Thread 17 - Corona Cohort Summer Vacation to Yr 13, Finding Freedom?

[Orangecinnamon21]

PLACEHOLDER FOR NEW THREAD ...PREVIOUSLY TO BE FOUND IN SECONDARY EDUCATION

It’s like 10 day hurdles isn’t it? As a family you’ve got to decide is it worth doing A and B if more important C is coming up in the next 10 days.
Dd1 is doing the only activity she has got all holiday with lots of people on Thursday. Dd2 (single jabbed) is being taking back to Uni on Saturday and be up there potentially on her own. I am trying not to overthink.

Sorry to hear about the self isolating. @ealingwestmum gutting to miss a driving test, but 3 hours together on a day when somebody tested positive really isn't marginal, so you had no choice really.

@crazycrofter I assume your DD has to isolate now, but 🤞🤞 for negative results. Would be rough on your DS if DD got her camp but resulted in him missing his.

DS has a slight cough and sniffle/headache now. Same as what DS1 had last week. Test says negative but will do another one before fairly elderly music teacher comes round tomorrow.

Be sod's law if he tests positive and we can't go to test match which was the on pre booked summer treat. (for the rest of them anyway..)

It’s so crap isn’t it? I get bored with my own positive attitude/how things could be so much worse speeches these days. No wonder my family zone out when I speak. I’ve always been the calmest amongst drama, but my chronic lack of sleep is beginning to take its toll!

Re holidays, we took both DSs with DS1's GF
and DS2's best friend, bit DS1 drove the 4 young ones back on Friday, leaving me with DH and dog for a couple of nights. Although we enjoyed having them there and they were good company, I had not realised how relaxing it would be not having to think about any children or guests - now feel more positive about DC staying at home when we go away.

Hope it is just a cold Piggy.

Piggy oh no! Year 12 Dd did have tonsillitis for a month though and her consultant says there’s loads of non-covid respiratory stuff going round at the moment. The GP even tested her for glandular fever (cue Dd saying that’s the kissing disease isn’t it - even if I had had the chance whilst trying to be socially distanced, you clearly haven’t met the boys in my classes?) . Negative for that though it threw up something else so more blood-giving next week.

When do they officially become Yr13? Is it 1st September? Or now? Filling out an online form and it’s not giving me an option. I would say year 13??

I would say Y13 too as nobody else is Y13, so it is less ambiguous than saying Y12. May depend on the form and whether it affects eligibility for what you want though.

Dd says all her friends from the festival are taking PCR tests to be sure. But I can’t see the logic? They will only be sure they don’t have it now, but they could develop it in the next few days. The rest of them don’t have symptoms yet. Dd has no symptoms either and had covid at Christmas. I’ve asked her to try to keep out of everyone’s way as much as possible and she’s being grumpy with me. But I’d feel so awful for ds if he missed out because of her. She hasn’t been asked to isolate yet as none of them have had PCRs back but I’m guessing she willl.

I hope ds is negative @Piggywaspushed.

It really is stressful having things organised and trying to avoid isolation or covid itself.

Monkey2001 thanks that was my reasoning too.
I have a horrid feeling this is what the next year is going to be like with Chinese whispers on who is positive etc especially as isolations rules stop.
Dd isn’t that happy classmates knowing that she’s vulnerable but I think she’s just going to have to keep out the way of them as much as possible and go into school just for lessons. I am not sure the school will be able to tell her, even if they know (who is living in a positive household so who to avoid more), so it’s down to her to keep out the way of everyone.
She had a positive lateral flow the other week but we worked out it was a faulty test. Which was a shame in a way because it would be fabulous if she had had it symptom free.

@crazycrofter DS's school routinely told them to get a PCR if their bubble burst, but I agree that it does not release you from isolating, just means you know whether the rest of the household has to isolate and may identity more burst bubbles. If you want a PCR which gives you confidence to end isolation, I think it would be best to get it on day 5.

Can you get DS to understand how awful he would feel if he was the one who tested positive at camp because he had brought it with him?!

Southampton just emailed about on campus Open Days : a kind of blended thing like Birmingham's so no talks in person but tours etc.

