Thread 48- Covid GCSE Cohort - Summer before Year 2 Uni

[Oblomov23]

Summer ending. Year 2 for many at Uni about to start.

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 :
old thread 47

No. No it wasn't Heff's, because we all had eachother here, we were much more sorted!

Good point @Oblomov23 We did ask each other questions though just not on WIWIKAU. Some of the questions and comments have made me smirk though ;-)

@Seeline we are an apple household and I'm the main technical help, DS has Glean and a mic but don't think he's ever used them (they get pre-recorded lectures) but if he's got the ic to hand I'll take a look, it probably is something in the Ipad settings.

I have had to hide the WIWIKAU FB, it was totally doing my head in.

@craggyrat so pleased for you

DS and I went to Ikea this week as he is moving from catered to self-catered halls. We went in the evening as it is quieter, but yes to driving being a bit less enjoyable than it used to be. I've always liked driving, I'm not one for performance cars or speed (I am very happy in my Toyota Yaris) but enjoy being on the road and always have done, I love exploring and finding new routes. I am starting to struggle a little with driving at night though, because of my eyesight. I'm fine with familiar or brightly lit roads, but when it's unfamiliar, busy, badly lit I am really not keen now, I hate that this is happening to me. I wear contacts normally but they really aren't great for night driving so I tend to wear my glasses, but they are poor for peripheral vision as my prescription is so strong. It's making me a bit more hesitant and nervous. I had to drive home from the Alexandra Palace in N London to Hampshire in the evening rush hour last winter, it was not fun.

I'm not keen on driving and hate motorways but now I can't for a couple of weeks I really miss it. I'm a contact lens wearer too @EversoDetermined and have the same issues

@EversoDetermined I would really appreciate any help with ipads 😁

So pleased about your news @craggyrat !

I don't mind driving but I hate the journey to Notts. M25 and M1 the most boring motorways ever and the journey feels about 5 hours long not 2.5. That said, my least favourite journey is to Cornwall, not only is a long way the M5 around the M4 junction is a constant traffic jam and adds at least and extra hour onto the journey.

It took us 10 hrs both ways to go to Cornwall a few
Weeks! We are never going in August again. Stop start ALL the way. Knew it would
Be bad Bristol - Weston super mud but we didn't even get out of Cheshire quickly.

Saying that I don't even drive so cant add any further comments to this convo ;-)

@Seeline , google tells me it’s not straighforward, you need a connecting device as opposed to just an adaptor. To be hones I think your best bet would be to call the apple helpline (they are really good) with the serial number of the ipad (it’s on the back in TINY letters or you can find it in Settings, General, About) and the make and model of the mic and see what they suggest. Then if it is going to cost a bit maybe ask DSA to buy it.

Thanks@EversoDetermined . Presumably there are external mics that would connect easily or will they all need a special connector? Is it because she has the usb c connection? Sorry if these are stupid/too complex questions - completely clueless 😭

It sounds as though it's all external
mics, and that the USBC is intended more as an output socket than an input one (eg connecting to larger monitors, speakers etc). I didn't find one clear answer TBH.

I don't know if Glean would work using the Ipad's own internal
microphone but suspect the quality wouldn't be great, I know the one on my iphone picks up background noise I can't hear (I occasionally try and video my cats asleep and gently snoring and it picks up too much incidental noise)

Just waved DD off at a metro station for her journey south, with backpack, suitcase, and sleeping bag. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly!

Talking about driving, DS(17) passed his test first time on Monday, having started lessons at the beginning of July. He was desperate to learn and knew that he was time-restricted before going back to boarding school, so got on with it, with DH taking him out for practice.
He’s frustrated that he’s going to have to wait for exeats and holidays to be actually able to get out and about.

On Wednesday, we had to drive from Cardiff to the Barbican and back for an audition,hitting central London rush hour at both ends of the day. DH enjoys driving, which is fortunate because negotiating central London at that time of day when you don’t know where you’re going is pretty hairy!
It was my turn to drive yesterday, taking DS back to school and moving him into his new boarding house.
Its not actually that far in miles but takes 2 hours each way because most of it isn’t motorway.

I developed a phobia of motorway driving a few years ago. I think it was a combination of perimenopause (really common, apparently) and not realising that I’d gradually let DH do all the driving.
Even thinking about it would cause me huge anxiety and just going a couple of junctions locally would take me close to a panic attack.
I knew that I’d have to tackle it before both DCs left home, so I forced myself to push through it.
I can’t say I love it, and I still don’t like doing it in the dark, but I can at least do it now.

