Today is a paint-tastic day!

1. It's Pancake Day!
2. It's 1st March
3. Spring is upon us!
4. It's Goodgym night!
5. It's a painting task!

It was indeed painting by numbers tonight as we asked for a few extras to get through it in one go!

Jade was all prepared with ladders, rollers, brushes, paint, rags and blankets so we could rock and roll pretty fast!

The weather was shocking, but the smiles on everyone's faces on arrival made the rain a distant sound Patricia was the first to scale a ladder whilst Laura showed us that being tall meant ladders are in fact an unnecessary hazard! Tracy decided against robbing the local bank and instead joined us for our community task, hat and all! Shelley demonstrated that painting still means snazzy leggings whilst Christine I'm sure remained the cleanest painter amongst us lot! Robert got busy with a paintbrush whilst Maria was happy to roll!

It wasn't long before the wall was covered from top to bottom in fresh paint, edging done and even around the lights and corners. It never seizes to amaze how quick a task can be completed with team work! Rollers and paint brushes cleaned In the sinks and it was time to clear off.

Jade had even brought us chocolates which are never refused!

The running season is getting busier and Shelley and Maria are fully immersed in training for London Landmarks!

Last night Esther, Becky, Elizabeth and Nicola completed Plod Takeover (5 mile Monday night run) in the rain. Nicola however stole the show with extra kudos by running home as well tonight!

All home for a cuppa on a pretty miserable night, but a really fun chatter and natter and good deed completed!

The heading says it all really!

End of Report! 😆

Pat, Jane and Liz all arrived on time and we're greeted by our task owner Jade! Jade has taken over at Branksome project, initially as a volunteer helper and then employed by Poole Communities Trust as no doubt they recognised her as being so lovely!

Jade had paint pots ready and a large mural wall to paint. Unfortunately the paint was a mix of lumps and water and took a lot of persuading to once again resemble something like paint! But Elizabeth, Patricia and Jane managed to convince a pot it was and suggested we spend the time just covering up the pics on the wall this week!

It had been a fairytale themed wall, complete with a crying (blood) cinderellas, non parking fairies, Wolves, witches and even a clock! It didn't take the team long to put them all to bed however under a blanket of lumpy bumpy paint!

Jane, always keen to use her body balance skills, added in aerobics at one point demonstrating her prowess by sitting in a tyre. Sadly no photos!

Elizabeth - all 5'7" of her took the high ground whilst Patricia - all 5'1.5" took the low ground! Jane took a stance of 'stand back and lean in' approach which worked beautifully until Pat caught her with a splosh of paint!

Apologises to the team for not stating it was painting tonight!

Jade offered use of facilities if needed and we all nodded a thank you, then the word 'chocolates' were mentioned and we were all keen to use the sink to wash hands in! These runners are indeed fickle creatures!

The fairytale had gone and it is time for a new story on the wall. We hope to return next week ready to roller!

Jade was happy to clear away so we headed off under the starry skies of Parkstone. It wasn't long before we had to pant up the hill, along the back roads and zig zapped along a route! Ending pretty much in line with a 5k and not getting lost! Enough time to catch up on races, life plans and general chatter!

Well done everyone - Lovely Job!

We hope to return next week with more troops for a wall paint!

What a change a week can make!

Last Tuesday, it was torrential rain and it had been agreed to postpone the task due to very wet soil and potentially extremely soggy runners!

This'evening, six super strong sunners (!) showed up smiling in sunnies, short-sleeves and shorts in the summer sun! 😎

John met us outside the centre and soon had us equipped with tools, a lawn mover, black bags and instructions for key areas.

Big welcome to Lisa who last joined Poole on its launch night! She has now moved to this area from Christchurch so will be hoping to join us regularly in future. Lisa is on her 15th Good Deed this evening but weekly sees her Coach, Eileen, a matching that was set up by Goodgym Central Team for helping isolated older folk!

Robert, Elizabeth and Becky headed for the front of the building, weeding along the walls, sweeping the front and clearing away the rubbish. Meanwhile, Lisa took on the battery lawnmower tackling the back garden. Hannah showed she knew her stuff as she pointed out flower names and what was and wasn't weeds and took no qualms in pulling out the stinging nettles!

Compost bins filled, rubbish bagged up, weeds and nettles ready for composting, it was still warm in the sun!

