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

@Heifer I wasn’t thinking of Covid- just wouldn’t want to be subjected to a make over by my DD
In that scenario, DD could be armed with the makeup bag versus my bare face with the shots in the middle of the table
I’d take those odds! fgrin]

Heifer, I’m so pleased the dinner birthday party went well. Behind every good party is a hard working parent (or 2)

I am SO impressed with you doing shots. I shudder at the prospect…such a light-weight me…

@ProggyMat I'm well used to DD playing makeup on me although just thought not whilst she had covid thanks so need to tell her no (didn't even think) reply shots I think I will suggest playing cards and loser drinks so I have half a chance :-)

Sp much covid. I hope all those afflicted have it mildly.

Well done to all with recent offers just before Chrimbo!
Also to all who’ve had other successes!
@Heifer- I think I’d rather brave the shots than the makeover
Sorry to hear of positive tests and purely anecdotal but friends of DD who’ve also tested positive have mild symptoms -let’s hope the ‘tide is turning’
Whilst that’s no comfort for those that have had Christmas plans ruined - DD being one of them- hopefully we are ‘turning a corner’ and on track to some semblance of ‘normality’

Sorry to hear that Heifer but applaud your bravery - do let us know how you fare with the shots!

I'm optimistic now that regulations will allow us our family visit between Christmas and new year, but realise there's still a good chance one of us will test positive and it will be off. It's a Christmas Covid roulette. Sorry to hear of those ill or isolating or separated from loved ones

Meant to say, DD has no symptoms but was doing a LFT because she was going out - then found out a friend that was here on Monday night has done one and tested positive too (she now has symptoms apparently)

DD LFT positive today :-( I can't say I'm massively surprised tbh as we allowed 10 friends round here on Monday night for a dinner party to celebrate her 18th. We did ask everyone to test beforehand but I know I know. She's only had 1 jab as she had to wait to have 1st jab after she was positive in August and has to wait 12 weeks before 2nd jab. DH and I just tested negative for now. Have ordered a PCR for DD. It doesn't affect our Christmas plans as only the 3 of us anyway and DH & I had no plans socially anyway as knackered and feeling very antisocial at the moment.

On the plus side, DD had a lovely dinner party - it was flipping hard work though catering for 12 (vegan, veggies, Halal & fussys but I managed it, so much cooking done and DH did a chickn paella. Very civalised evening (surprsingly) we had more booze after than before as they all brought bottles of vodka/gin/proscecco but didnt' drink it all.

Well done on all the offers, I did laugh at some of the comments re menaupause picture.

Excellent news re Flight training finished - you must be so proud. There is now way DD is ready for the real world yet, your DD must be much more mature than mine!

DD currently in her room feeling sad that she has tested positive as she was off out tonight on a pub crawl with non school friends and was really looking forward to it. I was impressed that she brought her test to us and said it's positive -as she could have hid it I guess. I do feel sorry for her because our Christmas's are very boring with just us 3 so this at least was something to have fun with. She has asked could she do my make up and do shots with us tonight - we have said yes so god help me (I haven't done shots for many years)

Fingers crossed DH & I stay negative, I'm still not fully over the cold I had 5 weeks ago (sore throat and chesty still).

Well done on everyone's good news. Still offers coming in too. Ds said he wouldn't get any more as he thought they'd close when schools finish. I don't know whether he's looked for more. I hope those ill or testing positive get better soon.

Ds1 came home yesterday, he still has a cough, but otherwise is better. He's brought home about 5 machine loads of washing too. Ds2 has been doing LFT's daily. But will stop now. Seems he's escaped covid so far. Ds1 being poorly hadn't been out, so I think I can safely say he won't have it. So hopefully we will stay covid free for a bit longer. I work in retail, so I guess I could bring it home, but I do wear a mask, rubber gloves and wash my hands as I leave work, then change clothes as soon as I get in. I can't do more than that. But I'm sure we can't escape it forever.

Ds2 isn't even up yet. It's 4.30pm. He will moan Christmas Day at having a large dinner for breakfast, as he will be called down for dinner about 2pm. He will say he's just woken up and it is too early to eat. I really don't understand all this sleeping. But I suspect he's gaming with mates until the small hours.

Oh fab @Zebracat. Wonder if UCAS is working Christmas Eve?

Well done Paddington.

Dos anyone know how integrated foundation year courses are viewed by Student Finance?

Well@PaddingtonPaddington, I thought your Dds wonderful acceptance might be the last actual news before Christmas, but we have another offer. From RH, for History with a foundation year, standard CCC.

