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

@handmademitlove @singingstones I can see the point re setting a precedent (working at a school myself) but we would always look at the individual case especially if it was an unexpected result. How often will they do assessments in Y12? I think if he does really well in the first one you could make a case for not doing the resit (I assume it is a November resit).

In terms of future options, if A Level maths does not work out and he still wants to pursue an engineering degree I would look at going via the foundation year route.

Can anyone help me on this thread?
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4880119-top-tips-if-things-to-doplaces-to-eat-near-cardigan

Oh dear @Cantonet, sympathy . We lost 2 dogs and a cat in the last year, and the hardest by far was the spoiling day we had with one. Obviously you have no choice as it’s not your dog, but I would never do that again.

@Delphigirl after a quick look at Tripadvisor I would go here https://inthewelshwind.co.uk/pages/visit-the-distillery as breweries/wineries/distilleries are my current holiday go-to.

The last time we went to Wales (north) I ate a lot of Welsh rarebit and numerous afternoon teas. Some of the food wasn’t up to much, a bit like stepping back in time 20 plus years, but the traditional stuff was fantastic. Including pie and chips from a chippie fabulous butcher’s pie rather than Pukka or suchlike.

Oh I'm so sorry to hear about your dog Cantonet, the emotional side remains so repressed in me until it comes to my dog.

Very well done to your DS Delphigirl, fingers crossed that role offer follows through!

Oh @cantonet I’m so sorry about your dog. The saddest day I’ve had in the last decade was taking my lovely old girl to the vet with DD1 and DS1 and saying goodbye to her. Big hug.
@DontCallMeBaby distillrry is an excellent idea thanks!
@ealingwestmum fingers crossed….

DS failed driving test. For speeding...30 on a 20 road he hadn't spotted.

Hi @OrangeCinnamonLatte she really likes it. Good fit for her. About to see her for first time all summer as she has been away doing Camp America!

Aurghghghghg I’m sorry.
we’ve had a failure for the exact same reason. DS1’s 3rd, if memory serves 😱

Thinking of@craggyrat today and@Oblomov23 . @Cantonet our dogs become such an important part of the family, hope you can focus on all the happiness you have gained from the dog at this difficult time.

@singingstones so happy to be on your list with an actual university place!

@Piggywaspushed So sorry to hear about DS's test. I don't know if this is his first try but as I'm sure you know many don't pass the first time around. DF only just revealed that her DD2 just passed after her 7th try and she herself took it multiple times, so take heart.

It was his second go. He is a bit gutted because it's the only thing he did wrong. His theory expires in February so he may be able to squeeze another test in but he's not sure how he'll get the practice in.

@Cantonet So sorry to hear about your dog. We lost our pet parrot in 2016 and what we missed most were the little background chortling sounds he used to make and his little chats to himself. The house felt deathly silent. We've kind of got used to the new silence now and I hope in time you won't feel the emptiness so much. We made our old parrot's grave into a flower bed and now each spring we get loads of wild flowers all over it and it always makes me smile. I suppose this depends on size of animal and you might not be able to do this but I'm sure you will find a lovely way to commemorate him.

Piggy What about his current instructor is that no longer viable? The good news is more instructors are starting to become available, I think they're making a slow recovery from the pandemic downturn so don't lose heart. DS2 seems to be hoping between instructors at home and at his uni town in a way DS1 wasn't able to (dS1 just finally got a test date this yr and passed it thankfully) DS2 nowhere near sitting a test yet, I guess all the toing and froing between instructors doesn't help but it's the best scenario we have at the moment.

Really sorry about the dog @Cantonet 😢

I hope today went ok @craggyrat. Sympathies to @Oblomov23 that you’re in so much pain, I hope you can get some help.

Bad luck on the driving @Piggywaspushed . Ds did manage to book a test on 1 Feb, although not in our area, so your ds might be able to fit another in. With dd, she had her test on a Thur in Feb and she came home for the week. She practised for an hour or two every day in the area where the test was going to be and it really helped. Now that lectures are usually recorded it’s easier to come back for a week.

I’m still looking for an instructor for ds and wondering whether we’ll just have to do it ourselves. Well, dh not me! I’ve taken him out twice and realised I know nothing about driving! He asked if he had to put the clutch down when he braked to a stop and I said I didn’t think so 🤣 I’ve since discovered there are some useful YouTube videos though.

The current instructor is here so hecant use her to practise whilst at uni!

I mean, I guess he could do lessons and a test in Birmingham. Not sure he fancies it!

Yes, I particularly enjoyed updating the entries for your DS and coffeeandbiscuittime too!

I think the quickest way to him sitting another test before his theory expires would be to switch to another instructor in Brum. Waiting till his next hols to resumes lessons will set him back again. That's exactly what ds2 is doing. Unfortunately for them, it seems the days of having the same instructor from beginning to the end is on hold for now.
Luckily there were some instructors known to ds2's student uni which a lot of them use, maybe there are some instructors like that at Brum? there will be lots of others switching between uni and home instructors.

Ds's test in Feb is in Brum, about an hour away from us now. I'm hoping we can switch it to a nearer one if there's a cancellation.

@OrangeCinnamonLatte
We need a new thread (unless there is one and I've missed it)

@NCTDN
"But having seen how some of DDs friends didn't get what they could have done because of lockdown, he's worked hard all year."

Has something changed NCT? You can't, no longer wing it, and just cram at the end? (like ds1 did, but my ds2 isn't quite as bright, so won't be able to do that).

Sorry to hear that Piggy and Cantonet.

Sorry to hear about the bad news.

Doggie is home n had sirloin steak for dinner. He lapped it up & is weeing n drinking. He wasn't doing any of those things before the animal hospital. Kids are all cuddling him and watching a movie together. He may deteriorate in 12-48 hours so we will be ready.At the moment they're all happy he's home and so is he 🥲

New thread