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

To be honest, if I'd stayed in my previous job I would have had to go back to full time years ago, my part time hours after DC2 (I went back FT after DC1) really didn't work for the business and I essentially had to cram 5 days work into 3. But I got made redundant and this job was only ever offered as part time, it doesn't need full time and it works for us. In the years when I was pursuing DS's EHCP it was a lifeline.

@Piggyinblankets DS not applied for Oxbridge but he has friends who have had interviews so was just wondering when they would find out. It has been a lot of extra work and pressure on them so well done to everyone who applied.

25 Jan for Cambridge Nard

Good luck to your DD Kingscote, and her B’ham interviews before Xmas?

Thinking of your DD this morning Sandy, hope she enjoys round 2!

@singingstones the chase? That’s exciting! Good luck to your DH!

Thank you for the new thread and thanks to those who ensured it stays the safe, supportive place we know and love.

I’ve worked full time since DS2 got settled into secondary school, he’s year 11 now.
They both have had lots of extra curricular activities which took up a couple of evenings in the week and most of the weekends.
I’ve had to accept that the house will never be as clean and tidy as I’d like and the children have to chip in a lot too but I do feel like there’s always something that needs doing.

Not amazing; just routine driven. Part time teaching is hard. Lots of bits of classes and treated as an afterthought often so I chose not to do it. If DCs were small again, I probably would now.

I'd love to be on The Chase! Love a quiz.

nard, remind me- Oxford or Cambridge?

@Nard75 DD will find out in 11th January - for Oxford- if it’s an offer or rejection.

Just a question about the Oxbridge interviews. If they are successful do they get an offer after the interview.

@Piggywaspushed I think mums like you are amazing! I couldn't do it.

I'd be ok if it were summer. I'm now up and keen to walk the dogs, but it's dark. I'm not going out in the dark. Too scared 🤣 I can hear DH coughing so I'm glad I slept in ds1's room.

@singingstones the chase? As in the game show? That sounds exciting.

@KingscoteStaff I hope the interview goes well.

I hope everyone hears more from ucas this week before schools break up.

I have always worked full time. I know no other world! I don't have any social life, family nearby or hobbies though! Work home, sleep, work...sad really.

@icanbewhatiwant I increased my hours from 3 x 4 hour plus 1x 5 hour days to 3 x 7.5 hour plus 1 x 5 hour (different job) about 18 months ago with both having a 20 mim commute and I still can't keep up, I can't imagine full time. We are a family with a lot of hobbies which take up our evenings and bring their own admin into the mix, plus DS's SENs, my day and a bit off are full of errands and chores (I do fit in either a yoga class or coffee with friends most Fridays but I really cherish that break). WFH would help but I can't and in any case would hate it. Hats off to those that work FT!

DD has Birmingham interview and has everything crossed to hear from Newcastle this week. Bristol and Barts may well not contact until post Christmas.

icanbe I've been into the office a couple of times lately, first time for ages, and have been wiped out the following day, it's ridiculous. Doing Tuesday and Thursday this week so hopefully I will cope a bit better, although DH is away for a couple of days being on The Chase which complicates things a bit. I have to do the bins which I don't remember being part of my wedding vows

@icanbewhatiwant sorry to hear you are having such a tough time, hope your family help you get into Christmas nice soon.

Thanks @OrangeCinnamonCocktail, great title, but with the PM's message it looks like we would be lucky to all avoid Omicron. One of DH's close colleagues had just tested positive, don't know if it is Omicron. Friend in Cornwall did a concert with a choir and half the choir seems to be down now. Schools Minister said he will do his best to ensure schools go back in January. It is the primary teachers I feel sorry for, no vaccination and no social distancing.

@ I wish the pcr would hurry up. Especially if he's not getting better.

I do like everywhere clean. Have to vacuum before I go to work. Especially as dh is home, he might have visitors. He does vacuum sometimes, but he'd never dust, clean the kitchen or bathrooms etc. Keeping up with dog walks (dh does take them if I'm at work, though I always do one of the walks as dh doesn't go far) is proving difficult with short daylight hours. I'm sure it's just a case of getting into a routine. Hours will slow down again after Christmas. My previous job was term time only and Feb. through to end of nov. That was great.

I've had not even had time to go Christmas shopping yet. Maybe that's just as well with covid.

Thank you Orange & Singing

Thanks orange!

ican, interesting a GP mentioned Covid to your DC. Most doctors do the opposite, don't even check young people have tested and announce chest infection...

DS1 had a sore jaw a few weeks back. I reckon he had a sinus / ear infection.

I wrote this on the last thread. So do skip it out if you read it on there.

I'm not feeling Christmassy at all. Ds1 and ds2 not being helpful with what they want for Christmas. Ds1 has given me a list but nothing on it I can actually get him. Ds2 says he's doesn't want anything. Ds3 I have finished his stuff. No idea what to get DH either.

Ds1 has been in bed ill since last Monday. (At his uni house) I insisted he phoned the walk-in gp Saturday as he said his jaw was agony and he couldn't eat very well. All the gp said was it's probably covid and nothing they can do. He has done a few negative LFT's. Sent a pcr off on weds but not had results yet. I don't think it'll be covid though. But we can only wait. He's left his dissertation proposal until the last minute and now says he's too ill to do it. He has been given a 3 working day extension until 21st.

DH is poorly too. He never gets ill. Neither of us have had colds for several years. He had a routine blood test last week and got a text saying he has a low white blood count. That was it...no explanation or follow up. But I said now he will pick up viruses. Within days he came down with a cold. They always go on his chest, so he's coughing. He wants antibiotics, but I think as with ds1 a gp won't see him until he's done a pcr. I've moved into ds1's bedroom. I don't want to catch it.

I'm working more than I've done since having the dc's. I'm finding the hours hard work. Lazy bones here has worked part time for years. How on earth do you get everything done? I've spend all day and evening today catching up on jobs. I will walk the dogs at 7am before work tomorrow, packed lunches done this eve. I think full time workers that are mums are amazing. Tomorrow I'm working 9am-5.30 for the first time in 21 years. Yes...I know I'm lazy.

But weds I'm due to go visit my DM for a few days. So that'll be a break.

Maybe some news from ucas this week will be good. If school send it off.

Oooh nice new thread! Thank you!

Thanks. Hopefully the week will be kind to all.

Thanks @OrangeCinnamonCocktail and @singingstones

Many thanks Orange.