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Is there 2 bigger bollixes in Ireland. Brendan O Carroll & Jason Byrne.

Kielty is poor,but he cant make a silk purse out of a pigs ear.

Was thinking that too about his guests - jeez they are making it hard for him.

San Sebastián was heaven. The food, the people, the regatta,  Pilota final, 31st August festival, incredible. 

Ducked to Bilbao for 2 days and saw them play Betis, atmosphere off the charts. Their Semana Grande was on and it was electric in the City. Did walking tours in both but San was a different level

Stayed the other 5 days in Uncle and Aunt's in San Sebastián, had originally intended to go to Biaritz but couldn't leave.

Uncle works for Real Sociedad, was texting Odegaard re he being in my Fantasy Team etc, my head was gone with it, bizarre! Every player who ever played there seems to fall in love with the place.
Fantastic, fantastic time

Would go back as often as I could, it's that good, but don't want to overstay!

May be heading there shortly for a brief stay. Anything to do in particular? What's the best way to see the city? Beaches nice?

Interested in this too - we're going to Biarritz for a week at the end of the month, keen to check out San Sebastian but will have two kids (and a double buggy) in tow. 

Bit of a random one - anyone here spent any time in Gallipoli or other towns in Puglia?

Vogue Williams your modern day celebrity for doing what? Must be short on guests already just two shows in.

You know what - I like her!

Spain based, so slightly different but I switched from a variable to a 5 year fixed there last month. Payment has jumped 30 quid a month but now also includes my home insurance, so to all intents and purposes I'm paying the same. I'm at 1.79% instead of 4.9%.

5 year fixed at 1.79%?? That's amazing.

Great that a few here know the area.
Have found a hotel with an indoor pool in St Jean de Luz - for people who like to be within walking distance of restaurants and bars, and with nice coastal walks suitable for a double buggy, is it a good enough spot? Have read good things about it. Hoping we would then be handy to both Biarritz and San Sebastián. Not expecting good weather as we'd be going off season, but is St Jean de Luz the kind of place that becomes sleepy after the summer season?

Ended up cancelling my trip to Sicily and am now going to San Sebastián on Sunday. Any one been, any tips/recommendations?

I would really appreciate if you let me know what it is like - considering it for anOctober break with two young kids in tow. Struggling to find a suitable hotel.

I get your point MR. On this road, the margin for fatal or serious error is so small compared with other roads. A lapse in concentration on another road, and you may have enough space or time to correct a swerve. On this road, you just can't as easily .
People don't drive on it any differently - but the volume, the side roads, the lack of passing lanes, no hard shoulder etc all make any last minute adjustments all the harder and more likely to result in an accident.

Irish Times reporting that Sinead O'Connor has died 

One of my daughters (17) works in an outdoor activity centre, zip lines that sort of craic. She loves it and wants to do a degree in instructing outdoor pursuits. I think she's mad.
But we spoken to a few people, and seems like its a bit of a niche market and there can be a lot of money in it. But it's also possible to get the qualifications without going to uni. Places like New Zealand and parts of America, or the Ski resorts in Europe can't get enough of these people so I can see the attraction of living that life.
Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I think it would be great for 10 years until she grows up a bit, or has a family then it just isnt feasible any more. But what do I know....at least in my 17 year olds eyes.

I'm in Chamonix at the minute - a 9-month resort, ski and then so many spring/summer/autumn activities, like rafting, hiking, climbing, cycling, mountain biking, parapenting etc. You could definitely have a medium to long term career here or in similar resorts in Europe (or NZ as you said).
I loved that sort of stuff too, did voluntary work in outdoor pursuits centre before A Levels, did summer seasons in Switzerland during uni. I regret not taking time out before my career started to do more. Now I just come here on holidays and plan for retirement here 😁

Clann Rois here on the TdF route. Some of the "fans" are completely nuts in real life, long before the bikes come through. And not a beer (or at least not many) in sight.

Donegal starting to put the Croke Park review plans into action.

Two Omagh men on the Interim Implementation Team. All look to have decent qualifications to start us down the road to getting on a similar track, hopefully, to our esteemed neighbours to the east and northeast.

Interim Head of Operations: Billy Bennett

Interim Coaching support: Roger Keenan

Interim Governance and Finance support: Gerard Bradley

https://donegalgaa.ie/interim-implementation-team-approved/

And did you know there was a(n incredibly qualified) Tyrone woman at the head of it all?!

Yourself?

No, but a peer, and a troubleshooter who was also sent to Pairc Uí Chaoimh a few years ago too. Former Ulster Head of Finance before the Croke Park positions.

Yes, thanks for that J70  Didn't take us much further in any case.

You're dead right! (literally).
You've set the kids up well to survive on their own. Spend spend spend! I wouldn't begrudge my parents spending what they have earned, assume (presume) most on here would be the same. Hope our kids feel the same.

I think I have it near sorted tbh, probably just wary of  pitfalls or mistakes the lay person would make.

Think you're grand. Have you taken tax advice? Have your beneficiaries? Give it all away in advance, or the nursing home will take it off you 

The nursing home possibility has been discussed but is for another day at this stage. Is it 7 years your home has to be out of your possession before it isn't in danger of being taken to finance your nursing home stay?

Yes 7 years and think it goes down to 25 grands worth of what's left big the house...

That being said, if you have a pension or two (state, private) that could cover a fair degree of your nursing home, friends of mine Airbnb the parents house which more that covers the payments.

Great idea if both are out of the house. Bit more thinking required if one still lives there.

Yep - gift with reservation has 7 year limit. Sounds like you have considered the right things.
Kids may need to charge you rent and declare on tax returns if you really want to stick by letter of the law. If one files a tax return, would do no harm to file a low rental income  offset against expenses that often occur when running a house with tenants (i.e plenty)