Thread 49 - Covid GCSE Cohort - The nights are drawing in...

[OrangeSpicedBun]

Autumn 🍂 well and truly underway, has been chilly this week !

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 :

www.mumsnet.com/talk/parents_of_adult_children/4880640-thread-48-covid-gcse-cohort-summer-before-year-2-uni?latest=1

That is a good reminder for me to fish the dehumidifier out of the garage. It also helps the house heat up better if there's less moisture around. Ours is ancient so can't give a recommendation!

@PhotoDad sounds like your DS has some good plans.

He can make money whilst still being involved in a sport he enjoys.

DH got his power boat licence a couple of years ago from a centre nr Menai Strait. We had just got ourselves a great bargain from ebay and got a rib boat. DH wanted to make sure he knew how to handle it etc so did the course (very much like
DH, also done
Chain saw course etc).

Hope your DS enjoys the job and still get to wind surf for fun too.

@Piggywaspushed well done to your DS getting something else published :-) did he get to ask any questions to Rooney?

We have several as we use them to dry clothes. We have a very drafty cold old Edwardian house with absolutely massive bills even before the recent hike. So we try to use the heating & dryer as little as possible. They're a god-send for drying clothes. According to dh you need the ones that work at lower temps & with the larger water tanks. The smaller cheaper ones don't work.

Thanks @Cantonet will
Help me when i take a look.

@crazycrofter how was your trip
To Nottingham? Does your DD live in the triangle or just outside? I was pleasantly surprised that the area was a lit better than i expected. The route back from
Uni to DDs house in the middle
Of the triangle was
Nice.

No, I don't think so. But he felt like a proper reporter.

If anyone wants to look, search Birmingham Redbrick, and then look at the Birmingham City page of the Sport section. His story was on the front page online but has probably moved by now.

Re dehumidifiers, I was shocked by the amount of electricity ours was using in the basement, so have stopped using it so much. DS1 had a small one with a 1l in his room last year, even though it was only £45 it definitely made a difference for him. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BCQLVFBM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Had a good trip thanks @heifer, liked the church and the house isn’t looking too bad - except for the damp and mould that’s just developing. The landlord is coming tomorrow. Their house is in the triangle, at the end of a road opposite the park. It’s quite a nice area.

Ds had terrible migraines and back ache when on roaccutane @icanbewhatiwant @Cantonet, and nose bleeds. Both dh and I had roaccutane too and weirdly the meds were more effective for us and we didn’t suffer so much - but then I think my kids awful genes, with acne on both sides of the family, so maybe that’s made them very resistant!

Hi just catching up on here. @Piggywaspushed well done to your DS for getting published!

@Alsoplayspiccolo I can’t believe someone did that your DS 😰

Dd was going to do a masters but things didn't work out for various reasons. She would have used the loan to cover fees which it just about did, we would have been able to contribute an amount similar to our undergrad parental contribution and she was planning on working to fill the deficit.

It's reading week for ds, however the musical theatre department re having a development week where they invite external directors and writers in and workshop a new musical. Ds sent a speculative email to the department and he is going to be musical director for the week.

@Comefromaway Wow!! Well done DS.

@Piggywaspushed First published article - a milestone for your DS!

@Heifer Glad you had a great visit. Know someone who applied for NHS scientist and had a strong CV but did not even get to interview. Has gone on to do a masters instead with the associated financial pain.

We have a Delonghi dehumidifier bought about a year ago after reading Which reviews (we had an old one for about 15 years before that but it packed up). It has a humidity sensor so clicks on and off as needed. We have a Victorian end terrace which is prone to damp especially on the gable end wall and it really makes a difference, we have it in the middle room downstairs which has the staircase in it, so it pulls humidity from all around the house. But when the weather is really wet it is probably just pulling in damp air from outside, the reservoir fills up much more quickly. We don't use it for drying laundry as we use the outside line on dry days even in winter, a heated airer in DS's room when he's not here with the window open and the tumble dryer as little as possible, haven't really got anywhere to store another dehumidifier.

DS came home for the weekend, played hockey and went to a Hallowe'en party. He says the work has definitely ramped up this year and he isn't clubbing and partying like last year, just going for drinks in the union bar on non-party nights. No reading week this year, they moved the term start date a week later instead but he says it feels like a long haul till Christmas, especially as he has lectures on Monday morning and Friday afternoon so no long weekends at home.

Can any of you tell me the best apps for driving test cancellations please?

Fantastic news @Comefromaway.
@piggy well done to your Ds.
@Pumpkin DD has her first 'Crit' tomorrow she says. 🙂She cancelled most of her plans for the weekend just gone. But I think she has a big Halloween party planned afterwards judging by the short tight costume she's ordered off Amazon 😜

We use Testi and it’s been ok but when they notify you of a cancellation you then have to log into the gov site with licence and test nos, by which time they’ve often gone! My friend said driving test genie was better as they do the booking.

Thank you @Crazycrofter.
How does it work if you don't use your instructors car?

@Cantonet dd just used our car. We checked online that they would accept a test in that car and made sure there was a rear view mirror on the passenger side. Is that what you meant?

My daughter took her test in her own car too. She just had to have a special mirror in it.

Back to dehumidifiers! DD has mould in her room. I am taking our Big Dehumidifier down with me when I visit her later this week, plus buying a small one for her (plus of course cleaning supplies), plus get her to take pics and log with the landlord. We'll also tell her not to dry her clothes in her room... and to open the window a few times every day. Any other top tips?

If she can leave the window open a crack overnight that should help @PhotoDad we breathe out a lot of moisture. If they happen to be sash windows having them open a crack at the top and bottom helps air circulation. Also mop condensation off the windows in the morning with an e cloth or similar, I let mine dry on the radiator so I am recycling the moisture but it stops black mould growing on the windows and frames.

@EerilyDecorated Good tips, thank you! I'm hoping that a dehumidifier will help.

Nottingham folk whose DD/DS are looking for work.
I've just seen on WIWIKAU facebook page there is an post re vacancies at the Nottingham Playhouse. I can't link to the facebook page as I don't have fb on this pc (keep it for work and MN) :-) But here is the link from the playhouse website.
Good luck

Jobs and Opportunities - Nottingham Playhouse

Thanks for all the dehumidifier info, very useful.

@crazycrofter glad you enjoyed your visit to Nottingham. Hope the mold gets sorted. DD leaves her window open 24/7 so should be ok.

@Cantonet good luck to your DD for her "crit" today (no idea what they means though :-)

@EwwSprouts we know it's a long shot via the NHS but it gives DD a great goal to go for...

@Monkey2001 thanks for the link to the dhf that's just the sort of £ I was hoping for. Will have to keep an eye on the running costs.

@Heifer A "crit" (critique) is a big thing in art & design, where your tutor gives you verbal feedback on your work... sometimes in front of the whole class! 😱