Thread 35 - Covid Cohort from GCSE 2020 'What They Did on Their Summer Holidays'

[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. It's all relative!
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 continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will find a thread within the Further Ed board.
Possibly a move to Parent of Adult Children Board in future? Post Results?

Previous Thread

Wow @ealingwestmum that sounds like a lot to manage. Hope it all goes through smoothly and your mum copes ok with the move.

Welcome @Sallyingon ! Sounds like your ds is having a great time and growing in independence at just the right time.

Dd and ds sound happy although I’ve had lots of texts from dd about a girl who’s come on her own, is sharing a dorm with them but won’t talk 😬 Dd is trying really hard and feels bad for her. I’ve told her that as long as they’re not excluding her there’s not much else they can do.

Sounds like your dd has some really good experience and qualifications @AnneOfCleavage - I’m sure it will come in handy in future. I wouldn’t want to be coaching outside in this weather 😮

@crazycrofter I guess she is learning to understand that different people choose to interact in different ways. It is lovely that she is trying to draw the girl out and then the right thing is probably to be passively supportive is she does not seem to want to join in fully.

We have just had a big family weekend (my stepfather's 80th) which was lovely - 27 of us as my mum had 4 children and stepfather had 2, and there are 12 grandchildren, of whom 11 made it. Really nice for the cousins to spend quality time together.

Does anyone know how the driving test apps work. My DD has just booked a test 200 miles away in November on a Wednesday for 8 in the morning! 🤷‍♀️ Apparently it was the only available slot in the country! And she can now change it to somewhere nearer at a more convenient time/date......but how?
DS keen to do his too, so need to know how this all works....if it does?

Yes my DD used one to get her second test. Once you have a date you can rearrange it. I think you have to check regularly on the app to see what’s available. I think hers got bumped forward twice.

@Takeittotheboss we used driving test now app. But best to choose the dates and let it book for you. We ticked most of the boxes over a period of 4 weeks and it booked one for us. I have a friend been waiting for a test with the testi app. But heard nothing for 2 weeks. She tried the app I suggested and got a test quickly.

We also used the driving test now app as recommended on a previous thread and let it auto book. Worked a treat.

Thanks. We'll give that app a go. Can she change everything about her booked test, place, date and time? 🤔

@Takeittotheboss you choose a test centre for them to book. I think you can only choose one centre.

Yes. Select a test centre. Then select auto book, then choose dates...a bit tedious going through all the dates. I didn't tick rush hour. But worth doing. If you don't select auto book they send you a text with available tests, but then by the time you follow the link the test is gone.

Its a tad warm, even ‘Oop North…
Is everyone okay?

I’m ok now I’m lying in front of my fan. School was too hot 🥵 we sent chn home after lunch but still had stragglers so it didn’t really help.

I’m not okay 😂
far too hot for my liking.

we have the driving test now app but it has not worked for us so far.
DS test is currently end of sept, for local test centre but of course we don’t really know where he’ll be by that point, could be in Cardiff or Brighton or (hopefully not!) still at home

Rehearsals for the Year 6 Production were a tad warm!

Thank heavens we're doing something set at the seaside so their costumes are all shorts and t shirts!

We're in France now (Alps) and it is very hot but the apartment has AC which is a massive bonus as it's been about 36° here today and forecast 33+ for the rest of the week. I'm in the "22°C is plenty hot enough" camp so struggling a bit out and about, going out for early morning and late evening walks.

👋 to ED, we are also in the south of France but a bit further west. Very hot here too, thankfully we have A/C and a pool but the weather has scuppered any plans to get out and about, it's way too hot to go exploring in the day.

Appreciating aircon here in Corfu too. Much too hot to explore thinking about doing Grecian exploring late April next year.

Can I ask all driving peeps opinion? Dd has decided she will do driving lessons now ...this summer. She will be at Uni end of September though..is it a bad idea? She is near enough to.cone back home for them. I don't want to encourage that. I want her to make her uni life without disappearing every weekend.
But if not now ..when?

Welcome @Sallyingon I'm another one with DN at Lancaster who is having a very jolly time indeed. It sounds a great uni to be at!

DH and I have come to Cornwall - 22 degrees and drizzle so he is very happy! Met Office says dry and 21 degrees for the rest of the week which is on the cool side for me, but OK as we won't be on beach. DSs and GFs joining us next week after a festival for the weekend (Truck). Glad they are not at a festival in the current weather, I am sure teens are not great at remembering to stay hydrated. Are there any festivals this week?

Orange - re driving, DS1 started before he went to university and then picked it up again the following summer, which worked out fine, but it is definitely a great time to get the theory test out of the way. He did not have any lessons with a "real" instructor until 6 weeks before the test but built up confidence by driving with us. I agree that planning to come home at weekends is not the best way to get the most out of the university experience.

@OrangeCinnamonCroissant I would be very surprised if she could find a driving instructor with space to take her this summer? Around here they all have waiting lists for many months.

No aircon here, it's 39 and blinds closed/fan on. Not so bad now but impossible to sleep last night.

@272Newnames 😱- I’m moaning at 34 degrees and no aircon.,,

@OrangeCinnamonCroissant DD has also decided she’d like to start learning to drive. I’ve suggested she takes lessons whilst at Uni as could fit them in on week days around lectures?

I don’t know how much they cost Orange but some swear by the one week intensive driving course.

I know you want a balance of her getting fully immersed into uni life. There was plenty of stop/start learning to drive with DD as she has to fall in line with lock downs; it was only in the later ones that driving with parents was exempt. It can be done with minimal lessons, but that was due to DH taking up the role, not me.

That’s a great idea Proggy.

I melted on way home from my school. Car said 45c and my air con wouldn’t work.😩

45! 🤯
Glad I am in the (relatively) cool south of France!

Lord! @Benjispruce4 😱
41 degrees for me during my hour’s drive home but thankfully with aircon!
Was the coolest and comfiest I’ve been all day!
It’s 38 at home…

Got up to 38° here today (now 36°). But it's forecast to stay mid 30s all week, no let up in sight. We have a lake to swim in though which is rather lovely.