UEA (2019) Surely 2021 (and getting on for halfway through our DC's degrees) things have got to get better????

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

New thread following on from the previous one.

Lots of and into 2021.

@sluj. I ordered photos. But didn't see anything about a different day.

Ah, hopefully I have totally misread the the last bit of the mail about photos-

Must I order photographs?
Photographers from Ede & Ravenscroft will be available on your ceremony day to take photographs of you and your guests. This service is optional but must be pre-booked. You can book a studio session at Ede & Ravenscroft Graduation Services.
Due to the high number of attendees at Graduation 2022 it will not be possible to book this service on the day of your ceremony.

Due to the high number of attendees at Graduation 2022 it will not be possible to book this service on the day of your ceremony.

That to me reads that 'you can't just leave it until the day to book your session', rather than that 'the slots you will be booking will be on another day, not the day of the ceremony'?

@MarchingFrogs yes. I thought that meant photos/gowns etc. need booking in advance. One of ds's housemates hasn't booked a place the graduation ceremony and says it's now too late. Gowns etc can still be booked though.

Doh - thanks everyone! Good news for me though 🙂

Well DS is happy tonight, after handing in his dissertation today and then collecting an award on behalf of the team he has captained this year at the Sports Awards dinner. I expect he will have a well deserved celebration. Just two more assignments left...

That's sounds great @GoldenRuby
Ds handed in his dissertation this week. His last essay is due 17th. Then a few online exams. Then finished. His rental contract runs out first week of august. So he will stay until then.

I expect DS will do something similar @icanbewhatiwant. We have a family holiday booked at the end of the first week in Aug and his tenancy expires while we are away, so he will have to vacate just before we go. He is moving home for the next year as he is doing teacher training 30 mins away.

I forgot Ds has to do a talk too. That's next week. He has applied for one grad. job. But I expect 100's of others will apply to the same job. It is farming based, so that might be a plus as he grew up on a farm and his summer job has been testing crops. He still really wants to go abroad for a holiday or even work. His housemates either don't want to go, don't have time or can't afford it. We don't holiday abroad as dh won't fly, I won't go by boat, so I can see why the dc's want to travel. Ds2 wants to go abroad this summer too.

DS has been talking about going abroad to work (although not imminently). I am convinced that he's not yet applied for any jobs: short, medium or long-term options. He's using completing his remaining two modules' coursework as an excuse. Starting to get worried.

Good luck to your DS with his diss presentation icanbewhatiwant.

@GoldenRuby great to hear that at least one of our young people has got a plan for next year.

Hello UEA peeps, so lovely to hear about all your DC coming towards the end of their degrees and everyone looking forward to graduation ceremonies, very exciting time for them all and proud parent moments.
My eldest DC is also at that stage only one week go for him and his graduation is on 6th July, he's not had a great experience overall, but has been working hard and is now looking forward to the next step (whatever that might be).
My UEA DC2 is now almost living at our home in London, he's been applying for jobs but so far not much luck, he's trying to get part time work in a cinema, he's still rather down/depressed and not yet ready for full time work, so I'm hoping something comes up soon, he has a rather narrow focus on things he'd like/be willing to do, I think he'll have to open himself up to more areas, but it may take a bit of time for him to come to that realisation.
He's still got his room in his Norwich house, think they don't move out officially till mid July, he did go up last week as it was a housemate Birthday.
I was in the UK from April, caught covid within a week of arriving, but was only unwell for about 5 days, stayed home for about 8 days till I tested negative, luckily it wasn't too bad and I didn't have any of the headaches that seem so bad for many people.

@Itscoldouthere really good to hear from you and your news. Good luck to your DS1 with his final 'push'. Will you all be going to his graduation in July?

Good to hear that your DS is spending time between his student let in Norwich and London. Good luck with his job search. Hopefully persistence will pay off. Would he consider going into the cinemas he's interested in working at, rather than just applying online? I do get the impression that a lot of applications done online just disappear into hyperspace. Can quite understand him not wanting to be working full-time if he's still feeling quite down though. Would he consider doing some sort of volunteering (possibly in an area he has some interest in?) while he's waiting to find something?

Sorry that you caught Covid. Was it your first time? Glad you recovered without being too poorly. We have this theory that if you have an underlying Achilles heel health-wise, Covid will exploit it at the first opportunity.

How is life in Canada going? Just coming up to the time of the year to really get to enjoy the great outdoors.

It's about a week and a half until the young people finish now, isn't it?

@LouisCatorze yes your are so right about job applications just going into a black hole, I will try to get him to go and visit some cinemas, there are quite a few independent ones in north london, so he can start there and see what happens, volunteering is also a good option, anything to get him out into the world.

It was first time getting Covid and I feel I did get off lightly, thankfully, I’m actually relieved to have had it now, makes travelling feel safer/easier not worrying about catching it or spreading it. My flight from London on Sunday was full, first time in 2 years I’ve not had a row to myself!

I’m currently in Canada but only here for a week, our apartment tenancy is up end of June so I’m here getting clothes and seeing DH. It was really hot yesterday but windy and cloudy today, so quite changeable. It’s a 4 day bank holiday weekend and due to be nice, so looking forward to that, but it’s weird here without the dog and knowing that I won’t be coming back here again.

