Thread 42 Corona GCSE Cohort - 👻Creeping it Real for Oct22

[CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee]

This is a support thread for our young adults post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting, and their results ( or life updates for those who went into work or have had results earlier). It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, uni vs employment please don't within this thread.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue. We were previously on the secondary board and then further education, now we shall be here in 'Parents of Adult Children' gulp

Our DS/DD may continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed). Be warned there might be lots of 'Uni Freshers' chat this time of year. My experience is that everyone is welcomed wherever, whatever their child is doing we have some in work, gap years , apprenticeships etc too. Lots of contributors with different experiences and always sympathy and advice to be had.

previous thread

I think this was sent to appease me as she knows I have silently raised the odd eyebrow on the volume of mid week clubbing. So today, large batch chillie made and a leek and potato soup, which one of her friends balked at. I didn’t think it looked that bad!

Forgot pic

That looks delicious @ealingwestmum ! Am v impressed. DS has done two lots of washing today - he's only been there a week! The 7 on his corridor seem to be gelling really well and eating together quite often. I thought he would only eat in hall so that's good. We had a long video call earlier and he seems very happy. Is keeping his French going as an extra so that starts next week. Just one supervision a week with one other student

DD went along to college netball trials today. I really hope she gets in as she enjoys it, but at 5 foot nothing she always struggles against six footers, so didn't play during sixth form as only giants got selected! She has asked me to bring more of her old PE stuff with us when we visit in 3 weeks so she is planning on keeping up some exercise which is a good balance to the clubbing.

@ealingwestmum Looks nice! DD has made a 'meal sharing' arrangement with a housemate, they take it in turns to cook for each other other. Apparently it's mostly pasta or rice based... still, it's obviously keeping them going.

She spent this morning at a "kilo sale" where she bought her new favourite item of clothing. It's, umm, a peaked flat cap with ear-flaps that join under the chin. Is there a word for that style?? Now out drawing with her friends in the park, after a stop for bubble tea.

@Shimy @Oblomov22

I saw your messages on the old thread. Thank you for thinking of us. DD left the airline due to ill health but is still working in the aviation industry and hopes to apply for crew again in a couple of years time.
She has had a crazy year what with all that’s happening and I still have to remind myself that she’s still 18!
My house is very quiet without her but she visits when she can.
I must try and catch up with everyone on here

Oh that is a shame re the health whoami. Hope she's ok.

@Comefromaway Thank you, I'm relieved to hear that, I thought the strikes were going on all month.

@whoamitojudge I'm so glad you read the messages and so sorry to hear about your DD's poor health. Like you said I hope she is able to return to what she really loves. Wishing her a full recovery soonest. At 18 they are all finding their paths and discovering new ones along the way. Our house is also very quiet without DS but I'm happy he's gone to where he wants to be for now, it'll be Christmas soon and they'll all be back home again.

@crazycrofter i agree about the catered halls, although not sure if DD would have gone for them even if she has the option - she’s very picky.

We took her up five portions of frozen ragu at the weekend - she’s had one on pasta. Yes, a meal!! She was considering making an omelette tonight but was being tempted by McDonald’s - I don’t blame her tbh. But I’ve also told her there’s nothing magic about hot meals, or three meals a day, just try to get some variety and nutrients.

She’s also still not done any washing, and hasn’t run out of pants yet. It’s four weeks tomorrow we took her up!!

Thank you PhotoD and Craggy.

Here’s to a better week for those not feeling it just yet 💐

Thanks for the new thread as always @CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee 6 pages in already!

DS is trialling for football, he has got through 2 rounds so far, I assume the next one is the last one. He has also joined the uni gym.

Lectures haven’t really started yet and I think he’s been out every night so far! I don’t want to moan at him about spending but I do worry he’ll run out of money at this rate.

Communication wise, he has text us everyday, which I didn’t expect at all. Varies from photos of food, questions about laundry, reheating food etc. DH had a FaceTime call with him but that was only for tech support!
I’d love to FaceTime him or even have a phone call but I don’t want to bug him.

She phoned us tonight for hours.1st conversation in 3 weeks. It was lovely. She is really happy, made loads of friends, loving the work. She’s promised to keep in touch better. I feel very relieved. Missed Strictly though.

Nothing to add re communication as DS(gap year) has arrived back from interrailing trip last week and is currently sat next to me on the sofa😁. Had a fantastic trip, made it to all his trains and accomodation (including two overnight couchettes on trains). Didn't lose anything, but did spend all his money😂

DW and I (you'll probably have gathered I'm male, from the username) had a trial run of being empty-nesters tonight as DS is staying over with a friend. I cooked an overly-elaborate meal and have had far too much booze, too early in the evening. I think I could get used to this. My complete inability to follow the thriller we're currently watching is obviously due to the booze.

