GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

So sorry to hear your news Alexander H.

Now that’s a thought. She should at least start studying the theory now

teen I think it might be Clare college - that looks like Clare Bridge if it has the stone balls on it? From the river, Clare is to the left of the Kings Chapel. But my memory is hazy .

Sorry to hear your news Alexander

It's been interesting reading the NCS experiences. DD1 didn't do it, but if DD2 doesn't do DofE she might in 3 years.

Ds goes into Year 10 next year & he is finally happy & thriving at a school he can cycle to sfter 2 years of hell at his previous school so I wouldn’t want to move away.

Dd is 17 in October. I think we should consider selling dh’s larger car & consider a smaller one she can be insured on.

Hope everyone isn;t finding it too hot.

I'm back in work today after our few days away and a trip to take dh to his appointment yesterday.

It isn't terribly good news I'm afraid. Its now very unlikely that what dh suffered was a mini stroke after all and they are going to be referring him for more tests and scans. His CT scan is so far clear, there appear to be no tumours in his brain but his symtoms do indicate there may be a problem with his ears, possibly a slow growing benign tumour on the nerve. In most cases it is so slow growing that is is just a case of wait and see but it can cause tinnitus (which he now has), dizziness, hearing loss, blurred vision and tingling/temporary paralysis on one side of the face.

They are also going to be testing for some other things which to be honest don't bear thinking about.

Dh is fairly convinced its the first as the symptoms seem to fit but he is obviously a professional musician and teacher who travels to get to work. He may be able to drive, but he may have to relinquish his licence for good. This will impact dd and we are contacting college to see if there is any landlady accommodation left (all the best will have been taken by now though)

So sorry to bring a downer to the thread but at least we know he isn't going to drop down with a stroke.

Very annoyed. DD will need to use her initiative to get home later as her ETA of 4-4.30 has moved to 2.30-3.00 and I really can't leave work any earlier to get her. I've told her to hang onto her pennies & get a train. This will probably be the greatest test of the week!

No Oddsocks make the most of it

Picked DS up from his first house party, luckily it seems to have been a very civilised affair, it finished at 11 and everyone leaving seemed sober, DS said it wasn't great as only one of his friends went and everyone sat around in their normal friendship groups talking just like school..........I wonder at what age they start to mingle?

Anyway DS stuck to his soft drink the same as after prom I think he's getting a reputation as the guy that doesn't drink, seems no-one was trying to get him to drink which was good.

First time NCSer here! This is DS’s final week. No horrible stories. They’re all going out for a meal this afternoon. Thank goodness.

teen beautiful picture, I love Cambridge...

DD back from week 2 of NCS today. Not heard anything from her and only a few photos have been posted on NCS social media. She was as moody as hell when she came back from week 1, I guess she was tired but she really was horrible. It is wrong to have enjoyed the peace this week?!!!

Would help if I posted pic!

I am not quite sure what will happen with the volunteering aspect of DD's NCS week given that it falls week commencing 20/8 and they have already stated that the DC's can have a day off on 23rd to collect exam results...I know DD is intending to go out celebrating/commiserating on the eve of the 23rd so I'm hoping they also take this into account. DD's group is very boy heavy (EEK)...I guess because its run by MK Dons (Football club)

Lovely evening in Cambridge tonight...I think this is the rear of Kings College (?) backing onto the river..such a lovely atmospheric city to study in.

Panda I've had similar moans from DD about her activity week. They will be the final group to do the volunteer week and I think our community will be fed up with requests by then. There have been fun days, leg waxing, quiz nights, danceathons, colour runs and litter picking already. I think they will either do a beach clean or gardening somewhere.

They were given a final opportunity to hand over any contraband on Monday before they left. The DC in their group was either stupid, naive or simply didn't want to be there.

Worrying about the ket. We and dd signed a behaviour agreement - any drugs or alcohol and would be kicked off ncs at parents' expense. DD thoroughly enjoyed both residential weeks, though got a bit irritated with the v late hours kept by her roommates the first week. The volunteering hasn't been quite as much fun, but she has got stuck in with the planning and then executing. I'm really proud of the film they made to promote awareness of pnd. Not sure how much it will raise awareness, but they engaged really well with mental illness. The litter picking (while advertising their film and gofundme page with hand painted tshirts) over the last couple of days has been moaned about by a lot of the group, but dd has been stoic and got on with it. She knew it was impossible to get council permit to sell cakes or run a fun day in the timescale they had - in fact one of the other groups had a cake stall shut down as they didn't have the relevant permits. DDs group have got litter pick permission from the council, and borrowed the equipment from them. They've raised £300 for 3 charities working with people suffering with a and pnd, granted mostly donations from parents and school friends, but in all I think it has been a worthwhile experience.

No not at all. Kids I know who have gone had a great experience.

Sadly I knew a girl when I was a teenager who died taking ketamine too. It’s scary stuff. You don’t expect these things at the NCS residential.

Well done to your dd Chicken unusual vocab will be needed!

Larlar awful to hear that....they will have to search them. I read up about Ketamine as a child at my ds's school had a fatal accident after taking ecstacy ketamine & alcohol.

Some kids got sent home from NCS in our area for taking ketamine on the residential.

Lobster fingers crossed for the 16th! I don't imagine it can be at all easy waiting for A level and gcse results!
Ellen well done to your DS and good luck for the next stage of his journey.
Stickerrocks power boat sounds impressive!
DS1 has spent the day on the computer, DS2 is hiding in his room. It's too hot to do much. I have resolved to get out of the house tomorrow...

DD has driven a power boat apparently & now feels the need for speed. Shall I remind her about readi g lists when I collect her tomorrow?

Somewhat to my surprise, DD1 is managing some A level preparation. She has been asked to keep a holiday diary in German. We are currently in a holiday cottage which is a converted barn and yesterday a bat got inside and flew in circles round her bedroom. I'm curious to see whether her German teacher will believe her or assume she got the vocabulary wrong!

GettinTrimmer He’s only doing the list of reading marked ‘Mandatory’, not the (much longer) list marked ‘Optional’. Although he has watched a few of the films marked ‘Interesting, but potentially misleading in their inaccuracy’.

Oo, exciting! Good luck for the 16th, Lobster! I'm quite glad not to have DS2 waiting for A level results this year. At least his HNC is already confirmed. DS1 has already got his 2nd year uni results, just DS3's GCSEs to go...

Just checking in and breaking my self imposed 2 week ban whilst on holiday because I'm missing you all!
Good to hear of the positive NCS experiences, shocked to hear of the bad ones - I shared the view it would be all "naice" middle class types.
Well done to those who have stuck it out despite being difficult.
Brilliant news about the jobs, work experience etc.
Our dcs have all changed so much this past year.

My DD1 is currently holding an Oxford offer (fingers crossed for 16th!) from a pretty average comp - 3 to Oxbridge in her year which is a record I think.
They were very supportive, but not enormously helpful if that makes sense - the most useful resource for us was MN, especially amazing, knowledgeable types like goodbyestranger (DH and I didn't go to uni, don't know anybody who had ever been through the Oxbridge process)