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!

I am on the car insurance trail as well.
Neither DH or my car were suitable for a learner so we bought a little polo when DD1 turned 17 and insured it in her name.
My twins turned 17 last month and DT1 passed her theory test this week so we need to add her.
DT2 has a date for a theory test next month so it will be one newly qualified driver and 2 learners.

Seriously considering booking one of these lesson then take your test courses - they're exorbitantly expensive but I just can't find any practical test availability anywhere at any time! Anyone any experience??

@Pumpkintopf is your DS "on hold"? On one of the cancellation apps they said you can use it to get an actual test appt booked in.....

driving-test-cancellations-now.co.uk/how-to-book-a-driving-test-with-no-availability

Hey @chopc no as the DVSA app said you could only place your request to book on hold if you need additional support etc. Might be worth giving it a go and trying to get it rebooked before they twig and cancel I guess..?

Strange. Can you or your DS bear a call to DVSA?

we had a test on hold and the driving instructor told us we shouldn't use it.... So we are back to checking every day

@chopc yep I spent an hour on hold today (at least it got the dishwasher emptied amongst other jobs!) in order to speak to a human at DVSA who said they expected the dates for December to be released this month but they don't know when.

So, as @derekthe1adyhamster says, I guess it's just checking every day

Very late to this thread @pumpkintopf
@derekthe1adyhamster but just wanted to mention that I tried to book a driving test for my DD last week. No dates available at all for 2021 so I inadvertently paid and put it on hold.

Anyway I tried for three days by clicking on every date and a cancellation popped up for August! Try first thing in the morning or random times of the day.

Brilliant @Dobbyisahouseelf there is hope then! So would you say I should pay and put it on hold, that would work? Thanks 😊

Hello all, sorry I’ve been lurking but not posting for a while. Re: driving tests. Just yesterday I booked an ‘on hold’ practical driving test for DS then paid £17.99 to sign up to the ‘driving test now’ app. There is an auto book function which I selected and when I woke up this morning DS had a test booked for one of the dates I had ticked. Highly recommend.

PS DS is off on his gap year travels (through a youth movement scheme) at the start of September. Seems pretty likely it’ll go ahead (green list country plus he’ll be double vaccinated) so I’m delighted for him but keep having little teary moments when I realise I won’t see him for 6 months. Anyone else getting ready for the emotional rollercoaster that is DC leaving home?

That was wishful thinking. He’ll be gone for 9 months. Typo.

DD will be moving 3000 miles away for 4 years but will be home at Christmas and hopefully for some time each summer even if she does spend most of the summers in the US.
I am not thinking about it yet.

She has her last 2 exams today. I have the Prosecco and Colin the Caterpillar cake ready for when she comes home to get changed before heading out!

I have the Prosecco and Colin the Caterpillar cake

Essentials for celebrations .

@ChimneyPot hope the last two exams goes well. I was speaking to an American friend residing in England about why she didn't consider US Uni for her DS and she said cost was a factor. Despite being a dual National she said you have to be a resident to not be considered an international student. Does she have it right? I remember you saying something about your DD citizenship and costs but can't remember what

@Tenpastseven hope you'd DS has a fab gap year!

Haven't had a chance to feel teary as DS has been in school almost every day since finishing his exams for some reason or other. I think I will start feeling it when the other two go back to school after the summer and he doesn't .........

Gosh @Tenpastseven and @ChimneyPot How exciting for them! Fantastic opportunities!
Can understand the moments of teariness at the thought of your child leaving for months on end though.. it’s a strange thing and somehow just feels wrong no matter how great the opportunity is.

@chopc

Not the case for DD but some colleges may have their own rules. Especially for State colleges and in-state tuition.

Hi @ChimneyPot et al!

Anti Covid-19 protocols and God willing, my daughter will also be off overseas. She has full scholarship support for a 5-year second Masters and a PhD. Very early days but it may , eventually, lead to a real job, too, also overseas. Really not sure when we shall see her next at home. Maybe briefly in Summer 2022 as returning is a technical condition of one of her scholarships. ... Very happy for her, especially as she lost her 2020 UN Internship overseas when the pandemic first broke.

Teary? Slowly getting there and was upset just now looking at outward bound flights for her!

My partner has been glum and resigned or upset and angry. Had a big quasi-teary rant the other day: what's wrong with British universities ... why did she turn down Oxford ... why can't she just stay at Cambridge like her mates?

I desperately need a break from work and want a break but I know it is the work which is keeping me from embracing my heartbreak properly. I think I'll be better when she is settled over there and her WhatsApp photos start to become mundane.

Not been on here for a while but just to add my two penn'orth to the car insurance. DH and I have a small run around which DD learned on and passed her test a few weeks ago. We had taken out stop/start separate learner's insurance before. To add her to our insurance was an additional £3k so we cancelled and went to a price comparison site and we're now paying an additional £700 (plus black box). Definitely worth shopping around.

We use Admiral for multi car, with the DC on my car. They usually compare well without having the black box requirement. This year DH rang them and asked what they could do to improve it and they knocked over £200 off as a loyalty discount

Hi everyone, haven’t been on for ages, just catching up. Well done to those who have passed their driving tests, fantastic news. My oldest dd passed in April (second attempt) and is now driving herself to college and back. She’s sharing a car with dh which works out well as he’s WFH most of the time, but I think we will need a third car soon.

DD’s leaning process has been very drawn out. She’ started lessons when she turned 17, then broke her ankle a month later. Then Covid hit. She’s now having lessons again and has theory test booked for July. She really wanted to pass before uni, her instructor says she’ll be ready by August but it depends whether she can get a slot.

@MidLifeCrisis007 that sounds great, nice to hear you’re having fun.

I hope all our lovely dc are enjoying a bit of relaxation now assessments are over. Dd has been working part time at our local Holiday Inn and seeing friends. She seems happy which is good. Going off on a short break to Margate with friends next month.

Hi all how's everyone doing? I'm feeling happy as thanks to @chopc 's app recommendation I've managed to book DS a driving test. Hurray!

He started work today in our local pub, in the kitchen. Was horrendously bored apparently. Trying to convince him it's worth it for the extra spending money (plus I think it'll be good for him to experience a job like this!) Any tips anyone??

Any tips as in? Having worked in a kitchen in my youth I agree with him. However you do some things as it is a means to an end ........ for me it was to earn money to go on holiday

How to encourage him to stick it out. Thankfully he's gone back today and done an eight hour shift and got on well with the chef and the owner, I think there was a bit of banter - now he's come back they've said they'll give him more varied stuff to do so hopefully he'll stick with it as I do think it'll be a good experience for him.