Page 25 | 2017 seems so long ago, now they're fledgling graduates.

latedecember1963 · 2021-03-06T17:31:02+00:00

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.

bigTillyMint · 30/09/2021 16:21

Phew! for your DS Xenia!
Lucky boys to be able to get training contracts at their mums practice - my DS is applying for internships atm in the hopes of getting one which might lead to the offer of a training contract. He is planning on doing a law conversion next year - dependent on getting a 2:1 and a training contract…..

He would be looking to do it in London - would your DSs recommend where they are studying?

Carriemac · 30/09/2021 16:24

That's a relief Xenia well done your DS.
We have a graduation date for DDs master - 5th November in Dublin so 9 days before her deferred Oxford graduation ! Sub fusc for both for her but I'll need two dresses

Original poster

latedecember1963 · 30/09/2021 17:57

It's like waiting for a bus, Carriemac, the prospect of no graduation ceremonies and then 2 come along at once. Happy frock hunting.
Glad your DD managed to battle through with BT, SMaCM. We swapped to BT this summer and they were a nightmare to deal with. DH came very close to cancelling the swap.

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Original poster

latedecember1963 · 30/09/2021 17:57

It's like waiting for a bus, Carriemac, the prospect of no graduation ceremonies and then 2 come along at once. Happy frock hunting.
Glad your DD managed to battle through with BT, SMaCM. We swapped to BT this summer and they were a nightmare to deal with. DH came very close to cancelling the swap.

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Original poster

latedecember1963 · 30/09/2021 17:59

No idea why that posted twice!

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Xenia · 01/10/2021 10:57

bigT, It is a bit a dilemma. No one really wants their mother's firm on their CV (I am the only person in my firm) so it has never been my ideal at all but we can make it very good indeed as I want them to have the best training in the land etc. Yes they are happy at their place which is in London and where their sisters went (one was sponsored by her firm there so it seemed the right place for the others to go too).

Good luck with the graduations. I don't think the twins are likely to have their 2020 one now from Bristol. It is also so late probably not worth bothering.

Malbecfan · 01/10/2021 11:46

Sorry for being AWOL for ages. My dad is back with me and life is pretty full on again .

Congratulations to the DC who have passed exams, got jobs, moved into their new places and started jobs. What a smart lot we have!

Mine matriculates today then starts her PhD on Monday officially. As far as I know she doesn't yet have a title but knows roughly what she will be working on as she is joining the group she was with for her Masters. She went up north for a couple of days this week to visit friends then on Wednesday met DD2 for lunch in DD2's university city. DD2 should be in Japan but they aren't giving visas yet so she is back in her UK university working on Japanese time and doing lectures etc online. It's not ideal but she is at least seeing her UK course mates and has been told she's welcome in the department anytime. Hopefully she can go soon & we can go and visit her next year. No doubt DD1 will find an excuse to tag along (like a conference there perhaps!)

Xenia · 01/10/2021 12:30

Japan will be very exciting. I have never been.

Good luck for the PhD one. They are all growing up fast.
Meanwhile daughter 1 is looking at cute tiny new born baby clothes for December but managed to lock herself out of her flat at mid night when she had to deal with a food delivery man to the block of 5 who was in the wrong building. The kind people below let her call a locksmith immediately and he did it for £250 so all is well that ends well. I used to keep her spare keys here but she took them back. I think it might be worth my having a spare set. Her husband was away for work.

Carriemac · 01/10/2021 13:13

I recommend a key safe @xenia - we are all a bit forgetful so its really handy.

Horsemad · 01/10/2021 15:21

Japan is on my bucket list, would love to go.

Xenia · 02/10/2021 09:28

Carrie I agree. She had one at her last flat and was talking about it yesterday and wishing she still had had one yesterday. Anyway at least she was able to find a locksmith by midnight so it was all fine in the end and she has enough petrol for a long drive today.

One of the twins did not make it home here last night - so he probably stayed the night with his friends as he was with them last night as he sometimes does if he is out late.

Original poster

latedecember1963 · 02/10/2021 14:31

I'd not heard of key safes so looked them up. What a good idea and more insurance friendly than a key hidden in a stack of plant pots in the greenhouse. Something else to add to the list of "house" things I'm working on.
Hope your DS turns up, Xenia. I have to remind DH that DS2 coped perfectly well out in the world for 4 years when he's stressing about him being out with very vague return times. I work on the principle they come home when they're hungry.
Sounds like things are hectic for you, Malbecfan. Hope you are at least managing a brew in the staffroom this term. ☕

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Parker231 · 02/10/2021 14:35

Hello everyone - hopefully everyone now has petrol!
Am struggling with the empty home. Now both DT’s are working in other countries and unlikely to live with us again it seems so much worse than their time away at Uni. Thank goodness for easy journeys on Eurostar!

