Thread 55 - Covid GCSE Cohort - Autumn 25 - Yr 4 Uni and Graduates

[Oblomov25]

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 54:
Thread 54

I'm so glad it was good news for you @craggyrat.
For dd's graduation 3 years ago she wore a white broderie Anglais dress from Abercrombie & fitch & I wore an Aztec print shirt dress.
I never wore it again as I went right off print dresses & subsequently sold it on eBay.

@NCTDN yes you're right Ds2 needs physics, certainly for Bristol. He did maths, biology & chemistry at A level. He has requested a transfer via his tutor but I think he would have to do a foundation year first.
I think the Psychology pick was a reaction to Ds1's mental health issues from 16-18, as he didn't do any psychology at GCSE or A level. He's clever with ADHD/ autism ( hence the tricky teenage years) & engineering would be a much better fit for him I think.

There's absolutely loads of specialist clothes sites for extra large (tall and tall and wide) men and some for women. No one seems to want to cater for the shorties of the world, especially men. Gap in the market , I reckon!

Both mine are shorties @Piggywaspushed, DS being a skinny shortie is at least in proportion but DH is a very stocky shortie with his huge shoulders. None of the men on DH's side are taller than about 5'7" and DH is the shortest.

I'm 5ft3 but with short legs and TRex arms.

But DSs seem to have both managed to come out at 5ft 11 - one of them wears long trousers (28 L - ridiculous beanpole!) and the other one is a 36R. The one with the shorter legs has been convinced for years that he is a Short Person.

All good advice about graduations - thank you!
@Cantonetis your ds already at uni? I’ve lost track. Bristol is so so hard to get into their engineering courses.
@icanbewhatiwanti can’t imagine your ds works need a jacket usually for a pgce. In my school a shirt and tie would be great.

Yes @Nctdn Ds2 is at Bristol already & has a house set up for next year. The uni says that any possible transfer candidates have to have a high course average & that will encourage him to focus on the Psychology for now hopefully.
Yes, Bristol is ranked pretty highly for engineering i've realised. But the grades being asked for psychology & engineering are identical.It also seems that not all the courses are requesting Physics but whether that actually pans out in real life is another matter.
He needs to hear back from his tutor to see whether the transfer is actually possible. Plus of course will there be any free places the next academic year?

@Piggywaspushedyes definitely a gap in the market. I am 5’2” ds3 is only a tiny bit taller. Ds1 says he’s short but is 5’8” dh is 5’9” and ds3 is taller than dh. No idea why ds2 is so small compared to his siblings and Dh. But he is always telling me it’s my fault for giving him my genes.

Catching up on the chat about, shorties. Another shorty here at 5ft 2, Dh is the tallest amongst us at 5ft 8. Ds's are both 5ft 7 & 5ft 6 respectively. Just normal shoulders.DS1 is far more skinnier than id like, but thats be ause hedoes eat. 1 meal a day for him & he's done. Rarely snacks and hates excercise. Ds2 was also painfully thin and being on adhd meds didnt help. However, hes made good recoverey and loves excercising. Hes now more onthe stocky side. Dh & i observed someone in church with shoulders so broad, he couldnt sit back in his chair because he was flanked oneither side. Sometimes there's a price to pay for all that expanse.

@Piggywaspushed You're hilarious! Im sure you dont look anything like that. I dont know why iimagine you like an Olivia Coleman.

Congrats to @icanbewhatiwant ds who passed his theory test. DS also passed his.He just needs to sort out lessons now before it expires once again.

DD is due back at work on Tuesday. She has been in Manchester today visiting a friend and when I looked on ‘find my phone’ I see she is at Manchester airport. She has only gone and booked a flight to Palma, Majorca then is flying back to Southampton tomorrow evening. She said it is cheaper than the train and means she can have a day hiking in the Majorcan hills tomorrow. Apparently there is only 20 people on the flight, she has 7 rows to herself!

Lol at Olivia Colman. I like to imagine in a film of my life Kate Winslet would play me. One can but dream.

@Shimy DH has that problem with shoulders too wide for narrow seats, he sticks out into the aisle in double train seats, planes can be awkward too but the worst was primary school assemblies when we were all jammed into the hall on tiny children’s chairs. I got stuck between him and one of DS’s friend’s dad who is also broad shouldered once and had to sit with one shoulder in front and one behind theirs, not comfy.

DS fits 28S trousers from Next. DH has to get a lot of his taken up as he is even shorter, he can usually find jeans to fit but not any other trousers.

Congrats to @Shimy DS and @icanbewhatiwant Ds on theory test passes.

@EndlessDistractionds couldn’t find any online at next with 28” waist. Hence ordering 30” I think he’d fit 26”

I love that @Aslockton!
Congratulations on the theory passes.
Sympathies to the vertically & laterally challenged individuals. A good inexpensive tailor is invaluable if you can find one. Like hens teeth I know.

@EndlessDistraction Gosh, I hadn't thought about the inconvenience of train seats and planes! that must be very difficult. My biggest bug bear on trains as a short person is having my nose too close to people's armpits (usually men's) on packed trains. Having everyone's breath blowing down on you rather than the much fresher air if your head is slightly above. DS2 in particular is still trying to find his 'mojo' where his height is concerned because people aren't kind.

'Katy' will be honoured to play you @Piggywaspushed. Out of interest, can I ask what informed your username? have always loved it. I think there are a few other copy cat piggy's about now.

Thanks for the congrats all!

Lord of the Flies!

Of course!

@Cantoneti forgot that. DS looked to apply there for aerospace - loved the city with dd already there- but despite amazing predictions was pretty much told he didn’t have a chance as he didn’t qualify for anything contextual.

Sorry I haven't been around. I've been so incredibly ill diabetically. I'll read back.

@Oblomov25 sounds awful - hope things are improving for you 💐

I've been wondering where you'd got to @Oblomov25 good to hear from you, sorry you've been so ill

Sorry to hear that @Oblomov25 😢

Sorry to hear you've been so unwell @Oblomov25

Lovely to see you back on the thread @Oblomov25.
I hope you're starting to feel a little better.

@Oblomov25 Sorry to hear you've been so unwell, hoping things get back under control. Diabetes is evil.

Thanks everyone.
I went to London today, to see Diabetic Consultant, who apart from an annual phone call I haven't been seen in person, in clinic for 2 years. She once again told me that there's nothing more they can do as the pump algorithm is too conservative for my physiology. 😢

But I did then visit ds1 who took me into his London SE1 office reception, which was absolutely stunning. Then we had lunch, which he paid for!