Year 12 #3: Open Days and Predicted Grades beckon

[whistl]

Yikes! The title has just hit me! It's too soon! I'm not ready!!

Thread number 2 link: https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3443840-Year-12-2-Carols-commutes-a-few-stocking-fillers

Half term 😀😀

Ooh, time for a little catch up with you all. DS and I had such an encouraging day visiting Birmingham Conservatoire the other week. He took his trumpet ( or cornet? ) along and was able to join in with rehearsals for the UniBrass competition ( in which they have since come second) Rather brilliantly his good friend joined us on the train ( by chance! ) and was headed in the same direction ( one year older and already had his offer from them) So spent much of the day looking around together, and also met someone his friend knew to chat with. So all those connections plus the very friendly and approachable staff really made our day.
Felt much encouraged that at least we now have a plan and something to aim for, which doesn't seem completely impossible, though I am still very aware of the competitiveness in music. But when you talk with people who've followed a particular path it tends to seem that much more possible doesn't it?
DS also thrilled that he has a place on the San Diego Rotary Camp to play with the San Diego Youth Orchestra and stay with a family there for 3 weeks this summer - including the chance to try out some surfing on those Californian beaches ( he might be good at that too as he's a well practiced skate boarder! )
Have also just applied for funding through Awards for Young Musicians primarily for support with buying his own cornet ( current one is on loan from his brass band)
Thinks he might need his own one if he's off to Uni or ( fancy sounding! ) Conservatoire 😊

Thinking of you Something x

Have been checking this thread regularly for an update from something. Hope you are OK.

JugglingFromHereToThere What an amazing day your DS had. It really is down to people and the ethos that makes a place stand out. Is the Conservatoire a definite now? And San Diego! How fab is that! If it were me, I'd be booking a holiday for the whole family to go out there too.

DS went to his PT job in tears this morning. He's got it in his mind that he needn't do any work in the half term so having to get up early to go to a job he hates was just a bit too much. It's strange that he can be intelligent and mature but can also completely lose it and behave like a 5-year-old.

He is doing quite well. He has 75% block in his carotid. Currently having another MRI. Has minimal movement in one leg and arms but off ventilator and most other machines now so definite progress from the get here asap call!!

I’m glad you got there, something, and I hope your DF makes good progress.

That sounds better than you feared something. All the best for a successful recovery .

And juggling that sounds like a great visit. My friend's dd is planning the same route and is also a cornet player. Good luck to him.

242 dd wasn't overjoyed that she had to get up this morning for a driving lesson. They are probably just worn out.

That sounds promising something
Wow juggling San Diego-amazing
My DS is currently taking driving lessons too Kick. It's a lot to assimilate on top of their studies I would never pass the test if I had to take it now Hopefully your DD will get some time to relax over half term.

Glad to hear your update, something, very positive! Did he have a stroke? Is he strong enough for doctors to consider an endarterectomy?

DS1 has come home quite chirpy. Honestly! After the palaver this morning ... he says he spent most of the day scanning prescriptions for NHS claims and popping10000 pills out of blister packs for arthritic and digitally-challenged customers.

Yes if he is well enough it will be done on Monday 242

We are all there with you Something

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement about the open day with DS - you are all lovely, it's nice to be back!

Just back from Cambridge and the Politics & International Relations masterclass. Hugh Bonneville sat in front of me in the parent's session. DD now torn over what to apply for.

Something sending lots of positive thoughts to you.

I don't like him after I found out he was the actor who got the superinjunction against that awful woman on BigBrother to stop her selling her sordid story about his romps for cash with her (yuk!)

DH mentioned that earlier, asking who he was with! He chipped in to clarify an answer to a question someone else asked & various Downton fans swooned around the lecture hall. Corpus Christie alumnus.

Something thank you for the update and best wishes to you and your family
Juggling what an amazing day! Good luck with the auditions!

One highlight yesterday was the parent after making a speech about the many advantages state school pupils have in the Oxbridge process over her privately educated son, then informed me that the English Language A level my DD was taking really wasn't highly thought of. So that's DD written off then. I'd better tell her not to waste her time applying.

Still, another parent was shocked to discover that the D of E award her DC was striving towards would be ignored by Cambridge and wouldn't boost their chances of getting an interview. The admissions person was ever so sweet and said that other places may find it relevant.

Those parents with DC in the iGCSE letters system were worried that straight A*s would be looked at less favourably than straight grade 9s. I don't think they appreciated how rare they were (with the exception of a couple of our chums here).

Re Cambridge Master Classes when did people get actual info about the day. DS going to History one on 9 March and no emails as yet other than original acknowledgement.

Don't fret Something. I think the email arrived about 2 weeks ago. There were Classics & Earth Sciences being held as well yesterday, all on the Sidgewick site. For anyone travelling from further afield, the Premier Inn off the A14 was clean & quiet, on the bus route into the city centre.

Somethingsmellsnice DS2 received a more detailed email about a week before the event.

Or you can visit me!

Well I was going to pop into see you, but you fled thousands of miles to avoid me. Hope all is ticking along quietly for you.

Sorry, this is really off-topic but did anyone's dc do the DT GCSE last year? DS2 is very interested and is currently choosing options. I'm a bit wary of the coursework element taking up a lot of time although the dept is more organised than for art so I think we're ok! Also DS2 is a very steady worker so he would get on and do it. Just interested in what dcs thought about it.

Nothing DT related here. Sorry.

@LooseAtTheSeams - DS2 is also choosing options and is going to do DT. I know the coursework is a big ask but it's something he loves so I am happy with his choice (plus Latin and Geography).

I'm afraid as DS2 is DC3 I'm probably not paying enough attention to his choices as I should!