Thread 56 – Covid GCSE Cohort – Spring 26 – Yr 4 Uni and Graduates

[crazycrofter]

The old thread has filled up and no one noticed - I think we're missing @oblomov26 sharp eyes!

I've tried to tag in everyone I can think of, but apologies to anyone I've missed!
@shimy @endlessdistraction @justherewithmypopcorn @mummyinbeds @aslockton @oubliettebravo @craggyrat @anothernewname460 @ealingwestmum @ewwsprouts @seeline @piggywaspushed @nctdn @icanbewhatiwant @comefromaway @heifer @kingscotestaff @delphigirl @zebracat @cantonet @socks1107 @blinkbonny @anneofcleavage

@Zebracat how is your young person doing? I often think of you and the amazing support you gave her.

craggyratjr Cambridge history - now working and saving for master's
cariadmbythjr Royal Holloway history , going on to Marketing master's at Cardiff
aslocktonjr DC1 LSE Geography with German- Royal Navy officer
DC2 Reading Meteorology and Climate Science - has a grad role as a meteorologist
ewwsproutslet - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlovejr- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piglet - Birmingham , history - off to Sheffield for a journalism master's
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now working as a PA
extensivelydecoratingjr - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
socks1107 - graduated , and now working?
Working now
273NewNamesJr - working in engineering
Still studying!
delphigirlJr - Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying
sonofmummyinbeds - Nottingham , law and French law
oblomovJr - Nottingham , financial stuff , all very high powered degree apprenticeship
ealingwestmumsbaby - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages
zebrakitten - off for a year in Denmark
crazycroftette - Nottingham, Psychology- working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
seelinecub - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history
shimyJr - Warwick, management
minianneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDNJR - Liberal Arts, Bristol
IcanbewhatiwantsDCcabnewhathewantstoo- history, Sussex

I have updated my entry (my ED names do change but the initials stay the same).

@Comefromaway sorry, that must be quite hard to take even if it was inevitable. I suspect he is going to make a decent career for himself nonetheless, he has made a very good start with everything he’s done.

My DD is no longer working as a PA. She’s now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company). And much happier that she was being a PA!

@Aslockton Beat me to it! I hope Denmark has gone well.

@NCTDN It was my DM had a pacemaker fitted last week. She was in hospital on bed rest as heart rate was so slow, so got to see the comings and goings. The lady opposite was told 3 times on the first day she would be going down and it didn't happen. Next day DM was woken at 6am and told she would be first on the list but went down in the afternoon. The clinical priorities kept changing. Our unscientific theory is the heat caused a spike in need. DM had no history of heart issues until blue-lighted in. 14 others admitted needing pacemakers same day. ! hope your DDad gets his very soon. It is such an amazingly effective gadget!

@Comefromaway His positive outlook will carry him far! He seems to building a great jobs network.

@Cantonet Oof that's a tough one. The DC, or DS anyway, don't seem to check email as often as all the other snappy ways of communicating.

Updated with OB dd

craggyratjr Cambridge history - now working and saving for master's
cariadmbythjr Royal Holloway history , going on to Marketing master's at Cardiff
aslocktonjr DC1 LSE Geography with German- Royal Navy officer
DC2 Reading Meteorology and Climate Science - has a grad role as a meteorologist
ewwsproutslet - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlovejr- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piglet - Birmingham , history - off to Sheffield for a journalism master's
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company).
extensivelydecoratingjr - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
socks1107 - graduated , and now working?
Working now
273NewNamesJr - working in engineering
Still studying!
delphigirlJr - Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying
sonofmummyinbeds - Nottingham , law and French law
oblomovJr - Nottingham , financial stuff , all very high powered degree apprenticeship
ealingwestmumsbaby - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages
zebrakitten - off for a year in Denmark
crazycroftette - Nottingham, Psychology- working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
seelinecub - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history
shimyJr - Warwick, management
minianneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDNJR - Liberal Arts, Bristol
IcanbewhatiwantsDCcabnewhathewantstoo- history, Sussex

Yes @EwwSprouts.
It's also ds's fault for not checking earlier.

