@narbs, Should be ok at the checkin desk as long as you have both (and can explain/point to the rules as per uk gov), but couldn't do online checkin as it wanted my eta details. I also only use my uk passport for travel to uk, for uk immigration, but until last year it was mostly really to avoid the big line at Heathrow. So had to present daughter’s UK passport at check in and were advised to use this one for API in future. Interestingly my wife couldn’t check in online and it took about 30 mins for the check in assistant to find a way to override the system - she’s Canadian with ILR so can’t apply for an ETA, her UK permanent resident card is no longer valid as it’s been replaced by one-time codes generated from her ILR account, and the airline system doesn’t yet recognise the code.

@stuarth, my daughter is dual Canada/UK national. Currently she travels on her Canadian passport when visiting and only uses her UK passport to re-enter the UK, so we use her Canadian details for API. We’ll see if that causes any issues when we head back later this week!

I have zero intention of answering work calls while I'm skiing :lol: But for Carv I use my Shokz openrun headphones which fit comfortably under my helmet and, being bone conducting, I can still hear normally.

Sun Peaks, BC earlier this year. https://i.ibb.co/RpGrrkzP/IMG-0464.jpg

Nothing at Geneva just now. Old school show passport process.

Banff is ideal in terms of skiing and the town is great for kids, but if they're in ski school it means leaving the accommodation very early, waiting for the bus and then waiting for ski school to start at 10.30. We found Sun Peaks was far more convenient - just fling the kids out of the hotel at 8.55 for a 09.00 lesson and let them go :lol:

bean to cup is no slower than Nespresso, if it is plumbed in arguably quicker as you wouldn't need to fill the tank. Our Jura is switch on, automatic rinse cycle, press button to produce coffee. I've not seen any domestic ones designed to be plumbed in, but yes, it takes just seconds to pull tank out, move to tap or filter jug, fill tank and replace, just like a Nespresso machine would. More importantly I've not found a singe Nespresso or compatible capsule that tastes as good as the real thing. Even the same brand (Chicco D'Oro, recommended) capsules are nowhere near as nice, so it's something inherent to the process. I've used them on and off for 20 years or so in various offices and have them in three of my rental apartments, so do have a stock of capsules and experiment from time to time, often making a cup while I'm cleaning. And been using bean-to-cup ones at home(s) for probably almost as long as that as well. As for the filter machines, all I can say is that they're OK if you can't get proper espresso. Likewise the cafetiere ("French press") type I have in the smallest studio (work surface space is limited). It's not too bad as long as you use loads of ground coffee, but of course you're already starting at a disadvantage unless you grind the beans freshly every time. I do believe this makes a big difference. Not really a valid comparison as they're two completely different drinks!

@japes1275, yep, I have a Moccamaster which makes lovely faff-free coffee.

Where are you going skiing/boarding? Meribel in December with @skimottaret and team Family trip to Big White in Feb. Why did you choose that place? Had some great tuition on the InsideOut trip last December so looking forward to another few days with excellent company, and the chance to watch some French hockey. We've spent the last few years since Covid either in Sun Peaks or Banff, and Big White has been on the list for a while. We've rented a condo this year for two families, which is around half the price of last year's hotel in SP. Also, I quite fancy Kelowna as a retirement plan and we're there for the Kelowna Rockets - Kamloops Blazers derby game. How are you getting there? Air miles are covering my trip to Meribel. I'd love to take the train but it adds a whole additional day on the return. Standard Air Canada via Vancouver for Big White.

Nothing as bad as that, but Ski Exchange outside Cambridge have always managed to rejuvenate my bases - as well as a great boot-fitting service.

The original article in the opening post shows how common it is and where. Does it? There're some numbers on what percentage were "unauthorized" and how many got fined. But I can't tell what percentage of the overall school age kids were taken out of school during term time. https://department-for-education.shinyapps.io/pupil-attendance-in-schools/

Lots of talk on here about schools doing this or that. The current approach is that schools get given a reason by parents for absence. The school then determines whether it’s classed as authorised or unauthorised based on a reasonably defined criteria (the criteria is shared with parents). The school then passes that information onto the borough council. The council then determines whether they’ll issue a fine or not. Schools generally don’t get involved beyond that. Schools cannot afford to spend time (and subsequently money) investigating whether a child is ‘worthy’ of an absence. Headteachers and teachers haven’t got time to report on individual children’s attainment to determine whether they should be allowed to be absent. We tend not to grade everything a child does and keep a subsequent record of it - certainly not below year 10 (usually the first GCSE year). If you do base it on graded attainment, how do you handle the hardworking child with a good attendance record who finds learning difficult so never gets a good grade? I don’t particularly agree with fining families for absence, but coming up with convoluted systems that add more of a burden onto schools isn’t the answer. Completely this.

@Doccam, so should there be one rule for the nice skiing children and another for the little toe-rags? Should there be one rule fits all regardless of how student performs? For attendance, yes - otherwise the message you send is that do well and you don't need to come to school. And 'doing well' will differ from one school to another, so you're back to the postcode lottery. Let's be honest, the major driver for taking kids skiing during term-time isn't sporting advancement or cultural enrichment, it's so that parents can save money.

