Greeted in East London with some dreamy awe-inspiring dusk hues. That gentle fusion of reds, oranges and pinks...makes you just want to get a scoop of it and lick it off an ice cream cone. Just me?

18 of us in total this week. And just as well, always a proper old fashioned, yet rewarding workout at the adventure playground. Loads of gyms now mimic this type of hard labour workout. With chopping, pushing and lifting in their stuffy, mirrored wall to wall exercise rooms (must.see.myself).  Difference is, you guys do the workout, and get stuff done on top of that

Random Weekly Question: "What's your favourite tear-jerking film?" Bamby, Up, Paddington Bear, The Snowman, Finding Nemo. Cartoons are hitting the nerve with you guys! We also had Pearl Harbour, Bridget Jones, Rocky, Forest Gump and a few others. Open those tear ducts up and let it flow people.

Fast forward 20mins, we had got to our location and absorbed instructions. Neatening up a wood chip zone with smooth clean lines. Shifting a tonne of bricks via a delightfully efficient five person train. Weeding in some dark and awkward place. Plus shifting an unwieldy bench to a better home. All done with cheer and aplomb. In fact, you were so efficient that we boshed out an interval to celebrate. A little ramp-up run sesh, good for your soul....but equally importantly your heart/lungs/running musculature.

Thanks for turning out and chipping in. Sharon has been super pro active and helped put me in contact with new tasks. If anyone else has any ideas please do email me.

You fine folk have a solid Thursday, a better Friday and never-ending weekend.

See you beauts next week

It's the best time of the week when Newham's finest Goodgymers assemble ! even the sun peeked from the clouds to welcome the magnificent 12 runners,

After a brisk warm up we started with our random question of the week "if you could travel back in time to witness where and what would you go"
as usual the mix of answers give an insight into the motley crew from seeing Man U getting beaten at Old Trafford to woolly mammoths walking the planet to Nan and Grandad's blind date !

A quick 3 ks down the River Lea /Limehouse cut to Manorfield Primary school were Paul Jackson the head teacher set about detailing the task's that required our collective might ,

From shifting desks,moving Steel band pans to a new location and jet-washing the front pavement, tidying the drama hall and moving staging and seating , all carried out in double quick time.

As usual Paul was full of praise for all our hard work that greatly help the teaching environment for all the children and teachers alike ,

The run back to our Olympic park home sped by and plans for a quick beverage to shake our thirst was made !

Great work people looking forward to next week already and the return of Brahma.

A positively jovial time on East London's waterways yesterday. With a smashing three new people, plus a few returning for their second and third run, it was all smiles as we realised just how much more we could get done with this enlarged and effervescent team.

Random Weekly Question this week: "What phobias do you have?" It did not disappoint, some fantastically unique answers peppered amongst the usual fears of arachnids and vertigo sufferers. Siobhan's dislike of buttons, love it, don't get it, but love it. Eva's wool on the teeth fear, Mel's dislike of James' fungal feet, Kev's spine chilling moment he sees a centipede, or worse a millipede. Charlotte's anxiety about grey cloud matter and Ruth's fearsome foe - loud noises. A unique bunch we are!

A few light sprints later and we'd made it to Old Ford Lock. Following the waft of barbecue aroma we met the main man, Ross. He dished out some bags, those litter claws and we dispersed down the canal paths in search of litter. You guys did a really meticulous job, and you needed to, as there wasn't that much glaring rubbish to dispose of. All those cigarette buds, bits of plastic, chewing gum bits etc make a difference. Small birds are known to choke on said small matter, so every little bit adds up.

We were all done and dusted by 8pm, but stayed on for the kindly laid out food spread. A lovely touch by the canal trust guys. Into the darkness we ran back to base ...and straight to a low-key social at the cow. A really lovely evening.

Next week, I'm not here but mincing around in France, Kev and Sharon have kindly agreed to cover for me. It's our classic Primary School Task, sign up here They've begun knocking down the old nursery as they ready the site for a new and improved centre of learning/play to go up instead.

Have a smashing week ahead people, eat up some miles this weekend and make the most of the warmth. Winter is coming.

B