Two of us enjoyed the opening night of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a long but enchanting return to Hogwarts as Harry confronts the mystery of the Chamber and the monster within. The shared sense of first‑night anticipation made a simple cinema trip feel special.

After weeks of rain, we made the most of the sunshine with a brisk South Hams ride, passing the picturesque Bickham Bridge before a tough climb and a fast run home. A local pensioner reminisced about cycling days, and it was heartening to see Dave Hartnell back after his summer fracture.

Another enjoyable evening of badminton at Torbay Leisure Centre in Paignton, a simple, sociable night.

An advertised morning spin turned into a car-assisted day from Starcross, splashing along muddy Powderham Lane to the canal with fine views over the estuary. Birdwatchers slowed our run, but sunlit pizzas on Exeter's Waterfront sealed the day, and the case for more winter car-assisted rides.

Another enjoyable badminton evening, this time at Dyrons in Newton Abbot — a simple, sociable session that kept everyone in good spirits.

Riding solo, Michael took a brisk loop via Ashburton and the River Dart Country Park, with the day’s highlight a surprise: a post van on Holne Chase and, after checking the village box, confirmation of a Sunday collection. He returned via Michelcombe and Scoriton.

Another enjoyable evening of badminton at Dyrons in Newton Abbot, a simple, sociable session on familiar courts.

This cinema social at the first showing on opening day felt special, as we gathered for The Two Towers—a darker middle chapter: the fellowship split, Gollum’s uneasy guidance, and the thunderous siege of Helm’s Deep.

Our first Christmas Special drew four new youngsters for a relaxed ride to Staverton, only for a swollen river to block the Island crossing. We turned it into festive fun, filming the Santa Special and sharing Christmas chocolates before heading home.

Torrential rain turned our Christmas special ride into an unexpected hit indoors, as James and Tommy tried their first games of badminton at Ivybridge Leisure Centre. Within an hour they were serving and returning, and suddenly hoping for the next wet day.

Strong turnout for the long-awaited Star Trek: Nemesis, the tenth and most action-packed of the series, and it did not disappoint. Picard confronts his Romulan-engineered double in a high-stakes clash that tests loyalty and sacrifice, with relentless set-pieces throughout.

On a freezing first ride of the year, the day became a battle with ice: after admiring the frosted Avon valley towards Diptford, we found a Volvo sideways across a lane near Blue Post, freed by a tractor, then edged gingerly down a river of ice from Pennywell Farm to Dean Prior.