Thread 44 GCSE Covid Cohort - Countdown to Christmas & New Year

[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

@AnneOfCleavage I'm so sorry to hear about your mum, sending hugs.

@Zebracat That sounds like a very sensible approach, I hope she takes the time to consider things carefully. I agree with NCTDN that there seems to be a two camps thing. Watching Ambulance last night just stressed again how much this country is suffering with MH issues, it is a disgrace how little funding and resources are left to cope with this ongoing crisis.

@Monkey2001 she was unsettled and homesick then the boy thing upset her, but that is standard 1st year stuff. I was a bit irritated by it. But something else happened, a properly earth shattering trauma reared up from her past, that knocked her for six, and resulted in a massive flight response. I was knocked sideways for a month or so, and she is much more directly affected. It has changed everything. She is seeing a psychologist close to us, and she hopes to get the funding for that extended to help her process it all.
Meanwhile, there is a job advertised that sounds something like your sons job, although, obvs in a different department of a different hospital. She loves medical stuff, not at all squeamish, and it’s part time with some weekend work, so would enable her to learn to drive, keep appointments etc. I think it would be useful for her to see that you dont have to go to University to have a fulfilling career. And might also give her a bit of perspective. Not sure if it might not be a bit much, but we are on limited private pensions, we can’t afford to keep her, and don’t want her becoming a career victim. It has been hard to change our mindset from dont squander your golden ticket to ok yeah you might need to work on that.

@Zebracat sounds promising. Luckily they are entitled to make a mistake for a year without losing their entitlement to a funded degree. If she enjoys a hospital job it could result in a whole change of direction and the sooner that is realised the better. Keep us informed about what happens, we are all behind the pair of you. I also meant to say that it is obvious how much you love her want the best life for her although there is no biological relationship. She must know that too.

Hi all.
I lost you all over the holidays & I'm currently 😷 with flu & feeling down 😞
@Anne Of Cleavage I'm so sorry to hear about your Mum 💐 Such a real loss to us . Often mine is the only one who will listen to me & my worries.
Sorry for all the issues covered on this thread. @ZittiEBuoni & @Zebracat I do sympathize with you both. I am in a similar place with my youngest who's missed school due to depression from last half term. I don't know what best to try next.
@Photodad I love your daughter artwork. She's such a genuine talent.
Ds is currently in the middle of online exams here. Biochem. tomorrow which he hates🤦🏼‍♀️I think I will he happy to relinquish responsability for him when he goes back. His new ADHD pills need to be upped, as his focus is not all there.
It's like corralling a reluctant 12 year old to get him to work. Not what I want with a depressed 16 year old, flu & a cross dh!
DD has got her first architecture offer from Manchester. Still hasn't heard from Liverpool or Edinburgh. UCL & UAl have her portfolios. I think the London unis can take a long time to decide apparently.

@Monkey2001 . She is my great niece, and actually looks a lot like me, although with a very different personality. I do think biology helps. We get each other. I will encourage her to apply. Think it might be that or Macdonalds, which has some advantages too, young team, well paid, flexible hours.

Sorry to hear you're not well @cantonet and there's ongoing stresses at home. @Zebracat your approach sounds really sensible, I hope she makes progress.

Dd was sick this morning and is still in bed; I'm wondering if it's all a reaction to Dianette, which she started on this week. I've told her she needs to come off it, although she's reluctant as she'll go straight into the 'period' and last time she was on the pill (although a different one) she had horrible periods. But she has exams next week and has barely done any work. I'm not sure what she should do. I know she only needs to pass first year - except she's on an integrated masters and possibly needs higher marks to continue on it?

Ds seems to be completely doing his own thing at sixth form, going in only for lessons, not for form period, study periods etc, which is definitely against the rules. But he's been doing it for a while and no one has said anything. I'm wondering if they're just turning a blind eye, knowing it's actually better for him to be at home than potentially doing daft things in his free periods! But he has so much time at home and not much to do. He definitely needs an evening job.

Congratulations to your DD on her Manchester offer @Cantonet . Always a relief to have the first one in the bag. Sorry to hear about your depressed younger, it's such an epidemic now.

