A relaxed games evening centred on multiplayer Call of Duty: Ghosts on the PC network; straightforward, lively fun that kept spirits high.

With Jack off his usual pace and Ash arriving late, we reached the Holne café near noon before rolling on to Hembury, where the autumn leaves were magnificent. A playful spin round the moat and a slalom capped a relaxed morning that was more about company than speed.

A relaxed games night that began with Call of Duty: Ghosts before switching to a music quiz spanning decades. The change of pace from rapid-fire gaming to quick-fire recall gave the evening its spark.

A relaxed games evening built around computer games and music quizzes, with Ash’s late arrival providing the only hiccup.

With Lawrence ill and heavy showers forecast, our Christmas ride became a drive to the Ilsington Country Hotel for a relaxed swim, spa and an excellent lunch. A territorial swimmer tried to enforce “her side” of the pool, and an A38 accident delayed our return.

An evening social turned into a warm reunion as original member John Stuart joined us with his son Callum, sparking tales from past tours. The highlight was John’s 1980s Achininver hostel fiasco—locked out, frantic knocking, then blundering into Michael’s bed—before we ended with CoD Ghosts.

A treacherous start on black ice forced a rethink: Michael fell as Callum approached and Alastair found it amusing, while Ash arrived too late to see it. We switched to safer roads, enjoyed the Avon valley in bright cold sun, and gave Ash’s new Specialized a smooth debut.

A low-key games evening: Jack and Ash on the Xbox 360, while the rest linked up on PCs for Call of Duty: Ghosts.

With rain set in all day, we scrapped the morning ride and turned it into a sociable badminton session at Ashmoor, then rounded things off with computer games when Ash joined us. A rare no-bike day, but spirits were kept up indoors.

A relaxed club social centred on computer games — a simple, off-the-bike get-together.

With rain due we kept it short to Broadhempston, enjoying a warm welcome at the community café. Michael and John managed two coffees each, there was time for a frisbee in the park, and we reached home just before the first drops.

With the main hall fully booked, we squeezed into the small single-court hall at Ashmoor Leisure Centre for a sociable mix of badminton and basketball, where the low ceiling added its own challenge.