It might have been very soggy but that made it perfect for getting the roots of the weeds up and soon the triangle path was looking much less grassy, a plant bed looked like soil instead of green carpet and lots more tomb stones could once again see the light of day. Or get washed down in the rain.

Lots of opportunity for socially distanced chat followed by a quick drink (and Sunday roast for Shreena!) - a great way to spend a soggy autumnal afternoon.

A dry GoodGym group run, led by Richard and Alice - what a treat after last week's soaking! It did mean the ground was more willing to give up the bindweed and bramble roots when we could finally get that close to the ground!

Jo and Di were, once again, really pleased with not just the progress but also the lovely chatter that's always around GoodGym Bristol. That and the bramble trampling to fit even more in the dumpy sacks (definitely a job for someone in wellies rather thsn trainers).

It's definitely head torch season for running and outdoor tasks but nice to arrive and see the whole task before the dark seems to hide it all.

The GoodGymmers were soon pulling, cutting and dragging bindweed from the plants it was strangling, then the bramble and buddleia bashing and sawing to reveal as much of the lovely grasses as possible. We also took the time to admire the difference in the areas we'd already weeded.

It was great to see some old GoodGym friends back with us, and thanks to Clo lots of us went on our first "normal" GoodGym Eats for over 18 months with lovely burgers at Three Brothers.

A great night out with great buddies :-)

After a good old GoodGym powwow in Queen Square, including celebrating Maria and Richard's Green Man Ultra achievements (30 and 45 miles self navigated!), Alice W set off for Brunswick Cemetery, Alice D set off on the longer route yo the SouthVILLE Centre and Maria headed straight to the Centre. Like Pied Pipers, they were followed by red-shirted runners and much chat was had.

Everyone was very impressed by the Sea Shanty Choir Melanie had laid on in the Cemetery* where we met up with the Council volunteers Jo and Di who had dumpy bags and some tools for our bindweed blitz.

We set to in three areas, determined to unearth the (probably dead) tree that was a cascade if bramble and bindweed, make further progress into the triangle bed (halted by the wasps who seemingly quite like bindweed) and a new section of wall of bindweed that stood no chance in the face of Caroline and Richard G who then invented the game of Bindweed Ball - hours of fun.

Vaguely Northern Darren proved that if you grab the same bundle of bramble theee times it hurts you three times, we discovered the the Polish and Czech for "ow" are the same, that sea shanties are a great accompaniment to bindweed bashing but the singers didn't want to come and get the satisfaction of bindweed pulling this evening - adding "I cant get no satisfaction" to their repertoire.

If Alice asks, of course the tree is still alive and will now grow back.

Back at workout, we celebrated Melanie's 800 good deeds and new 500 t-shirt - who will be next?!

*may have been total coincidence

The first truly light evening and doesn't it feel great! After a spot of antonym warm-up we headed straight out to Portland Square to help the Portland and Brunswick association give the space a good spring clean.

This involved picking up stray twigs and branches that had collected on the path during the Winter months and sherpening up the edges using shovels and brooms. We also took the opportunity to have a bit of a litter pick so by the end of the session the square was looking pretty sharp - with all the right angles.

There was just enough light left for a group photo before finishing with running train chase around the newly cleared path and a game of Squatopia in the middle.

Thanks to the association for coming so well prepared with brooms and shovels (and to Bristol Waste for litter pickers and bags) - we look forward to helping out again in the future. Also, nice to report plenty of residents coming up and thanking our runners for all their hard work tonight - top work folks!