On a slightly balmy night this evening, 7 of us gathered at Charlton House for a run led by our very own Julian who was completing his fitness leader qualification and today was his test session! The story has a good ending as Julian passed with flying colors and might lead some longer run options ahead of group runs to help us get in training for the big half and on that note shout out to Sreyans for signing up to the big half! (okay that may be a lie but I'm speaking it into being - it's gonna happen). And seriously, congratulations on your second good deed - it was lovely to have you along and we hope to be seeing much more of you!

After a good run to the collections centre, Khursheed got us to work in the lovely garden where are task was to weed around the planters and empty many bags of wood chip to freshen up the the ground. The trick was to make a thick layer, the thicker the better and we managed to get through all the bags of woodchip, dislodging a disgruntled mouse and a fair few big spiders! 🕷️

A little while later the area was looking much more woodchippy and our job was well done- great work team. We might be back here soon to attempt to build a greenhouse- watch this space. Next week we're meeting on Tuesday at the Royal Naval College for a short run to the Village Church to help with weeding and a general tidy up. Hope to see you there!

Until next time, Rachel 👋🏻

On Easter Saturday we joined Annie to do some weeding at the Hervey Road garden.

We set to work, digging up the weeds on the long border and getting yes sir, yes sir, 3 bags full. We discussed Laura's upcoming trip to Mali and her rather grown up job out there - we will miss you Laura and look forward to hearing about it on your forays back to London! And Arthur interjected very regularly that he didn't want to weed anymore and wanted to go to the playground, poor little thing.

After a decent job on the long border we headed to the wildflower garden and witnessed Marta and Richard's magnificent dead hedging coming into its own. Here Annie patiently showed us what were plants and what were weeds and we got to work filling at least another 3 bags full. The conversation remained genial but little did we know, the morning was about to take a sinister turn.

It happened just as we were collecting our belongings and getting ready to go. Cat pulled a present out of her bag for Arthur. A little white chocolate chick. Awww sweet, "what a treat". And amazingly it wasn't at all melted. The first thing that happened was, inexplicably panicking that it would suddenly melt in my hands, I said "let's dig in" and promptly pulled it's head off. It's baffling really - as if I don't experience on a daily basis the things a 3 year old finds distressing 🥺 The wailing started. Quiet at first and then a crescendo to the dreaded high pitched banshee shriek. Every parent's nightmare and at which point I saved the day by stuffing a bit of the head into his mouth and he realised the decapitated bird was in fact, very yummy. More was consumed and we were all revelling in this moment of tranquility and sweetness when Cat piped up, "does it taste like chicken?" 🤯

Witty and sadistic in equal measure. Certainly disarming - in fact I forgot to get a group photo, so thrown was I by this turn of events.

A happy ending though. All the chocolate remained in his tummy even after the turns on the roundabout and we all trundled off to the rest of our weekends. Good job team!

We've got woodchipping at St Richard's on Tuesday and we're back at Prince Philip on Wednesday - hope to see you there.

Until next time!