11 September (my birthday!) and 12th September.

Link if anyone wants to book :

app.geckoform.com/public/#/modern/FOEU0232jV5hVNUk

Thanks @Piggywaspushed just booked for the Saturday! I put 2 guests in case DH wants to go along...that was probably a bit silly it doesn't need both of us.

Dd been asleep most of afternoon says she feels a bit achey and sore throaty....

Sorry to hear about possible infections and cancellations

Promising comment from Nicola Sturgeon re vaccines for 16/17 year olds news.sky.com/story/covid-19-new-vaccines-advice-for-16-and-17-year-olds-in-the-uk-set-to-be-issued-in-coming-days-sturgeon-12372026

Sounding more promising for vaccines for 16-17 yo across uk: bit of a u turn there… although positive news from my perspective! www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58080232

Fingers crossed - as DD only turned 17 3 days ago, it's a long wait currently.

Spent a lovely day in Canterbury yesterday and then had a campus tour round Kent Uni led by a student. Weren't able to speak to anyone from her subject, or go into any buildings but the student knew all the best places to look through windows to see the library, accommodation etc! Beautiful campus.

Fingers crossed here too. DD isn't 17 for another couple of weeks yet.

Southampton is on DDs list but that's the weekend before Y13 exams and she's very much a last minute revision girl so it will be too stressful to visit.

I didn't quite read the bit where it said there would be no subject talks etc.
I had somehow missed the recorded open day talks...they were really useful. The Music one came straight up with examples of student destinations, for Dd that kind of stuff is invaluable as it will be unlikely she will be a performer. They gave insight to the number of offers they give out. It was a really engaging recording.
The link for arts & hums open days is below, if you scroll to the bottom of the page you can find other subjects
www.southampton.ac.uk/open-days/july/arts-and-humanities

Sorry @mummabear74 meant to tag you in that. you aren't missing much if they are not doing the talks...they will probably do campus tours like they did back in June/July which alongside the recorded subject talk could be helpful.

Thanks for that @Orangecinnamon21. From your link I've seen they will have booking open soon for October too - Saturday 9 October - which works for us. In the meantime DD can go through the subject links.

Andwhen Great news about the vaccines!

DD nearly 17 so now sounds promising for a vaccine sooner than 9 months away.
DD is away this week with her music group and I miss her and makes me realise this will be what it’s like next September but worse as it will be longer. Only had 2 texts which were in response to mine which were ‘it’s good ‘ and ‘I’m fine’ so must be enjoying herself! Been busy trying to sort out some insurance for her little surprise car which the GPs have bought.

Thanks to Piggy for prompt.

Fed up Oblomov here. I registered for Southampton months ago, but I never got an email, prompting me to book, a few days ago. So I've just booked for 12th. But I just rang them and they have no idea why I didn't get sent a prompt to book email.

Ds1 says he doesn't want to go and visit any unis. so, I'm going on my own. To find the cheapest accommodation if nothing else. I have said to Dh, hello, this is gonna cost us a fortune you know!! A bit of interest from someone other than me wouldn't go amiss. Why am I driving everything here? FPS.

He doesn't even have a second choice. Only wants to go to Southampton, nearby southern places considered. Oh really I said, Bath, Bristol and Exeter are really easy to get into!

Rather than WIWIKAU website, has Anyone got a link to a old thread with a list of what to take to uni? Recently one of you advised looking out for things on eBay and Facebook selling?, to start prepping. I like that idea. What will Ds1 need? He's such an incredibly confident boy, he'd pack a bag, a duvet and a laptop and he'll be fine. Do I need to start buying / keeping an eye out for under bed storage units etc from now on?

ican guess where we were late yesterday afternoon? Weymouth beach. I could have met up with you and commiserated over a large G&T over stroppy teenagers.

(Ds2 - 12 is fine. We've promised to take him splashdown water tubes, so he's happy. Ds1 is with girlfriend and has been so pleasant and helpful, in front of her? that we've asked who he is, and can the real slim shady (moody arrogant shitty normal Ds1) please stand up?

Word signed DS out yesterday without him noticing. 1500 words of history coursework not saved...