New Batch of Year 13 parents this way!

Can I join?
DD definitely taking a Gap year next year. Is still totally undecided about whether to go to Uni at all (but will work for the grades regardless). Full driving test on Monday. Started an Essay yesterday (I didn't know she had one to do). Hasn't yet done all her Course work data collection - Geography. But doesn't start until the 11th.
Oh and completed the expedition bit of D of E Gold at the beginning of August.

I think that is pretty impressive TheSecond

It definitely could have been worse. It gives me hope for this time next year.

"If you get to Nottingham early enough you'll be able to park on campus."

How early is early. We are there on the 15th.

Ursula where are you staying in Newcastle? We stayed at the Premier Inn, which has parking next door, and is walking distance to the university.

I don't recall that there was anywhere near the university itself to park though as it is bang in the middle of the city.

For the open day York has parking at an old airfield and then a shuttle bus transfer. It was extremely well organised. I think it is easier to park on campus at York. Bear in mind that the campus there is pretty spread out.

We did Newcastle one day and York the next at their summer open days. We were really tired by Sunday evening.

I think that is pretty impressive TheSecond. I'm fairly sure DD wouldn't think to do it till either she needed something that was still dirty, or it was starting to smell.

Note to self something to work on over the coming year...

This week I conducted an experiment to find out how long it would take DS1 to wash the dirty laundry he brought back from Reading. This is without me nagging or even mentioning the subject at all.

The answer is three days; he did it today.

We are staying over night in Newcastle on the Friday then with a friend in the NE on Saturday before driving to York.

I am hoping my blue badge will allow me to park up at all the Unis. She will have to do the tours on her own as I won't be able to do them with her.

Ursula - we did Newcastle and Nottingham one day after the other, we had another planned on the Sunday but gave it up as a bad job when DS wouldn't get out of bed for another 7am start...

We parked up at Heworth station when we went to Newcastle and caught the Metro in - the stop was just outside the Uni. If you get to Nottingham early enough you'll be able to park on campus.

Welcome back MrSlant ad congratulations on the that job.

Theory test is next week here. If he passes all well and good. if he doesn't well at least he's put some work in to it this week. The next one he could do was mid October so to me it was worth the money to take a chance on getting it out of the way now. I think he's a long way off the practical side, he's safe but not putting it all together quickly. I'm keen for him to pass as then I'll be replacing my ten year old tank with its hostage-taking CD player and temperamental boot lock with something newer with a tiny engine that's cheaper to insure (and tax).

There's one more open day booked and as it's a Saturday I suggested that DH might like the final open day experience.

We are doing Nottingham, Newcastle and York on three consecutive days.

We're at Notts on the 16th. I refused to take him out of school for visits.
I've had to take some medication this week (nothing serious but they make me feel very unwell) so ds1 has been driving me everywhere, it's been great. Mr Slant that's really good news, it's great when their skills are valued by others.

Signing in for this thread in the hope I can keep up this year, need lots of tips and help for UCAS forms (right name?) DS1 for those of you who won't remember me because I fell of multiple threads for our children has some SEN so I was well chuffed with his CCE A/S levels. Well not the E but I have no idea why he took art in the first place having never, ever done it before and being crap at course work . Best news ever is he did work experience for his Welsh Bacc and was immediately offered a holiday job with the business which has now been extended to a permanent job to fit around school. He's so good at 'stuff' and bright but not academic so I am pleased someone has spotted his potential. Fingers crossed him having two jobs now will look good on his form despite his interesting academic results.

Also he has repeatedly failed his theory test but is a most excellent driver so I do get driven everywhere I need in a very relaxing fashion even if he can't go anywhere on his own yet!

And no. They don't suddenly get good at driving. Trust me.

Didn't you book the test?

DS was told to take nappy sacks for the wild camping part of his DoE expedition. They weren't allowed to throw any rubbish away except for the nappy sacks! I said they should look out for dog poo bins. He only had one night of wild camping though so they managed.

DS has one more week of holidays. He is aiming to finish his EPQ. He says he has about 30 hours of work left on it, so will be working pretty much full time this week.

Yes poo. 😂

We could have a meet up!

UrsulaPandress so are we.

DD is in Snowdonia the weekend after next - with wild camping - what on earth do they need a trowel for?

It's the real thing lobster. Snowdonia.

She thought they were 'wild camping' last time, but there were at least taps in the fields. This time, no taps, and they have had to bring chlorine tablets for drinking water, and a trowel!

She's gone now till Sunday night. Given the lack of washing facilities, I think I may suggest that DH collects her, and I see her after she is washed and changed, and smelling lovely again.

When are you in Nottingham Ldg?

We are there on 15th.