Finishing year 13 in 2017

Pretty stressful night and morning with DD pushing things right to the wire on getting that sketchbook ready for handing in, and some plans set out for her final piece that she will be working on today and two further sessions next week. On top of that the car has been very dodgy breaking down twice last night, but eventually re-starting.
But anyway it more or less behaved itself this morning so that I was able to drop DD and DS at school before taking it to the garage.
And DD went into her first exam happily enough with a sketchbook to hand in.
Phew! Hoping that is the height of the drama for A levels!

Bebumba, your poor DS - hope he can celebrate properly when the exams are over!

Good luck today Juggling's Dd. Hope it goes well for her.
Ds had his 18th birthday yesterday.
Celebrated in college with practice exams in Physics and Chemistry. 😀

Good luck Juggling's Dd!
Sending calm vibes and serenity .

Good Luck Juggling's DD

Good luck Juggling - I remember DDs stress before her GCSES Art...

Everything a bit on hold through these exams? Hold your breath?!

DD seems to have quite a lot to get through tonight before her art exam tomorrow. Wish us luck!

Ono, at planning a family holiday in Brum! We have had a few family hols in Bristol which I think may have helped endear it to her.
And yes to stocking up on Rescue Remedy!

Sorry you are having a crap time at work Horse. My job is particularly demanding ATM, and all I want to do is crawl into bed and hide from it and the revision stress!

I am sort of scrabbling through each day here. DS is working without needing to be pushed so I really hope he's nailed his revision and gets the grades he needs as he has just got on with it himself.

It is a different experience to my DS1 who had to be cajoled to do anything, basically.

I am having a crap time at work and want to scream and rant but can't as I don't want to distract DS.

Once his exams are over, I will put all my energy into tackling the work issues.

Hi Juggling, it is education so it would be an EdD at UCL. The application is where you say what you would like to research for the next 6 years and I 'sort of' know (professional postgraduate assessment) but I don't have the mental space to concentrate until June 22nd.

One of my fantasies is that I will have a whole day off work where I will spend the entire time sorting out all my cupboards and getting rid of all the junk that has accumulated in the last few years. I will need to do this when DS1 moves out and DS2 moves into the bigger bedroom. If I were you I would definitely have the gap year

Dr ono does sound good though?! What kind of area would that be in if you don't mind divulging?
Maybe you just have to think of the application as a significant part of the work? And it might be a useful process with things you could use at least to get your thoughts together for the project itself?
I'm torn myself after last night's evening course half wanting to stay on the conveyor belt and go straight on to next year's level 3 course, the next part of the journey, or the sensible me that's planning a gap year to sort some life stuff out, including getting a job.
I think have the gap year and I can always do some reading around the subject, and maybe volunteering more at my own pace.

And earn enough money to go and visit DD!

I popped into Starbucks with a friend on Friday evening at about 11pm and it was rammed with students revising, either as a small group or alone. I don't know whether they were uni or A level students but they all looked very serious.

DS has been having a bit of a meltdown, I keep hearing things like "I can't remember anything" and "I don't even know how to answer the questions anymore". Must stock up on the Rescue Remedy.

Good luck to your DD on her Art Juggling and on finishing your course. I am sort of toying half heartedly with the idea of doing a professional doctorate but what is putting me off is the very long application that you have to write.

Horse, I read an article about the number of Prince William's friends from "the smart set" who went to Newcastle (probably did estates management or some such).

I don't think we'll be planning a family holiday in Birmingham....!

Thanks Errol, am waiting for her to come home early as she has Wednesday afternoons free, and fortunately she has most of tomorrow free for art too.
I think she wanted to print some things off at school though, so is probably doing that.

I'm trying to get some homework done for the counselling course I'm doing on Wednesday evenings as we begin to tie things up for the last few sessions of the year. Hopefully will be finished by half-term. Just one more essay to write and a few bits and pieces to do, plus choosing our best bits from the course to put forward for assessment. Has been very interesting, though I've found the homework a bit of a slog at times. Am planning a very studenty "gap year" before hopefully returning for the level 3 course next year. Just need to sort my life out a bit in the mean time! Plus you have to fit a bit of travelling in to make it a proper gap year don't you? Would love to be able to go away perhaps to Spain as a family next summer. Or failing that at least to earn enough for a few trips to visit DD in Swansea, or wherever it is she finds herself in September 😊

Eatyourveg - that all sounds extremely sensible.