Due to heat of day and races coming up, we choose to take a steady run around the rec ground, having a workout on the outdoor gym equipment as we went! We learnt that Hannah is strong (all down to yoga!) and Robert continues to give it all his best shot! Esther realised that 'Slip and Slide' with kids is actually hard core workouts which you can feel the next day. Elizabeth was the first one to run up the steps for a challenge, and yet looked unimpressed with having to do it again (anything for a photo op!). Lisa had arrived a bit croaky and by this point, could barely make a sound!

We completed a shorter run, had a lovely chat about future Goodgym events as we try again to bring some of our little 'zing' back onto our tasks!

Well done everyone for completion of a task, making a difference to this community centre, and bringing a smile to everyone's faces in the group!

It was a cold winter night when we arrived at Branksome to meet Jon.

Marie was already playing basketball with Jon to keep warm as the task started in the MUGA (Multi Use Games Area). Extra kudos for the cycle down as well Marie!

Andrew, a last minute entry into the group, joined us after not been since lockdown. Great to see you Andrew and well done for getting back to running again tonight!

Sian and Robert took on the outside of the MUGA whilst Marie and myself, Esther took on the side of the building. We had cleared this a few weeks ago but it was full again and this time it was muddy, wet leaves! It wasn't long before we had many bags full (and heavy) as well as litter cleared from the side entrance.

Jon, the volunteer from the centre was also lending a helping hand and once the front of the MUGA was cleared, it was down the side pathway!

We filled 10 bags of leaves up and the area was looking a lot clearer and less of a slip hazard as well.

To keep warm, we all headed off (Inc Jon from the centre - a recent running convert!) for a steady run around the undulating streets of Parkstone! It was a delight just to run, chatter, look at the lights and generally enjoy some company In a light hearted way. Jon took the lead from about half way, giving us a tour of the back streets of Parkstone which actually is full of so many lovely little cottage style houses!

Andrew, his first run since March did great! The hills were no match for Sian who merrily danced her way to the top! It was also the first time Jon had been on a group run so we hope he will join us again in future!

Lovely to see all your faces!

It was the lockdown Eve Eve and 6 runners dressed in lights and gloves headed for the centre of Branksome!

All feeling a little disppondent that soon, once again we would no longer be able to meet for these types of tasks or runs, it was a good distraction to find ourselves with brushes, black bin bags, litter pickers and even a leaf blower!

John met us at the task and Patricia, in her usual give it a go attitute / AKA Ninja Nana (!) was the first to volunteer for a leaf blower experience!

Robert and Zoe made quick work of the litter whilst Richard grabbede the noisiest tool he could fine (a rake!) and attacked it with the point to max out all noise levels! Christine meanwhile took the quieter apprach, filling bags of leaves as she went!

It wasnt long before we filled 10 bags of leaves all pilled up in front of the centre, ready for Nigel, the Manager, to collect and compost. Apparently John thought we would fill just a few and Nigel said 20 so we were in the middle!

All the side entrance, the front of the building and around the court all sweeped and Robert managed to litter pick the park too which was full of bottles!

We finished up and headed out for a short run - Well done to Christine and Zoe for runnign to and from the task making up those miles!

We have to cancel the planned tasks for next few weeks due to restrictions but watch out for some fitness tasks!

The clocks have turned back and we are well established in our autumn season.

This week for me, the thought of getting out to run, is signifiacntly less appealing! There are no races in the calendar, no holidays booked and just not the motivation to go out into the weather.

Well thank goodness for Goodgym to kick us out the door! We come along for some fitness, to see our Goodgym friends and to complete a task in our local community.

So it was fantastic to have Jo back with us tonight for her second run (go get that T-Shirt Jo!). Sian also joined us after she keeps knocking out 5k PB's all over the town. Robert rocked the show with his halloween leggings (I feel like we didn't give them enough air time Rob!). Christine and Zoe both ran down and looked very fresh and casual about it, before running back again. Richard as ever provided us with his sense of humour and for that we are always grateful!

I, Esther am delighted to tell you I am now officially on my 50+ deeds with Goodgym! What a really fortunate person I am to have had this chance with Goodgym!

Tonight we finished the first batch of leaflets for Branksome Centre around the streets, up many driveways and steps.

We were absolutely rubbish at photos but it was a contstantly moving session where we all covered around 5km, even if a more run / walk session!

Well done everyone!