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Original poster

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

989 replies

OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 12/12/2021 17:15

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 Xmas Wink)
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Thread 25 - Covid Cohort - Christmas Trees, No Omicron Please!
OP posts:
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13
singingstones · 21/12/2021 17:23

Congrats to ExquisitelyDecorated and crazycrofter DC, another good day for the thread StarStar

EwwSprouts · 21/12/2021 17:29

@whoamitojudge Wow flying in Jan! She is galloping off and must be thrilled.

Delighted for all those who have received new offers. I thought this week would be quiet, and it is for DS but he's waiting for Durham and St Andrews who are know for slow progress.

18ths are not big round here either. DS has been to one house party and one Nandos plus cinema.

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 21/12/2021 17:35

I've clocked off now and having a celebratory gingerbread/baileys type drink. Will be asleep in half an hour probably...

OP posts:
crazycrofter · 21/12/2021 18:06

That’s worth knowing @OrangeCinnamonCocktail. Good news on the reduced offer @Delphigirl, which is his favourite?

Alsoplayspiccolo · 21/12/2021 18:15

Well done for the singing exam, crazy, and fab news on the offers, ED and Delphi.
Very interesting about Southampton - one of DD’s top choices (and my personal favourite for her).

crazycrofter · 21/12/2021 18:59

I also like the idea of Southampton for dd - not sure how she feels though!

Delphigirl · 21/12/2021 19:23

Great news @crazycrofter and @ExquisitelyDecorated!

He really isn’t sure which is his favourite yet - I can see an elaborate pro/con list in the near future. He prefers Cardiff and Plymouth as cities to Southampton. So Ron is 4th best in the world for his subject which is difficult to ignore, with fab facilities. But quite maths& physics heavy. Cardiff he gets a year abroad - not possible at the others. Plymouth very hands on, lots of boats, does a professional dive course as an option. All three would be great in different ways… and all three have the same grade requirements (if not officially, then unofficially). Hmmm!

crazycrofter · 21/12/2021 19:50

It’s going to be tricky isn’t it. Dd had Plymouth on her long list but in the end it went, partly because of distance from home but also distance from friends, except those who end up in Exeter. She wants to be able to visit friends easily (and cheaply).

20newnames · 21/12/2021 20:25

Well done to all the new offer holders! how lovely to get more in before xmas. It is a pain knowing that 3 of DS's 4 choices will not offer until March, April or even May (Bath, Warwick and Durham). We are trying to get him to choose a 5th to apply for over the holidays.

As for 18ths, DS will be 18 in Feb and hopes to have friends round here, rules permitting. Older DS had a party here for his 18th which ended up being attended by all the local undesirables. Nothing actually kicked off but he was on edge the whole time (we were upstairs and he was too scared to tell us who had turned up or to say anything directly). DS1 did have a lot of friends of friends who were a bit on the edge though. DS2 (the yr 13 one) has a very different group of friends though so we are hopeful it will be fine.

Other friends have had parties at their houses or one had one in a pub in the middle of nowhere who served anyone who tried. Fake IDs are not the thing amongst DS's friends so they don't tend to go to the pub often.

Let's hope that there are not too many restrictions which will mean another birthday under lockdown like last year.

Wheresthebeach · 21/12/2021 20:48

Fab news @crazycrofter and congrats on the latest offer ED.

Lovely so much good news flooding in.

Nice to hear that Southampton are good on the student support. I think that will be important for DD with her level of dyslexia.

Monkey2001 · 21/12/2021 21:47

Congratulations on more offers and the grade 6 merit! Star

DS1 was not a party person at all, for his 18th he said he was meeting friends at a pub, but after he had set off they turned up at our house. He is wasn't answering his phone so I drove his friends around Bristol looking for him. It was a bit surreal, but he ended up back home with 5-6 best friends having a little party in his room with drinks and very loud music. We didn't complain about the volume as it was his 18th and the neighbours said they couldn't hear it. I don't think any friends have had big 18th parties. For his 21st he wants us to go up to St Andrews and take him to the restaurant Will and Kate went to last time they visited!

