Two things to do at our brand new task tonight at the Paxton Centre, a community creative hub on Anerley Hill.

We met at the Bridge House and answered tonight's icebreaker - What's your favourite paint name? We had the bright: razzle dazzle rose to the more sombre: gunmental grey.

Setting out, we did a spiral out along Oakfield Road and then onto Anerley Road and up the hill to our destination. On arrival we met Beth, the proprietor of the space, who wanted help with touch up paintwork downstairs 🖌️ and fastening the legs of a set of tables upstairs 🔩

James led the way in taking apart the tables so we could get to the nuts that needed to be tightened, while GoodGym returnee Matthew and team got to work taking down the various prints on the walls and painting behind them where the colour beneath had chipped off over time.

Both teams did a great job and we were done by 8pm, ready to head off home with Beth grateful for our help. Alone, it would've taken her a long time to do those jobs, but with a few helping hands we could get lots done in 30 minutes! 🕗

Join Cat next week for some wire brushing at Alexandra Recreation Ground (and warmer weather! 🤞)

We had a duo of tasks last night to pick from.

Team Gazebo (Fiona, James, George, Nathan and Charlie) popped along to the scene of last week's gazebo erection to deliver said gazebos to a shed the other side of the estate ahead of a community event there this weekend. They also put up a couple of posters up to advertise the event to residents. Top stuff.

Easy PEASy

Down the bottom of the hill, team planter (Paul, Cat, Clare and I) headed to some weedy community planters to give them a little tidy. It was a big job so we just tried to do one section, removing some sticky weed, grass and dead sweet pea plants (but emptying the pods and spreading the seeds amongst the other beds).

Nice job and jog everyone 👍

Superb !! The Goodgym team of 3 joined up with St. Edwards' 2 volunteers, and doubled down to work , barely looking up.

I tell you the grafting had most of us glowing after we greedily gathered great pace during the session. But enough of that . We were blessed to have 2 new Goodgymers who turbo charged the new paved path we've been working on recently. Almost doubled it in one session, it was SO good to step back and gloat in the gorgeous after glow of all that grafting ( Stopping now, I promise ). Superb 👌

Not to be outdone, the wimmins dealt some arching brambles, spiky hawthorn shrubs a blow by pruning, plus levelling the claggy clay ( oops ) patch of earth which had been piled up against a fence.

Our instructor was pleased with our efforts to make the section of the space accessible to wheelchair users in due course, plus it was super gratifying to be able to see where we had been in a relatively short time.

Even after a short breather, the guys redouble their efforts, overcoming some challenges with man hole thingies. Really appreciated the way those 2 evaluated, constantly assessing, and checking in with each other. Great teamwork !

Once again, a hugely satisfying session.Thanks, Mark, for your unflagging support and over sight , always appreciated 👏

Thanks to today's team, the time flew the path grew and the earth was leveled anew ..... one step closer to the Grand opening of the garden in July .

Good Gymers ,really well done !!

It was a day where it was raining most of the day and the community group we were working for wondered whether weed turn up…. But five GG’rs were rewarded with a dry hour!

The quintet included Nathan and George - for both it was their first ever GG activity. Hope to see you again soon!

We made an enormous difference today clearing all paths of weeds and getting the edges of the grass to a stage where the community group can strim on them.