We charged £300 I think, for training, practice and assessment for gold. All the equipment needed could be borrowed, included all transport and campsite fees etc. When all levels were out we had 10+ staff out of school. But if you already have a group and kit, and can work out the paperwork, it’s very cheap to do by yourself. You can wild camp at gold too which makes it even cheaper.

We went with Virgin last May and we’re very well looked after

There are FE colleges that don’t do academic subjects, like the course at https://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/further-education/courses/adventure-sports/#tab-id-1 if there’s an interest in outdoor stuff?

Lots of people overpay, but usually you have to do the chasing to get the money back. I would phone the SLC on the phone number you have on your paperwork; if they do owe you a refund they will be able to put you through to the correct department. Also, unless your back details have changed they should be able to pay it back into the account you have been paying from?

Marks and Spencer’s is even worse than Waitrose.

I think until he’s 18 he will need to be in full time education, or a recognised traineeship or apprenticeship?

Fruita! The bike shop (on the edge?) will sort you out with maps and trail advice

The Royal Ship is very good pub food and some nice ales on. We also ate at a tapas place in July, which had the most incredible dessert display. I think it was called Tafarn y Gader? It was tasty :-)

Second for RX sports. Husband has a couple of pairs from them, including transition oakleys and some ski inserts, and they have been very good. If you want to try frames then I think vision express stock them.

Have you tried ringing them? That was the easiest way to expedite things when we made a claim and they were slow to respond to email.

Where to stay… do consider le chable to stay…it’s cheaper and the gondola (free parking if you end up with a hire car) is the quickest way up the hill. Do you have any hotel points? We had a free night at the W late season which was pretty amazing, despite the underpowered jacuzzi.

Re bike hire, a friend hired a bike the last time we were out there, although we stayed with Bike Verbier and they organised it, there seemed to be a good range of bikes etc in town.

Guiding is definitely the way to go…the footpath network is very accessible, but more fun with someone who knows where they are going.

Can Pure Biking pick you up at Geneva?

Have you tried icing your feet (with and ice pack, buttercream is a different matter).

Can you go a size bigger on work shoes and get some more cushioning in there- maybe a foam insole/thicker sock?

Have you got good arch support? This can remove pressure off balls/metetarsals

Have you tried rolling a golf ball under your foot ( as satisfying as a cotton bud in the ear but actually good for you).

As suggested above, can you get a trainer with a steel toe cap that’s a bit more forgiving?

I think mindbody does payments as well- and it has an app.

Pier is nice in Cromer Coastal hopper bus is fairly decent and actually goes on the coast road for the most part so good views. Blakney/Cley next the Sea good for pottering.Rocket House cafe in Cromer on the front does a very good coffee (and lunch).

+1 for dogtag (with EHIC). Other half had a bad crash in the trans Savoie a few years back and they were very good at covering all trip and medical costs.

I’m a woman – with a theory (although I’ve never broken a phone). I don’t’ use a handbag as I have pockets, but most pockets in women’s clothing are too short/small to keep a phone in whilst sitting down. Back pockets are better size, but obvs can’t sit down with a phone in there. So any sitting down means phone/ wallet out, on table, floor etc therefore much easier to leave behind. The back pocket toilet flip also becomes very likely. So bigger pockets please, and problem solved!

I’d go a touch further north, between Kildale and the Lion Inn on Blakey ridge. There won’t be much good single track ATM, due to the big, but the grouse tracks will give good views and a nice run out. Avoid the fylingdales side Sam it’s a swamp even in high summer

Northumberland is beautiful. Bamburgh castle, Alnwick castle etc. Great beaches! Spent many happy holidays there as a kid.

At least this time it wasn’t bags of dog poo :-( but I literally can’t leave my bin out for any less time. Oh well, have a beer,let it go and try not to be grumpy having to wheel someone else’s rubbish into my yard to store for 2 weeks

South Africa?

Archeological site? Burial ground maybe?

Steady Rack? Hold bikes off the floor and are hinged so you can flatten them out too.

I’ve had all sorts of stuff to my private gmail by someone using my email address instead of theirs or the one they meant; boarding passes for flights from NZ to Hong Kong, confidential commercial documents from PR firms in the US and 3 years of invites to a Thanksgiving dinner in Virginia which I wish I had the cash to brazen out and go to. I’m also regularly invited to attend/give seminars as a ‘respected professional ceramicist’ and signed up to a number of craft blogs. Boggling.

Slightly off topic, but we went for our first night ride of the season a couple of weeks ago at Dalby and there had been some sweeeeeet trail maintenance since the last visit on the return leg. Super fun. Thanks to all the volunteers at singletraction for some quality work.

https://simplyseaviews.co.uk/

Some of the Nazi Atlantic wall towers on Guernsey/Jersey are also holiday lets- an example here https://www.jerseyheritage.org/holiday/radio-tower

Call it out when you see/hear it
Listen to your employees/co workers/friends
It happens to both sexes
Remember most people are good people

Wood panelling and some honours boards is what you need

We did a week in Leogang/Salbach/Hinterglemm last year and really enjoyed it. We were on 150-160mm travel ‘nduro rather than DH bikes but it was a blast. Especial joy on the Big5 route, the Hacklberg being a highlight (worth the push, with a lunch stop half way down). Most of the stuff on the Leogang side was wide, fast and high- more techy stuff on the Salbach side. Oh, and they do love a wall ride!

