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

Ooh can you tell I've never flown more than economy!!
How luxurious! Some go backwards as well!

We were meant to fly business class three years ago (when booked it was the same price as economy!!) but then Covid got in the way Never got the option to rebook, money just refunded.
I assume business class is lower than club class?

Club class is what BA call their business class.

Glad you enjoyed it @DontCallMeBaby

We were lucky enough to amass enough air miles and companion vouchers and fly business and also first long haul in the last few years. The first flight was the new Club class, it was great and I couldn’t imagine that First class would be much better but wow, it was amazing!! We felt totally spoilt, the service was amazing. We later flew First again and then the old Club Class, that was miles away from the new Club Class so if you’re ever splashing out with BA, check carefully what plane it is!!

Sadly the airmiles have gone now and I could never bring myself to pay for First so very much doubt that is going to happen again!

@DontCallMeBaby That looks so spacious. And comfy. Dead jealous.

I've travelled Virgin Upper Class once, years ago, using DH's airmiles and only London to Athens. We were backpacking around the Greek Islands so turned up at Heathrow in shorts, flipflops and with a rucksack each. We were initially told we were in the wrong check in queue 🤣 The lounge was rather nice but short haul upper class just meant slighter larger seats at the front with priority boarding. By the time everyone else could board we were already sipping champagne. We also got a better meal with proper cutlery and silver airplane salt and pepper pots (which I wish I'd 'acquired') DS used to regularly travel upper to the states but could use the same budget and take me with him in economy, add on a hire car and extra hotel nights for a holiday after the work part of the trip. His secretary even did all the bookings for us. I wish he'd stayed in that job but he hated it 😭

I've flown business class twice and didn't pay for either. Once when we got upgraded flying out of Heathrow on our honeymoon which was lovely, the airline stuff were so nice to us and kept bringing us champagne even though it was only 10am.

The second time was flying to Florida and we had booked the premium economy seats with Norwegian on one of their Dreamliners. The Dreamliners all got grounded for some technical thing and so they brought in alternative older planes which only had business class and economy. Oh my god, it was the best flight ever, we all had fully flat reclining beds, constant drinks and food and so much space - I think there were only 18 seats in that section and we had 8 of them.

I wish I could afford to fly like that all the time!

@Alsoplayspiccolo I thought that might be him with the slightly reddish hair? Amazing, you must be so proud.

He always gets noticed for his hair! It's a gorgeous dark chestnut. He could never be described as ginger, but with stage lighting, it tends to glow. 😄 We can always spot him in photos. 😄😄

@mummyinbeds & @Alsoplayspiccolo Have either of you flown Emirates before? I've done it once courtesy of DH's airmiles..they've got showers on there!

Chestnut is a good description!

@shimy since DH became self employed (pre kids) I've been relegated to Easyjet. No Emirates for me. I've flown PIA economy class which was an interesting experience.

@mummyinbeds I only flew it once but the experience still lingers. Imagine a nice shower and change of clothes just before you step off the plane...
What is PIA Economy?

@shimy PIA - Pakistan International Airways. Drinks service was help yourself in the galley from a 2 litre bottle of Lilt and a paper cup. Overhead lockers closed with gaffer tape. Our outbound flight was pretty empty but we were asked to move from our exit row seats so the flight attendants could have a lie down. Filthy toilets were avoided 🤮🤢. There were 8 passengers on the final leg of the flight, two suitcases arrived (mine & DH's 😁) But, the inflight food was fantastic. Curry, rice, hot crispy samosas, strange sweet things...

@mummyinbeds that sounds like the aeroflot flight I took some years ago... The smoking / non-smoking divide was set by non-smoking filling from the front and smoking from the back. Where they met was the divide 😯😂 back in the days when smoking was allowed on planes!

Good luck to the GCSE DC tomorrow 🍀

I was just going to say that! I know @PhotoDad and I both have DSs getting them - not sure if there is anyone else?

Good luck to those awaiting results tomorrow!

Enjoying your stories of flight experiences. 20 years of airline experience here (good, bad and very ugly, especially pre and post 9/11) but overall one of the best periods of my professional life. Great people to work with.

Best of luck to the GCSE contingent. Hopefully a smooth hop up to the next step.

Thanks, folks, and good luck to @NCTDN! We are away for a windsurfing thing at the moment but DS can find his results online before we have to leave for the venue. I have promised that I won't look before he does (he's at the school where I teach) and will actually stick to that.

Good luck to all the GCSE parents and kids!

Ds actually told me his AS results yesterday. They do them as practice (we’re not in Wales), so his attitude was that it was a total waste of time revising for them 😩 He’s also very behind with the work for two of his subjects and he didn’t finish any exams. We were expecting fails but he actually got CCD. We’ve had lots of discussion over the last few weeks about leaving to join the armed forces and regrets that he chose the wrong subjects, so hopefully this will encourage him to put a bit of work in in year 13. He’s now thinking he might be able to get Bs after all!

I kept myself busy by taking my camera along. It's amazing how it gives me a sense of purpose and an excuse to wander off.

Love the symmetry in the windsurfers shot @PhotoDad! (And hope all's well tomorrow)

Good luck to GCSE result DCs today.

Good luck for everyone picking up their results today 🤞

Best of luck to you all waiting for. GCSEs… my fingers and toes are crossed for you!!