Wet and windy weather at Paignton prompted Tao to make the decision to use the car today, and whilst it was only drizzly at Buckfastleigh we made the decision to all go by car so we could make the best of our expensive Christmas Lunch.

We arrived at the Edgemoor Hotel, Bovey Tracey for around 12.30 and were soon shown to our private room – the Old School Room. Apparently, the hotel used to be a private school and the owners had tried to retain as much of the original feel of the building as possible.

The meal turned out to be excellent in nearly every respect, with apple and parsnip soup and a chestnut and mushroom main course for the vegetarians. As we didn’t have to cycle back, we ordered coffees to accompany our after-dinner conversation where talk turned to a possible summer tour to Switzerland.

When we finally left at 3.50 after a very relaxed afternoon, we dropped Jude home to Ilsington and returned to Buckfastleigh for a mammoth game of Risk which went on until 8pm.