Thread 24 Covid Cohort - Oh Come, Oh Come offers from Emmanuel - and all other universities aswell!

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

I tried to sing the title... It kind of works...

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to posts about grades.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this goodwill continues.

Our DS/DD may go down various paths (such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will most likely find us within the Further Ed board.

Previous thread

One size doesn't fit all and there are many different circumstances on any particular choices. I have always found this thread to be very supportive since year 11 and it has no place for snobs and their attempt to cause tension on this thread.

Great pictures! Lovely trees and animals. The expressions on both dogs faces are so funny, followed by a typically cool cat 😂

@Volterra

Great pictures! Lovely trees and animals. The expressions on both dogs faces are so funny, followed by a typically cool cat 😂

I thought that..Cats are so nonchalant!

Loving the dog photos!
Ours wouldn’t let me dress him up!

singing, my DS has started going everywhere smelling delicious, and I heard a girl’s voice on his phone when he was in his bedroom the other night. I know (because DD tells me!) that he talks to a lot of girls online, and hangs out with some from her old girls school, but he is very tight-lipped about it all.
Frustrating, isn’t it?!!
I’d love him to have a GF and for us to get to know her, but he’s adamant he won’t tell us!

Hey all: missed the on here as away at dh’s family for the weekend. But after a quick skim, just to wish @OrangeCinnamonCocktail as good week as you can have. @Heifer: hope your week goes well too.

Ds’ Cambridge interview on Friday was firmly in the ummmm, not great camp. His first one he felt went pretty well but the second sounded like it was more painful. He also forgot to go to the loo before hand and was bursting for a wee!!! (Part of his autism profile is he has very poor body self awareness and often doesn’t realise basic stuff like being too hit/cold etc). Very frustrating but maybe just a bit funny ;-) After brief patch of doldrums he’s decided he doesn’t really care too much and is just glad never to have to think about oxbridge entrance rubbish again, whatever happens now!!

Thank you all for your thoughts so much. I'm sorry for anyone experiencing a different Christmas. I was trying to explain a bit why I've been a bit absent /sporadic.

As we are on page 40 I've made a new thread for when we are ready.

Sparkly shiny new thread

Yes we have aftershave here too Also!

The celebration Bakewell tart has been made in my usual cack handed fashion

Thanks Orange, I've posted an updated list in the new thread

Lovely to see the photos of Christmas trees! Ours is just up but not decorated yet. I’ve held off until the dc have come home in the past & then struggled to find a decent tree at that late stage. But of course I have no one to help now.

@OrangeCinnamonCocktail It’s extra hard having to deal with a sad thing at this time of year. I went to a funeral just before Christmas a few years ago & it was a bit surreal having drinks & snacks afterwards in a venue with full-on Christmas decorations.

I missed the rumble in the jungle too. I think I know that poster under a different name... To be fair she did impart some very useful info years ago (that you need a masters now to become chartered) which I was not aware of even though I used to work in that field. I would love to know what she would think of my very good friend from uni (a uni she will absolutely never have heard of) who is a Very Big Cheese now in probably the leading engineering firm worldwide! We often chortle about it (and the fact that they would not have taken him on as a graduate due to his lowly 2.2!)

No decorations or pets to add to the timeline cleanse. We had a fabulous lab who only ever sneaked his own presents from under the tree. Been a weekend of sport here just for a change.
Yep @OrangeCinnamonCocktail your dog is seriously unimpressed.

Well done to AnneOfC dancing dd. I love to hear of all dancing and musical dd on here.

Orange I put my Christmas decs up yesterday. So old they are falling apart.

Christmas decs are normally all driven by me too. I make ds's help me get the stuff out of the loft. But I put up all the decs, tree, outside lights - although Dh did come and help.

this year I wanted to put the lights up on 28th November because that weekend I had time. And because Ds1 had boxing event last weekend, and we had our family Christmas party today, so two weeks ago was convenient to me. But Dh said no, it's too early it's only November. Hacked me right off. But I put them all up yesterday.

Tbf to Dh he's bought all the presents and wrapped them. I've only wrapped 3 last week. So we are now done. I ordered a few minor things from M&S, pigs in blankets etc ages ago, so I now feel prepared.

Next weekend if covid allows, Dh and I are supposed to be going to very close friends overnight. Leaving Ds1 and Ds2 here. I will prepare Monica galleti hazelnut coffee martini, with poached pears chocolate ganache tart, to take with me, as a gift. Orange.

Loving dogs Christmas photos.

Pleased to hear that Zitti.

Blackwell tart looks fab singing.

Here’s ours.
I’m a bit minimalist when it comes to ornaments, but each one means something to me.

I'm not feeling Christmassy at all. Ds1 and ds2 not being helpful with what they want for Christmas. Ds1 has given me a list but nothing on it I can actually get him. Ds2 says he's doesn't want anything. Ds3 I have finished his stuff. No idea what to get DH either.

Ds1 has been in bed ill since last Monday. (At his uni house) I insisted he phoned the walk-in gp Saturday as he said his jaw was agony and he couldn't eat very well. All the gp said was it's probably covid and nothing they can do. He has done a few negative LFT's. Sent a pcr off on weds but not had results yet. I don't think it'll be covid though. But we can only wait. He's left his dissertation proposal until the last minute and now says he's too ill to do it. He has been given a 3 working day extension until 21st.

DH is poorly too. He never gets ill. Neither of us have had colds for several years. He had a routine blood test last week and got a text saying he has a low white blood count. That was it...no explanation or follow up. But I said now he will pick up viruses. Within days he came down with a cold. They always go on his chest, so he's coughing. He wants antibiotics, but I think as with ds1 a gp won't see him until he's done a pcr. I've moved into ds1's bedroom. I don't want to catch it.

I'm working more than I've done since having the dc's. I'm finding the hours hard work. Lazy bones here has worked part time for years. How on earth do you get everything done? I've spend all day and evening today catching up on jobs. I will walk the dogs at 7am before work tomorrow, packed lunches done this eve. I think full time workers that are mums are amazing. Tomorrow I'm working 9am-5.30 for the first time in 21 years. Yes...I know I'm lazy.

But weds I'm due to go visit my DM for a few days. So that'll be a break.

Maybe some news from ucas this week will be good. If school send it off.

We need a new thread...or have I missed it?

Oh...I can see it now 🙈

Oh my goodness @oblomov21 - I'm salivating. I like the decs !...and also your tree and decs @Alsoplayspiccolo sometimes less is more - especially when you have fairy lights and lush branches.

I don't think i've ever had a homemade Bakewell tart @singingstones must remedy that one day !

@singingstones we got into Bakewell Tart when it was the technical bake on Bake Off and it became our celebration thing too. Looks great!

Orange a Bakewell tart is a right old faff to make but I'm told it's worth it - I am not a fan of almonds so don't really like it myself.
Monkey I think our family's obsession began when it was on Bake Off too! It's certainly Mary Berry's recipe that I use

I think I might have the recipe in a Bake Off book Dd got me years ago...

It's here online if you are ever tempted to make one Orange

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/marysbakewellltart12584

Making a daffy bake when you don’t actually enjoy eating it…? That’s love, that is, singing - hope your family realise how lucky they are

Orange - love the dog - that expression says 'I will get my revenge...just leave some food unguarded and I will get my revenge'. And per usual - that Cat has the expression of 'I am above this nonsense'.

Fab photo's.

Thanks Singing! @wheresthebeach he is an absolute food thief...especially loaves of bread 🍞!

new thread here..