Last night our wonderful GoodGymers worked wonders at Wonder Zone Nursery!

It was also Sophie's first ever GG task, and Martin's 100th good deed so there was lots to celebrate.

Running, walking and cycling to the nursery, nine of us were met by Olu, one of the trustees, and he explained the task: tidy up the driveway leading to the nursery and the children's outdoor play area.

There was plenty to do:

• Sweep up sand that had overspilled from children playing in the sandpit.
• Hoover the astroturf areas.
• Remove the painted yellow bay divider lines and a disabled bay symbol from the yard's former life as a car park.
• Clear weeds and leaves from the driveway.

And that's just what we did!

In just an hour the difference was clear to see - all neat and tidy, ready for the children to enjoy!

Afterwards there was flapjack to mark Martin's brilliant GG100 milestone, and we headed to the local Weatherspoons to continue the fun over some food and drinks.

On Saturday, our GoodGym team rolled up their sleeves and joined Jason – the wonderful gardener at Community Hospice – for a mission that was all about soil, sweat, and smiles.

The job? Clear out the flower beds in the Sensory Garden, sieve all the soil, and then put it back in. Sounds straightforward? Well, it was a proper workout! Buckets were filled, sieves were shaken, and the odd stone or stubborn root put up a fight.

By the end, the beds were ready for a fresh start. Jason and his gardening team can now plant a whole array of new, beautiful plants to brighten up the garden. It’s more than just flowers – it’s colour, life, and cheer for the hospice patients and their families who enjoy that space every day.

We left a little muddier, a lot sweatier, but very proud. Sometimes the best way to spread joy is to get your hands dirty.

A perfect morning at my first ever GoodGym session!

After a nice half an hour stroll up Bostall Hill, I took in the breathtaking gardens as I arrived a little early. Walking up to reception, nervous and full of excitement, Sarah and Johnny welcomed me into the GG community. I met the lovely head gardener, Jason - aka Van Gogh - credit to him for the pun in this title!

We made a start as the rest of the team showed up, with the mission to clear the pathway at the entrance and battle the thorns. A team of eight was the perfect number. Teamwork makes the dream work! Within an hour, we transformed the entrance.

Zita was a powerhouse, attacking the ivy in minutes, snipping and raking. She never stopped. Ceci was a pro with the shears and came up with great references for everyone: Sweet Caroline and Simon Says. She couldn't resist sharing a few dance moves at the end of the mission.

It was so lovely to start the weekend off with a rewarding workout, feeling that we are contributing to our local community. I discovered that Caroline went to the same secondary school as myself and met her husband at a pub in Bexley.

After a few photos, a few of us shared lunch, which was the perfect ending to the day! The hunter chicken was a great recommendation, although the lasagne looked just as tasty! Thanks to Robert for sharing his chocolate cake with us.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again next month.

The Goodgym Bexley donation-sorting team, Caroline, Simon and Zita, got together this fine Saturday morning in great spirit and ready to tackle the metal carts full of kindly donated items.

While giggling and sharing stories, our hands were busy opening one bag after another.

There were "No bad vibes" just "Little things", something floral and pretty.

We got to hold a few Elsa and Ana dolls, and joked that someone had 'Let Them Go' 😊

Lovely morning spent with gorgeous people at the Community Hospice shop.