At 26 your still young don't worry about it.
First go get a class one medical and make sure thats not going to stop you (don't worry when it goes to a class 2 your still good to train)
Then sit down and plan a course of action over the next 3 years taking into account holidays etc.
For your 10 grand you can get a ppl and exams done. But I wouldn't rush into the PPL get a local school and get it done while saving. Then onto the theory. Either get a local share in an aircraft or go away and do a couple of 50 hour blocks for the hour building. CPL you can just about get away with during a 2 week holiday. Then unfortunately you will have to stop work for the IR its best done in one go. BUt up until that point you should be earning every month which makes a huge difference.