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

Streaming cold.
not coke.

That is a shame the school having to close early, after the last two years we all thought we'd moved past that.

I'm feeling a bit adrift with having gone from two lots of school Christmas fairs, carol concerts etc last year to none this year as they have both left school. In some ways its a relief as less to juggle, but I keep seeing their old schools posts on SM and feeling a bit wistful.

@Delphigirl exciting!

@icanbewhatiwant I would try and keep an open mind about the ADHD testing, I know a few people who have been diagnosed and medicated as adults and it has been lifechanging. Perhaps talk it through with him a bit more over the holidays.

Oh, piccolo, that's such a downer. Will these cancellations ever end?

I'm invigilating mocks at dd2's school this week and the number of empty desks is unreal, not to mention the symphony of sniffing/coughing.

@Heifer : re ‘all included’ bills : Ds has just signed his contract and Dh worked out that the ‘fair usage’ cut off is about £440 per month (for the whole house of 5) - that covers gas/electricity/water/internet/tv licence… we thought that was fair….

@Delphigirl The time zones won't have helped with communications. Have a very happy reunion!

A few off work with bugs but no covid reported..yet.

@Alsoplayspiccolo sorry to hear of early
Finish, hope he doesn't mind too much.

@Isthisjustnormal thanks for the info, that seems to be about £20 pp pw which is what I thought would be ok. Also figure @crazycrofter suggested for budgeting. Still no idea what DD is going to do as still trying to get to speak to her properly...

How many are going to Rutland Ball tonight?

Oh forgot to say, great result @crazycrofter for DDs assignment well done her :-)

I can only
Imagine how excited you must be @Delphigirl - not long now :-)

How exciting @Delphigirl , have a great time !

@Delphigirl Amazing! So exciting!

Various illnesses are definitely doing the rounds where I am, and snow is forecast for tomorrow. Struggling on to the end of term, and crossing my fingers that DD makes it home at the weekend!

@icanbewhatiwant where is your ds? An hour away from the uni is ridiculous so you'd expect that to be the cheapest!
@Alsoplayspiccolo that's such a shame.

Ahhh thanks all. I’m sure you will hear me clucking and fussing again before he gets here! 🤣

A work colleague’s DC have all had Scarlet Fever - widespread across the county- and her youngest was hospitalised but thankfully okay in regard to Strep A!
Lots of other ‘lurgies’ about, too…
Bitterly cold ‘here oop North’ with snow forecast tomorrow afternoon on on ‘higher ground’ - which undoubtably will mean where I live- former mining village.
Lots of folk in the ‘village shop’ have been struggling to top up their prepay energy metres to date without the impending ‘cold snap’…

DS1 was in hospital with Strep in 2003. Nasty thing.

Ds2 had booked two different trains because of the strikes & now he is actually getting a lift home with a friend….

Whereas Ds1 has only booked one train. Which happens to be a strike day. Hey Ho.

Strep, obviously. Not DS1!

piggy!

@NCTDN Ds is at Sussex, most of the properties are in Brighton, so not really walking distance from the university. It's annoying as it means money spent on travelling.

Sorry to hear of all the illnesses.

Ds has put a holding deposit on the house. Dh has filled the guarantor forms today, he almost refused to do it when I told him what joint and severally means. He said I'm not paying someone else's rent. I'm off to Sussex tomorrow to stay with my mum for a few days, then I'll fetch Ds on Sunday.

Thanks for the commiserations.
Its lovely to have DS home but I’m surprisingly upset that, once again, he’s been forced to miss out on things that are important to teenagers, and especially for boarders - all the fun stuff that helps to cement bonds.
It was really weird for DH and I to arrive at school, where we know no-one, none of his teachers or friends, and just leave again with him, without any kind of end-of-term feel…it felt too horribly similar to DD’s last day at school before lockdown.

The last few months have been an emotional rollercoaster, from a parenting POV, and I was really looking forward to a proper closure to the term.

Delphi, you must be hopping with excitement! Hope the sleeps pass quickly!

@Alsoplayspiccolo It's understandable we all want our 'normality' especially for the DC.

Thanks, Ewww.
My post feels a bit self indulgent, but you’re right - the COVID years have really taken their toll and both DCs moving away this term has finished me off, emotionally!
I just want them to have some fun and enjoy time with friends - Christ knows, they deserve it after all they’ve been through.

Anyway, he’s home now and DD will be back at the weekend, and that’s the main thing.
I can’t believe term 1 is done!

That's such a shame @Alsoplayspiccolo . Glad they've both settled in though and survived the first term!

Dd says she can get us free tickets to the illuminations at Wollaton Park, as she's working there, so we're doing that next Thursday, before taking her home! Hopefully she's leaving as much of her stuff as possible in a friend's room, as she has to vacate hers....

Ds says it's a real shame that I can't get a ticket to the "Christmas Extravaganza" aka the carol concert as it is going to be "awesome".

I am on a waiting list. I can't believe he is involved in something classical for once!

Piccolo not self indulgent all all. Every right to complain. At life/fate/covid/whatever-it-is. It just all seems a bit crummy atm doesn't it?

Thursday Crazy? Ds asked if I could pick him up Friday, but I've had my haircut booked for months, so I'm going first thing Saturday morning.

@Oblomov22 she wants to be back for the Friday night at Spoons meet up with sixth form friends, so I’ve been instructed to pick her up Thursday!

She told me the other day she’s got 5 exams in Jan, starting on the 16th - more than I expected. She’s starting work at the warehouse on 4th too, so she’ll be busy. Her work shifts will be 10.15-18.45 so there will be time in the evenings for revision.