Thanks again for all the messages. I am bowled over.

In answer to @Isthisjustnormal query on how am I managing? I am taking each day as it comes and this new job is, at times, quite a welcome distraction. I have quite a big family so we are all supporting each other and especially my dad who has just lost his 50++ years life partner. Many of you on here too have lost a parent so I truly can empathise how hard it is now.

You did make me laugh @Monkey2001. To be honest I think your DS's reaction to working with a parent is more the normal response 😂

Sorry to hear of poorly and / or stressed out DC on here as I know this then adds to our own shoulders and creates its own stresses.
I wondered if your DD @crazycrofter was feeling anxious about her impending exams as the tummy aches, headaches and feeling sick correlates but now you've mention going on the pill only recently then that could well be a side affect. I used to take Dianette back in my 20s but I don't remember any issues but different strokes for different folks as they say.

Now that you mention it @ZittiEBuoni I think you may have said on here that you did invigilating so def up for a chat at some point haha. My training session today was not particularly helpful so I've said i can come and shadow next week on some ROA exams (whatever they are) so i can see first hand what an invigilator does. I have been told i will not be left on my own - phew!! It seems I will not have time for sudoku mores the pity @Zebracat as we aren't sat down (comfy quiet shoes must be bought very soon) and we must be vigilant at all times. Something DD remembers some of her invigilators not being when she had her hand up with throat clearing etc and she still wasn't noticed and this was in a room with less than 10 students. One of her classmates had to scrape his chair and cough loudly to get her noticed as he noticed she had her hand up for ages. She also remembers some bringing in a Kindle to read and one had a very annoying cough that was distracting. Ooops.

@AnneOfCleavage it sounds as if you have the best training going on at home! I remember that our history teacher who had awful halitosis but used to sometimes just stand uncomfortably close behind us during exams. Eww.

@AnneOfCleavage my DDs favourite invigilator was usually in the small hall for students needing breaks etc. He used to bring his assistance dog with him. The dog would wander round the room, pick up dropped pencils etc, and come and sit with them if they had a rest break at the back of the hall 😁

Gosh....lots has gone on over the last few days. Too much to mention. I hope all those poorly feel better soon.

@Zebracat yes, do let us know how things go. You sound like amazing people in supporting her.

@crazycrofter it could be the pills. Each time I was pregnant the first sign was the horrid taste in my mouth...I think the pill can do the same.

I've not heard much from ds2 at all. I think he's still there alone. He told me he'd finished the 4 essays on time. He says they aren't particularly good though. So let's see what the grades are like.

Ds1 has messaged from NZ a few times. He's enjoying it. The weather sounds as wet as it is here though. He said 50 others arrived around the same time, mostly from Germany, USA, UK and Canada. The funniest thing is 4 are from Norwich. We are in Suffolk but Norwich is our nearest city and where Ds went to university. So I was amazed to hear 4 others are from nearby.

@AnneOfCleavage I forgot to say....sorry to hear of your news 💐

@Zebracat sorry to hear your DD has been struggling. I'm so impressed by your response though! You've clearly thought this through, and by laying this all out for her now, you should avoid an awful lot of angst and misunderstanding in the future. I hope it all goes well.

Fellow Rutlanders @crazycrofter @Oblomov22 @Heifer any idea of the arrangements for getting back into their rooms. The only info I have from DS is Sunday. Can we turn up at any time? Where does he get his key from? Will dinner be available?

@AnneOfCleavage sorry to hear your sad news 💐
@Zebracat you are amazing

All of you, thank you for getting me through last term. DS is in a good place after 4 weeks at home and I'm hoping it continues when he goes back. He seems excited for a fresh start (apart from an exam at 9am on Tuesday)

Mummy, not sure if there are any arrangements. We plan to arrive mid morning, ds still had his room key.

@mummyinbeds DD isn't going back yet so I'm not completely sure of the arrangements for Sunday. I do remember reading somewhere (I think email) that they should have handed their keys into the Welcome Point when they left and collect when open (gave times but I can't access email as DD is asleep and needs to approve on app). I think it was from 10.00am on Sunday and then showed times on other days. I will need to find it to make sure DH takes DD back at the right time when she does decide to go..