I’ve added DS in. He’s going back up to Newcastle tomorrow. So that he can fly to Florence from Manchester on Sunday 🤷🏻‍♀️

craggyratjr Cambridge history - now working and saving for master's
cariadmbythjr Royal Holloway history , going on to Marketing master's at Cardiff
aslocktonjr DC1 LSE Geography with German- Royal Navy officer
DC2 Reading Meteorology and Climate Science - has a grad role as a meteorologist
ewwsproutslet - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlovejr- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piglet - Birmingham , history - off to Sheffield for a journalism master's
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company).
DS - Newcastle, medicinal chemistry - going into Y3.
extensivelydecoratingjr - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
socks1107 - graduated , and now working?
Working now
273NewNamesJr - working in engineering
Still studying!
delphigirlJr - Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying
sonofmummyinbeds - Nottingham , law and French law
oblomovJr - Nottingham , financial stuff , all very high powered degree apprenticeship
ealingwestmumsbaby - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages
zebrakitten - off for a year in Denmark
crazycroftette - Nottingham, Psychology- working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
seelinecub - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history
shimyJr - Warwick, management
minianneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDNJR - Liberal Arts, Bristol
IcanbewhatiwantsDCcabnewhathewantstoo- history, Sussex

Hi everyone, can I add my DS back in? Graduated last year (2025) in sociology, Notts. Working full time in conference sales in London. Does not like it. Actively searching for a job in social policy (any tips from your friend’s DS @Aslocktongratefully received) but being regularly ghosted or rejected. At least is socking away money in the meantime and is generally enjoying life (always his gift).

Love reading about what everyone’s doing!

Blinkbonny Nottingham, Sociology- DS now working full time in conference sales in London.
craggyratjr Cambridge history - now working and saving for master's
cariadmbythjr Royal Holloway history , going on to Marketing master's at Cardiff
aslocktonjr DC1 LSE Geography with German- Royal Navy officer
DC2 Reading Meteorology and Climate Science - has a grad role as a meteorologist
ewwsproutslet - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlovejr- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piglet - Birmingham , history - off to Sheffield for a journalism master's
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company).
DS - Newcastle, medicinal chemistry - going into Y3.
extensivelydecoratingjr - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
socks1107 - graduated , and now working?
Working now
273NewNamesJr - working in engineering
Still studying!
delphigirlJr - Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying
sonofmummyinbeds - Nottingham , law and French law
oblomovJr - Nottingham , financial stuff , all very high powered degree apprenticeship
ealingwestmumsbaby - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages
zebrakitten - off for a year in Denmark
crazycroftette - Nottingham, Psychology- working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
seelinecub - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history
shimyJr - Warwick, management
minianneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDNJR - Liberal Arts, Bristol
IcanbewhatiwantsDCcabnewhathewantstoo- history, Sussex

Thank you. DD has just graduated with a masters from Bristol. Now job hunting in the south west.

@EwwSprouts that’s good to hear. Dad fell 3 months ago so has been in hospital since with spinal injuries. They’ve eventually decided it was his heart that caused the faint resulting in a fall as he’s had a few episodes since. Really hoping that a pacemaker can resolve this part so he can get on with recovering 🤞

@Comefromaway I fully understand your disappointment. Even though your DS shows no sign of wanting to study he has several years where he will be able to transfer credits if he wants to top up. That’s nice to have in the background just in case he changes his mind.

As for the update, DS is still working in engineering but in a better job and is now studying with OU to get his degree. A longer path but he is so much happier. He also got some credits for his time at uni which knocked a year off the OU studies.
no need to change my name on the list, I always have a number of new names 😄!

In other news, he is buying a house! All going well and hopefully will be completed in the next few weeks!! He can’t wait to get his own space away from messy housemates.

@NCTDN your post struck a chord with me re your Dad. Mine has had various cardiac episodes over the years including a stroke and a cardiac arrest (defibrilliated) and odd random falls. He had an implantable device (different to a pacemaker but I’m a bit vague) added in the end and it gave him a new lease of life for a few years. But sadly this time last year he had a fall for no apparent reason, spinal injuries and has never recovered, 12 weeks in hospital and out into a nursing home. It’s been tough going and a really steep learning curve for us all (Mum is not coping well at home without him). I really hope yours gets a better outcome.

PSA - if anyone has elderly parents who have NOT set up lasting powers of attorney please try and get them to, we ought to have it for ourselves too. I cannot imagine how much harder this year would have been if mine hadn’t done this several years ago.