I seem to be the opposite to many of you with driving. DH had a mini stroke 5 years ago and although it had no long term effects I've taken over most of the driving. I do a lot of motorway driving, happy driving across Europe, happy driving through cities as long as I have SatNav. I think I could do the drive up the M1 to Nottingham with my eyes shut. The drive to Aberystwyth was hard work when we went to the open day but it was snowing. Hopefully it will be easier in two weeks time.

I do nearly all the driving because I am a terrible passenger. I hang onto the edge of the seat, keep slamming my feet onto imaginary breaks and brace myself against the dashboard. My Dh is quite an aggressive driver and does drive too fast - even the DCs say that.
I love driving so it's no problem for me to do it.

@Alsoplayspiccolo well done to your DS! So impressive. I am desperate for DD2 to pass 1st time when she has her test early nov as it has taken SO long to get a test I doubt she will have another chance before Easter.
I love driving and am a total petrolhead who buys car magazines on the sly and have spent too much on fast cars over the years.
DS2 has just turned 20… in advance of freshers week next week he has lost his driving licence and sent his passport off for renewal. When I asked what he will use for ID if neither come back in time he went very quiet… 😱

That’s so impressive Piccolo., well done to your boy!

Fingers crossed one or the other (or both)! come through quickly Delphi. However, he doesn’t seem short of creativity and dealing with a crisis given his past year, I think he’ll figure out a plan B. Somehow :)

I think you are right @ealingwestmum but it is kind of you to say so!! He has just gone off to London with the intention of clubbing tonight armed with: (a) his actual expired passport-before-last complete with photo of him aged about 10; (b) a scan of his lost driving licence; (c) a scan of his recently expired passport now at the passport office; and (d) a winning smile. He reckons they will let him in because it is his birthday. I will report back!!

I am less bothered about driving these days. Probably due to having my fair share in my early working days peddling company wares clocking circa 50k miles per year. But they were also the days where I was less risk adverse on putting one’s driving foot down 😱 My worst commuting period was between Manchester to London coming down on a Sunday night (worst time) and returning on a Friday night (equally bad). For 8 months before I got relocated permanently to London.

Over-rated now. But do love a passenger snooze 💤

Well done to your DS @Alsoplayspiccolo

Hope your DD had a good term @PhotoDad . I think DS is ready to go back to C now!

Well done to your ds @Alsoplayspiccolo ! Ds is hoping to do similar- he has a test booked in Jan (was 17 a couple of weeks ago) but I’m still trying to find an instructor. I’ve taken him out a few times but it’s terrifying!

@Delphigirl good luck to your ds with the clubbing! He needs to develop my ds’ ability to slip in places unnoticed. It’s bad and we’ve had lots of words about it, but he rarely pays for train tickets and he even managed to get into Reading festival without paying 😬 😮 He seems to think it’s not wrong, as it’s a grey area,🤔 but we did have another chat at the weekend and he told me he’d actually bought a (child) train ticket when he went to Birmingham on Sunday, so I was pleased! I really have no idea how he gets away with it though, he also seems to manage to get free food wherever he goes - he pops in when they’re closing and asks if they’re throwing anything away!

Urgh @ealingwestmum i can’t do a passenger snooze these days, don’t know why. I used to fall asleep in the passenger seat on the way to the supermarket when DD was a baby!

DH does most longer distance driving as he doesn’t travel well as a passenger. I do more local stuff and keep my hand in with longer distances, I think it’s so easy to slip out of it and realise you’ve not driven in a motorway in five years. I also never wanted DD to see my driving locally and then defaulting to DH every time for longer stuff. We did offer holder days just the two of us last year, including driving up to York through several wind warnings 😬

@Delphigirl don't worry about the age 10 passport photo. DS's driving licence (and replacement for a lost one) has his passport photo from when he was 11. He now has that as ID until it expires when he's 29. He gets the piss taken out of him by bouncers and bar staff but the ladies in Tesco think it's cute and pass it round 🤣

I do love a good hustler Crazy, will stand him in very good stead. That and he’s clearly very charming.

(Am I allowed to say that? I do struggle these days, defaulting in saying less and less in RL!)

I’ve no idea @ealingwestmum but it’s very Tue! When we had a long meeting with school in July about lateness/poor attendance/lack of work, all his teachers were saying how much they like him, what a mature, sociable, well rounded chap he is … but! Others in his year were asked to leave at the end of year 12 for similar offences but I think he charmed his way into continuing …