...No wages, bitter cold, an hour of freezing fog, safe return without slipping over doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.

6 full size (and one mini) GoodGymers channelled their inner Ernest Shackleton in a temperature of -2C, navigating the ice-packed shrubberies of Anchor & Hope Lane and the frozen wastes of Bugsby’s Way to chip icicle-covered crisp packets from the stone-hard earth.

Charlton is a little cleaner thanks to the 8 bags of rubbish collected – it was freezing but everyone’s warm heart obviously kept them going! A nice hot drink at the cafe warmed us up ready for the rest of our day.

Well done team! On Tuesday we're at WSUP sorting donations - sign up here and Wednesday we're back at Charlton Manor Primary.

*With apologies to E. Shackelton.

Every January, a group in red can be found walking and running in a (seemingly) aimless fashion around Camden.

They stop frequently and their eyes dart in a (seemingly) searching manner.

Several can usually be heard saying "I think that's a tree..." before leading the group into a shadow.

Welcome, friends, to GoodGym Camden's annual Christmas Tree Scavenge!

Meeting in the welcome warmth of the Somers Town Living Centre, our group swiftly donned gloves and dropped bags before heading out to the cold for a very important task: our weekly game of Simon Says.

Having completed squats, lunges, arm circles, stretches (of many varieties), spins, twirls, and twists, our group were suitably warmed and ready to scavenge Camden for naughtily discarded Christmas Trees.

Our borough's pavements can be difficult to navigate when they're at their tidiest, and they can become thoroughly inaccessible in January when folks dump their trees on sidewalks, by bins, and in alleyways. Our annual scavenge helps ease the burden :)

Splitting into two groups, our first group of Alison, Jack, John, Louise, Rose, and Steve (led by John) shot off and up through Camden, around Regent's Park, and into Primrose Hill where... they met the most magnificently large tree! Tossed aside, this wonderful fir wouldn't look out of place in a Nordic forest, but it (perhaps) did look out of place being carried through North London streets! Especially when it was joined by several other trees the group found en route!

Our second group of Anne, Ivar, and Jackie, meanwhile, stayed closer to home and explored the green spaces and roads of Somers Town. Amidst stories of the festive season, work, and more this group discovered their first bundle of green behind a bin, and they soon caught sight of four more discarded spruces!

The photos tell a story I can't. This group made a huge difference last night, and they did so while being active and social, which is just the ticket for a dark winter evening :)

Here's to next time!!

King's Cross, Holborn, and Camden aren't known for being sleepy.

They're never usually quiet.

They're usually exuberantly bustling.

Yet yesterday... as our intrepid group of New Year Good-Deeders made their way through... they could hear their footsteps... they could barely hear any traffic... and (for the first time in decades) they could easily hear their conversations!

This was the joy of Central London on New Year's Day!

And our wonderful group of Anne, Ivar, Louise, Jackie, John, Steph, and Steve were one of an unusually small number populating our city's central streets!

They were doing so for good reason.

It was a Wednesday, which meant it was an American International Church Winter Shelter night, and this group were ready to sprinkle their usual good-deeding magic.

Amidst stories from the festive period, nine beds (across three rooms) were assembled, dressed, and tidily organised ready for the shelter's evening guests :)

And it wasn't just the New Year that was in need of celebration... because Jackie, who is a rock in our Camden group, had hit her 200th good deed!! Congratulations, Jackie, and thank you for being such a special person and wonderful part of our group!!!

Here's to next time!