Thank you all for the well wishes for DD. It is a low offer as it’s audition/interview based: EE and she’s doing 3 A levels so the pressure is off. She’s been busy practicing with the youth orchestra for the last few days so is finally getting a break but has decided to go carol singing this afternoon.
I’m very invested in all your DCs too and rooting for them on their journeys.
Congrats @whoamitojudge to your DD!
Sorry to hear of those with covid over the festive period

My friend's husband has just had it again after having it in August too, but very, very mild this time and no one else in the house caught it.

@Piggywaspushed my friend has just tested positive and she was also positive in august. She is double jabbed. I think if it’s a different variant then it doesn’t matter if you’ve had it before 😬

Yay great news Paddington - best Christmas present I bet.

So sorry to hear about all the Covid in the family Volterra and your DD not being able to be with you. Hope she recovers quickly from it and can get to enjoy a bit of the festive season where she is with who she's with.

Massive congratulations to whoami's DD on being a fully fledged cabin crew member. What an achievement in such a short space of time and to think this dream she's had for years now has come true.

What a shame re your DS choir Monkey. I will be tuning in to Carols from Kings tomorrow so that will remind me of all the disappointed choirs that can't perform. So sad after all the training and practising they've all been doing.

Piggy I wouldn't rule out your DS flatmate not being reinfected esp as August was some time ago now. Fingers crossed it's just a cough still.

Alsoplays enjoy West Side Story. We've not seen it yet but DD was a huge fan of Maddie Ziegler from Dance Moms so def wants to see it. To think she's 18 now and was 16 when they filmed it.

Have as Merry a Christmas as you can everyone and catch up soon 😁🎄

That's fantastic news @whoamitojudge, well done to DD. I wanted to be an air hostess (sounds quaint now, cabin crew) when I was about 12, i remember sending off for information to BA but I never pursued it. I don't think I had the first idea what was really involved.

Great news on the first thread acceptance too @PaddingtonPaddington.

Sorry to hear of so many covid / suspected covid cases, hope everyone gets through without being too ill. We are all consistently testing negative (pcr and lft) but a cold is circulating round the family and we have scaled back plans a bit so as not to spread it. Frustrating all round.

DS had his booster this morning, he's still under 18 but had two jabs earlier in the year as CV, it was a bit of a palava as they clearly aren't doing many under 18 boosters and we ended up being passed around the vaccination centre several times but everyone we dealt with was SO polite, friendly, kind, amazing service.

Great to hear about whoami's dd, flying high in a plane near us very soon!

Pleased to read about more offers (and acceptances!) but sorry about all those affected by Covid. I had a day of running around like a headless chicken yesterday trying to find more LFTs before Christmas after finding out that BIL's ECV parents accepted their invitation to join us at the last minute.

It was the library that saved the day!

DS1's housemate has Covid and he was coughing a bit but it's over a week since he saw her and he had Covid in August so it seems unlikely. DS2 and I have been LFTing. If I get it again , I will not be responsible for my own actions.

Hope yours feel better soon Volterra. Such a myth propagated on various platforms (looking at you MN coronavirus board!) that no one feels poorly. I've known young people feel fine, but more have described feeling 'really ill'. Most youngsters aren't used to being ill so it does shake them.

Fantastic news, whoami! Your DD deserves every success - she has been so focused on achieving her dream.

volterra, hope your DD, BF and family feel better soon. Never a good time to get Covid but this particular week is the worst.

No further offers here.
Bad news for us that Wales restrictions are kicking in on 27th; DH is waiting to hear what this means for his NY performances.

We’re off to see West Side Story this afternoon, followed by dinner, before everything changes again.

@whoamitojudge congratulations on your DDs success what a fabulous achievement. Two of my friends worked as stewardesses until one married a guy she met on a flight (cliche but he’s super nice) now she’s a doula.

The other worked in airline industry for BA until she was 30 had her kids and now works on private jets as lead hostess. Also training the girls and guys for the different protocols and service in the luxury market. She flies all over the world and loves it sooo much x

Sorry to hear about dd @Volterra. We had covid last Christmas and it was miserable. I hope none of them are too unwell with it and they at least manage to have a bit of fun. Such a shame she won’t be with you though

Thank you all. She’s with her boyfriend at his relative’s as they legged it after negative PCR hoping to avoid it (I did say just because they can didn’t mean they should)They are both feeling pretty rough, their other 2 housemates less so. His poor relative looking unwell now too. So far that’s 7 out of 8 who were at their house last week gone down with it. DD has been mostly sticking to her room trying to avoid catching anything last minute and using a separate bathroom.

DS managed to get a final couple of carol concerts in yesterday, but now all 9 lessons and carols (today and tomorrow), midnight mass and Christmas service cancelled for his choir