Class of 18. No need for new school shoes

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Old thread:www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3478916-Class-of-18-now-in-2019-blimey

A thread for those of us whose kids left school/sixth form/college a year ago. Friendly chat :)

I have been keeping my mouth shut because there always seems to be someone quick to judge how other people live their lives. I am not a granny killer, I've been holding two of them up since March and I could do with a break now. One had a major health diagnosis due last week and I didn't think I could cope with it on my own so I didn't tell DS he had to follow the rulez and stay in his accommodation for two weeks of no lectures, no nothing. I went and fetched him before the english lockdown. It was better for him and very much better for me to have some company. The mental health exemption is in the lockdown rules for a reason.

Knot, ive never heard.such nonsense, of course ds needed to come back. And back and forth if needs be.
And Hardwick, you too did entirely.the.right thing.
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Ds1 still fine, speaking to a counsellpr once a week that I arranged before he went back in sept, otherwise I think he would have been on dangerous path, up one minute then dark thoughts the next. Two weeks in isolation even with his flatmates wss super hard for him, he needs the fresh air and scenery to stay on keel. But fine since he got out, rings quite.a bit though to chat about films, series, and.doing choirs etc online well no singing, just.chatting together by zoom.

I realy look forward to time he can be here in London and not.feel in suspended animation, he is much happier with his peers atm, dicey though.it is. Maybe coming home.20th dec. He wants to see Oxford all magical, shops open, possibiliyity of meetings.

Dd has been dye-ing cotton.and making costumes. Going to college.twice weekly. Breaks up the day to have her enthusiasms.and.follies on tap, hope.ds.can eventually enjoy life here in same way,.London doesnt seem to inspire him much sadly...

Happy Christmas everyone and enjoy your DC's.
Mine being a bit loud. I'm lying low to do the stockings but I think they are still wide awake upstairs. Tomorrow/today Father Christmas is using the chimney in the living room so I've put the stockings there.
DS brooding about next year. I hope he has some sudden epiphany on his future employment...
Hardwick it is lovely to hear your DD is so happy in Scotland, long may that continue.
Knot, very best wishes.

It's good to see updates on our 1999-2000 contingent.

I'm pleased to report than DS's health is stable and he is more happy and settled in third year than he was previously. He got temporary work at a local supermarket when he came home for the first lockdown and they were able to keep him on their books so he has done some shifts over the Christmas holidays.

He has decided on the area of study for his dissertation, and is doing some reading.

You might remember that he didn't settle on A-level subjects until the autumn half term of Y12 and then waited until the last possible moment to start his UCAS application, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he hasn't given much thought to what he will do when his course finishes this summer.

How is everyone? Dses back at uni now, I'm trying to persuade ds1 to redo 3rd year, but I promised him I won't mention the "subject" from now on. At least he is aware it is an option. He is enjoying long walks in his uni town and he has sorted out his strange sleep patterns since returning, a sign of motivation. Writing his dissertation and ringing me up quite often to discuss "film" and "drama". Well at least it isn't politics.

Mine was originally due back on the 11th because of the practical nature of the course, that went back two weeks then to the current "mid February". Looking at the course dates I think it will be very much later than that and this will be the second year with a term's virtual teaching. It's a four year course though so he should finish with a normal year.

Ds is at home and I can’t see him going back at all this term. His course is three years and term 3 is revision only and no new material, lectures or seminars so I guess his university experience will end with a whimper not a bang (to paraphrase TS Eliot).

DD is still at home, and likely to be here till Easter probably. She seems to be working away fine and it has been lovely to hear her interact with classmates on their teams virtual labs.

I'm glad I think that she is on a 5 year course, because I don't think she would be anywhere near ready to graduate this year. For those that are, have any of them made concrete plans yet to go on to masters, or will they look for jobs?

DD has been back since Boxing Day as she has been working and she says she can do Uni work better there. I am happy she has friends around her. Not started her dissertation yet but has signed up for a house for next year so she had better crack on and apply for her Masters.

Dd has been at home throughout, only visiting her hall room for a few days when she has gone up for medical things.
TBH it has been better for her and the few days she has spent in halls have confirmed that she was right not to return. (Very annoying to get bills for damage when she isn't even there though).

As Dh retired in October, we are planning to move to her university city, hopefully this summer, so she will continue to live at home. She is doing her degree part-time now so still has a while to go.

DD heard today that they are online till the end of the academic year. She predicted it but I think is still disappointed. There will be a few additional exceptions but though she is lab based I’m sure the 4th/5th years will take priority.

Exciting news about the move NoHaudin! I remember you know the city well so hope you find a new home easily.

I hope so. Between the pandemic and the different selling systems it will be tricky. We will also need a house which can be adapted easily for Dd 's needs.