@NCTDN Really sorry to hear he has spinal injuries to get over too. I hope he has good pain management.

@EffortlesslyDistracted I empathise with your experience. MIL had a fall in hospital (UTI confusion) and a broken back meant she never got back to their bungalow.

Apologies for the lack of posting, I have kept up with all your news, some I know are of slight disappointments in outcomes but, our group continues to push through all the ups and downs in spite of setbacks, I have high hopes for all their futures. Huge congratulations to those receiving their results, started work or bashing through the recruitment process.

I am not in great health, mid diagnosis on bowel type options and outcomes, but what has made it more challenging is dealing with an elderly mother who is fraught with worry in a 'well what will happen to me, why can't you fix it quickly, you should have looked after yourself better' type attitude. The dementia doesn't make it easier, but tbf, she has always been a little self centred so it's all been a little exhausting and I keep reminding myself I've done nothing wrong apart from live to the best health that I can.

DD is in good form. She spent 5 weeks in Guatemala, a few more holidays to sneak in around us helping her to move to Belfast end of July. She attended a day's on-boarding a day after flying back via US which was tough timing, but met up with the Graduates' intake from last year, and it all feels still very friendly and familiar. She's taken a 12 month initial 2-bed rental central, near Ulster University/Cathedral Quarter so will be in the heart of stuff. Her funds from tutoring have carried her through her 4 years very well, we do keep reminding her that she will be able to take time off as a working professional but I I don't think she believes us.

Graduation is in October. @Aslockton thank you for the list management, update here is: Associate Consulting, Big 4 from Sept 26.

@EffortlesslyDistracted it’s tough isn’t it? I’ve realised that it’s actually now 5 months since he fell. He had surgery within 24 hours of the fall (when he fell he had no feeling from the neck down) and was making good progress with physio and OT. But a few more of these fainting episodes has really hindered further progress and it’s unlikely he’ll ever walk again. He’s got limited use of his hands too.
it’s so sad because he was so independent. My mum has found it tough too. We’re currently in the process of reconfiguring their house to make downstairs living possible but hard to accept that carers will need to be in and out all day for him to even come home.

I don’t think either of my parents have her accepted the prognosis and they both talk about going on flights to go on holiday…

Sorry to hear about the parental health issues 😢 and your own issues @ealingwestmum . Especially with your mum adding blame to the stress, that’s really hard for you. You must be relieved dd is thriving and you don’t have to worry about her too - good luck to her for when the new job starts. Is she on an ACA training contract, or something else?

@ealingwestmum sorry to hear of your health issues, and your mum.

We had a lovely day celebrating DDs graduation on Wednesday. Even having booked parking on a local drive, we still walked miles round UEA campus for photos. As the ceremony was so late, we decided to do campus photos first, as there wasn't time after collecting robes, but DD seemed happy with the day.
She is still in Norwich as she has a few more ambassador shifts. She'll pop home for her birthday and then we'll move her home mid-August.
She has applied for loads of jobs, both temporary and 'proper' posts, and hasn't even been offered an interview so definitely a bit down.

@Aslockton DD has now graduated, and is job hunting primarily for museum/gallery/heritage/culture type jobs, nationwide.

Thank you @Seeline, good to hear another successful grad ceremony!

Thanks @crazycrofter, I am very used to Mum, my family less so given I’m her target but it is how it’s always been.

DD is overall thriving. She has the small challenge of getting her weight management back under control that does affect her self esteem. But I was smiling at the foodie chat; she absolutely is her father’s daughter, they live for food, the shopping and all the guff that goes with it :)

She’s not on the accounting/audit stream. I think all the consulting bods follow a general management consulting type programme, and choose line of service speciality/sector a couple of years down the track. I think.