@Takeittotheboss Inter-railing was an amazing experience for me! It's great that it's still around.

@PhotoDad That made me laugh. Wouldn't it be funny if your DS suddenly walked back in (forgotten something!) whilst you were both half drunk with tell tale signs of the elaborate meal .

@Shimy Hah! To be fair, DS has seen us both a little tipsy before now. He has in the past emerged from his room to check things were OK when we were being too loud! 🍷

@PhotoDad Much more organised than in my day, but definitely a great experience for DS. Especially as his ticket was free, courtesy of the European Youth Commission. 🤗

@Takeittotheboss Good for him! (I remember, in pre-Internet days, lugging around the "European Rail Timetable" in my backpack. And being in Hungary as the Soviet Union collapsed.)

We have an empty nest, Photodad, as DS (16) moved to boarding school at the beginning of September.
This week, DH and I snuck off to a 4pm film showing - there were only 3 other people in the cinema and it was bliss!
The house has never been so clean and tidy…but I can’t get used to how quiet it is, especially as DS is a cellist and pianist; I miss hearing him practice.

Thank you so much for your lovely offer, crazy - that is incredibly kind of you. I’ll definitely mention it to DD.
I called her at lunchtime and she actually answered on my first attempt. She was nursing a hangover and was preparing for a flat party tonight - 3 of her housemates have birthdays between now and Monday.

She has a meeting with her general mentor tomorrow, had been food shopping with her flatmates, managed to cook meatballs and spaghetti, and had done some laundry, so a huge improvement from the middle of the week.
It turns out that she hasn’t actually told her flatmates that she has ADHD; it’s up to her, but I feel it might help them understand some of her behaviours and perhaps they might help her with some of the things she struggles with.

@PhotoDad In that case he knows what you're likely up to. Empty nesters here too and like @Alsoplayspiccolo miss DS's banging on the piano trying to perfect a tune as he plays by ear. He has one piece he plays over and over that drives us all to distraction, now I wish he was home playing it.
He too seems to be enjoying the social life very much..all in moderation, he mentioned one assignment and said he'd already done it...good lad!
@Alsoplayspiccolo is your ds a full boarder? hopefully he should be home for an exeat soon..

Now that we're talking about things we are all doing as empty nesters I feel sorry for our parent's generation. They had bigger families than most of us so by the time the last one went they were just old and tired. My mind still boggles at the idea that MIL was a yr younger than me when we got married! i thought she was an old old lady but she was in her early 50s.

Ah, can completely relate to the missing the sound of music (making) in the house.

Had a long FaceTime with Ds today. Open Day went well, there is a short extract on Instagram.

unfortunately he has to change piano teacher due to timetabling issues so I hope he likes the new one as he loved the previous one.

looking forward to seeing him for a flying visit tomorrow.

My ILs didn't get to be empty nesters for a long time, DBIL stayed living at home till he was about 40 so they were around retirement age. DFIL was a builder and carried on building extensions etc for family members for several years and DMIL had crafting hobbies, lots of relatives close by for them and they have always had dogs. My parents had got rid of us by the time they were about 50, they both worked full time and had a very active social life. Then retired and kept busy with U3A, golf, charity stuff.

I went to see DS by myself today, he says campus is very quiet at weekends and DH is on a lads weekend. We went to Westonbirt Arboretum, which was fabulous in the sunshine, its not far from where he is and of interest to him because he's studying countryside management. Trying to help him with a few admin things, he has managed to get one of his bank cards frozen by messing up with the little card reader thing Nationwide uses for security. Luckily he has two accounts. Couldn't sort it on the app but there is a branch in town so he's going to have to go and ask for help.

Re catered halls, DS is in catered but struggling a bit with lunches, campus options are limited and expensive, the nearest supermarket is about 25 mins walk away so he doesn't want to go too often and its closing next year, really not sure what they will do then, the others are all out of town a bit. The shared fridge is smelly apparently and they only have kettles and microwaves.

DSA stuff - he has only started using one of his softwares, Grammarly. He can't get his laptop to connect to his printer even though we set it all up at home. It's hard for them.

@EerilyDevilled dd says the same about evening meals at the weekend for her and the limited kitchen facilities. They have breakfast and brunch (?!!) at the weekend but no evening meal.
I can't understand how there isn't a cheaper supermarket anywhere at all in the area. They've around 2500 students living there and the nearest ones are sainsburys and Waitrose