The weather was epic this Sunday. A fresh southwesterly breeze and rain-threatening clouds welcomed eight GoodGymmers as we returned to Sydney Gardens for our regular monthly visit.

Joining us today, and both very welcome, were newcomers Kate, and Ava. The usual suspects rocking up were Cosmo, Ruth, Aaron, Emily, Vicky and Meyrick.

We can never quite be sure about the task awaiting us, but Sydney Gardens always offers up a physical challenge. This time, there was a return to a task we had started last Summer. Up at the top of the park, adjacent with the tennis courts, lie two fenced off 'mounds' with gated entrances half submerged in the earth. As far as I have been able to understand, these domed structures contain a grotto/reservoir where water collects, fed from one of the many rivulets that descend from the high hills beyond. This work was completed in pre-Victorian times, for reasons unknown and vegetation and creeping earth have done their best to swallow them up.

The Friends of Sydney Gardens would like the entrances to these dug up in order that they can be turned into features of some kind in the future. A lot of work needs to happen before that goal can be realised, so for the moment just moving topsoil out to other areas will have to suffice.

In fact I was there in December, the sole attendee on that occasion, digging down to the entrance to one grotto and creating a pile of earth. Today we moved that pile of earth into a hole that needed filling.

Whilst half of us did this, (and too many hands etc), newcomers Kate and Ava joined Vicky in weeding around the perimeter of the tennis courts (people were playing despite the weather) to make it look presentable when Spring arrives.

Almost Christmas Eve, yet GoodGym were still at work, like Santa's Elves. Sydney Gardens is going to see a lot more activity from GoodGym in 2025 but as it was, this was more of a winter whimper, the weather also impacting attendance.

I myself was not there, as I was ill, but to the best of my knowledge Cos was, helping the team of volunteers that meets once a month on the fourth Sunday.