Definitely ride at Fruita- if you pop into On The Edge bike shop they will sort you out with a guidebook and tell you which trails are in condition. Will you be there for the Ho Down?

Home

I used these for non prescription lenses on an out of date model. Service was very good and they have a prescription service https://www.revantoptics.com/prescription-lenses
In the UK use RX sport but I think they are Oakley lenses so not cheap

Second the Olympic Stadium. It’s still in the original park, with swimming pools and quite spectacular. The Stasi museum used to (might still) do tours with ex inmates which were very moving, KaDaWe department store is good for Christmas atmosphere, you can go up the top of the Reichstag for a small fee which is architecturally interesting. Travel by public transport is very easy and cheap. It’s not far to Sachenhausen/Wansee if you want Nazi history. Checkpoint Charlie is preserved, along with part of the wall, and I think the topography of terror is also nearby.

If the queue for the Mermaid is too long, the arousal cafe in town is a good second choice.

Surprised to be disappointed by a return to Pila last week. It was very dusty and bumpy. It’s mostly superfast flow with some jumps, and a couple of super technical sections. It looks like (idle speculation) it hasn’t necessarily had a lot of maintenance/new building in the last few years. We binned it after a day and headed elsewhere.

We have a 2015 2ltr petrol VRS. Love the automatic gearbox, and we’ve driven to the alps and back in plenty of comfort! Decent size boot, and in sports mode it is a lot of fun on the switchbacks!

Just spent the last 3 days in Livigno, some super sweet trails! 2 gondolas- one side Hans Rey designed flow trails, other side bike park, north shore knarl etc. Everyone is super mellow, the trials are very well built/ maintained- almost all the bike park is single track stuff, and some walkers paths are open to bikers, which makes for some very interesting lift assist xc. It’s also a tax free zone, so super cheap!

What about Hadrian’s Wall? I think there’s a lot going on the weekend 1/2nd July of a Roman nature

If you go past Fruita, sop off and ride. Drop into Over the Edge for trail advice http://otesports.com/locations/fruita/ and the pizza place round the corner is good too!

A good summary from https://www.travelnation.co.uk/family-round-the-world-trip

Educational value – what better way for your kids to learn about other cultures, languages, wildlife and natural phenomena than by experiencing these for themselves? If your children are of school age, many schools are very understanding and can appreciate the educational benefits of experiencing new places and different ways of life

Timing – Travelling when kids are young is a unique opportunity to take some time out together before the pressures of exams and coursework become a reality. Not only will it will be an amazing experience for the kids but this kind of trip also adds another dimension to your experience; you’ll see some incredible sights through your child’s eyes

Cost – It’s actually cheaper to travel with kids when they’re young as you’ll get discounts on their travel. As a guide to round the world tickets, if your child is under two they’ll get up to a 90% discount on the adult price, although bear in mind that they won’t get a seat at that price. If they are aged 2-11 they’ll normally get a discount of around 25% on the adult fare.

Quality time and shared experiences – travelling can be an unbeatable way to bond as a family. It certainly won’t come without inevitable stress like airport delays, long car journeys and sibling squabbles; but there’s no better way to really get to know your family and see your kids develop and grow. Breaking away from the day to day routine of home life can help you relax and enjoy each other’s company, and you’ll share some experiences you’ll happily reminisce about for the rest of your lives

Time to take stock – especially at a time when the economic situation can seem bleak, taking time out to reflect on your career and your lifestyle away from home can in itself be invaluable.

Develop resilience, empathy, open-mindedness but most importantly have time, step off the treadmill, reflect, enjoy, experience.

There will be so many great opportunities in the places you visit that missing out on a year of schooling won’t be awful. Don’t underestimate young uns ability to make friends anywhere- they’re a lot less shy than us adults in that respect. Do lots of reading, phonics, writing etc- do you know anyone who is a primary school teacher- they will be able to give you an excellent idea of the skills your daughter will need to develop whilst you’re away so she can re-integrate easily on return. Her future classmates will be jealous of her amazing stories and all the friends she made on the way. If in doubt read anything on experiential learning!

For York: Dales, Moors, Peak day trippable. Lakes- Just (2.5hrs each way). Beautiful contained city, little urban spread, greats pubs and restaurants, fast train connection south/Manchester airport. River for paddlesports. Commute by single speed as city centre is flat. Affordable* living 15mins walk from city centre.
*compared to the south

Against: ‘Vale of York’ so by road bike 10 miles every direction to get off the flat. A couple of pump tracks but no real mtb from door. No mountains for miles! (but there is a small rise and a windmill for your running hill reps!)