V exciting about Move. Haudin.
DD is possibly going to be there next year too! Our local Ed students and Glsgw students have all stayed at home, because the rules are so restrictive in Scotland ATM for unis. Ds2 and 1 still have access to library, and campus takeaway outlets (although I don't think ds1 is a library person, whereas ds2 thrives on a "workplace")

No news from either of them atm which is probably a good sign. Ds2 room still has stale crusts and bags of rubbish dating from his departure..there is a lot of catching up on the considerable squalor that living 24/7 with five people has created. The sun shone brightly this morning and bounced off the house opposite - my running attempt 3, has succeeded, I feel like I can tackle something concrete. It's the uncertainty of everything that gets so draining. The milkman delivered some free coconut yoghurt this morning, felt disproportionately excited...hmm

I'm reading Tinker Tailor Soldier by Le Carre for first time. Required such concentration to understand what was happening. But pervading gloom was rather cheering.

Nice to read the updates. Hope you're all hanging on in there.

Both parents have been successfully vaccinated this weekend so that's a plus.

DS has just finished the final draft for his dissertation and is now touting it about for people to read.....he can't send it to his tutor so has asked if he can direct him to a PHD student to get some feedback before he culls 2,000 words. He is hoping to do a masters but nothing at his current university/degree subject related seems to be of interest so he is looking further afield - may possibly take time out and apply next year.

Me... back in the office as my industry is one that is currently classed as infrastructure so we can carry on working. Even though we are all in separate offices and are able to easily and safely distance in the workplace it doesn't reduce the anxiety I feel every time I leave the house. It seems to be worse during this lockdown than the last and we live in a town that has been virtually under a full lockdown consistently since the end of the summer.

@HardwickWhite

DD is still at home, and likely to be here till Easter probably. She seems to be working away fine and it has been lovely to hear her interact with classmates on their teams virtual labs.

I'm glad I think that she is on a 5 year course, because I don't think she would be anywhere near ready to graduate this year. For those that are, have any of them made concrete plans yet to go on to masters, or will they look for jobs?

Ds has a job starting in September as a trainee chartered accountant in audit department. Another three years of exams!

@ShanghaiDiva congratulations to your DS on having a job lined up.

DS has been at home since mid-December. The local supermarket kept him on their books so he is back to doing 10 hours a week there, and has also got a new part-time job as a vaccine administrator (18-24 hours a week). I hope he remembers that he is also supposed to be studying full-time for the final year of his degree course.

Great news on the job @ShanghaiDiva

I'm currently in deep lockdown as I managed to dislocate my kneecap last week, slipping in mud whilst walking the dog. So the two things I enjoyed - walking the dog and volunteering at the Foodbank are currently impossible. Oh joy.

But I have had my vaccine as volunteers were offered the opportunity and I snatched it with both hands.

DD hasn't started her dissertation yet but apparently this is the norm for History. She had loads of work to finish by the end of January and one exam (24 hour on line thingy) so has taken a week to relax. She is back in work two days a week.

Has her house sorted for next year but has not yet applied for her Masters. Am I correct in assuming that they get a the usual fees and maintenance grant for a 4th year?

Congrats to Shanghai DS!

Ursula It is my understanding that rather than two separate loans, you get one to cover fees and living. Here's the government page on it. masters finance

Shanghai The reason I went into accountancy is that my employer would send me to college for a day a week and I thought that would be a lovely way to ease into the world of work. I was right too.

Ursula at least you managed to get out of plaster with your wrist before doing your knee. I suppose the good thing is that there's not much going on at the moment for you to miss.

Ursula walking your dog seems to be a dangerous activity......

Masters funding is one loan. As I understand it the student pays the university for their course fees and any remaining is for living expenses. If they decide to complete their masters at their current university sometimes a reduction on course fees is given - there is a breakdown on Liverpool's website. Any little helps I guess.

Kneecap must be very painful Ursula. Im waiting for a dog related injury...fields/parks so muddy and slippery it wouldnt take much. I have a heavenly pair of dog boots that keep me warm but not much grip and a pair which are too difficult for me to put on without hopping around on one foot, im more likely to trip up in my own hall I fear.
starfleet hope the anxiety lessens soon, it is a horrible feeling. On a cheering note I know two women of our age who were semi shielding due to health conditions or relatives' health, still caught it over Dec despite all precautions, and said they felt they must have "cheated"'because it affected them so mildly. And friends whose teenage children had Covid and they the adults didnt get it all despite all mingling up till diagnosis. Adults who were cancer survivors and had auto immune conditions.
I recommend Vit D as these people were all taking plenty.

We've lit fire with (,smokeless) coal and it is just about warming the front room. Rest of house despite heating and aga absolutely freezing because of single glazed windows. BETTER at night when we can draw curtains. Snow falling outside. Not settling. Ds1 continually writing tv and playscripts and ringing me up to discuss. Dd is a nice companion though not in any way helpful with chores or cooking...I am channelling Marilla from Anne of Green Gables.

I take vitamin D in the winter as it wards off my winter blues. I'm sure a few weeks somewhere sunny would do just as well but seeing as that is not an option it's the vitamins.

Are you back on your feet again Ursula?

DS found out on Monday that he was expected back next week but now he is going back after Easter. I might yet get the bathroom ceiling painted before he goes back.