Beating the impending heatwave (number 3 of 2025), we gathered in the shade at Workout (except Roddy who was determined to stand in the evening sun) and set off in two group - the runners with Richard now as a fully-fledged Fitness Leader (taking charge of the requisite First Aid Kit) and the walkers where no-one's really in charge and conversations are many and varied.

We had a plan, we knew we were preparing table cloths and decorations for the Festive Friends lunch on Friday, and watering the planters that were very dry. Except none of the decorations material shad been left out, so we kept ourselves busy with watering and weeding the edges of the building and front/side walls so he outside would look lovely for the Festive Friends. At least there wasn't a big pile of bunting to untangle!

There are planters of herbs and many fruits - a fig tree that's looking amazing (note to self - ensure we have a visit in 5 or 6 weeks' time when they should be ripening nicely), raspberries, gooseberries and wineberries where scientific sampling was carried out.

Then the Top Excitement of the evening overshadowed all other finding, conversations and puns as a little hedgehog was spotted and we ensured it found a quiet, shady spot to curl up. I say ensured, when we went back to check it had found itself a good temporary spot, but we're happy to take the credit as we COULD have helped if it had been needed.

We discussed a fitness session as the foot/cycle bridge is quite high, steps and slopes so lends itself, if only there'd not been an impending heatwave, and the pollution levels from the motorway below are possibly not ideal...

Soon we were climbing and descending the bridge just the once on our way back to Workout where it was the perfect evening for sitting out on the terrace.

Fantastic GoodGymming, Bristol!

To loaf or not to loaf? A dry morning greeted us as we met at Alpha bottle shop to meet the BS3 community led my Ian. Equipped with our picks, gloves, high vis vests and bags we cleared lotyer around an area near the green verges around the new student complexes. Then we loafed at the idea of coffee as the rain set in. A great morning and cleaner streets for all 👍🌟

All 8 of us managed to get to St Paul's Learning Centre (eventually) - injuries allowing (pre not during the Group Run/Walk - no injury book entries needed!).

We welcomed Dushyant to their first ever GoodGum and Lucy to their first Bristol GoodGym, we're already used to seeing Russ now he's been back in Bristol for over a week.

The task was improving the look of the outside of the building, mainly weeding, and with a variety of tools, we soon had the front mostly weed-free, but not enough for the perfectionists Freya and Jason who may come back in their own time to finish! It was great to receive feedback from people using the Learning Centre and spread the positivity of GoodGym.

Vaguely Northern Darren had a note from his mum so wasn't able to bend down much, despite people offering bigger and bigger tools so I didn't have to bend down! A note is a note however so he worked hard on 'good vibes' and recording the event for all time with skilled photo-taking.

See you all again next time

Lovely sunny spring day to accompany some casual weed demolition down at the Berry Maze. sadly no concreting this time, but we did manage to clear out some huge patches of weeds.

good work all, more next month!