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

Great news @GoldenRuby !

Congrats to Dd @GoldenRuby . I more step towards independence.

Well done to dd @GoldenRuby

Our dd seems to be cursed when it comes to driving tests! We had to cancel the last one in Sept as it clashed with us moving house and now I’m thinking she’ll have to cancel her Feb date due to glandular fever! She’s desperate to pass (although she’s barely driven anyway so not really ready!)

Well done @GoldenRuby , such a relief to get that one ticked off 🚘

Thanks everyone. Forth time lucky, and just before her theory test ran out so in the nick of time. @crazycrofter hopefully your DD feels better soon.

Congratulations to your DD @GoldenRuby

DS is still waiting to take his, currently booked for May but hoping for a cancellation in April. His theory will run out in August, I’d forgotten about that until just now

Oh well done her, @GoldenRuby I think I speak for my DD if I say the best people pass fourth time 😄

DD is still trying to get some lessons booked! Instructors are like gold dust round here!

Well done to her @GoldenRuby . My DS has started lessons this month, he found the instructor and organised it all by himself which I'm very proud of as he normally needs a lot of support for organising things. He hasn't done his theory test yet, I think I will try and book him in down here when he's home at Easter.

The irony with DD @Seeline is that my sister is a driving instructor, albeit located an hour away from us, so DD's lessons weren't weekly but long to compensate. I think DD felt so guilty about reducing her Aunt's pass rate! DD has been a competent driver for a while now when there is not an examiner in the car! She had one lesson at Christmas then just drove a bit this weekend with DH and took the test in her own old banger. She was still nervous but perhaps slightly less so this time round.

@EspeciallyDetermined good idea to do the theory asap, as you can't book a test until you've passed that and if you have to wait 6 months to get a slot and need to juggle around Uni holidays etc it is all a headache. Well done to your DS taking the initiative though.

Thanks, he's coming home this weekend so we will have a push on the theory stuff then in that case and try and get him booked in. Problem is there isn't a theory test centre anywhere near his uni

Well done GoldenRuby. 🚗

Great news mini Ruby!

@GoldenRuby Nice work!

You lot are all so lovely!

Happy Birthday @Oblomov22 Welcome to the club, it only gets better!
Congratulations to DD @GoldenRuby Car insurance next!!!
Condolences @AnneOfCleavage Hope you & family are holding up well?

Congrats to @GoldenRuby's DD. I've told DD you really learn to drive once you've passed as regular practice helps plus being on your own in sole charge of your car is the best experience. DD is enjoying her lessons and has a test booked in a few weeks time so DH is taking her out whenever possible in my car as well as weekly instructor lessons but we hope she's ready as there's so much to learn.

Happy belated 50th wishes @Oblomov22. We have a 50th to go to this week so DH and i's turn will roll round soon enough too.

Thanks for all your kind messages, i really do feel so loved and supported on here and in rl and my mum's send off was beautiful and was helped by this glorious sunny weather. I feel emotionally spent though so am taking some time for me. A bit of mumsnet is just the ticket today - that and soft cat cuddles.

Take care AofC. You will go through many stages of grief, then her anniversary of her death. Hope your path through it is ok. We will support you.

We are all so nice here, aren't we? I feel lucky to be part of this thread.

My middle brother phoned at 3.15pm today. Hasn't contacted me in ages. No card for my 50th. Asked me some questions about his tax return. Dh told me to tell his to F off. I did his first tax return 3 years ago, because he'd disappeared of the face of the earth tax wise for the previous 10+ years. I ask him every year if he needs any help. Always last minute.com. But this year he's surpassed home self. Twat.

I'm glad it was as nice as it can be @AnneOfCleavage .

DNephew is having issues with his Mum (my sister) who is bipolar. Let's just say relationships are fraught . Its complex i wont go into it but Dd messaged me to say some of the things he told her 'made her heart hurt' The upshot is I've realised that he either has his twat of a Dad (currently hiding in Dubai) or unpredictable Mum to guide him , ive agreed with him I'm going to try and help him..which means I'll be with some of you lot doing the next stages thing. Lower sixth at moment . Digital Marketing Apprenticeships or courses anyone?

I concur he is a twat !
Siblings eh!

I have few students looking into digital marketing apprenticeships. Many of them seem to be targeted by flashy car dealers.

A lovely girl I teach is struggling to find much so applied at the very last minute to Bournemouth (where other students have also headed) for a degree but may defer next year for a degree apprenticeships.

A lot of the quality and quantity of good apprenticeships does hang on where you live.

Might be worth looking at the big banks?

That’s very annoying @Oblomov22 . Brothers can be very self-absorbed/thoughtless at times I find!

Thank you Piggy, I had in my mind Bournemouth had a good rep for that kind of thing.

He lives in suburban Surrey so apprenticeships will come without the benefit of a loan / student accommodation etc...although I haven't discussed that with him yet as his choice. I just want to give him something to look into at the moment to know his future won't be the same as his present.