Class of '18 nervously waiting.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

They've left college, now we are trying not to think about a certain date.

Quick question re: clearing - do you just call admissions offices at the university or should I be looking for special clearing number?

Also just been sent this which is useful:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/aug/11/calls-to-clearing-one-mum-pretended-to-be-her-son-it-was-surreal?CMP=ShareAndroidApppCopytooclipboard

Banquosghost many universities will have their own clearing hotline number...best to look at individual University , there may be an initial form to complete and some universities already have lists of courses a available in clearing
My Ds phoned up the Uni he'd missed out on getting a place at last year and asked what courses were available with his results...they talked him through the process and he got a place on an alternative course , which he loves...I was very impressed at how he coped on the phone!

That is useful Banquosghost thanks.

DS2 is currently pretending Thursday isn't happening and I don't want to mention preparing for Clearing too much in case he takes it as a sign I think he's failed! It's a balance between believing him and keeping him calm and making sure he's in the best possible position come Thursday.

I've had a look at some of the Universities with courses in Clearing already and his first choice is one of those. Not sure if that makes me feel better or not!

Hobbit your dd sounds like a lovely courageous young woman.

I would have taken dd shopping today, but I'm flaked out the sofa not very well and not able to do much at all.

I think we might need a thread for results day. There is one already in higher, but I think we will have our own variant here too.

I can't imagine trying to get dd to speak to a university on results day, she struggles with phones at the best of times.

I've done a flow chart of what to do on results day specific to dds position, so that if she is in a panic she can just follow it. Not sure when to introduce it to her or whether it makes me totally overhelicoptery, but while I'm lying here it seemed like a good idea as she will be staying at a friends on wednesday night.

Just found there's a whole supplement about clearing in today's guardian. I'll see if I can make sense of it.

We’ve been told they can get help from school if necessary which seems helpful as they have experience of the process. Just realised it’s 5 sleeps to go....

Well DS is out for someone's bday on Thursday night (poor girl!), I'm hoping they'll all be celebrating!
In other news, I've taken to stressing over everything including DFs 80th in November where I'm cooking for up to 12 (potentially less as 3 out of 4 grandkids will potentially be at uni). What to cook?
I asked DS how he felt about this week (driving test and Thursday), he shrugged, not really thought about!
Thanks for lists, is helpful to see all perspectives as easy to forget simple things.

Delurking in anticipation of The Day. DS seems okay, he is working as many shifts as he can get at a local pub and likes the job. We swerve from talking about The Day to studiously avoiding discussion of it.

Protocols for Thurs are rehearsed through clearly in my head and, I hope by some sort of osmosis DS has aligned himself to them too. I don’t know if his uni will email / text before Track updates but I know DS’ plan is check Track at 8am and then go straight to school to collect results. He has a decent insurance if grades aren’t strong enough for Firm. Impossible to predict but he is calm.

I am the Head of Sixth in his school and A level and GCSE results days are working days for me. This year though I am stepping back completely until DS’ uni place and results are confirmed. Hopefully this will be early and without any issues or my colleagues will have to step up! I would usually be aware of A level results the day before results day but I am definitely not seeing them early this year, or going to work on 15th August. The results are DS’ and he needs to be the first to see them.

Having worked in a Sixth Form role for a few years now I hope it’s reassuring to all Results Expectant Mums and Dads (and their children) to say that schools and colleges and universities are well versed in the highs and lows of A level results’ day and my experience of speaking to UCAS and uni admissions tutors around this time has always been positive.

LadyMacnet I admire your fortitude in keeping yourself out of the equation.

Up since 6 this morning so am making bread. Brain not in this morning as I divide 350 ml in 2 and came up with 250ml! Oh the shame! I'm an accountant I can do numbers! So the last loaf is definitely 'experimental'.

Good morning! Managed to have a low key conversation with ds in the kitchen yesterday about Results Day. Lots of plans (could do with a flowchart too!) for different eventualities. Central to any prospect of him not getting his firm is to go to his teachers so dh and I are to stay at home and keep out of it. Have also managed to outline plan b (insurance, applying for accommodation, changing loan) and plan c with a few options of where he would prefer to look for clearing.
Not sure if it's helped him or not but I feel stronger for having a plan in place so hoping he does too.

