Another Path - part IV

[321zyx]

Apologies if I've done this wrong! I seemed to have filled up the last thread, hopefully the abbreviated title is ok!

Hi everyone. Bend, sorry to hear you’ve all had to isolate. What a nuisance.

So DS, (without much communication) firmed Durham in the end. The offer is A*AA. I think he will still take a gap year, but good to have firmed a uni if he changes his mind by August!

Apart from that, he’s up in town most days with friends. I’m glad they’re finally hanging out, as they’ve all been a quite serious lot the last couple of years (plus obviously lockdown didn’t help).

Midlife and Revenge - did you go boating from Richmond? How lovely. The river is so beautiful at the moment.

No, not Richmond @quest1on, but from Chiswick Bridge (a much quieter stretch of water!).

The river is lovely at the moment although the path near us both is hideously busy and full of flies don't you find? I was excited to see a seal last week by Fulham Football stadium though.

Am glad to hear your DS has firmed Durham, even if our boys won't be in the same year or college!

@quest1on it's good to have made a decision

That’s great @quest1on it’s good that he’s decided and glad to hear he’s having fun.

Has anyone heard of some schools telling students their grades before 10th August? DD’s school hasn’t but there is talk of others that have.

I saw the other thread about this bend. As I said on there, DS’ school are giving nothing away with regard to raw scores from the three rounds of assessments they did. I’m surprised some schools are doing this because surely it will just cause more anxiety and questions for the school to deal with?

Midlife - yes, the midge things were so bad yesterday, DH and I actually started running down the river to get them out of our hair! I’m sure it’s never been like this before. On the plus side, I hear Hammersmith Bridge is opening to pedestrians in July, so that will ease the traffic your way, I’m sure.

Oh, you mean telling them their actual grades bend? Surely that’s not allowed?

In Wales, schools are giving out provisional grades ahead of the official August results days, quite legally and above board. Presumably that's subject to ratification by the exam boards. I'm not in Wales so I'm not familiar with all the intricacies. DD's school are playing it by the book and not issuing marks, though I think DD has a fair idea about how she's done.

yes, the midge things were so bad yesterday, DH and I actually started running down the river to get them out of our hair! I’m sure it’s never been like this before

It seems to be a bad (or good for them I suppose) year for insects. I have just pulled out my third tick of the year and that is with spraying my legs.... little bastards. They are so small you can't actually see them without a magnifying glass. I only realised this mornings was there as I got a big itchy lump on my leg and gave it good look. My garden is full of them .

Hi everyone!

Haven't posted in a while but always enjoy reading your posts.

Bend, I hope your dd is making a good recovery and you're all coping with isolation - not much longer to go now?

Quest1on, delighted to hear your ds has firmed Durham and eyeing up a gap year.... good for him!

Loving the picture of Midlife and Revenge sculling on the River Thames!

DD is back at school for 2 weeks of enrichment and fun activities whatever that means.... She felt her assessments went relatively smoothly and we're just keeping our figures crossed she'll get the grades for Durham.

In other news, my DS has tested positive again!! He had the Alpha variant last autumn and swiftly gone and caught Delta last week. I feel awful for him... Really gutted for his housemates too who have tested negative but find themselves in isolation again when all they want is end of term fun. Durham cases have rocketed according to the gov.uk website.

I'm guessing DS will have to wait 4-6 weeks before he can be vaccinated... what a bummer.

Oh gosh @jano69 . So your DS was able to have identified exactly the variant of Covid?

Very sad for all affected but I hope he makes a smooth recovery!

Good point chopc, he said he's got Delta but I'm not sure that's actually been confirmed in the PCR result. Given Delta accounts for 90% of new infections and he's already had covid, it probably is.... my poor boy....

I am sure you are right. Interesting that immunity against one variant wouldn't protect against another ..... or perhaps it's just not long lasting ...... so many unknown

@jano69 how doubly frustrating for him. To have got it twice is very disappointing.

I have to admit that I am getting a bit despondent on covid, what with the end of term stuff falling apart and my growing worries that the first term university experience might be collapsing too. Eheu

I hope we can resolve it all. I know people have very strong views on the various issues. I think as most will have been vaccinated and hospitals therefore protected to an extent we should open up as normal in Sept for students. However I know lots of people do not agree.

Life HAS to go on. We are not going to get rid of Covid by Sept or any time in the near future. Need to vaccinate our way out and be sensible about infection control. Sadly social distancing and mask wearing may have to continue 😔

Has your son had any long covid effects @jano69?

A neighbour's DS got covid at university in March. He now has more energy but still has no sense of taste. Eating no longer has any joy as every meal tastes the same.

Really excited that DS had his first Jab yesterday, as did his friends, our city is really rushing them through (south east).
DS1 is fuming that he hasn't been called up yet, 2 of his friend's households are isolating, and that's in Cornwall! (can I blame Boris and his chums? ... :) )

@derekthe1adyhamster pleased for your DS. How was he called? Text or did you find out through other means?

Fairyfield - DS didn't suffer any long term side effects following his first Covid infection. Hoping that will be the case this time round too... how rotten for your neighbour's DS to still not be able to enjoy his food.

That's great news derek - my two are keen to get jabbed asap too.

dc has just had his second jab (carer for someone at uni). Dc2 is desperate to get hers. Not sure why , well, I know she is hoping to travel abroad after her vaccinations....

Some 18-22 year olds Mrs rme in London have been sloping over to Hounslow to be done in their surge pop up clinics.

@Revengeofthepangolins do you know how they find out about the pop ups?

I get to know what's happening in my local hun on the Facebook group but was thinking there must be an official way

I have been keeping an eye on our surgery Facebook as well as local hospital website.

How people know has been annoying me - my neighbour smugly told me at 5pm when it was too late to emulate. She heard on a euro-mummies WhatsApp but after digging I found last weekend’s Hounslow pop ups mentioned on the council Twitter - I haven’t looked to see if they are offering more this weekend yet.

They will do 18 year olds who lice with someone over 50 (or otherwise vulnerable). It says words to the effect that the pop ups are meant for people in the brought to outsiders might be turned away, but not that they definitely will and the three families I know who have gone have secured vaccines. Of course, one isn’t really meant to travel into Hounslow because of the covid surge, so there is that.

Elder DD1, 23 booked her jab late last night in London, but not for another three weeks, with her second in Sept. I wonder whether they will be able to bring that forward? She is happy though, really keen to get it done.

DD2 keen too. DH says they will open up to all 18+ years old by the end of this week. Keep an eye on the website.