Thread 25 - Covid Cohort - Christmas Trees, No Omicron Please!

Merry Christmas to you all x

Have a really Happy Christmas everyone!

Kids are getting up late -normally Father Christmas pressies (but this is first year no Santa just from us) then church but DH ( who sings) concedes church super spreader event so all having a lie in.

Weirdly DS2 who complained for previous 3 years about stockings and Santa sacks plus food for reindeer saying they were too old ! thinking it was silly! ….wanted the sacks and stockings out last night ?!? DD reminded him that he’s the reason it’s not happening 🤣😂🤣😂

Enjoy having the kids home if they managed to get there if not I hope you can meet up on zoom etc

Congratulations on all the offers!! Especially the crazy last minute Christmas ones!!

Managed to see parents this week (moved it from next Tuesday to this Thursday as Boris may change rules). DCs decorated their tree and lights outside which helped to make them festive. All of us masked and sat two ends of the lounge. LFTs and PCRs for kids and LFTs for us only took off masks for picnic lunch. Windows open. Cheered up parents and now they have pressies. Doing Zoom unwrapping later today! Asked DD to play Christmas songs on her instrument for live concert for both parents on zoom (great ability but hates performance) and will do a quiz with them that DSs have organised on Boxing Day.

DH has mum ill yesterday unclear if covid but awful cough so Boxing day cancelled and we booked PCRs for them for Christmas Eve as website so difficult to navigate. Kids and DH took over pressies and food - saw DMil through window in garden not too bad. Also doing pressies unwrap via Zoom this afternoon. DMil super teary as unwell and disappointed- if covid then probably their cleaner - who doesn’t wear a mask in the house.

Lots and lots of friends with covid isolation 18 different families at last count. Most of mums and dads in bed so not well flu symptoms as many didn’t get booster in time (takes 1-2 weeks to kick in) so effectively unvaccinated. All kids with double vaccine ok just mild but 2 of DS2 friends are only single vaxxed and one a fit 21 yr old has very low sats and looked like hospital last night.

DD helping teach friends how to cook Turkey and prep veg on door step or via zoom as the teens in charge of dinner in many friends homes?!?! Some can’t cook at all so it could be interesting x

@Heifer glad your DD got 18th do and sometimes we just have to take risks because kids need a life. As long as vaccinated and boosted parents then fingers crossed just inconvenient. DD says she had a fab year as got to do concerts, house parties and drive! She’s accepting that we had to take some risks with covid but she’s happy we struck a balance.

Thanks @Decorhate and @EwwSprouts.

Merry Christmas to you all 🎄

Merry Christmas to all you lovely parents and carers. Wrapping is finished !!

Merry Christmas all. Hope Covid does not spoil it for you. Thanks for a great thread! Xx

Just popping by to wish you all a Merry Christmas

@20newnames We did make it to a general open day. The biology admissions team were welcoming, in a well-maintained (popped to the ladies) old building next to a public park and the students' union is just across the road. So it's all very handy and the accommodation up the hill looked fine in a reasonably nice area but DS doesn't fancy one of the modern blocks down the hill. They were very keen to talk about graduate destinations. We didn't do the city centre as DS 'doesn't see the point as he doesn't shop'.

We also visited Newcastle in the summer. DS chose not to apply there. He's not a party animal and a lot from this area go there for a lively time.

Merry Christmas everyone

Not had a chance to catch up other than a quick glance shows some of you coming down with Covid - hope you are expected soon and not suffering too badly.

Well done to those getting Christmas offers, what a lovely present!

Happy Christmas to you all!! 🎄🎁🎅🏼

@20newnames I think all the engineering departments at Sheffield are in The Diamond which is quite an impressive facility. We went to look at the last minute as Ds1 had only got 4 choices he liked. We all thought Sheffield was a lovely city. Dd was at Leeds & used to get the train over there occasionally to see bands as they have a better music scene!

@Decorhate thanks for that. DS is going mainly for mechanical but also general in some places. Bath is likely to be his firm if he gets an offer, we are unlikely to hear until March though unfortunately.

Ah, heifer, glad the dinner party went well - bravo, you!! - but sorry to hear your house has been struck by Covid. Your DD sounds very sensible, but also loads of fun - shots and make up!
Hope you’re not feeling too bad today and manage to stay Covid free.

Congratulations on the offers - amazing that uni admissions were still working up until today.

@Zebracat: congrats on the last minute offer: what a lovely early Christmas present
Less good news on all the covid positives :-( Just off to do my LFT with fingers crossed… finished work yesterday lunchtime and a lovely afternoon of Christmas prep and a walk with some of ds’s mates and their mums to look at the Christmas lights round near us : lovely to see them and hopefully all low risk being outside!
Ds is taking his revision over the hols pretty seriously (mocks early jan) but is allowing himself just an hour of revision today!

@20newnames What kind of engineering is yours applying for? Ds1 had Sheffield as his insurance for Civil Engineering 3 years ago. He liked the course content - was similar to Bath which was his firm.

That’s interesting @EwwSprouts. I have asked DS to look at Sheffield and Newcastle for his fifth slot. (Also engineering but has already applied for integrated masters elsewhere)

Gave you visited Sheffield? If so, what was it like?

Sending get well wishes to everyone who has covid and congratulations to all the new offer holders!

@EwwSprouts that must be a really good confidence boost for your DS even if he decides not to go for it!

@Heifer Envy! I'm very confused by the news at 10 being moved on a work day. Sheff Uni. He'll think about it. He spoke to one of his biology teachers about the merits before submitting his form and she said it all depends on what his plan is for after degree and he has no idea.

@eww I'm off work now so it's not really midweek :/) Which uni asked? Not heard of that before. Is he interested?

Sorry to hear about the Covid positives. Got to say anecdotally I know 5 people who have tested positive this week and all were only testing for work/social reasons, none had symptoms and the worst subsequently was "felt off on Sunday night but fine Monday morning". Age range 18 - mid 60's. I am fervently hoping this a turning point.

@Heifer Shots midweek is impressive! Well done on catering to all those tastes at the dinner party.

@whoamitojudge Flying high indeed! Congratulations to your DD.

Pleased to hear of more offers. Tis the season of giving!

Snail mail for DS today. Would he like to reconsider and apply for the integrated masters? They'll do the admin their end at his request. The cynic in me says flattering but they are chasing £££.

Sainsbury's been and gone. No Christmas pudding or Cadbury selection box but we will survive. I'm really enjoying the pinacolada which could be an issue. I generally don't cope well in the morning these days after a couple of drinks.

@Zebracat congrats on RH offer, that course is still on DS's list of possibles for his 5th UCAS slot so interested to hear your DD's offer (DS is predicted BCC so would be foundation too). I think foundation is treated the same as any other year for student finance.

Sorry to hear about DD @Heifer, hope she stays well and you two don't catch it. I'm glad the dinner party went well.

I've managed 4 shots of apple sours and have remembered I've got sainsbury coming 9-10! Have moved into the pina Colada :-) truth be told I'm not much of a drinker these days but as a hockey player for over 40 yrs I may have had my fair share of lager, shots and archers peach snapps in my time :-)

The dinner party sounds great @Heifer, well done!
Sorry to hear your DD has covid but pleased she has few symptoms.