Thread 43 - GCSE Covid Cohort ..November 22 Remember Remember

[OrangeCinnamonLatte]

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

Good luck young Craggy

Glad about the new bike 🚲 Craggy. Bastards!

Dh is with Ds1 in Nottingham. Burgers. Lager. Off to watch the footie.

Ahh Dh's first visit to see Dh. I'm so happy.

Well. They lost. Badly. So I guess they'll be more commiseratory drinks.

Oh, what a shame, I checked at half time after seeing your photo and it was 0-0. Hope they still enjoyed their time together. DS and I never get to football any more as he’s always playing hockey on Saturdays when he’s at home and my team are in League 1 so most games are still Saturdays or weeknights which are a pain to get to.

@Oblomov22 - that's a shame but at least they had a good catch up together

Indeed Craggy. Dh just phoned, he's on his way home, queuing on the M25 because of the protestors who have glued themselves to the motorway. But he says that he and ds1 had the nicest time ever. ❤️

@Oblomov22 that's a lovely update (apart from the score from their viewpoint) ;-)

I've just ordered DD an advent calendar, mini table Christmas tree and lights for her room and also a new Christmas duvet with Personalised Pillow cases for her and her boyfriend to go on her bed at home for when she comes home and finally a paper cut out Nativity scene too. I am quite excited about (sad I know). Hopefully she will be chuffed.

Dh said that Ds1 was very proud to show him his accommodation. Dh said it stank if damp, even though ds1 keeps his small window permanently open. (But Dh never said anything to him. I would of. ) Ds said his friend next door has mushrooms growing on his wall.🤮 Dh said that everywhere they went ds1 was asked for id, even when just buying food, not alcohol. One pub they were asked if they were locals, (Royston Vasey) and when Dh spoke, they were denied entry. 🤣

Heif that all sounds so nice. I've just asked ds1 if he wants an advent calendar. He said yep. Ds2 is still very keen on his Lindt red ball one, and scoffed at my teasing that he wouldn't want one this year. So I'll get ds1 one too.

@Heifer ooh mini Christmas tree 🌲 sounds great! Where did you get it please? 😁

I'm putting together an advent calendar of tiny gifts to send to dd. (Only things like hot choc sachets etc). I thought it would be nice for her to have things to open without it breaking the bank. I never did any of that 'open me when...' stuff but like this idea - if I can think of about things!

After the excitement of last weekend ds is on a bit of a post gig downer. But dh talked him round and he is playing at open day this weekend.

I was pondering doing an advent calendar / and or some small gifts for DS but I am a bit stumped for ideas. He isn't a big fan of chocolate, usually has a milky bar advent calendar as he prefers white to milk. I got my arse handed to me (rucksack style ) when I started a thread asking for advent calendar ideas for him a few years back. It was quite hurtful as the only reason I asked was that I had got a Pringles one for DD, a pork scratching one for DH and I had a beauty one, I didn't want him to be left out. He didn't even know about any of this but posters were calling him a spoiled entitled brat for expecting anything at all. I think I might send some tinsel and a few things he can hang on his pinboard.

DS will be home for advent. He has a cuddly Advent Christmas penguin from M&S he's had for years. The numbers are cards in the little penguin tummy folder and I put a small chocolate coin in each day and then sing the made up Advent penguin song.... I have no shame!!! He is already excited about Advebt penguin

@Seeline I've bought this one
www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-winter-fayre-snowy-table-tree-with-baubles/p6183663#product

And these she can stick on her window
www.johnlewis.com/ginger-ray-white-snowflakes-and-baubles-window-stickers/p6314972#product

I'm now off to google Pringle Advent calendars - thanks @EspeciallyD .

I like the idea of lots of small packages but it's DDs bday just before Christmas so don't want to give present away unnecessarily ;-)

Last thing I would like to do is to find some matching PJs for DD and her boyfriend for a laugh really, probably boxers and teeshirt each, The only ones I've seen so far were £30 each so noth thanks to that.

If you want to be v popular send him a breed of advent calendar!

Brewdog

www.brewdog.com/uk/advent-calendar

@Oblomov22 Where is your DS1 room again? DDs room in Rutland Block H was lovely, no sign of mold etc, and as for mushrooms growing - yuck.
LOL at your husband being refushed entry as he obviously wasn't local - does he has a strong London or just southern accent? :-) Hope the trip home is ok.

DD likes Lindt too but I will buy her the big clear ball full of them for Christmas so have got her a hotel choc advent calandar this time.

@craggyrat loving the Penguin Advent song 😆

Thanks @Heifer for the links

2nd floor of A.

His accent is not very strong. I find the Surrey accent here has a bit of a London twang. I tease him that he sounds like a barrow boy. But he doesn't. Ds1 speaks very properly. Ds2 is more lazy / casual, I try to correct him but he takes no notice.

I have no accent. Even though I grew up Kent, Plymouth, then middle of Dartmoor, I don't have a twang.

I can put on a Plymuff twang for a laff:

"Ey by gum, my handsome, you be lovely betten yah".

Alrite me luvver. Proper job. Alright Me 'ansum. Where you to?

It’s all going titsup for us. She says she’s on the wrong course in the wrong place, and wants a year off and a restart. I had every sympathy for the struggles of others on here and it was clear that it was right for them to withdraw/ postpone. but I dont actually believe her reasons,. She was really happy with everything. Then she liked a boy in her flat , who very nicely turned her down, and she also became very close to a girl in the flat. They then got together ; and are looking for a place together for next year and she’s a bit lost and hurt. She made no effort to make other friends.she says she’s fine with that, but the course is boring and she’s still traumatised and she wants something with tech
I wrote her a long letter last week, asking her to think about what she wanted and what was possible, and what a successful year would look like. I asked her to speak to Student Welfare and her tutor. She hasn’t done any of that.
I wish I could be loving and supportive and help her to find the next step, but I can’t. I’m worn out and cross. If I thought she would be happy on the new course, I would support her, but it’s computer based, and she loathed every second of her computer science A level and said she would never ever do more. And she would have to pay tuition fees and get no bursary, and probably owe Exeter money.
she does have trauma responses, and I think this is flight, but she can’t see that.She needs structure in her life, and if she leaves now I fear she will just drift into depression, and look back on this as the moment when it all went wrong.