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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)

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?!

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 

Make sure the tyres are brand new or near to brand new. If buying private and the MOT isn't 12 months use this to haggle.

I would not worry about somewhat used legal tyres of good quality, as they would show any uneven wear or the lack of it. Just factor in the cost of replacing the tyres. But I would run a mile from a yoke with new ditchfinder Chinese tyres, anyone who isn't willing to spend money on a safety aspect like tyres will not have maintained the car properly,  you'll have to change the tyres anyway if you value your family, and they probably changed the tyres because misaligned tracking or somesuch had worn the previous ones to shite.

That would be me! Had to do gearbox oil change, two new springs, two new tyres in the space of two months - not a racer so I bought the one up from cheapest tyres. Car cleaned me out, not that I haven't maintained it. You can't hide tyres!

Going to be in the region next weekend when they hit the Alps. We will go see the finish of one stage, savour the atmosphere on a rest day, and then either catch a time trial or see the départ of a stage. The local tourist agency must have paid the Tour a fortune for it to be in the area of St Gervais/Megeve for so long.

Things have taken a turn for the worst here. Work, home life and the illness of a close friend has really knocked me back on my heels totally.

Things will get better but at the minute it's hard to see that happening.

You said previously that counselling really helped.  Can you think back and try to recall some of the techniques that you discovered to help you get through this hard phase?  Remember how the counselling had a positive effect on your outlook - and try to recreate the feeling, or at least recall that you were able to see a way through.