Thread 47- Covid GCSE Cohort - Summer's running away from us!

[OrangeCinnamonLatte]

...it will be Christmas before we know it.

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). 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 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/parents_of_adult_children/4792342-thread-46-gcse-covid-cohort-searching-for-summer-solstice

Glad about house Heffs. Handmade Korea sounds well exciting.

I'm getting more fed up as the days go on. Caravanning in Dorset in the pissing rain.

My back is killing me. Btw Consultant discharged me when I made a complaint. Haven't even been seen by a Dr yet. MRI showed I've broken my bank twice: L5 Feb 23, also broken it in L1 in Dec 22, which I was unaware until now.

I've got bursitis, numerous pockets of fluid, but not temporary, they've been there for 6 months now, since I fell in Feb 23, and no one seems to offer me a diagnosis / explanation as to why. I feel let down.

That sounds awful @Oblomov23 . Have you been in touch with your hospital's PALS group? They might help escalate your complaint. Failing that your MP?

Sorry to hear about your back @Oblomov23 , that sounds awful.

Very difficult for you @blinkbonny , I admit I would not want to be guarantor for someone else’s child.

Interesting points about guarantor insurance. Thank you to @Comefromaway for the names and @JustHereWithMyPopcorn for the premium info.

In theory I have guaranteed DS’s share but he has joint and several so in reality I’m guaranteeing the whole house. When I was asked to be guarantor but hadn’t seen the contract I phoned the letting agency and asked them, the woman I spoke to said that yes my interpretation was correct but she had never seen them go after other guarantors in practice, just the individual defaulter’s guarantor. She had been there ten years. Nothing you can rely on but comforting nonetheless.

@Oblomov23 I'm so sorry to hear about your back, have you been assigned a different consultant or are they allowed to just say 'you're out' just because you made a complaint??

Sorry to hear that the back is still troubling you after so long @Oblomov23. Chronic pain is so debilitating and demoralising. I hope you get some effective treatment soon. Keep complaining!

Thanks @Oblomov23 I have no idea what Handmade Korea comment means though ;-)

So sorry to read about your back and the lack of treatment you've received, no advice I'm afraid just virtual hugs.

Also sorry about caravanning in the rain in Devon - although on the bright side, it's still probably better than 40 degrees in Europe?

If it makes you feel better @Oblomov23 I will be camping in Dorset next week 🏕️🌧️🙁

Sorry to hear about your back @Oblomov23 and the wet holiday. 😢

I wasn’t asked to be a guarantor as far as I know - unless dd put me down without asking?! She’s fed up that the exam timetable still isn’t out and exams start a week on Monday. Yet again I’m not impressed with Notts admin!

Same @crazycrofter its really pissing me off tbh.

@crazycrofter I don't think we were guarantors for either DCs Halls accommodation. But they will need for private rentals. And you will definitely know if you have been put down as they will ask for loads of financial info/permission to do credit checks etc. DH does it for ours DS and they have wanted pay slips, confirmation from work on employment status etc.

That's strange @seeline that I haven't been asked. I've looked at dd's contract too and there's no mention of it. He is quite an unusual landlord though - an ex student and current lecturer, who used to live in this house himself and charges a low rent comparatively. He also lets them pay in three instalments in line with the student loan dates. So I'm guessing he's not in it for the money/regular income.

It's really annoying @JustHereWithMyPopcorn . Dd can't make any plans at all without knowing when she'll be in Nottingham and when she'll need to be revising.

@crazycrofter I was going to say your DD should email to ask about timetable as they should have been out by now but just realised that it does say available week commencing 31st July... Fingers crossed it's today/tomorrow and not Sunday evening!

Re guarantor, for the house DD lost we had to prove DHs earnings, they emailed employee etc and he had to send in copies of payslips etc. This new house no request for earnings etc but we do have to sign a guarantor agreement for up to a years rent and have a witness.

