This week’s Doorstep Challenge saw 8 Goodgymers tasked with spreading the word for The Friends of Age Exchange, who are putting on another wonderful Christmas fair for the good people of Blackheath.

They say the first sign of Madness is Suggs coming up your drive. So the first sign of Christmas must be an army of Goodgymers delivering Christmas Fair fliers. Cue lots of negotiation with squeaky front-gates, desperately trying to find someone’s path, and getting off their property before any awkward encounters at the door. And I’m not going to lead you up the garden path - there was a lot to do. And it’s safe to say the team really delivered. No red van, no black and white cat? No problem. And No strikes in our workforce.

As a dark November night descended, we began with a warm up where we tried to work out what our favourite thing about winter was. A bit of head scratching for some of us, but an excellent chance to reflect and look forward.

Beginning at the sorting office (also known as Rachel’s bag), we split into two teams and set about our work, heading from Charlton towards Maze Hill and back.

We went door to door, though we didn't encounter as many dogs as we thought we would. Highlights included a cat asking to be let in despite knowing full well they’ve never seen this person enter their house in their life, (why do they do that?), and someone who couldn’t have sounded more like a burglar if he tried - loading stuff into a van and saying “I don’t live here…”

We seemed to lose contact with Julian and Steve towards the end, which can only mean they did the postie's equivalent of running away to join the circus - being tapped up by Royal Mail’s nightfreight service. We shall miss them and wish them luck in their new career.

Good job team - until next time!