BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26

I hope everyone is ok.
Lot of work happening here as DS has an external assessment next week and also resubmitting assignments to bump his grades - I love that they can do that. He seems a lot busier than his A Level friends, but I am hoping he'll be able to relax more than them next year as he'll have so much out of the way.
Work experience also needs to be found - not going great so far!

The most likely outcome is we hear nothing at all, but one can hope.
DD went off on the bus today so that's good.

@Sisublondie
Lots of snow here, but turning to slush on the roads now.
Dd can't get into college today as the trams are not running/delayed. Looks like most of her class won't be in.
The project is her final piece of work for this year.
There was another "team" project that she did all the work for 🙄 which has been chosen to go to the next stage.
Then there's a national competition shes entered and that deadline is monday.
Sorry! Very confusing 😬🤣
Hope you're not snowed in! X

@TeenToTwenties

Oh, wow, that does sound amazing!! Yes, it’s a long way, and a huge commitment but hopefully she gets it and absolutely loves it! Which will make the trip less onerous 🤞 🙏😻, hopefully? When do you find out?

@swampwitch0

How did it go with her course leader?! I really hope she managed to sort this… So, call me thick, I’m sorry!, but the competition and project deadline are different?
The project is where she is in a group of the ones who have provided zero work? I think we chatted about how her lecturers are aware of the situation? Definitely good if it can be clarified/confirmed with said jiggers! I hope today’s been productive for her 🤞..

Ooooh, weather! The village has been in and out of power- hence late reply! DH called to say he’d made it to Scotland with DS19 and DlovelyGF back to Uni, and woke me as I’d given up and gone to bed with the 🐩 ( DS college was cancelled and tomorrow, so I stupidly told him power back on and he’s “ having a quick game”! He did go in on his day off to start on his new assignment, so I’m not too worried… snow is forecast for all next week there, too, so I’m envisaging a lot of “ online learning”! 🙄

I hope you’ve escaped more snow ❄️ and black ice….. but I’m fearing not?! As you’re kind of my neck of the woods - ish?! ( Peak District)?

We've written to college so we'll see.
Have also applied to somewhere that states on website they take volunteers, looks like a fab set up. But it is 35-45mins drive away. We have said we can do it one day a week, but just can't do more. Each of us doing a 70-90min round trip is a lot to commit to.

@Sisublondie
Sorry, just realised I hadn't fully responded...🫣
Dd is going to talk to her course leader today re: the competition. Deadline is monday so she'll need to get it sorted.
First project deadline is end of month.
I'm not sure if its usual, but they've all had to combine some work with another pupil (?)
She's not delighted with the result but with a bit of jiggery pokery (i.e: CAD) she can make sure more of her work is shown on her project.
She's staying late today to use some of the college machines.
Hoping you're all ok weather wise?
Very cold here, with some black ice ❄️
Hoping we don't get more snow 😬

Oh no, I’m do sorry… the college isn’t able to assist at all, are they? How is she feeling about going back generally? Or, is her upset at the placement overriding everything? I do hope things calm down and improve…. 🤞 🙏💕

I’ll take OK for a tip! 🙏

@swampwitch0… Oh no as to the profiteroles and pannetone going! ( I SO regret sending my DBIL back off with the lions share of what was left! Why?!!🙄🤯😹!)
Just picked DS20 up, roads slippy and grim! But, balmy now at 2degrees! Wait and see what the storm brings..
i so hope your DD has a good first day back, and best of luck of catching up on her work… I forgot to ask!! Sorry, how is all of your health?! How is your shoulder, too?

Oh yes, the competition thing, how’s it going? Any chance of her changing her not-so-good “ work” mates?!
Oooh, the show sounds amazing gun! Was it a girlie trip?
So, is the project practical or written?

Good Luck in the morning!

Re: ballad of Wallace island...it was ok. Quite gentle humour.

@TeenToTwenties
I hope once your dd is at placement, she feels happier x

@Sisublondie
Haha. No profiteroles/pannetonne or chocolate left in this house! 😊
Weather here very cold, very icy ❄️
Dd goes back tomorrow and is staying later to finish some work she missed whilst she was off ill.
She's been busy over the break, working on this competition thing.
We had a lovely day in London last week seeing a show (her main christmas gift).
The deadline for this first project is end of the month so no doubt it'll get a bit stressy 😬

DD goes back 1 day a week on Friday, but currently melting down about her placement not having animals, and what is the point? I can't conjure things up that don't exist.

