A low-key night at AMF Bowl, Torquay: three games in the darkened alleys, with Gavin topping the scores on 115—true to form. The murky lanes lent the session a slightly surreal feel.

Ashley’s first ride on the Abbots Way gave the day its lift, ending in a brisk, trouble‑free drop to Chalk Ford. Earlier, Jason’s sore throat sent him home, and the group sheltered behind a gorse bush for refreshments as a chilly breeze ruffled the reservoir.

Cold, grey and drizzly, the ride switched to Dartington when bare hands and Will, despite flu, needed warmth, bringing a welcome stop at Cranks — where James and Ashley bristled at the meat‑free menu — before a chilly return with Will creeping down the final descent to avoid frostbite.

Our games evening had a single focus: trying the new GameCube title Super Smash Bros Melee, which we all enjoyed and played for most of the evening.

On a wet morning, our five youngsters insisted on riding, setting the tone for a determined run towards Landscove. A brief dry spell let us retrieve Jason after a wrong turn and fix Louis’s rear brake, and we even squeezed in a muddy track for James before turning for home.

A quiet Friday social drew only a few, but that meant uninterrupted time on the networked PC games; a timely reminder that younger riders are welcome at Friday socials.

A sunny climb to Skerraton saw new rider Tim match his brother, the group relishing the stony track and the wide views from the ridge. Two emblematic moments: lively Dartmoor ponies beside the descent, and James’s unavoidable ford crossing—dry feet claimed.

With swimming off the agenda, the evening split in two: Tao made solid progress on the Norway video while the rest of us settled into the usual computer games — a quiet, companionable way to spend the night.

A chaotic start — Jamie arriving an hour late and Oliver discovering a puncture — didn’t derail the day. We climbed from Bovey Tracey to Ilsington and swapped the cold for the hotel pool, Jacuzzi and sauna before a convivial Christmas lunch and awards, heading home by dusk.

With a revised format emphasising full MIDI implementations and original recordings, the Music Quiz made for a lively evening. In a tight finish, Gavin and Luke beat Tim and Oliver by three points.

The promised sunshine-and-showers became relentless rain, so we took shelter at Buckfast for a cafe stop, confirmed the grim forecast and cut the ride short with a direct return. The afternoon shifted indoors as plans took shape for another Music Quiz for those who missed Friday.

A cosy Christmas social brightened by the surprise arrival of John Stuart and his son Callum, with mince pies, DVDs and computer games setting an easy, seasonal mood.