Thread 25 - Covid Cohort - Christmas Trees, No Omicron Please!

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

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.

Orange Cinnamon (Head Monitor )
Previous Thread Found Here

icanbe I've been into the office a couple of times lately, first time for ages, and have been wiped out the following day, it's ridiculous. Doing Tuesday and Thursday this week so hopefully I will cope a bit better, although DH is away for a couple of days being on The Chase which complicates things a bit. I have to do the bins which I don't remember being part of my wedding vows

DD has Birmingham interview and has everything crossed to hear from Newcastle this week. Bristol and Barts may well not contact until post Christmas.

@singingstones? your DH is on The Chase the TV Gameshow?

@icanbewhatiwant I increased my hours from 3 x 4 hour plus 1x 5 hour days to 3 x 7.5 hour plus 1 x 5 hour (different job) about 18 months ago with both having a 20 mim commute and I still can't keep up, I can't imagine full time. We are a family with a lot of hobbies which take up our evenings and bring their own admin into the mix, plus DS's SENs, my day and a bit off are full of errands and chores (I do fit in either a yoga class or coffee with friends most Fridays but I really cherish that break). WFH would help but I can't and in any case would hate it. Hats off to those that work FT!

I have always worked full time. I know no other world! I don't have any social life, family nearby or hobbies though! Work home, sleep, work...sad really.

@Piggywaspushed I think mums like you are amazing! I couldn't do it.

I'd be ok if it were summer. I'm now up and keen to walk the dogs, but it's dark. I'm not going out in the dark. Too scared 🤣 I can hear DH coughing so I'm glad I slept in ds1's room.

@singingstones the chase? As in the game show? That sounds exciting.

@KingscoteStaff I hope the interview goes well.

I hope everyone hears more from ucas this week before schools break up.

Just a question about the Oxbridge interviews. If they are successful do they get an offer after the interview.

@Nard75 DD will find out in 11th January - for Oxford- if it’s an offer or rejection.

Not amazing; just routine driven. Part time teaching is hard. Lots of bits of classes and treated as an afterthought often so I chose not to do it. If DCs were small again, I probably would now.

I'd love to be on The Chase! Love a quiz.

nard, remind me- Oxford or Cambridge?

Thank you for the new thread and thanks to those who ensured it stays the safe, supportive place we know and love.

I’ve worked full time since DS2 got settled into secondary school, he’s year 11 now.
They both have had lots of extra curricular activities which took up a couple of evenings in the week and most of the weekends.
I’ve had to accept that the house will never be as clean and tidy as I’d like and the children have to chip in a lot too but I do feel like there’s always something that needs doing.

@singingstones the chase? That’s exciting! Good luck to your DH!

25 Jan for Cambridge Nard

Good luck to your DD Kingscote, and her B’ham interviews before Xmas?

Thinking of your DD this morning Sandy, hope she enjoys round 2!

@Piggyinblankets DS not applied for Oxbridge but he has friends who have had interviews so was just wondering when they would find out. It has been a lot of extra work and pressure on them so well done to everyone who applied.

To be honest, if I'd stayed in my previous job I would have had to go back to full time years ago, my part time hours after DC2 (I went back FT after DC1) really didn't work for the business and I essentially had to cram 5 days work into 3. But I got made redundant and this job was only ever offered as part time, it doesn't need full time and it works for us. In the years when I was pursuing DS's EHCP it was a lifeline.

I used to work four days when I was in a big 4 accountancy firm, I had to switch to full time 2 years ago when I moved jobs, to earn the same amount. It’s a pain working every day but it’s so much less stressful and demanding than my old job so it’s fine. I’m also a minister’s wife, so lots of things going on at church. I’m glad I only had two kids, don’t think I could keep up with any more!

Good luck to those with interviews this week! Dd visibly relaxed on Sat evening after exams and singing exam were done. Ds has three more exams but appears to have relaxed already!

