Plans for Pool and Asda in Plymouth shifted to the usual Pool and Tesco. Several good games and some handy discounts made for an easygoing evening, with Callum especially pleased to be out.

Brodie impressed on a relaxed ride to Staverton via Colston Road and the riverside path. Park Frisbee and rocket, and playful stick duels between Callum and Ashley on the return via Abham, gave the day a cheerful edge despite the breeze.

An evening defined by cheerful indecision: with no agreement on which video to watch, the group settled into computer games and never pressed play. It ended with Lord of the Rings practice matches to help Brodie learn the basics.

A bitter start turned into a gentle hunt for winter sun, rewarded by a warm, sheltered stretch on the lower Hembury track, before we dropped to River Dart Country Park, deserted of campers. Michael’s stubborn pump delayed us after last week’s use by Zac.

An expensive night out in Plymouth centred on a lively hour of ten‑pin, with Callum fluking second on 112 ahead of Neil, Ash, Zac and Ryan, before a stop at Tesco for bargain snacks.

An unforgiving headwind made the climb of Dean Hill an ordeal, with Michael resorting to incentives to keep us from the shortest way home. We huddled for chocolate behind a stone wall near Skerraton before a hard-earned tailwind pushed us swiftly down to Nurston and home.

Highlight of the evening was an epic Lord of the Rings battle: Brodie, Neil and Michael defeated Ash, Callum and Zac, and Brodie came away with plenty of new tactics.

With heavy rain forecast, we scrapped the morning ride, filled the gap with computer games, then drove to Ivybridge for some challenging badminton matches.

An easy-going games night ended with an impromptu trip to Tesco at Lee Mill, where the group turned bargain-hunters; even Brodie, doubtful at first, found himself caught up in the fun of spotting reductions and good prices.

A gentle intro for newcomers Callum and Connor became a tougher-than-planned outing: a steady haul to Rattery sawmills followed by a sunlit descent from Pennywell. A mid-ride pause for Frisbee and rocket play kept spirits high; both newcomers coped admirably.

At last we organised a social at Pizza Hut after smelling the pizzas on many visits to Barbican Leisure Centre, playing pool while we waited for a table. Time allowed only one course; the standout was Callum O'Brien's four raids on the ice-cream factory.

Showers arrived early, so after waiting for a break we squeezed in a brief run towards Buckfast before ominous clouds rolled off Dartmoor. A vote to skip Hembury Woods—Brodie the only one keen—proved wise as rain hit within minutes, leaving us wet but ready for the games social.