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Original poster

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

989 replies

OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 12/12/2021 17:15

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to posts about grades.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this goodwill continues.

Our DS/DD may go down various paths (such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided, for anyone interested, they will most likely find us within the Further Ed board.

Orange Cinnamon (Head Monitor Xmas Wink)
Previous Thread Found Here

Thread 25 - Covid Cohort - Christmas Trees, No Omicron Please!
OP posts:
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13
Volterra · 20/12/2021 14:04

DS went to a brilliant club for a few years organised by one of the high up people in Bournemouth’s Media department. Absolutely brilliant and so professional. I was really impressed.

ExquisitelyDecorated · 20/12/2021 14:03

@Oblomov21 definitely a "mum preference" feel to DS's choices, not only Winchester and Bournemouth but Cirencester and Chichester, all very lovely places.

Oblomov21 · 20/12/2021 13:56

Elbows Ds1 out of the way. Sod you dc and your life/career/Uni aspirations. We've got bigger and better applications to now worry about.

Oblomov21 · 20/12/2021 13:52

I'll divy it up so we all get a week each. And a bi-annual week when we are all there, so we all get to meet. And party like it's 1999 , prince style. And we get a degree out of it. Why haven't we all thought of this before?

Oblomov21 · 20/12/2021 13:49

Is it too late for us all to put in a joint mums UCAS application to both Bournemouth and Winchester? Wink
Can't think of anything nicer. 3 years of bliss.

HibiscusIsland · 20/12/2021 13:40

Bournemouth would be lovely

ChristopherTracy · 20/12/2021 12:08

Winchester is so lovely - congrats!

Fiddlersgreen · 20/12/2021 11:27

@ZittiEBuoni DS has applied to Bournemouth for journalism, we haven’t had the chance to visit yet through

Monkey2001 · 20/12/2021 11:22

@ZittiEBuoni that sounds promising. I know plenty of adults who have difficulty reconciling how they currently feel with how they want to be, so difficult to help someone manage that pathway, but you are lucky that Bournemouth is so strong for the subject your DD wants.

ZittiEBuoni · 20/12/2021 11:15

Thanks for the Bournemouth votes of confidence - in fact both dds had school trips there organised by the media department a few years ago and were blown away (at the time) by the facilities.

Dd has always been adamant that she wants Bright Lights Big City but I reckon Bournemouth has pretty much everything she likes in a compact space, an hour's train ride from home.

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 20/12/2021 10:46

Well done on the offer @ExquisitelyDecorated I'll always remember Winchester as one of the first Christmas Markets ever visited in the locality. Really is lovely there.

@zittiEbuoni Bournemouth has a funny reputation to this not in the know...really a good place for students!

OP posts:
Decorhate · 20/12/2021 10:07

@ZittiEBuoni I’ve heard Bournemouth is great for film etc. The son of a MNetter (who sadly died recently) went there and is doing very well now.

ExquisitelyDecorated · 20/12/2021 09:50

Here's a beautiful Winchester photo for a bit of Christmas spirit, cathedral and Christmas market

Thread 25 - Covid Cohort - Christmas Trees, No Omicron Please!
ExquisitelyDecorated · 20/12/2021 09:48

@ZittiEBuoni DS has applied to Bournemouth (for history, Talbot campus), we really liked the feel of it when we went there and it is only an hour and a bit from us too. We didn't go into town that day as the weather was beyond foul but do go there for a beach day out every now and then. A few of my friends older DCs have been there and loved it.

crazycrofter · 20/12/2021 09:35

That's good news @ZittiEBuoni, sometimes you just need to quietly plug away at an idea until they get on board! Being near home sounds like a really good idea.

ZittiEBuoni · 20/12/2021 09:04

I've spent the last couple of years hinting to dd that she might think of Bournemouth, as it's our closest and I feel she will need to be within an hour of home if she wants to have a shot at independent living. It's also great for film & media, which is the A level subject she's getting her best results in at the moment.

She always rejected the idea out of hand, but we went to Bournemouth on Saturday for skating and Christmas shopping/market and she decided she really likes it there now - signs of hope...

I've had to buy my own Christmas presents - some slippers and a necklace I had my eye on, as both were selling out and I thought I'd better order while I still could. Also getting an Alexa for the kitchen!

Wheresthebeach · 20/12/2021 09:03

Lovely news about Winchester ED, and must be lovely to have DD home Who.

Whatever they do, I wish they'd just bloody decide and announce.

Isthisjustnormal · 20/12/2021 07:26

Great news @ExquisitelyDecorated. Great to hear dd is home and covid free @whoamitojudge: how long does she have off over Christmas?

HibiscusIsland · 20/12/2021 01:15

I fancy going to Winchester now

HibiscusIsland · 20/12/2021 01:09

@ExquisitelyDecorated

I have the logins too, I set this email up for DS when he first had a phone and needed an address to manage his giffgaff account so I put the email on my phone. I have also got the UCAS one as he needed help with getting all his qualifications in (BTECs are complicated) and needed to do it mid-week when he was away in boarding.

And he got an email from track today and his first offer came in on Friday, from Winchester. He is feeling quietly chuffed.

Good news
HibiscusIsland · 20/12/2021 01:05

@singingstones

What is everyone wanting for Christmas? DH is pestering me for ideas but I'm struggling to think of anything. So far I have come up with new slippers and a bone China teacup and saucer but now I feel about 80.
Calendar, books on places to visit in London (insert other city) candle, gardening book, hand wash and lotion, soap, lip balm, mug, nature book (not all from one person) If you like coffee, whittards did a set of coffees from around the world last Christmas
singingstones · 19/12/2021 21:59

whoami, has your DD finished training and about to start working?

Monkey2001 · 19/12/2021 21:37

My DS wouldn't mind if school this on line - says there are pros and cons, he can get up later and make better use of free periods. He would like TAGs but I am fairly sure he would do better in real exams. We are regarding the March mocks as the real thing. He has now made it clear that he has no intention of completing EPQ as it will not affect any offers he might get. If he didn't get into medicine this year he will do the EPQ alongside Chemistry A level next year.

Congratulations on more lovely offers!

whoamitojudge · 19/12/2021 21:35

Thank you all. Dd had a good flight back. Did her PCR and sent it off but also did a lft which was negative.
I’m so happy she’s back and looking forward to spending time with her at Christmas.
Now she’s starting looking at flats near Stansted Airport!
How did my little baby get so grown up?

ExquisitelyDecorated · 19/12/2021 21:32

Thank you all, Winchester is fairly close to home and we go there quite often, it's gorgeous at this time of year with the Christmas market.

@Alsoplayspiccolo they vary with respect to the reduced offers for SEN. If you type "contextual offer" into the website search box it tells you. DS has SENs and is eligible at some of his choices but not others.