We got fined two years ago as we missed five days. No issue with that, we know what the rules are. We go to Canada and try and bridge half term in Feb but the dates that year meant we couldn't make it work for both us and our friends, so we took the hit. We made that decision in full knowledge that we'd likely get a fine, and we did. And rightly so.

Ah, really sad news. Had several great holidays with them to La Ros, Tignes and Meribel, made some great friends - both guests and staff. Best of luck to everyone involved.

Nice amount in Sun Peaks this morning but quite damp by lunchtime. Great morning lapping Morrisey then spent the afternoon watching BC kids on their freestyle comp.

@Specialman, @Busta Knee, but Adam and Robbie are great and Sean Kelly is so insightful. Not worth £30/month though! I’d happily pay the £30 if they could guarantee no Carlton Kirby :lol:

Revelstoke. I have the idea that it's a mini-Banff, with closer slopes. I could be very wrong! Nope - total opposite. Revelstoke isnt a tourist town, working railroad town primarily. We're big fans of Revelstoke and have been since the mtn opened - did notice some changes to the place last season though. For mini Banff you'll want Jasper 8) That's good to know - and even better than I'd guessed! I like the idea of a working town much more. Thanks!

Revelstoke. I have the idea that it's a mini-Banff, with closer slopes. I could be very wrong!

@Specialman, I've done this several times - always via Lyon and always hired a car. Bourg is great for Alpe d'Huez but other routes are made much easier by starting from the other side of the Glandon. We did the Lacets de Montvernier and Croix de Fer for example, starting from St Etienne-de-Cuines.

We used Banff Airporter for both our trips, and would happily use them again.

@luanb, I know - that's why they're no use to me! So these are just available as spares for anyone who might need them.

I'm not sure if anyone can use them, but I have two of the Carv 1 units which I no longer need. Sadly they don't come with the footbeds as I've cut the cables and left these in my boots, but if anyone needs any spare or replacement units they're yours.

@phil_w, really helpful, thanks.

@anjunabeats, sent you one 8)

Picked up an Insta360 X2 last month in their Black Friday sale. Given the large file sizes what are people using to save these? Is it worth taking out the Insta cloud subscription, or is it easier to save them on an external drive?

I've used Outdoor Tech's wired chips for the last couple of years. Work fine but the cable to phone is a pain, so this year I'll use my Shokz which fit comfortably under the helmet. This seems to be a decent alternative to the wireless Chips if you're set on in-helmet speakers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doohoeek-Speakers-Bluetooth-Headphones-Snowboarding/dp/B0DFGMPK6M/

I've also got a pair of their hiking trousers. Fit well and had no durability issues so far - about a year old.

Hopefully mine will arrive soon! Arrived this morning, looking forward to giving them their first test next month!

Hopefully mine will arrive soon!

@Mr Blue Sky, agreed, V60 is a fantastic way of making proper coffee simply and (relatively) cheaply. I had a Gaggia Classic for a couple of years with a Mazzer Mini grinder. Drove me mad - it would take three or four wasted cups for each new bag of beans to dial in the grind setting, and then the machine's temp fluctuation meant probably 3 or 4 out of ten cups were cafe-equivalent, another 5 or 6 were passable and at least one was undrinkable. There's a reason people train to be baristas :lol:

@Harry Flashman, I had my current boots fitted with the footbeds and had no issue thankfully. I've got V2 on order so went back yesterday to have the boots remoulded without the insert. I was amazed that without it the boots felt about a size bigger, and even with some messing around the only way to get a good fit was to cut the cables off and just pop the footbeds back in. Apparently they've done 5 or 6 people in the same position, and all but one ended with the 'blank' footbeds staying in place.

@DrLawn, if you do go down the pod route this is the only machine I've found that gets close to a properly made espresso..... https://www.origincoffee.co.uk/products/opal-one-pod-machine-black?

@abc, re the cycling answer, there's no point in spending double the money on a 7kg bike compared to a 8.5kg one if you're dragging >90kgs up the hill. And body building and 'quite fit cardio wise' aren't cycling fit. So they were right. Obviously if your neighbour wants to spend £6k on a road bike he can do what he likes. But that's not what he asked.

@kitenski, that’s mostly how I use it. Choose what I’m going to work on and then look at the metrics on the lift or at a break. I mostly find the turn by turn feedback too distracting, although I might do it occasionally. And as has been said previously an understanding of what you’re trying to achieve and how is pretty key. I also find it useful in general skiing when it can show up what you’ve forgotten/let drift while focussing on another particular area.

@luanb, cheers, it does look much neater and less faff. Decisions, decisions :lol:

Carv have just told me that all the metrics and feedback categories will be the same with both v1 and v2, including identifying different snow conditions, so I think I'll stick with v1 for now.

@luanb, I'm in the same position as you, with lifetime pass. I had my inserts fitted when I changed boots a couple of years ago so just wondering whether to get the boots refitted without the insert and move to Carv 2, or stick with 1.

@phil_w, thanks Phil - that’s my wife’s interpretation and as she pointed out yesterday ‘we had this conversation three years ago and I was right then as well’ :lol:

@Hells Bells, I'm sure I had a conversation with the old provider about in-bounds off-piste in North America and that it was included - the 'off-piste' element to them meant outside the resort boundary or not avi controlled. If not, we've been lucky for the past three years not to need it!