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

I'm totally with @ZittiEBuoni over the possibility of another lockdown. DD will be totally devastated and she was really poorly during the last one both mentally and physically.
I had no idea about anxiety and peri menopause but it makes me feel a lot better. I thought it was all because of DDs illness. Maybe the combined things have doubled the effect!

I m sure there was a comment from @crazycrofter. It's gone, that's weird.

Well if that’s the one ican, well done to him.

@crazycrofter yes...he only wants to go to Sussex.

That’s great @icanbewhatiwant

Great news @icanbewhatiwant! And he’s not really been enthusiastic about anywhere else has he?

@Alsoplayspiccolo she has no definite preference among her choices! She can’t decide if she’d prefer Manchester, because she’s used to a big city, or if she’d like a beautiful small city like York/Bath. Or somewhere in between like Nottingham/Southampton. I’m sure it will become clearer with some visits!

Good news about the interview @KingscoteStaff!

@BlueMarigold I know that feeling well.

Ds2 just phoned me (at dm's) he never calls. So I knew exactly what he was going to say. He's had an offer from Sussex. Distinction (business) B, C if he firms them. Or BB if he puts them as insurance. He said "so basically I'm going to Sussex because I can easily achieve those grades" let's hope he's right. At least that is some good news. He's confused at the C grade though. But all ds1's choices offered lower if he firmed them.

Congrats. to all others getting offers.

Unmitigated fury was my main menopause symptom.

Second interview (Newcastle) in for DD, and she ‘just feels’ that Bristol will be in touch tomorrow.

All her feelings have been wrong so far…

Very good days for you both Crazy and Piccolo. Lovely.

Anxiety was my biggest peri menopause symptom @BlueMarigold - whilst I had a few physical clues the mood/anxiety impact was the biggest thing. HRT is a bloody miracle (for me at least)

Thanks. I am about the right age for menopause so it could be that. Never thought about it! It is good to know that there’s a scientific/biological reason and something bad isn’t really about to happen!

Thanks, crazy, he’s a cellist.

Fab news about York! Is it a top choice? I’d have loved DD to apply there, but it doesn’t offer the course she wants. My mum lives near York and we love visiting - such a beautiful city and surrounding area.

Blue, I’m with ealing - anxiety is definitely a peri/menopause symptom, and a horrible one at that.
With the bombardment of increasingly bad news this week, it’s not surprising if it’s gone into overdrive.

I’m about 3 weeks into hrt (52, about 1 yr post menopause) and I think it beginning to pep me up a bit. I’ve felt a bit like I can’t really give a crap for the last year which isn’t good in my job. So early days but maybe look into it if you aren’t already on it.

Blue don’t know how old you are (not that that is actually relevant) but general anxiety, and in particular worrying about mortality or similar is a well documented symptom of pre/menopause. Just another joy to add to our already many…

Well done to your DS @DoggerelBank and @Alsoplayspiccolo 😀

I have been feeling a bit off recently. Not got any symptoms or anything like that. Just a general feeling of impending doom. Don’t know why I feel like this.

Wow, lots of success going around - @DoggerelBank your ds will go far! @Alsoplayspiccolo well done to your ds, I had to google the letters - brilliant! Remind me what he plays?

Dd has just had an ABB offer from York for the masters so she’s pretty chuffed.

Your DS sounds amazing, Doggerel - amazing to pull off an A at the 11th hour! Doesn’t do parents’ nerves any good, but he clearly knows how he works best.

Thanks, guys! I cannot tell you what a relief it is to know we don’t have to move him (unless he chooses to go to the specialist school).

We’ve had even MORE good news this afternoon (it’s shaping up to be the best week for a VERY long time) - DS’s audition for NYOW was successful. Really pleased for him because he’s had a tough year, musically, and at 15, was auditioning against undergrads and postgrads.

@DoggerelBank Excellent EPQ outcome! Winging it? I think you mean agile thinking.

Piccolo Whoop! Bursar should have done his homework. Well done.

To those waiting for PCRs everything crossed for a negative so relatives can be with you. And smooth travel for your mother @ealingwestmum

Term finished today. DS is currently with friends at Spiderman. Mocks are in Feb so a decent amount of downtime is in order over Christmas.

@DoggerelBank fantastic about the EPQ, that's pretty amazing for such a last minute rush, clearly he performs well under pressure - they don't worry about the stress it puts on us though!

I don't know how you cope with three of them and their friendships - two is bad enough! My poor mum had six of us to deal with, can you imagine the stress??

Apologies as I've not posted much this week - busy at work - but reading all the updates @DoggerelBank: great winging it that boy and excellent news that the bursar is back in his place @Alsoplayspiccolo! Good luck to everyone waiting for PCR results/caring for sickly kids.

We've not booked Spiderman but you're tempting me now!

We do have a very, VERY low key drinks thing planned here for Saturday: really debating whether to cancel - we've invited only 3 families - and then another one coming later to spread out the exposure - and had already made it very 'if you feel comfortable' only. But I am debating whether I should pull it. It'll make me sad though! I can't quite get my head around everything going back into lockdown again just before Christmas. I think I'm in denial a bit....

The Man U game has been cancelled. I'm pleased in a way. Hopefully the cousin will let Ds go to another game. The cousin has 2 season tickets.

Our letter from school said they will have small exams starting jan. that will be used in the event of no A levels. I think Ds can do better than his current attainment, so not sure if he will get chance to show that.

That is fantastic @DoggerelBank, he will go far in life if he can pull it out of the bag and get top marks!

Thank you, Mumsnet. The positive thinking triumphed again! At the end of it, teacher said he was on track for at least an A, with a few more hours' work on a second draft.
So glad @Alsoplayspiccolo has triumphed in bursary battle, too. What a fantastic Christmas present!
@JustHereWithMyPopcorn, long may their new-found friendship last. We have 3, and the minute 2 of them are getting on, the 3rd feels excluded. We've had a very peaceful term of 2 at home, and there's definitely some trepidation about the atmosphere when the absent one comes home for Christmas tomorrow.