Hunger set the tone: the youngsters pressed for Pizza Hut and, having eaten nothing since lunch, we duly obliged. As desserts arrived, Lawrence called, so we wrapped up and headed home for a multiplayer session of Supreme Commander.

A sociable ride to Holne became all about the café: George admitted he’d skipped breakfast, prompting hot drinks and a long chat. A brief heavy shower met us as we left, then, with Tao and Michael persuading the youngsters, we continued down Holne Chase to Ashburton and home.

A night of friendly competition began with Charades—Dillan edging Will by a point—then rolled into a massive game of Supreme Commander that, despite a ban, ended the only way it ever seems to: with nukes.

Despite a damp forecast the youngsters pressed on for a longer ride to Fermoys, rewarded with hot lunches and a wander round the pet store. The day had its own character: Lawrence’s duvet text raised smiles at the start, and later George’s rear wheel bearing failed in the heaviest rain.

We ignored Michael’s advice and chose an oversized map for Supreme Commander, only to watch the game grind to a crawl after an hour. With John and Will leaving at nine, the rest of us restarted on a smaller map and finished with a straightforward win before the club closed.

Mechanical woes defined the day: two stubborn chain jams, traced to an unadjusted replacement wheel, punctuated a detour onto the deeply rutted Marley Head track. John’s veto of boggy Dartmoor and Michael’s promised coffee kept everyone good humoured before co‑op bench refreshments.

As has become the norm for our socials, the evening was given over to a single, absorbing network session of Supreme Commander on the PCs, everyone happily immersed from start to finish.

Will’s birthday turned a wet, ride-free day into a cosy social: a sprawling morning battle on Supreme Commander followed by an afternoon at Pizza Hut. John’s magnificent chocolate cake set the tone, and George made us wait while he savoured the only dessert.

Our planned quiz was shelved as a marathon game of Supreme Commander ran to closing time. Five of us teamed up to beat three AI foes, then, still allied, we amused ourselves by trying to nuke each other anyway. A simple, absorbing night that everyone enjoyed.

With rain due later, we took full advantage of a fine morning: along Colston Road to Staverton riverside, skipped the usual stop and headed home via Fursdon, just ahead of the first drops. The wet afternoon was redeemed by a lively game of Supreme Commander.

With Michael down with a virus and keeping warm in the lounge, the youngsters took over the PC room for lively rounds of Supreme Commander. A gentle evening of quiet care alongside spirited on‑screen battles.

With Michael still recovering from a virus, the ride was converted into a games social at Crofters. Supreme Commander absorbed most of the day, with a break for quizzes in the middle.