Thread 33 - Lovely Jubbly Jubilee Break, then back to Exams

[OrangeCinnamonCroissant]

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 threads 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 will continue.

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. Possibly a move to Parent of Adult Children Board in future?
previous thread

Haha @Piggywaspushed ! I’ll ask dd what her friends are going to wear - if they’ve decided yet! She’s been ordering and returning dresses since about March … I doubt the boys have been putting that much effort in!

Sorry about the migraine @Wheresthebeach 😢 Does she get them a lot?

Sorry @Piggywaspushed my DD’s response was ‘suits… obviously! Wouldn’t he just ask his friends and not his mum?!’ But more helpfully- most are wearing navy or black but some are going for brighter colours. One of her more eccentric friends is going for purple velvet 😂

@crazycrofter She gets a few a year, normally after a stressful event. I'm guessing this is a reaction to the IT problems at her Geo exam. I just worry for her, and feel she needs to embrace stress reduction but she doesn't like meditating, or breathing exercises, or yoga...

Love the purple velvet idea!

Ds’s gang are mostly going suits: skinny fit, range of darker and lighter colours. But they ain’t the cool kids. Ds (who is utterly uninterested in fashion) was debating velvet as most like a dressing gown but was put off by the danger of it being quite warm!!

I have noticed quite a lot of shiny pale grey suits. Never thought I'd see them back again...

I saw a woman in an actual dressing gown at the shops just! 😮

@Piggywaspushed DS chose one similar to this. I was amazed he'd wear anything with a bright patterned lining. He's not cool nor interested in clothes generally but is in with the sporty crowd. Short sleeve chambray shirt. www.next.co.uk/g2610s21/380091#380091

I saw that one in Next and thought it was nice.

I have no idea what size he is ...ummm. Tall and thin. Is lanky a size?

Lanky = slim fit. You might need to take him to try on. DS is 6ft 3 so Next trousers definitely can be long enough.

DS will be wearing a navy suit to his sixth form leavers party.

DS has spent the day revising at home this morning and with friends this afternoon. He seems to be working hard 🤞

He does also have a couple of sociable events planned this week so it’s not all work at least.

I can’t help with the lad’s stuff for Yr13 proms/ leavers do’s but would say that for DDs Yr11 prom - that didn’t materialise- we ‘shopped clever’ in the sense that the gown could be taken to Uni for formals.
Thankfully, after hanging in the wardrobe for longer than I care to remember, it will get a trot out for her Yr13 ‘leavers’ and will go to Uni.
I’m loving the purple velvet suit! ❤️

@Piggywaspushed ds1 just word chinos and a shirt to his 6th form prom. But ds2 and his mates are dressing up more as they didn't get to do it in year 11. Ds2 has a light grey suit (not shiny!) white shirt and pink tie. Not sure what he's putting on his feet though. He doesn't own shoes.

@Wheresthebeach I can sympathise with ds's migraine. I've had a thumping headache since weds night when covid hit.

@crazycrofter we get a lady in the co op in her dressing gown most days. Sometimes she's dressed, but always has slippers!

We had a lovely weekend camping. Fresh air, good company and good food. DD has really been able to switch off from revision and thoughts of exams (as have I actually!). She's planning to spend most of the rest of the week revising though.

We arrived home to a letter from student finance which had details of her loan amount. Thankfully the amount is what we were expecting. She has applied for her student accommodation online this afternoon, she had to choose 6 options but even then isn't guaranteed one of those choices. She chose 6 of the cheapest. There's a significant difference in prices and dd is not bothered about an en-suite or being in a really modern building if it means saving a couple of thousand pounds a year on accommodation costs! We just have to hope there are lots of other students who do want ensuite, modern rooms now, and she that doesn't end up being allocated one of those if demand outstrips supply for the lower price rooms.

Which 6 has she gone for, mango?
DD and I spent an hour looking at Brum choices last night, and she thinks Tennis Court and the Green Community as her top 2, with Oakbrook , Aitken, Oakley Court, and Elgar following.
She wants to be in the Vale, ideally.

I think that's our choices but we have Maple Bank in there somewhere. DS wants Aitken the most I think.

Airmen sounds like a very good compromise - having a sink in every room is great for a quick face and hand wash and teeth brush at the end of the day.
have you managed to find any photos of the rooms, Piggy?

Airmen as a compromise amused me!!

A student ambassador had photos of her friend's room on her phone on offer holder day. I think I also found some on Student Room.

It really is odd that Birmingham haven't sorted any yet.

Amen to airmen! 🤣🤣🤣

Birmingham people - DD’s friend was planning on a year out and an apprenticeship, but after an hour sitting on the green heart by the Birmingham uni library with her, he decided he’ll be going to uni after all! The campus is looking very pretty at the moment and there’s a real buzz. Ds and friend decided to check it out on the way home from the cinema the other day and were also very impressed!

Are you familiar with reviews on The Student Crowd www.studentcrowd.com/student-accommodation-l1000444-birmingham

It is a bit odd that there are no photos yet of Aitken on Birmingham's website, it says its because it was recently updated but it seems like that was actually a few years ago now, quite mysterious! I did manage to find some on the parents Facebook page though and it looks canny.

She's actually put Aitken top, followed by (I can't remember the exact order though) Tennis Courts, Green Community (with some trepidation that they might kick her out die to how long she spends in the shower! 😂), Maple Bank, Maple Bank catered (which still works out cheaper than lots of the others!) and lastly Ashcroft, because she also thinks she'd prefer The Vale.

Lovely to hear the positive thoughts about Birmingham from your DC and friedns @crazycrofter

Hope your DD has a fabulous day tomorrow Crazy, happy 18th to her!

Thanks @ealingwestmum !

Still in caravan in Dorset. Ds1 home alone. He's studying hard, I told him to take a break too. I left him with steak, spag Bol ingredients.

He just text to ask about buying Nottingham fresher week passes. I encouraged him to buy both: The Big Pass. And The Ultimate. link

He's on a chat for his Nottingham accommodation. He's met a boy who is in his accommodation and also on his course, so that's cool. He says all the girls chat constantly, largely asking his star sign. 🤣