woodchip to separate from the security of its pile, to a new life – mulching! This technique suppresses weeds, conserves soil moisture, insulates plant roots and improves soil health and fertility. Yes, we’ve enabled all those things!

A special welcome to newcomers Angelique and Ryan, who really threw themselves into the task. Hope to see you back soon! And thanks to Fiona who took some good photos after all!

Despite the darkness, the night was still young as we headed off, with a suggestion that one of the task owners had invited us to the pub. We didn’t know where we were supposed to go, so after wandering around for a bit, four of us headed for the Royal Oak to congratulate ourselves on all our good work