[quote OrangeCinnamonCocktail]@singingstones? your DH is on The Chase the TV Gameshow?[/quote]
Yes! Filming on Thursday 😬

DS exhausted and has a deadline for PE coursework today and interview at Manchester tomorrow, so glad it is on line target than F2F! He has managed to negotiate an extension for the PE to Friday (due to interview) but had to show progress today, so was typing furiously after midnight. He was signed up to a group session with medics about interviews last night at 6:30, when I went to see how he was doing at 7:30 he was very soundly asleep!

I don't currently work, worked stupid hours when boys were small running a company we set up, which was super exciting but we both worked about 70 hours/week. I haven't worked since we sold the business, but still not on top of anything at home!

Thanks for the new thread @OrangeCinnamonCocktail and new list @singingstones. Thanks for the good wishes, I'm ok really. Mostly Menopausal blues mixed with time of the year sadness and just general lazyness tbh. I had a lovely catchup with friend which definitely helped.

Good luck re offers, getting forms in and interviews this week. DD breaks up 12.30 on Friday. She hopefully will be getting mocks results in this week although she's been told they can't give them an actual grade just scores. Seems she did well in Pyshcology just waiting on Biology and PE (PE didn't go great as she missed a whole section out as didn't see it until too late). She usually gets A* so hopefully will still get a decent score (she is hoping B).

Fingers crossed no more covid outbreaks for you all, just had booster yesterday so we are all covered - although DD only had 1 as she had covid then ill so had her first one quite late, and needs to wait for 2nd.

No where near ready for Christmas here. Was already behind, then managed to fall flat on my face whilst out shopping on Saturday. My left hand has come off worst - really swollen and bruised and can't do anything much at all with it ATM.

I work part time on a consultancy basis, so today have to work out how to type one handed in order to meet Christmas deadlines!

No decorations here. Still have presents to get. Not a card written, or present wrapped....

@singingstones: how exciting!! Good luck to Dh! And to you for doing the bins ;-)

I went back into a full time role in April having been self employed since Ds wa born. It’s been tough tbh. Dh is brilliant and has taken up a lot of slack but I do feel like I’m so much less on top of the kids stuff, the house, life admin…. I’m just moving to slightly compressed hours which I hope might help but it’s certainly been a tough time. Of course making that decision as both my kids go through external exams was a great one ;-). Otoh I’ve really enjoyed being back as part of a team and learning loads. I’m fully remote at the mo and had only been into the office 3 days so far so that makes it easier.

Good luck to all those who have had, or are having, interviews. It must adding to the stress.

Ohh The Chase...you'll have to let us know when it airs @singingstones.

Thanks for the new thread Orange and for the list Singing.

DD handing in Geo course work today. 40 some pages...she's happy to have it done, so she can concentrate on mocks revision over the holidays.

DSS has Covid, so does his girlfriend. They got it from housemate. We're daily testing and so far so good. We saw him over a week ago so think we'll be okay. Fingers crossed.

@Seeline Ouch that sounds painful.
@Heifer Glad your catch up with friends proved a tonic.

I work four days which is enough but it comes with a low salary. Luckily we live in an area where housing is relatively affordable. I do all the home stuff except the garden. The house looks lived in.

@Wheresthebeach hope you have dodged Covid. Lucky that they should be over it by Christmas, really don't want anyone starting a 10 day isolation after Wednesday!

oh @seeline - hope its just sprained. That must have been a shock.

@Monkey2001 It would be awful to get Covid and be confined for Christmas. I wish DD wouldn't go into school for the last few days as it makes me nervous (twice we've had 10 day isolation starting on the last day of school...ruined our summer holiday to Cornwall). I swear if it happens again I'll explode.

I miss my old world, which I left around 8 years ago. But we couldn’t sustain both of us walking through the door at 7.30pm, my commute from Canary Wharf was killing me. Such different times now, with flexible hours naturally part of working life without the battle. I’m self employed in the creative world, but not very creative right now. I do miss my salary and independence, but I made the decision so am at peace with it.