Sorry to hear about the back, @Oblomov23, that sounds awful. And the wet holiday.

DD and I are having an incredibly quiet/low-energy week with DS and DW away. He is enjoying the windsurfing championship (big experience with 300 kids) even if he isn't doing incredibly well so far; he normally races on lakes/reservoirs rather than the sea so it's a steep learning curve for him. They have GPS trackers when they're racing, so I can follow his races live from my laptop. It's surprisingly fun and makes me realise how strategic the sport is (like sailing, it's more about planning exactly when to tack to work your way upwind than just zooming along in a straight line)!

That sounds amazing @PhotoDad !

@heifer she’s emailed and got the same response - hopefully it will be out before Sunday! She’s away from tomorrow until Sunday anyway at a Christian festival so hopefully she’ll forget about it.

Does anyone know what’s the best app to use for the driving theory test?

@crazycrofter @JustHereWithMyPopcorn Nottingham are really peeing me off. How difficult can it be to schedule an online exam 🤷 DS started a warehouse job today (applied for in June and only just contacted him) He's now fast asleep due to the early start. I'm not sure he'll wake up to revise before getting up at 5am for the second day in a row. I had to get up to take him so I'm fading fast too.
I had a weird dream last night which was a combination of DS's failed module, DD picking up her A level results and me being told I had to go to Hull uni ( it was my firm choice back in the day and I was really relieved to go to my insurance) Something tells me I'm stressed. I really hope the resit isn't on A level results day.
DD arrived back from Ghana on Sunday. She's already planning her trip back next year and how to spend a whole year there after uni. She's been teaching, playing with the kids outside of school, surfing, visiting the rain forest and having a blast. I think she's found her happy place, despite being eaten alive by mozzis and having either food poisoning or typhoid or both (she didn't have much confidence in the 'doctor' who told another girl she has severe sepsis and a chest infection - symptoms were d&v)

@Oblomov23 sorry you're back is still so bad. If they won't see you because you complained, you need to complain higher.

I didn't have to submit proof of earnings for the guarantor, just general details I think?

@PhotoDad the windsurfing sounds very cool, I can imagine it is very physical!
On the driving test theory I think DS look on a website rather than an app, it was more useful for the hazard perception.

@mummyinbeds I keep waking at 4am after anxiety dreams. The one yesterday was DS1 driving my car badly (he was about 11 in the dream) and he crashing it and I couldn't get to him. He's definitely the cause of my stress at the moment! I'm praying for you that the resit day is not A level day!!
It must be so nice to have DD home, it sounds like she had a fabulous time.

@mummyinbeds dd finally has her timetable! Notts are rubbish though. Dd's job has the perfect student hours - 10.15 to 6.45! She's impressed me recently as she's got her room organised and is making her breakfast and lunch every evening for the next day, as well as trying out new recipes for her tea. Now she just needs to start revising...

Sorry you're feeling stressed, I don't envy you having A Level results too. Glad dd had an amazing time!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn @crazycrofter the timetable is now out!!!!
Typically, DS's (and Just DS's) exam is on the first day of resits.

@crazycrofter seems we're both refreshing the Notts timetable page constantly 🤣

Oh dear! Dd has one on the first day too, one on the Thursday and then three in a row the next Tue/Wed/Thur.

PS is A Level results day 17th Aug? It's ds' birthday and he does actually have AS Level results to pick up. Not sure it's worth it though, he didn't revise so I'm not expecting much.

A level results day is 17th August, yes!

Good luck to the re-sitters, at least they have the timetable.

@crazycrofter I feel for your DD. That's brutal. Are they online or in person? Law is another 24 hour online slog ( and DS gets an extra 6 hours this time) I'm hoping I can assist with time management since he's at home for it.
And yes, results day is the 17th.

Oh god DS is at a festival up til the 13th!!! He’s having a right hissy fit about it. 😬

@crazycrofter blimey that’s full on!! Are they 24hr ones??