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

Yes, exactly, I find that there's something very moving about seeing young people showing such dedication and trying so hard. Absolutely full of joy and inspiration, you can tell how much it means to them which gives that extra connection with the audience imo. And I love that there are tons and tons of them on stage 😀

Good luck for the final assessment! 🤞

DD had her driving test today and didn’t pass. Is there a secret to booking a test sooner that we don’t know about?

@Alsoplayspiccolo what instrument does he play? Is it piccolo? 😀

Ah, I'm sorry for your DD @BlueMarigold best of luck to her for next time. The website I used seems to not do he test booking any more.

Her last test was in Feb and this was her 2nd attempt. I can’t find anything sooner than March which feels a long time away.

It’s a nightmare at the moment @BlueMarigold . so sorry to hear that, she must be very frustrated. DDs test isn’t until November and I booked it in April. I’m on all the apps trying to bring it forward but no luck. I’m so concerned that if she fails it will be 6 months plus until another test she is considering taking an automatic test, as she will have a greater chance of passing and we have a little automatic she could drive afterwards. … Aurgh it’s tricky.

It’s sad that she failed but not getting a new test date is more frustrating because we can’t just keep paying out for lessons and if we don’t she will be out of practice and forget things. When she’s home she can practice with us but she’s going to be back at uni soon so not sure what to do! Help!

@BlueMarigold we used an app called Testi, you put test details in and specify where you’d consider doing the test, and whether you want an earlier or later date (or either - sounds weird but makes sense when your test isn’t where you want it to be). It was free but you paid £8 or so for premium features (inc alerts, which are pretty essential). I don’t know if it still works the same way, but it does still exist. DD passed on fourth attempt, with tests between September and January 2022, so she did pack them in.

Mine has test on Friday. I don't think he will pass. He can't reverse! The theory test only lasts 2 years...

DDs first test is 2 weeks after she starts uni so has got to come back for it. Booked it in May. Really hope she passes as her theory expires in April, and I'm not sure we would be able to get another practical before then.

Good luck @Piggywaspushed!

Theory test expiring is also a concern.

@Alsoplayspiccolo here are my stumpy little legs enjoying club class legroom 😂

That’s my footstool at the end. The table (which was a little slopey) folds out to double the size, and slides towards and away from you, so you can have it close for a meal, a bit further out for a drink, or get it right out of the way to stand up. Out of shot, closer to me, is a screen that raises and lowers between me and the chap next door (facing the other way). I think I got the best configuration cos some aisle seats have that on the aisle side, so trickier to talk to cabin crew, plus you’re side by side with someone who may be a stranger. Plus I wasn’t trapped in by anyone’s footstool, or trapping anyone else. TV swings out from above the table, and there’s a little drawer by my feet with a bottle of water and a little kit of White Stuff things. The seat position for takeoff/landing is quite loungey rather than bolt upright in economy, but you can adjust electronically from upright for eating all the way to flat for sleeping.

We were offered juice or champagne on boarding, ordered another drink for after takeoff, wine with three course dinner if wanted. I didn’t have breakfast as it was offered just as I woke up from fitful sleep and was a bit discombobulated. Not helped by the wine and champagne, and the two additional glasses of champagne I’d had in the lounge, oops.

The lounge was the best bit tbh, I’d consider paying just for lounge access in future (I’m never going to pay to fly above economy plus). Oh and they let DD in without any issues! We were at the airport really early due to Airbnb and Uber shenanigans but I’ve never known the time go so quickly.

DD was fine back in economy plus, though she was asked if she would move for a woman who was kicking off cos she wanted a window seat. Fortunately the request was caveated ‘but you don’t have to’ so she felt able to say no. The person in the aisle seat didn’t show either, so she had a nice bit of space (plus she said the slight upgrade to economy plus was noticeable).

My friend’s dd has managed to take 3 tests since Jan and has her fourth in August, by using a cancellation app, so I’ll have to find out what it is.

Good luck to ds @Piggywaspushed and @seeline dd and sorry to hear about your dd @BlueMarigold . One thing I didn’t realise was that different test centres have wildly different pass rates. I’m still shocked now that dd passed first time back in Feb, but she did do it at a centre with a v high pass rate. @Piggywaspushed i watched her do the final manoeuvre - reversing into a space -and she had numerous goes and still didn’t get into it properly. I was really surprised she passed! It was just a minor fault apparently?!

Dd is up in Nottingham for her last three exams. She’s jointly bought a car with ds and has taken it up, and then will go on to Leeds festival. Ds is miffed that he can’t practise his driving, but he has his theory test to focus on on Thursday.

Haha, no - that’s me (I’m a flautist…and also play piccolo 🤣).
He’s a cellist.

The champagne would do it for me, DontCallMeBaby! I love a glass…even better if it’s free!
It all sounds very pleasant, but I’m not sure I’d pay for it, as you said (I’m guessing it’s a lot extra).
Glad DD is ok - good for her for sticking to her allocated seat.

Sorry about the driving test, BlueMarigold.
DS started learning at the start of the holidays and is ready to take his test. He applied and was given a December date, but got one of the apps and now has his test in just over a week’s time.
Ill ask him which app it was.

Oooh I was admiring the cellist, I am a cellist! They all looked lovely.

Ah, I absolutely LOVE the cello! I had a year of lessons after I’d started learning the flute but didn’t have any real ability, sadly.
DS wanted to try violin but I persuaded him to pick cello, by telling him he’d get to sit down to play. 🤣

There we’re 18 cellos in the NYO Prom - heaven!

The JFK to Heathrow flight at the end of September is $636, $907 and $2,232 for economy, premium economy and club respectively. Some of the club seats are $5k for some reason. First is either nearly $3k, about $5k, or over $12k 😮

I couldn’t physically drink enough champagne to justify that …

My friend got upgraded to first recently, she said she couldn't believe how rude some of the other passengers were to the cabin crew.

OMG!!!!
Id want carry-off cases of champagne and a 14 course tasting menu for that price!

@DontCallMeBaby does that mean you can't see anyone from where you are sat?

Skimming the thread as I've been travelling all day, more sporting commitments for DS! Once upon a time, I used many years' worth of airmiles (from my credit card) to upgrade to Virgin's "Upper Class" when I was flying solo. It was a late afternoon flight, but I might possibly have turned at LHR at the crack of dawn to spend the whole day in the lounge there with the endless free food and drink plus the mini spa there. And a haircut.

@crazycrofter Ive recommend driving test now app. to quite a few people who have all had a test moved much earlier using the it. You need to put it on auto book though. If you get it to notify you, by the time you look at the test yourself it's already gone.

It was 16G … so with the screen down for takeoff and landing I’m diagonally facing 16F and can see 16E. I can look across the aisle and see J and K. Once the screens are up I can just see J across the aisle.

The site I got that from has a note on the seat saying proximity to the loos might be a problem - I actually like that, I could look round and see if one was vacant.