Updated:

Blinkbonny Nottingham, Sociology- DS now working full time in conference sales in London.
craggyratjr Cambridge history - now working and saving for master's
cariadmbythjr Royal Holloway history , going on to Marketing master's at Cardiff
aslocktonjr DC1 LSE Geography with German- Royal Navy officer
DC2 Reading Meteorology and Climate Science - has a grad role as a meteorologist and has bought a house.
ewwsproutslet - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlovejr- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piglet - Birmingham , history - off to Sheffield for a journalism master's
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company).
DS - Newcastle, medicinal chemistry - going into Y3.
extensivelydecoratingjr - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
socks1107 - graduated , and now working?
Working now
AnotherNewName - working in engineering
Still studying! DS is still working in engineering but in a better job and is now studying with OU to get his degree and buying a house.
delphigirlJr - Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying
sonofmummyinbeds - Nottingham , law and French law
oblomovJr - Nottingham , financial stuff , all very high powered degree apprenticeship
ealingwestmumsbaby - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages. Graduated and starting work in Belfast: Associate Consulting, Big 4 from Sept 26.
zebrakitten - off for a year in Denmark
crazycroftette - Nottingham, Psychology- working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
seelinecub - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history. DD has now graduated, and is job hunting primarily for museum/gallery/heritage/culture type jobs, nationwide.
shimyJr - Warwick, management
minianneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDNJR - Liberal Arts, Bristol. DD has just graduated with a masters from Bristol. Now job hunting in the south west.
IcanbewhatiwantsDCcabnewhathewantstoo- history, Sussex

Anyone heard from @photodad? Last we heard was his windsurfing DS was off to NZ on a gap year and his talented DD was looking for art related work. I miss seeing her art pieces.

@EffortlesslyDistracted I echo what you said about Lasting Power of Attorney. We persuaded my mum to get it when she moved house after my dad passed away. We said that we could help by acting on her behalf if she got stuck changing over utilities etc. Luckily she never needed our help. However fast forward 2 years, she got cancer and it affected her speech massively. We were able to step in and make phone calls/speak on her behalf. It was invaluable to have. It made her last few months easier all round. We have had our own LPA in place since we were 48 years old. You never know what is around the corner- if you have it, you hopefully won't need it. As Martin Lewis says, LPA is more/as important as a will. It is very easy and cheap (£92) to do online- no solicitor needed. https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney

Oh yes I’d love to know what photodads dcs are up to. His other dc is the same year as my dd. I’ll see if it’s the same thread as I don’t think he’s on this one?

@ealingwestmum sorry your health isn’t great. Your DDs future sounds exciting!

We’ve got LPAs drafted but not signed off, we hesitated a bit because of DS’s SNs whether he’d be able to cope or not but it seemed unfair on both to only name DD. But now having used them extensively myself (without DB who is also named using them at all don’t get me started on that he does not have SNs as an excuse) I do have a much clearer idea and will name both of them jointly and severally. Even with LPA things have been hard, I have spent countless hours online and on the phone to all the organisations Mum and Dad use.

@NCTDN it’s a year since my Dad fell. At first we thought he had just had a bit of a bang on the head and maybe some cracked ribs. But after a hospital admission it was established that he had broken his neck and suffered a bleed on the brain. It took my mum months to accept this, she kept telling people he had just broken his collar bone and even once it was apparent he wasn’t going to walk again she didn’t accept it for ages. He was in rehab for 12 weeks and they got him weight bearing on his legs but needed two staff to support him and he simply couldn’t do anything more, he can move his legs but has to be hoisted. He has lost most of the use of his hands and arms too, he can do a few things with his non-dominant arm but that’s all. But he is still good mentally, no dementia, just slower to process information in and out. Unfortunately their house was totally unsuitable (steps everywhere) and he would have needed live in carers so he had to go into a home. Mum has been a nightmare to support, she makes mountains out of molehills about absolutely everything and texts me constantly (we used to speak once every 10 days or so before this, now it’s a good day if she texts me less than five times, not just going over trivial problems over and over and over but brain dumping every detail of her day). She has friends, she visits Dad every day, she talks to lots of other people at the care home but she still overloads me. I have found the Cockroach cafe threads on Elderly Parents very useful for support.

Just a few DC related updates from me. DS didn’t get the job he interviewed for last week, but it was just a case of someone else having more experience. They called him up and talked for about 10 mins and gave him good advice and said they could see him working there in future. He isn’t too down, he is taking steps in the right direction and his current PT job does allow him time to get the right experience through volunteering. He is still doing a bit of SE gardening on the side.

DD finished her lifeguard training and is applying for jobs near her uni house for termtime. She has been working flat out in a pub showing the world cup. I went out for a drink with her last night and we had a lovely catch-up (I hardly see her because she goes to work after I get home and isn’t back till very late).