Other Nottingham Campus based - have you seen info re Road closures - I will post below but basically seems ok if you're going back on Sunday as will be open, but other times could be an issue. Also info reHooper Bses

Seems I've missed a lot going on recently on here, I will catch up asap.

Road closures affecting access to University Park campus

A section of the A52 will close in early 2023 affecting access to campus.
From Monday 9 January 2023 to Friday 31 March 2023, the westbound carriageway of the A52 Derby Road will be closed from the QMC roundabout junction as Cadent Gas carry out important upgrades to their gas network.
The A52 gasworks are set to have a significant impact on the university with diversions in place from Monday 9 January, so you are encouraged to plan ahead if you are due to return to campus after the winter break and use alternate routes where possible.
The area around University Park (specifically North entrance) will mainly be impacted, but traffic around Jubilee and Kings Meadow Campuses are also expected to be affected. To minimise the disruption, traffic will not be able to move through University Park in the same way it does now. There will be two barrier gates temporarily in place, one at Cripps Health Centre and one at Hallward Library, to prevent vehicles using the campus as a through run.

For those living in halls on campus, the barriers will be open on Sunday 15 January when most will be moving back onto campus.

exchange.nottingham.ac.uk/blog/a52-gasworks-plan-your-journey-to-and-through-campus/

@heifer thanks, I'll check DS's email from before he left. He did hand his key in (although the office was closed and we had to unpack the car to find a pen and use my terrible origami skills to make an envelope to post the key in a box as per the instructions - all in the dark and -2 temperatures)
The roadworks sound fun 😱 We use the west entrance so should be okay.
@Oblomov22 I'll be the mum cursing her son for following instructions for once and handing his key in and then not knowing how to get it back 🤦

We've seen the road closures thing @Heifer we're back tomorrow morning so this is probably going to be a bit annoying as we normally come through the north entrance, up Cripps Hill and park in the car park opposite L&W Halls. I can't make out quite what we're meant to do from that map or how close we can park to the halls to lug all his stuff back. I say 'we' I'm not going, DH is taking him back so it'll be their problem! 😂

Ugh to those road closures. DS is getting a train back to Nottingham today, some of his friends went last week.

So sorry about the sad news of your mum @AnneOfCleavage. How are you holding up?

@Zebracat Sorry to hear your DD is having a tough time at the moment. I hope her therapy works and she makes the right decision for her immediate future. She is very lucky not to have the pressure of, its uni or else!

The invigilator with halitosis did make me laugh. Mine was a boss with halitosis and it was HARD!.

I wondered also whether any here had seen the news that there are about to strikes in universities across the U.K (150 universities) between feb-march (18 days in total) and what people feel about this added disruption to our dc's education. I'm always torn when I hear about strikes because people don't strike if there being treated properly and paid a fair wage but on the other hand, lots of innocent people suffer as a result of the strikes.

Morning all (just). Quick question - have your DC stayed on the electoral roll at home or registered at uni? DS was registered here, and we do have elections in May, this would be his first chance to vote and we were thinking he would do a postal vote, but the uni have clearly registered him there as he has had letter asking him to complete the registration online there. So I don’t know if he will still be registered at home. He asked me what I thought and I don’t know.

Should add that I have checked and there are also elections where he is at uni

@EspeciallyD DS is registered at home. No idea whether uni has registered him. At last election DS1 who was also registered a t home we did a vote by proxy.

Dd is still really ill - seems like flu/covid if it's not a reaction to the pill as she's achy, headache, sore throat etc though the sickness has stopped. I'm not at all sure she'll even be capable of sitting the exams on Monday and Tuesday, never mind the fact that she's not revised. She submitted an extenuating circumstances form and she's had a reply saying she needs to submit evidence. But when she rang the uni medical centre yesterday they said they no longer do sick notes, so what does she do? She's really unhappy at the thought of having to retake/do first attempt in August, but I think that's how it's looking - as long as her form is accepted?! Of course, her personal tutor hasn't responded to her....