Happy Return, everyone! Has everyone started back/ starting back this week?

@LarkspurLaneHas your DS gone back, yet? I do hope he meets a couple of people that he “clicks” with, as it roils be lovely to have holiday friends. Do you live near to his college? Isn’t it a world away from a year ago!! It really was a horrid time… how fab your DS is enjoying his course. I bet you couldn’t have hoped for this a year ago.,. I think a lot of us are seeing transformed DC!

@OhCrumbsWhereNow
.. oh utterly absolutely! Doesn’t the hell seem long ago?! GCSE’s surely were not just last year! No amount of money would make me swap my DS to see him return to that shell of himself. How excellent that all ours seem to be ticking away on good form at the moment!

Here is to Term/ Semester 2!! 💖🙏 🤞 🍀!!

@swampwitch0.. did DD go back early, to catch up? DS went back yesterday, finished early due to snow and is “ working from home” today… No idea as to whether open for rest of week. How is the weather with you? Think all of UK hit?
Did you watch the Ballard of Wallace island? I haven’t! Recommended, if so? You just be sad with end of Stranger Things! I always think would be weird if you weren’t. It’s like finishing a book you love….. awful! I’m guaranteed to be disappointed with whatever I read next. 🤯😹! Any profiteroles left?! I’m eeking out remaining party food! ( do love “ snicky snacks”!)
Oooh, a trigger! Minecraft! Oh, the gcse hell fire ! The horror! ( DS19 has bloody made me agree to take ( and pass!) Spanish GCSE by end of 2027! 😹)..

Well. I hope your DD has a happy return, and she’s not too anxious at going back 💖🙏 🤞 x

I've just watched the stranger things finale 👀
It's odd when something you've watched for so long ends...I feel a bit sad 😳
I'm planning to watch the ballad of Wallace island later ...its been on my list for a while 😊
I was just talking to dd - she's currently playing minecraft on her PC and she told me she last played it over a year ago - I told her that she probably stopped due to gcse prep and we both shuddered! 😬
I hope you've all had a gentle start to 2026.
Dd goes back on Wednesday but may go in early as she has some stuff to catch up on.
I think there may be profiteroles in the fridge calling me....🍨😊

Happy New Year to everyone!
The relief to have no GCSEs looming is amazing - so happy that is done and dusted.

Hope everyone had a good xmas and NYE and here's to term 2...

Happy New Year!

Was just thinking, we are four months in, the year ends for us at the end of June - so only 6 months left of Year 1. Plus things start to pick up mood and weatherwise by March - I really like April to July.
Hoping DS will make some friends he can see outside of college (things seem to get quiet in the holidays) and I hope he keeps enjoying his course. A whole world better than this time last year and those dreaded GCSEs looming.

No snow here yet...
May get some tomorrow ❄️

@swampwitch0…… see! Typos!!! Whilst in the kitchen, pseudo dishwasher sorting! Sorry! .. “ I’d be behind in work emails even if…..”!

Got the Bailey’s out, yet?! I do hope so! My Italian BILL is happily into the Pannetone, sadly not Deli bought,but chocolate and hazelnut, so all good! Was it the lemon one which had caught your eye?!

Hosting! Well, it’s not been as bad as I feared, ibto week 2!, but I have to say, I literally have only been alone asleep ( or popping to bathroom!), so I’d be behibdvob work insult even if the village WiFi hadn’t been crap! Hey ho!!!

Due to snow where DS19 is ( he’s at a college friends) in 21 minutes……….❄️❄️❄️! Any sign for you?! Hope you’re getting some chilling, in!!! Maybe a cheeky scone.. ( love them! 💕)!

Happy New Year!!! 🥳 🍾 🥳✨🥳!!!!

I think we all deserve a high five for getting our DC through first term of BTEC!! Whoo- Hoo!!! 💗🥳….!

Happy new year folks! 🥂✨️

@SisublondieWell...it wasn't the pannetone I like, but dd1 had remembered I looked at one in the deli and told dh (who got the wrong one) so the idea was sweet. And it's pannetone, so it's fine 🙂
I make plain scones but they are rather good (guests always ask to take some home...)
I bought baileys cream this year which we haven't used yet...I think I'll tuck in later.
We call this time of year "crimbo limbo" in my house 😁
Dd1 is now away with her bf til NY.
Dd is going to see a friend later today.
I'd really like to do something different next year...but dh and dds won't be keen 😬
I think I'm just tired from all the hosting.