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

Oh wow

Amazing @Delphigirl !!

BTW on the horizon is the active volcano that he was originally going to climb until it was shut 6 hours before he set off because of excessive seismic activity 😱

Amazing picture and experience!

Said it was one of the hardest things he has ever done but an incredible experience. I’m so delighted for him!

Delphi. Just. Wow.

@Delphigirl that looks amazing.

Ds got back to Sussex for his 10am lecture but decided to go to bed instead. The train wasn't the usual Cambs to Brighton in one go. He had to go to Tottenham, then Waterloo, then Brighton. Brighton had no trains running to falmer at all today due to strikes. At least he's now unexpectedly been on the underground. So next time he will probably come via London. It was great to have him home, if not for long. He finishes on 9th dec. so not long to go before he's home. He's sorted out a full time job for 3 weeks up here in December. He's also decided to house share with 3 girls next year. So they are thinking of starting to look.

@Delphigirl great to see he is making the most of the gap year!

@Delphigirl Wow! Now that is an adventurous gap year. Fabulous photo.

@Comefromaway What a confidence boost to have been offered the opportunity. Loving the council of wisdom too.

@Delphigirl wow, that looks amazing. I so wish I'd been adventurous enough for a gap year.

Ahh thanks everyone 💕

Beautiful picture @Delphigirl , what an experience! Ds is determined to have ‘several’ gap years travelling/working after sixth form! I can see him doing that sort of thing.

Dd is doing her second load of washing of the term!

What stunning memories he’s creating Delphigirl

Oh wow @Delphigirl , that’s wonderful !

How wonderful @Delphigirl , what an experience he’s having.

Amazing photo @Delphigirl

Wow @Delphigirl that looks amazing!

DS fed up. His bike was stolen from college yesterday despite two locks. It is the oldest most rubbish looking folding shopping bike that we bought up here for £50 before he went from a local bike refurb charity but he loved that bike. We thought it would never be a target for thieves! With £30 excess not worth it on the college insurance. He is going to try and source something today. Porters will help with any assembly if needed. Second hand ones look much more expensive in Cambridge but he really needs one as sport and lectures have tight turnaround and are in other sides of city. It would be far cheaper for me to buy one here from Resurrected Bikes and pedal down from Harrogate but I’ll give that a miss I think….

Oh that is annoying @craggyrat ! Depending on how much cheaper a local one is, it might be worth looking into how much it would cost to courier it to DS. There are some very reasonable prices out there.

That’s a massive pain Craggy. Get him to put a gps tag of some kind on the next one. It doesn’t stop them but at least he can do something about it, if Cambridge police are supportive with quick action.

DD managed a whole week of near-normal uni. She sounded so much brighter.

And now her boyfriend of 18 months has dumped her and she's heartbroken. First experience of a break up, and i really don't know how to help her through it. She has no friends at uni, although some of her flatmates have been sympathetic, it's not the same as having a hug from a real friend.

@craggyrat What a nightmare. Make sure he checks local buy & sell pages to see if it appears on one of those.

That's tough Seeline, any chance of going over to see her and dispense hugs? (I can't remember how far UEA is for you so sorry if that is a ridiculous suggestion!)

Beautiful photo Delphi, he will never forget that experience!

Thanks for ideas re bikes

Sorry to hear about the break up @Seeline , that’s really tough.

Stunning @Delphigirl what an adventure!

@singingstones we are at least 3.5 hour drive, often longer depending on traffic 🙁. Maybe I can do something over the weekend, but that seems a long time away at the moment.