Corona Cohort Y12 into Y13, braving the storm of the third wave

Just checking in, after a weeks ban.

5 cases at ds1's school. Warned him that we need to be careful, because if he gets told to isolate, in the next week or so, he could miss his driving test in a couple of weeks.

Dd wore a mask to her lesson as she’s still coughing and apologised to her teacher! A Mori survey PCR came through the post for her and we were laughing at the questions because it obviously doesn’t cater for her condition nor tonsillitis and there’s no comment box to explain. From the answers you could deduce she’s got covid and has been spreading it round hospitals and her school! Half expecting a very cross Mori researcher to phone me up!

I'm just trying to make a tenuous link I guess. If it was anything I would say it was the mask wearing and lack of younger ones perhaps?

I didn't want to say earlier but Dd college has had very few cases and no SI. They wear masks all the time inside and don't hang around anywhere. Canteens etc have not been open. It could just be our area , but we have been very very lucky all throughout the pandemic.

@crazycrofter having the same experience as you with the provisional licence, but think DDs got sent off a week later. It’s now well over the 6 weeks. I tried the bot which wasn’t helpful either. There is also a thread in the teenagers topic with lots of others experiencing the same thing and unable to get to speak to anyone at the Dvla. As monkey said hopefully our DC will get to the top of the pile eventually...

I am conflicted as although Dd has had the 2 jabs she is still vulnerable. I don’t know if it was a coincidence but as soon as the masks went in school a few weeks ago, she got tonsillitis and despite 2 different antibiotics she’s still poorly. She did go in for 1 lesson last week but needs to catch up with mock exams and coursework before it’s too overwhelming. So, with half the year isolating and no masks nor bubbles, and still no online lessons it does feel like I am sending her in to a cauldron. I wish they could just go online so I didn’t have this dilemma.

DDs school still sticking to masks everywhere they can't social distance so they are targeting too, although when they had 5 in 1 day in Yr10 the whole year group sent home and told to take a PCR test.

I don't expect great things next week, there are lots of "get togethers" this weekend in gardens. I have to admit that DD went out last night and off out shortly too, with the same group of 10 but 2 of them do go to a different school... Not great I admit as the numbers are rising here amongst the young, but I don't feel I can't say no after all this time, it's outside and the same people as at school (mostly). Both husband and I have had both jabs and although I've been very careful as I really don't want it I just feel it's time to let go a little (well not me, but DDs).

@Bovrilly I'm glad someone else has left the engine running. It's not just Ds. I told him the car might be on fire on his return 😂 He still shrugged.

@Monkey2001 yes I agree I should make him drive to Norwich. But he says he's not going then. I think we will have to have a compromise next time. He can drive one way and I'll drive the other. Though I'd rather be in my car than his too. But he needs to do it. There's not that many weeks until his test, he definitely wouldn't pass yet. We had to cancel this Monday's lesson as he has a collapsed timetable from Monday. So not getting the afternoon off. I think we may be cancelling the following week too, same reason.

DDs school seem far more targeted on SI students. As far as I am aware no whole year groups have been sent home. In L6 only very select groups (usually no more than 12-15) have been sent home to isolate. One of the teachers tested +ve this week - I think his tutor group was sent home, but definitely not all his teaching classes. They do have seating plans for each lesson which are stuck to so I am wondering whether they just rely on that?

Oh that’s good @Monkey2001, thanks!

I finally got round to chasing DD’s provisional licence yesterday- when I tracked it via the option on gov.U.K. It said they were still waiting for her documents - I sent them second week of May! I tried ringing and web chat numerous times but couldn’t get through at all. What do I do?!!

heifer we had to do that at my school. It's some PHE people trying to prevent year group or school closures. It's horrible for the school so I hope they are prepared as literally about 10 testers turn up and the school has to organise everything else, including inputting data. DS1 made £150 out of it because we needed to employ emergency helpers...

but his GF is rowing in a competition this weekend (although she is also part of the year isolating)

Wow, hoicking up my judgy pants at that one!!

I think you are right though that most people think SI just means 'no school'. DS is very conformist, if that's the right term, and hasn't even gone out for his runs.

I'm sorry @icanbewhatiwant but that last sentence made me smirk, I'm hoping your driveway isn't on a slope like ours :-)

Heads up - Loughborough have their virtual open day today for anyone interested. DD loves the idea of Loughborough but the Biological Science course isn't her favourite as only focuses on Human Biology.

DDs school has emailed to say due to the high numbers of covid cases they are resuming on site testing at school next week - which is a little odd as they break up on Friday so only for 5 days, I'm guessing things must be bad. Not sure how often they are going to test. DD has been really good at testing twice a week at home, but I'm guessing not everyone has.

Fingers crossed we all manage to get to the end of the term without having to isolate etc. Sorry to hear about those that already are, hoping that your children aren't missing to many fun events.

The car engine was running....keys still in ignition, he was going indoors

I did this at work once, had no idea until it was time to go home and I couldn't find my keys. The engine was running until lunchtime when someone noticed, switched it off and handed the keys in to security 🤦‍♀️

Cross with myself this morning, the Winchester Uni Open Day got split into virtual subject talks yesterday and the visit today, we signed up for both but weren't at home when the virtual sessions took place as we assumed they'd be recorded and available to watch today, but they aren't. Annoyed with myself as we could have rejigged yesterday if I had realised. I am getting a bit overwhelmed with it all, plus DD's 6th form college choices too and busy at work.

Ds is pleased his exams are over. Apparently they can use either these results or the results from the previous lot of mocks on university applications. I think they have people coming into school next week to talk about universities. Lots of your dcs know what they want to do next. At the moment ds still adamant he wants to do a degree apprenticeship. As I've said before I think that might be easier said than done. I will be glad when I know what he's doing. But I can just see us getting to next summer and Ds having nothing to do next.

Ds can concentrate on driving now exams are over. He's had so many lessons, but still won't come out practicing with me. He will drive to school though. But he needs to be going other places. But he refuses, he says it's too boring. He's also had 3 lessons in Norwich with the more experienced instructor, they have really helped. He won't drive me to Norwich for the lesson though (40 mins drive) I have to drive. I would prefer to keep having his lessons in Norwich rather than paying the local instructor as by the time he's driven to Norwich, on a straight road, he only gets 40 mins lesson in the city, then they have to drive home. The joys of living in the countryside! But it takes 3 and half hours out of our day to have the lesson in Norwich. So i have booked a few more once he's broken up for the summer. Then he will continue once a week with the local chap.

Ds never thinks what he is doing. I can't imagine him in charge of a car. He drove home last week, parked outside the house (on our own drive) he got out the car, got his school bag out the back, walked to the front door, I called out had he forgotten anything. No was the reply. The car engine was running....keys still in ignition, he was going indoors 🙈

@Zebracat well done! Dd wants to do occupational therapy.

@crazycrofter, we did it yesterday in a mad hurry because we were going out to eat, thought of better stuff to say once she’d pressed send! She wants to do History, what about yours?

I think I'm going to take dd to a drop in clinic and see if they'll do the jab at 17 and a half.
She's finished now till September