Despite the looming threat of Storm Brendan making an appearance, 13 Goodgymmers came out to Sunnyside Community Centre last night (including first timers Marie Laure and Evangelina- welcome!).

Before we started our warm up drills (ankling, high knees, can-cans, dynamic lunges and sumo squats), we asked each other the question: "What is your favourite fruit?"

The responses were as follows:

• Bananas
• Pineapples
• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Raisins. No, sorry, Grapes...
• Mangoes
• Yeah, Mangoes. But those really sweet yellow ones... maybe these?

Sunnyside Community Centre

Thankfully, we had a little bit of respite from the rain as we ran the 2.5 km to Sunnyside Community Centre (up Hornsey Road). Thanks to Kike, Latoya and James for back marking to and from the task.

We arrived at the gardens, and no-one was there. Surely Trainer Simon hadn't got the date wrong, had he?

Thankfully, Anna the volunteer coordinator appeared from behind our group, and showed us to the tool shed whilst we set up lights and torches for this dark gardening task.

Our challenge was to turn a large collection of green clippings into compostable green waste, by cutting down larger branches. Another set of runners would then load the green waste into wheel barrows and pile it into a tidy space, so it can all turn into mulch for spring time gardening.

We had plenty to do in quite a short amount of time, but we made a huge dent in the pile of leaves and branches. It is a huge overall task, that we will return to next month (every second Monday, in line with the trustee's meeting).

We downed tools, and set off back to the Emirates Stadium with a storm whipping up behind us! Upon our arrival, we engaged in a series of stretches to cool down (some of them focusing on the shoulders and arms for the benefit of those shoveling heavy branches and moving wheelbarrows). Ginger biscuits were on offer to all (accidentally vegan btw!).

Great work everyone. Come and join us next week for our local task at Market Road Gardens!

NEWS

Goodgym Islington's 5th Anniversary Meet-up

After our task next week, we have booked a reservation at a local Bangladeshi restaurant on Holloway Road for 9pm. Come and join us for great food, drinks and good times!

If you can't make the task, but still want to come along, the address is as follows:

Standard Tandoori 87 Holloway Road, Holloway, London N7 8LT https://www.zomato.com/london/standard-tandoori-holloway/menu

Please make sure that you sign up to this event page, so we can confirm numbers in advance!

Caledonian Park junior parkun test event

We have been invited to volunteer for a recce for the proposed Caledonian Park junior parkrun, a 2km free weekly timed run for children aged 4 to 14, started every Sunday at 9 am.

This is really exciting for GG Islington regulars, as we have been involved with various tasks in Cally Park leading towards this parkrun!

Sign up here to get involved with this special event, Sunday 19th January at 9 am (please arrive by 8.30 am).

This will not be listed on the main event page, so feel free to send the link to this page for any interested Goodgymmers!

First CREOS community mission of the year!

Easily GG Islington's most popular Community Mission, helping out the Crouch End Open Space charity workers with gardening and maintenance of their lovely plot just off the Parkland Walk.

Sunday 19th January, starting at 11 am, and often finishing with a picnic and snacks in a beautiful woodland setting. What's not to love?

Click here for more information, and to sign up!