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

DH is picking up DD Thursday evening. She has 1 lecture Friday but we have plans and she has hockey training Wednesday night so I said it would be best if she came home Thursday evening. She has all day (no lectures) to sort out stuff and then it can all go into DHs van.

Seems despite being ripped off re £10 cap on bills they have decided to go for the house... friends spoke to 2nd year students who said it wasn't too bad as the cost of everything has gone up so much. They said they pay £20pw on bills but leave hearing on all the time and lights too sonDD and friends seem to think they can do it for less... I've said as long as she knows that we are only topping up her loan and she will have to pay any shortfall it's up to her. I think it's the only way she is going to learn. At least they asked other people for advice although I still disagree.

Can't believe it's only 7 days until she is home. I don't feel at all Christmassy tbh.

DD has just the 1 exam on 24th Jan so not sure when she will go back. I'm guessing just before. So may have 5 weeks at home..

@Alsoplayspiccolo never apologies for what you post, it's totally understandable.

@crazycrofter hope you have fun next Thursday. Where are you staying for Christmas?

Ds is making a flying visit tomorrow night to play a last minute gig but he going back on Saturday for concert rehearsals. He has no lectures next week, only a piano lesson but will be taking part in concert rehearsals.

DD has had her last class of term! Home on Sunday, if the trains co-operate. I'm limping towards the end of term myself; how many reports did I have to write? Too many! (DS in Y11 did well in GCSE mocks, so that's another relief.)

DD is making a flying visit to see us this weekend! Can’t wait!

Both mine have another week to go before end of term!
DD still in limbo. She's finally got the form filled in by her personal tutor to allow a course swap, but still has to get it agreed the other way. She then apparently has to go through a process to get the September re-start agreed. Chances of getting it sorted by end of term seem slim.
She can't move on to getting accommodation and finance sorted until that's all confirmed.
Finance is another issue. Whilst she actually won't need to go back after Christmas as she has no exams, the next semester doesn't start until 2-3 weeks into the new term. She wants to finish this semester to get all her modules marked and get the credits, so presumably will be charged some/all of next terms fees, despite not actually needing to attend uni for any if it.

Thanks, Heifer.

Birmingham people - BlueMarigold, Piggy, Boxcar, have you heard anything about hot water being reduced/limited in halls bathrooms? DD told us that they had an email about changes to the temperature of water in the bathrooms, to do with climate change (she says what they really mean is the cost of living!), but she can be over-dramatic so I wondered if anyone else has heard anything?

DS also has another week to go, then revision and exams in January. He may be home for 5-6 weeks in total. I suspect he will be itching to go back but it will depend on whether his girlfriend feels the same (both live here, both at the same uni by chance).

Difficult re the finance for you @Seeline.

DS has at last started looking for houses, but the group of 7 then became 8 and now they are looking at two houses for 4. Nothing sorted yet though.

Not a Birmingham person but I work for a heating company that holds the maintenance contract for some halls of residence. They can't have the hot water temperature below 60 degrees due to the risk of legionella so I shouldn't worry too much.

No, not heard about this!

I had legionella infection thing years ago. It was grim!

If anyone recalls the saga of DS1's ex LL trying to get them all to cough up for alleged overspend on utility bills, they have emailed again, after a gap of two months to say he still owes 'rent money' (it isn't) and now say they need to pay before 'fines are imposed'.

WTAF? This is definitely not legal!!

Ds1 has had Notts house of 6 'reserved'. emailed his tenancy agreement. Not really happy initially, As are none of the other parents, so back to agent. It's like a joint, nothing individual. Dh won't want to guarantor for the whole thing, only ds's 1/6th.

That's the default though - it' almost impossible to avoid it.

We're waiting to see more info re guarantor but suspect it will also be joint. Therefore this weekend I will be looking into Guarantor insurance. I don't really understand why it needs to be joint guarantor when everyone has to provide one.

@Piggywaspushed what a nightmare. I have a strong feeling this is going to happen to DD at the end of next year. It would be so much easier to stay in halls!

DS2's house will be interesting on guarantors as two are overseas students!

Oh, it is Piggy? So as Heif says, guarantor insurance is required. (Which I did know about, but didn't think we'd need).

We never had that. I think if you take that out, you can then become a guarantor for just your DS. Lots on WIWIKAU about this.

I've just signed to be a guarantor for just dd.

Dd is starting to think that a creative career path is more for her - current plan is designing, making and selling dolls' clothes. One of my fellow invigilators today is the dad of her GCSE Textiles teacher and has offered to set up a meeting with her if dd would like. So this is sounding promising potentially.

I'm looking forward to reading all about your Christmases with your returned fledglings!

DD has ‘Flatmas Dinner’ tonight. She is i.c. Roast Potatoes and Deputy Turkey. Only 5 text messages so far…. Meanwhile, down the road in Durham, DS is in charge of apple crumble for his house celebration. 10 texts and counting…

That sounds promising @ZittiEBuoni ,especially the input from textiles teacher.

@Piggywaspushed what did his original contract say about utility usage and what would happen if they went over?

Dd and friends met with their new landlord today. He doesn’t use an agency except to advertise for new tenants, so they’ll be going straight to him if there are any issues. Not sure if that’s good or bad but I guess it’s one of the reasons why their rent is cheaper. The current tenants were very positive about him.

He advised them not to use a bill splitting company as you pay more. He said he's an ex Notts student and used to live in the house they’re renting. I don’t think they’ve had a contract yet - or actually, maybe they have as dd said she’d seen the start date. She’s more interested in whether she can get Leeds tickets as her Christmas present as she loves the line up!

@mumummyinbeds dd is back today from York (who actually finished a week ago!). She is really settled and very much enjoying it. We have been talking about houses for next year. She has the option to stay in halls due to disability and I think that may be the best option as then she doesn't have to also manage landlords / bills / travel. She doesn't care who she lives with and says campus would be convenient so may just go for that. I wonder if the social aspects of sorting out who to live with is just too much to think about.

Could the amount of snow - or frozen over snow - be affecting the timings of the Chrimbo dinners?
DD had Chrimbo dinner at her bf college in Durham early this week and when I dropped her off earlier this evening in town to see him before he goes home tomorrow there was lots of the ‘white stuff’ about- as there is at home!

Love sounds of meals, apple crumble etc.
I am very ill in bed. Have been sick 10+ times already, since 6am. This is very odd for me, never ill.

@Alsoplayspiccolo & Birmingham gang will ask DD tomorrow: she’s doing a flying visit home for a Christmas show tomorrow afternoon. Would agree with @Piggywaspushed re Legionella.

Have just been text photos of tonight’s flat Christmas Dinner: a window’s open & she’s wearing a vest top so I figure the heating’s on!

She’s staying in Brum until next weekend as we just can’t get there in the week. My parents are going to fetch DS from Swansea as they’re both coming home at the same time.

Looking forward to next weekend. DS worked on a Christmas tree farm last year & he tagged one for us when he came home a few weeks ago. He’ll cut it down next Sunday. We’ve put the rest of the decorations up but are waiting for the main event.