Gnome when it comes to bread "wetter is better".

I woke in the night to an obvious results nightmare (lack of control, couldn't keep DS safe, being swept along), crossed with The Handmaid's Tale. Thankfully all I can remember now are the red dresses and wondering where the hats were.

I'm getting lots of messages from friends asking me to let them know how he gets on this week. I was hoping that it would pass them all by (like it is doing with actual family) but I'm glad that it's me they are asking and not him.

knitting same here, lots of people wanting to be kept informed too, it’s just adding to the pressure. Just trying to keep DS busy and keep it low key, even though my stomach is full of great, big butterflies.

I finally managed to pin DD down for some open days this year, and booked them all yesterday. I hope I won't have to cancel any after results day, as most of the courses require 3 As.

Dd currently at a festival. Not back until Wednesday. No plan b and both firm and insurance asking for same grades. His results are available on his student portal at 6 so at least he’ll have some time to think then!

DS is in the same boat Enid - same grades for both firm and insurance (and at the same Uni!). I'm employing distraction strategies today and we are off for a family skiing lesson.

Going to have a chat with DS tonight and come up with some plans for different outcomes.

I agree that people asking to be updated is adding to the pressure. I've said that if they don't hear it's likely to be because things haven't gone as hoped and we are busy sorting things out!! In other words if you don't hear from me don't ask!

I had a weird dream about dds student accomodation.

Well done Lonicera, good to be getting organised.

I'm keeping my head down low, so no one is asking yet really. Good idea though 2Gorgeous,

knitting the dough had gone beyond wet, it was liquid. Anyway, rummaged in cupboards and found flour so all was not lost!

DD2 is getting interested in bargain cooking. Decided that home made pizzas are not a good cost saving generally but are better than Domino's both in price and quality. It's all a learning.

DH had been slightly grumpy with me this morning. When I asked him about it, he admitted that he's angry with me because he had a dream that DS1 turned up to one of his A-level exams a day late; DH blamed me, had a strop and threw his shoes into the sea.

Hopefully I looked suitably apologetic. 😂

DD dreamed the other night that she got 3 Bs.

Bloody hell! When did 3 Bs become a crap A level result?

DS1 (and I) would be over the moon with BBB and it would mean getting into his first choice university.

However, I can imagine that in two years' time, if DS2 gets BBB, it would be very disappointing and feel like the end of the world.

It very much depends on the context!

Good luck to your DS TheThird

Thank you Lonerica
He is feeling very despondent about Thursday and is convinced he has got CCE or thereabouts.

TheThird I could have written that myself! Praying for 3 B's here. DS2 needs 3 x 8s the following week. Pass the wine please

robert dyas had a tower saucepans set for 40 pounds that was suitable for induction hobs, reduced from 70. Included a frying pan. but who needs a milkpan? odd that they still include those.

I've discovered that one of the cats has peed in a drawer full of my stuff. And dd's desk. This house is now declared semi-derelict!!!!
ds1 is refusing to get out of bed except at 4pm (I'm sighing at mention of those expupils who are actually earning money and working this holiday ) We are trying not to get cross but it is very very difficult not to want to boot him off somewhere or do something. He doesn't seem to need money for anything so that is not an incentive. I hope it is nerves and will get better after the 16th.

On the plus side Colin Morgan in Translations was very good. The whole play was very good, if a bit dated (1979). Modern staging was possibly a bit overthe top. I thought they would set the smoke alarms off with the peat smoke wafting out! Reminds you that Shakespeare and all wordy plays are sufficient unto themselves, without too many special effects. Ds2 nearly fell asleep at one point but made sensible comments about how the characters were almost like ghosts caught up in the past conflict (it is set in Donegal in 1835) takes my mind off the housework anyway.

Dd has gutted her room and is re-learning the guitar. Anything but A level prep. Ds2 still researching the Conservative Party. And watching football and listening to Nessun Dorma at tthe same time.