Juggling (and anyone else with artists) - good luck!

DD is having a bit of a stressy week with her first art exam coming up on Friday and needing to get all the prep for that finished in her sketch-book to hand in on the same day.
We're all feeling it too.

She was doing quite well regarding pacing herself for this and did lots over the Easter break, and certainly more on track than last year for the AS. Also producing some lovely work. But she does find getting the timing right for a dead-line and presenting all her ideas in her sketch-book as well as possible quite challenging. Organisation isn't always her or my strong point. Just hoping that she can bring it all together to do herself justice today and tomorrow. And getting some sleep on Thursday night would be a real bonus too!

Thanks teta. It does get like that when you are juggling lots of things. I think all the juggling balls fell onto the floor during the Easter holidays. We are all on major catch up now (for the exams and everything else).

eatyourveg, funny enough I was thinking of doing the same regards Northumberland, I've been wanting a holiday there for years!

The thing that put me off was, going by the amount of stuff that DS1 took, it would mean there'd be no room for our luggage!

Good idea though and I'm sure your DS will be much more settled by you doing that. It's a hell of a trek from down South

ds is heading up to Newcastle and we're in Kent so have decided to have a holiday in Northumberland the week of the drop off as the thought of 8-9 hour drive for a couple of hours unloading and then 8-9 hours back just seemed too horrendous. He has ASD so didn't want to drop and then just leave for the other end of the country - if there is a problem at least we will be within striking distance for a couple of days but we've done quite a few visits over the course of his gap year to familairise him with the area and how to get to and from the station, granger market, halls and campus so am crossing fingers he will be fine though I'm not sure he will like the idea of the place being overrun with sloans.

a Sloane! Really? I hadn't heard that!

We are so totally not 'Sloaney' I thought it was Durham/St Andrews that was considered a bit 'Ok yah'?!

Well done to all those who have pressed the button and firmed their choices. Horse, DS liked Newcastle as well although it is a long journey from us. I believe it is the place to go if you are a Sloane!

Teta well done on the driving test. We found that it was fairly reasonable to put DS on my car insurance for a specific period. the real ramp up in price came when we had to buy him insurance for his own car where he was the main driver and I'd recommend Tesco Black Box insurance as the cheapest (and apparently the black box isn't too strict unlike some of the others).

Teta - congrats on the driving test. DH looked into car insurance - we've not been taking DD out for practice yet but will do so in the summer - iirc adding a learner is quite a lot cheaper (presumably because they have to be supervised and won't be going on the motorway), but it would be possible to add her after passing her test for a reasonable sum for a fixed period - can't remember if it was up to one month or three, the plan if she'd passed would be to time this for after exams and before uni. Probably best you ring your insurer and ask what the options are.

LittleHo I hope you are ok.I know from having 4 kids that if I can't function everything goes awry and the pack of cards I'm juggling collapses.I'm sure your children are more resilient than you think and it's probably time to think of yourself a little.
Name change thank you.The Apley manoeuvre looks fascinating.I'm seeing the gp and will see what he suggests.I'm going overseas for the weekend to a wine festival so wine and dizziness is not a good combination.
Dd passed her driving test today ( hooray). Whats the best insurance policy add on for my car ( for new drivers)We were paying about £25 a week as a learner driver so I don't know whether it will be similar.Also how long before you trusted your new drivers with other family members?
Congrats. To everyone who's firmed and pressed the button.There has been no agonising here with solely two offers .

Ah, 3 hours is OK!

Glad your DS has decided, namechange. One of DD's mates is still pondering!

DD has found her finance letter - just needs to sign and post it. And she mentioned something about choosing halls....

BTM, we are 3 hrs by road from Newcastle but once on the A1 it's not a bad journey and the train route is very good also.

Errol, I have to agree with your DD, the accommodation is pretty smart!