I headed to the gym to do my second good deed of the day and saw an idiot driver in front, oh wait was just Andy. Mohammed arrived on his bike, still nursing a leg injury. Somehow it was the hottest part of the day but we set off. As you may expect, Andy did most of the talking on route. He's thinking of getting implants, which did surprise me when it wasn't his hair he was talking about.

Mohammed said how far it was to the task and he was right! But we made it in one piece to see Sallyann, Fay, and Leanne huddled up outside the men's toilets like it was a Duran Duran concert. It all made more sense when the task was painting the gents.

We got to work, Fay lambasting Justin Timberlake the whole time, only stopping to heckle my rendition of S club 7. She did dance later to Cotton Eyed Joe though, sorry for not getting a video. We chatted a fair bit about the heat, partly the last few days (Sallyann was fine as she has a pool at home) and it was roasting in the toilet.

After clean up and the all important photo opportunity we headed back, we left the walkers in our dust until they caught us up at the first traffic lights. Leanne took the absolute piss by living about 2 minutes from the task while I had to wheeze on. On the way back we saw someone who was doing yoga earlier who thanked us for painting the centre!

Another good task and see you all next week!

Fay was on a mission from before the task even started, rounding up more runners and enticing them with a trip to the pub courtesy of Andy. It worked, attracting three more for the evening.

The runners arrived hot and sticky, great conditions for handling leaflets, whilst Dawn arrived in a presumably air conditioned car. Fay wasted no time in telling us to get on with it, keeping her eye on the usual chatting culprits and dangling the carrot of a cool, free drink afterwards.

Thankfully, we had Richard a.k.a 'the leaflet monster',with us, propping up the slackers (Rich at the very least) and making light work of the huge bags of leaflets.

We headed to the Endeavour, and Fay saved Andy (this time!) by buying the round. Russell headed home to do very important admin that took about 45 minutes, whilst Joel looked longingly at the mini beer festival that was being set up.

Great work in the heat everyone! Next week we have our monthly walk and talk with the Ideas Hub. Sign up here.

See you soon,

Laurie

A fairly quiet one tonight! Mohammed and I raced off from the uni both nursing injuries but eager to do some good.

We arrived at the meeting point with the lovingly prepared leaflets ready to roll. We hit the streets and hit them hard. Sallyann was fresh from the osteopath and named her favourite letterbox as the one built right into the wall.

We saw Walker Close and couldn't help but take a photo for the lovely Jane and excitable child Rich and recreated his jump.

Richard declared that he cannot wait to grow a giant beard and for it to go grey so he can have a seasonal job as Santa.

We went to leave and took a photo in the dying sunlight. Well I say 'a' photo, Fay insisted on multiple photos as she claimed she had loads of chins in them.

Mohammed and I ran back and chatted about food. Made me very hungry! Did all the leaflets. Good work everyone.

Turns out, only I wanted to!

Anyway, we had a longer run tonight ahead of us to Beaulieu and were so raring to go I even forgot to take a pic. Did an action shot and happy with how clear it is!

Leah was very confident she knew the route there (ish), and led us right to where we wanted to be - a playground! Richard climbed into the tunnel after deciding he wouldn't get stuck, Mohammed clambered on top, and Steve surfed his way to glory.

We then crossed to the new pavement they'd built since last time we were there and met the rest of the gang. While it was supposed to be a painting task, it had switched to cleaning walls and windows after a paint snaffoo.

Leanne began to shamelessly brag about how she is one of a hundred people who is going to be swimming the marathon equivalent in September this year (everyone who knows her knows how much she loves to brag). Fay rudely asked me what was up with my face. Sallyann has sadly put her back out so had to do photos and joyfully pose with Charles with me. We finished up after Martin opined that he had deja vu in cleaning walls, right down to being asked to do the high stuff.

As we were leaving, it happened. Andy Holmes. Voted greatest DJ of all time (or something like that). Congrats! Sadly he turned away when I pretended to drop the trophy.

We headed back to get out of the car park before road closures and went on our merry way. Next week is painting at Meadow View!

It claimed it was six degrees out. It felt colder, bring on the scorching 14 degrees it will be on Friday! Leah was first to arrive, eager to enjoy her first GG run, and with a longer run planned, even Martin was on time.

We headed off at a nice chatty pace, until we arrived to the edge of Beaulieu where it became dark and Andy led us climbing through bushes, smashing past cordoned off paths and roads, and Russell moved fences to get us to our destination. Nothing will stop us wanting to do good deeds.

It was lovely and warm inside the community centre where we got to work painting the hallway, complete with annoying motion sensor lights which kept turning off, and specific instructions to NOT paint the ceilings. While Fay and Little Rich made heart shapes in the corridor, an in-depth conversation about the proposed restructuring of Essex Council, or whatever council nonsense, was underway between Jane, Leah (both who work for councils), tall Richard (concerned citizen) and Russell (self-proclaimed Head of Essex Council). Delicious shortbread was served.

After we ran out of paint and had done the washing up, we posed for a photo with the photo of King Charles. Andy gave old Charlie a salute and we headed off. Check out the sick black and white filter I put on the photo. Leanne led the run to her house but slammed the door shut before we could all join her for dinner. Rude. We ran back to base, heckling those who went for a sprint finish and discussed upcoming plans!

• Task for Little Edi next week, led by Angela
• Helping out at the bag drop at the Chelmsford 5k/10k/half marathon, and then some of us running it too
• March 8th Beer festival
• Pub quiz first sunday each month (reigning champions!)
• and of course more tasks coming in March!

As this is one of our furthest tasks we had a mix of runners and meet-you-therers.

Setting off promptly at 6.30, Andy backmarked from the front to save me having to guide us from google maps. Robert told us the unbeelievable requirements for his Guinness World Record attempt for Manchester marathon in a beekeepers suit. Martin went all the way to South America for months and hardly saw any of it? Slacker. Russell confessed all too late that he hates painting and may volunteer for leading to swerve future work.

We got to the community centre and the music was blasting, but we were there to dance with paintbrushes and not each other. Sallyann had picked the most awkward spot and Richard jumped behind the remaining desks to help. Leanne and Fay had started from either end of the room and we all jumped in the middle to get the job done.

More decorating on the cards for next week.