2017 seems so long ago, now they're fledgling graduates.

[latedecember1963]

4 years since A Levels and the wait for August and confirmation of where our chicks were about to fly the nest to.
It's been 4 years that has sprung a few surprises along the way, not least this lovely series of threads.

DH and I proofread DDs project report - mostly for SpaG and style, though we're used to reading technical papers (albeit in very different fields) which probably helps a bit.

@latedecember1963 ❤️

@latedecember1963 you look amazing! I'm glad the day went well.

Too many posts to catch up on but I'm really pleased to read that the DC seem to be taking pretty much everything in their stride. DD1 is working next door as there is a spare internet connection that my dad insisted on having even though he's not here at the moment. DD is finding the 9 - 5 a bit of a shock, even though her commute is 30 seconds. She has taken a carload of stuff to her new place in Cambridge then is going away this weekend to the Lakes, so lots of driving practice. One of her mates is coming to stay on Sunday for some vet practice as nobody near her was accepting placement students. She's going to stay in my dad's cottage because our house is too full of DDs' junk and our holiday cottage has some needy friends who are en route. They are always moaning about their various complaints; this time their DS1 (17) has just had Covid and it's wiped him out. I may need to hit the gin over the next fortnight...

A very normal day here. Am enjoying having DS back home again. He’s been sorting out what he needs to take with him next month when he starts work. I’ve reminded him that the majority of the house contents will be going into storage when DH and I move so this is his chance to sort out.

DSil and her family arrive tomorrow morning so I’ve been to M&S at lunchtime to stock up on their favourite British food and drinks although I imagine DS and my nephews will be in the pub by lunchtime!

Thank you for all the good wishes.
We had an M and S tea on Saturday evening because my mum had wanted to pick some things up from there en route when I took her home on Saturday and I decided to make things easy for myself.
I know it's a cliche but they do make their food very appealing.
Hope you have a good catch up with your family, Parker.

I love M&S, was devastated when our nearest one (15 miles away) closed. We now have to travel twice that to visit but it's SO worth it! 👍

My American relatives are currently enjoying the Colin The Caterpillar cake!

Whatever happened in the M&S/Aldi (or was it Lidl) Colin The Caterpillar Cake debacle? 🤔

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56756731.amp

The legal dispute between Colin v Cuthbert!

Glad everyone is doing fine. Daughter is cross an NCT class she booked for a few months' time because it would be face to face has today been changed to 50% online so not what they booked and paid for. I suppose they will still "go" but it's very disappointing.

This is my first day for at least a week without people staying other than the twins so a red letter day as I said to one of the boys. It got a bit much by Sunday when a new group came to stay. Last one let yesterday although even then my other son gave me 20 minutes notice 3 boys I never met with whom he was at Bristol were coming for the evening. They were lovely and left before the last tube (2 were staying with one of the others further into London) and tonight (fingers crossed) no one is staying or coming.

On the other hand they have all been cooped up since March 2020 so I am glad they have the chance to have friends round and go out etc. The one who has been working for 3 months as a para legal gave his formal notice last night and is giving himself one week off before their next course starts. I would have had a month off. As his twin says they might never have all this time off again in their lives.

Thanks @Parker123. 🙂

That's disappointing for your DD Xenia. When is she due? I made one of my best friends at NCT classes, we still see each other regularly now. 🙂

DS is starting to see light at the end of the studying tunnel. He's definitely chirpier! 😆

December. At least the first 2 NCT classes are face to face so they can make local friends then. She called today to say as of today her baby is viable in the sense I think the NHS tries to save it if it were to be born today rather than last week or something along those lines so she felt a milestone today although I am sure it will be more like December when it arrives. I have already bought the 2022 calendar and put the twins' course dates on it and their January exams - as the baptism may be mid Jan but I ideally it will be after the exams (end on 18 Jan for that set of exams) not during the 10 day period of them so I have let her know, although until a baby arrives you never know what you want to do and how exhausted you are to arrange anything at all and even if all is well.

We always seem to have to organise things so in advance due to commitments. This is probably the last exams of the 5 children ever in 2022 Jan and then last ones in June. End of a very long era.

Xenia, what liberation 2022 will bring with no more exams.
Now a break till it is the turn of the grandchildren.
Wonder whether A levels will exist then.
Please could I pick your brains , would like a best guess as to when Bristol History graduation might be in 2022.
Keen to get ahead and book something I can cancel easily ( accommodation )

@olliepolly
DD is still waiting on a date for her 2020 graduation. And praying her Masters graduation will happen in Feb/March 2022. Bristol have cancelled/postponed everything so far, so not holding our breath!

DT’s have no date for their 2020 graduation or DS’s Masters. There was talk of everything being rolled over and combined into next year. Neither DT will be in the U.K. then and aren’t interested now although I would love to see them formally graduate.

We got DDs official framed photo yesterday. the videoing company didn't find any footage of the missing moments so its good to have that.

DD has been given a date for her Oxford graduation! Some 2020 s are being done together with this years cohort so she hopes she'll know some people there but is just excited to finally graduate .

I am not sure about Bristol graduations. The 2020 for my two have not happened. I took a photo of them in my old university gown hood and mortar board with their certificates and that will probably have to do it. I suspect for them from 2020 they would just not bother now as it is so far since they did it. That is a shame as we have the other 3 children's graduations and photos and video.

DD is packing and sorting things out, she's going back tomorrow. It will be quite a carful... and still lots of stuff in her room here, though she's thrown out a few things.

I suspect for them from 2020 they would just not bother now as it is so far since they did it

Same sentiments here Xenia, the moment has kind of passed hasn't it? DD finishes her Masters next month and has said she doesn't see much point going to graduation for her first degree after she has finished her second

It would literally be just for the photo.

We saw a bit of progress on their next course today - in that they can log on and indicate an address to which the text book/materials can be posted and they have to decide if they want online or in exam hall hand written exams for this coming year (they are doing the course in person but get a choice over exams). I think they might stick with online but clearly the institution is keen to know as you cannot move on to look at your pre course materials until you indicate a choice so they need to consider that carefully. They are keen to see their timetable (eg have they got 2 long days a week in the same group - their preference or not) but we have not found it yet online. I will try and pin them both down to check tomorrow night when I think they might be home. One has his last week (of 12) as a paralegal this coming week, then a week off and then they start their final law course.

Their pregnant sister made it to her holiday abroad yesterday and their other sister just got back from France with her family from holiday so at least some of them have managed a holiday abroad this summer.

I hope the Errol daughter got back okay. Mine don't seem to have a second to sort out stuff or rather have more interesting things to do than that. The summer has sped by not least because one has been working full time all the time and the other had his resit exam I suppose.

Yes, she's back ok. DH went with her, he's staying in a hotel tonight and maybe tomorrow. I had to stay with the dog but there wouldn't have been room in the car for me anyway.

Glad your DD got to her destination safely, Errol. Does she start her new job this week?

She starts in September, not quite sure what date, but they've got furniture to sort out and they want some downtime together before they start.

DH met Bob the Dog during a walk to Grantchester this morning.