I think DS2 might just go out with 6-8 best friends for his 18th too.

AnneOfCleavage · 21/12/2021 22:48

Lots of lovely news coming in. Congratulations all round.

crazycrofter great result re DD singing exam. You heard so so quick too. She'll be delighted.

DD also has heard re her dancing exams. She got Honours in both which is to say that she achieved over 90% (95 in one and 96 in the other) so she is over the moon. In your face school dance teacher, you don't need to lift your leg up by your ear to be a good dancer as these exams prove.

In other news her boyfriend has had his first jab today. Was v nervous but wanted to do it and found somewhere at last. Phew. Think DD, having been a Covid marshal volunteer, talked the process through with him and they are still chatting now on the phone and it's been hours. Thank heavens for free minutes. Anyone remember the dread 20 odd years back of counting the remaining minutes you had before having to top up. I could only afford £5 top ups at the time.

crazycrofter · 22/12/2021 00:05

Ah that’s brilliant @AnneOfCleavage, such high marks, well done to your dd!

BlueMarigold · 22/12/2021 07:24

Lovely to wake up to more good news on this thread!

Original poster
OrangeCinnamonCocktail · 22/12/2021 08:14

@AnneOfCleavage

Lots of lovely news coming in. Congratulations all round.

crazycrofter great result re DD singing exam. You heard so so quick too. She'll be delighted.

DD also has heard re her dancing exams. She got Honours in both which is to say that she achieved over 90% (95 in one and 96 in the other) so she is over the moon. In your face school dance teacher, you don't need to lift your leg up by your ear to be a good dancer as these exams prove.

In other news her boyfriend has had his first jab today. Was v nervous but wanted to do it and found somewhere at last. Phew. Think DD, having been a Covid marshal volunteer, talked the process through with him and they are still chatting now on the phone and it's been hours. Thank heavens for free minutes. Anyone remember the dread 20 odd years back of counting the remaining minutes you had before having to top up. I could only afford £5 top ups at the time.

Well done to your Dd AOC such high marks! She obviously has a talent and the sensitive body awareness that is required!
OP posts:
ealingwestmum · 22/12/2021 08:18

Tell us all how the dance teacher reacts Anne, it’s a great achievement, well done to your DD!

Alsoplayspiccolo · 22/12/2021 08:52

Congratulations to your DD, Anne, fabulous results!

Monkey2001 · 22/12/2021 08:55

Well done AoC DD, has she ch

Monkey2001 · 22/12/2021 08:57

.... has she checked out the Dance Societies at her shortlisted universities? My niece and DS1's GF have both had a great experience with University dancing.

Seeline · 22/12/2021 09:40

My DD is keen to continue her dancing at uni. She checked out her choices, and most seemed to have lots of different dance clubs and classes in lots of different styles, so she was really pleased!

In other news - have you all seen the reduction in isolation times if you have covid? Down to 7 days if you get negative LFTs in days 6 and 7!

Wheresthebeach · 22/12/2021 09:45

Congrats to your DD Anne - fab news.

France has had 7 days for ages, so seems sensible. My DSD and DSS both have Covid - sore throat, tired but nothing more. Quite relieved about DSD as she has lung issues and I was concerned.

NCTDN · 22/12/2021 09:52

My DD wants to continue dance at uni. Some are much more forthcoming about their societies than others though!

Seeline · 22/12/2021 10:03

Have a good look round on their web sites @NCTDN Student unions usually have their own pages, and the societies are usually listed there, often with their own pages too.

ealingwestmum · 22/12/2021 10:38

DD’s been testing negative on days 6 & 7, no coughing now, just exhausted. But I don’t think it helps having been cooped up in her room for a week. The US side of family got stood down last weekend by me, but hopefully her Gran can still be picked up xmas eve to come to a safe household. She’s refusing to come out early (or as per new guidance) just in case they’re wrong. Clearly irony not lost on her during self isolation.

HibiscusIsland · 22/12/2021 10:49

Congratulations for all the offers and achievements