Will all be in the UK to go to DS1 graduation in July, his course exhibit at a show in London called New Blades, but DS isn’t doing it, he’s not feeling very confident about his work and hasn’t achieved what he’d hoped, so doesn’t want to do the show which is rather sad. We went to it before he applied to the course and he thought it was how he’d end his degree, but it hasn’t worked out like that for him, but he’s feeling ok about it and is now happy that his future lies doing computer drawn modelling, rather than actual physical models, I just hope he can find some work.

Its a very interesting point for all our young people, a big jump into the next phase, are many of them planning to come home? Or are they setting off to new locations? I’m looking forward to hearing what they all get up to.

@Itscoldouthere great to hear from you. I wondered how you were getting on in Canada and whether your Ds stayed in Norwich. I hope he finds a job he enjoys. Mine has had struggles with his biology dissertation. But all handed in now. Coursework finished just 2 long exams left. He has no job lined up, though has applied to one. He really has no idea what he wants to do next. He has a couple of holidays planned, then will move back home.

@icanbewhatiwant glad to hear that your DS has finished his dissertation, I hope the exams goes well for him. The next bit of finding a job is such an unknown for many, hopefully he will find something he likes and then have a direction to move forward with.
I've just been on a webinar hosted by The guardian with Margaret Atwood and someone asked about what made her happy and joyful, she said that if you have low expectations you are usually happier with the outcome, which I thought was very funny and an interesting point of view, maybe it's a good way to think when venturing out into the unknown world of work 😁

Thanks @Itscoldouthere Ds says he doesn't want to work in a lab or anything to do with science. So not quite sure why he chose biology.

@Itscoldouthere its lively to see your update. I’d echo @LouisCatorze’s suggestion about approaching in person as well just the online world. Fingers crossed for him.

looks increasingly likely that DS2 will still - that’s still in a good way - be at UEA come September as he is hoping to do a Masters. With the benefit that he can continue to play Uni level sport. He sent us some lovely “formal” team photographs this week. Assuming he does stay for the masters he’ll be in the same house with the same people. As they all get on really well that’s great too. Although quite how many student houses there are with a well equipped back garden including a large gas bbq which seems to get plenty of use I’m not sure.😀

lovely to see your update even

@Itscoldouthere , great to hear your update !
DS has come home for a bit to do some casual work to pay the rent on his Norwich House until the tenancy expires in September. Its quite weird ( and expensive) having him home and I was anticipating another couple of months with just the two of us in the house. Still, it is nice to have him back really, he has no firm employment plans as yet.
I have two UEA graduations as DS1 is getting his delayed one from last year too, the ceremonies are a week apart though. I'm staying at the George for both occasions and going home in between. The joys of a 9 30am and a 5.30pm ceremony.
Does anyone know what to expect? I am so tempted to wear white trainers with my dress but I don't really think it would be right, do you?

We've booked a hotel and also have a 9.30am ceremony - apparently, they have to be there 2 hours before!

I'll be wearing a dress with shoes - I'm too old to rock the white trainers look 😂

I think someone mentioned up thread that their dc wasn't necessarily getting a gown - I've read that they are compulsory, but now can't find where I read that!

All info is here for anyone who needs it ueasavethedate.co.uk/resources/Graduation-FAQs-updated-19.05.22.pdf

gowns must be ordered by 24th June

I am also way too old for the white trainers look but that also means I am old enough to value comfort over style 🤣

On the subject of comfortable footwear being worn for smart events, I noticed that a few women showed up for the Jubilee St Paul's service wearing posh frocks and white trainers! Couldn't quite believe my eyes!

I don't know what I'll wear as I hate dresses/skirts. I only really wear trainers or moccasins too. But Ds isn't dressing that smartly. He doesn't own a suit. He's wearing his cream chinos with a shirt and tie.

@NotSorry yes I read the gown is compulsory too. Not sure where I read that.

Ds has his final online exam tomorrow. He had one yesterday too. Then he's done. He's going to America on 20th June for 3 weeks. His contract on his Norwich house ends while he's in America, so he needs to clear everything out by 18th. So not long left at all. 2 of his mates are staying in Norwich for a 4th year, but not in the same house. I'm sure ds will go and visit them as we aren't far away. Ds is not going to like being home, he's obviously excited about America at the moment. Once that's over I think he will miss university life a lot.

@icanbewhatiwant would you wear a jumpsuit or trousers and a bright blazer/jacket? There's a great range around at the moment and you may feel more comfortable thank in a frock.

@LouisCatorze Thsmks, I do have summery skirts and tops so I'm sure I'll find something. I'll be ok if is hot weather. But if it's cold I'll be stuck. My problem is always shoes too. I have wide chunky feet. So I can never find comfy but smart shoes to fit.

Ds messaged this morn to say he didn't understand the questions for his final exam. Not sure why after 3 years of biology. He has 24 hours, so I'm sure he sorted it out. I messaged half hour ago and he was still doing the final question, but said he'd only got about 300 words left to write. Then that's it. Finished.