Carriemac · 02/10/2021 16:22

I know what you mean @Parker231 now that 2 of ours are working they seem to have 'moved out' for good in a way that feels more permanent than being in Uni, and DD is studying in another country so we have a very empty house and DH is struggling with this .

bigTillyMint · 02/10/2021 21:32

I think I’m more likely to forget my keys than the DC

Sorry that those who have a permanently empty nest are missing their DC. I am making the most of a week of an empty nest (DS went back to Durham yesterday) before we pick DD next Saturday. It’s going to be a big change for her after 4 years in Bristol. And for DH and I!

Haffdonga · 02/10/2021 23:13

I think I know what you mean about the difference between uni time empty nest (when the family home is still their real home and they'll soon be back with bags of dirty washing and new piercings or facial hair) and the emptier grown up nest of them having their own home somewhere else.

We're not empty nesters because ds1 has done the classic boomerang after uni and is living and working from home at the moment, but he announced yesterday that whatever happens with future plans he'll be moving out next year. Fair enough and just as it should be for a not so young man but it did give me a pang. It'll be the end of a long happy era.

I'll have to put up with DH's quirks on my own again

Original poster

latedecember1963 · 03/10/2021 08:20

Aww, Parker, sending you an unmumsnetty hug! Even though them moving on is a sign we've done a good job it's bound to have bittersweet moments. As the saying goes, the days are long but the years are short.

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Eve · 03/10/2021 10:28

Well done on exam pass & happy graduations to those getting to have them, I loved being at DS’s in summer.

Japan sounds really exciting.

DS is enjoying his voluntary scheme in Italy, he messaged during week to say they were on way to a meeting in Milan to present the research & program. Meeting turned out to be the youth climate conference! 🙄 DS paying full attention as usual !

I did offer money to say something rude about BJ to see if he made the papers , but he declined!

He’s applying for next project , options at moment either Sicily or Poland.

Xenia · 03/10/2021 19:29

I ht ink I have a few years before a completely empty nest and I am looking forward to it when it comes. The one who stayed out then stayed a second night with his friend and got back this lunch time (and had called his twin to update him - that one is now away until Monday night so although each has been away not at the same time so as ever no time to myself.....

Parker231 · 05/10/2021 18:27

Glad to hear I’m not the only one struggling with the empty nest. DH and I are doing lots of long runs and out for meals to keep busy! Even the dog is missing DS - found him lying outside DS’s bedroom each night.

Thankfully we have both my and DH’s families flying in at the end of the month - am on a countdown.

Have arranged a trip over to see DD for Christmas shopping - thank goodness the travel restrictions are getting easier all the time.
Hope everyone now has petrol and the DC’s are moving on with their lives.

Xenia · 06/10/2021 18:40

After 10 day with just about no petrol (and feelig worse than in lockdown) I was allwoed £30 yesterday last and then today found a garage out of petrol but had diesel so I am not fully filled up at last. When I queued last night I took one car down after the other and it was only about 20 mins to queue each time although chaos on the busy road.

We had a lovely lunch near the twins' law school in London today with their lawyer sisters who came over from work and huge coincidence their sister's lawyer friend who we have known since she was about 5 was having a client lunch across the room so we had a nice chat to her afterwards. It was near where I used to work in the 80s/90s too so reminded me of all those years working near there.

ErrolTheDragon · 06/10/2021 19:48

I've been AWOL since going on holiday. Good weather apart from a couple of rainy days (spent happily enough in nice gardens with an umbrella apiece), and no problems getting fuel thank goodness.

DD seems to have settled into her job well. It's a very small consultancy, I think there's only 3 of them in the office plus a couple more WFH. She's got a desk next to the boss which she says is great for learning loads, and she's working on a couple of projects which sound fun and quite different from each other.

Her BF, meanwhile, started last week with his big company. Apparently he's been doing 'HR shit', to use her inelegant phrase, including personality tests (apparently he's 'Green'... nope, me neither)

Parker231 · 06/10/2021 20:00

@ErrolTheDragon - we do the colour Insights tests on new joiners. Most people can see themselves in their colour. Here is green.

Green people are the introvert feelers. They strive in an informal setting and they are the colleagues that make sure relationships between team members are ok. Their motto is: Let’s do it with care, and on a good day, they are patient, relaxed, encouraging and like to share information.
Green people experience stress when people are treated unfairly, when values are at stake or when they are on time pressure. They respond to stress by being stubborn, resistant or by retreating from the conversation. To help green people get out of the stressful situation you need to bring back the interpersonal trust using personal contact.

Horsemad · 06/10/2021 20:58

Evening all. DS got a First! 🙂 We are thrilled and very proud of him.

I am now off to read up on colour insights tests. Sounds intriguing!

Xenia · 06/10/2021 21:16

Congratulations on the first.