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

@EffortlesslyDistractedits so tough isn’t it. I think in a way it’s harder because like your dad, mine is great mentally but that makes it harder for them because they’re aware of everything that they can’t do. My dad will be going home with carers in four times a day to hoist him. Mum says she’ll never be able to relax whilst there are strangers in the house and there’s absolutely no way she’d leave them in the house. So basically she’ll be housebound unless I’m there too.

Nightmare @NCTDN . How far from you are they? Mine are half an hour drive but I only go once a week as it is exhausting and I have a lot of other commitments.

Oh that is tough @NCTDN, for all of you.

Half an hour to their house here too.

I'm so sorry to hear of all the elderly parent problems. My ILs are now starting to really show their age. Luckily they live down the road from us and DBIL also lives very close by so lots of family very close. My DM died in her early 50s from cancer and my DDad very suddenly with an aneurysm at 69 a long time ago. It was terrible as I was very close to them both but in a way I never had to see them get old which is a different blessing now I see the way ILs are going. We have Powers of Attorney which I did last year. Only DS named as he is all there is.

For the update, DS is in a state of flux as to what to do! Army interview online this week and face to face medical end August at Lichfield so overnight for that as 8 to 5 as it is an appeal. Fingers crossed everyone for that. Howver he and friend from Cambridge have a business as well that could go very well. We have said why not defer PGCE for a year to give the business a go - you dont get many chances in life like this. Then he could pursue Army if he gets through medical, ask for his TA job again for year to get more money and if business or Army don't work out, just do PGCE a year later - preferably in Leeds as so much cheaper as can live at home. He needs to make choice asap as needs to apply for SF for Sept if he goes to do PGCE. He has decided he can't afford Masters. Turned down MPhil at Oxford for deferred 2027 entry as just way too expensive.Bit sad about that!

He did get to cox in British Rowing Champs yesterday which was fun. He has a Tshirt with his name on to prove it - reminds me of swim galas @ealingwestmum and @EffortlesslyDistracted ! He still wears his Welsh Nationals stuff from 2019!

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for the tag. I was just thinking about re-visiting MN now that it's the summer hols and.... I have taken early retirement from teaching!! Although I'll probably want to pick up some part-time work to finance future plans.

I'll do my best to catch up on the thread, but, skimming, I'm sorry that parental and health problems persist. We're also in the middle of putting LPAs together; my dad didn't have one and it was nightmarish getting a Deputyship.

Anyway! DD has had a slightly frustrating year. She's been living at home, with a little part-time work and a lot of volunteering in schools and museums, as well as continuing with her own art. Now, she is in the midst of sorting out a year in Germany as an au-pair, where art & craft enthusiasm is a positive thing! She hopes to start in September, and is visiting a potential host-family (who live on a working farm) next weekend. It might mark a shift towards something working with slightly younger children.

DS has had some great adventures, and is currently in Rio de Janeiro visiting a friend after 7 months as a windsurfing coach, and a month touring Japan with his girlfriend. I went out to see him in NZ during the Easter hols, which was wonderful.

Good to hear from you @PhotoDad. I am glad your DS has had an amazing gap year of travel and work. He will never regret a gap year. Is it Cambridge next for him?

It is a shame your DD has not been able to find work in her chosen field. My DD was an au pair in Germany in her gap year. She did it through workaway and it was pre-covid/Brexit so no visa required. German was her worst grade at GCSE, but after 4 months in Germany (speaking only German) and two other 3 week workaway German experiences (a grape harvest and a teacher assistant role), she ended up doing German as part of her degree (Geography with German- it was as LSE, so no literature element, lots of business and political German). These 'scenic routes' in life change be transformative and life-changing. I hope she has a great time and the family are as lovely as my DD's.

Thank you, @Aslockton! Yes, that's right, it's Cambridge for DS. Perhaps by the time he's finished his (4-year) course, the works on the Doncaster bypass will be complete? He sent me a picture of doing maths problems on a Brazilian beach to try to get back up to speed!

Great to hear that your DD had a good experience as an au-pair in Germany. Mine is going to fly out to visit a potential host-family (on a working farm!) next weekend, and has an embassy appointment booked for mid-August, so fingers crossed for her! (You can do the paperwork from either country, but the timings work better for her this way around.) Who knows where it will lead, indeed?

Updated:

Blinkbonny Nottingham, Sociology- DS now working full time in conference sales in London.
Photodad DD Art, ARU (Cambridge Campus). Volunteering in museums and school post degree. Is about to move to Germany to Au Pair on a working farm. DS Gap year in NZ (teaching windsurfing) Starts Cambridge Nat Sci in Oct 2026
craggyratjr Cambridge history - Worked as a TA after graduating. . Possibly going to do a PGCE or start a business or Officer Training in the Army.
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

Not sure how to add Ds.
Leeds Conservatoire. Completed Year 2 - working as self employed musician/MD & electronic instrument programming/rentals is the best way I can describe what he is doing

Updated:
ComefromAway Leeds Conservatoire. Completed Year 2 - working as self employed musician/MD & electronic instrument programming.
Blinkbonny Nottingham, Sociology- DS now working full time in conference sales in London.
Photodad DD Art, ARU (Cambridge Campus). Volunteering in museums and school post degree. Is about to move to Germany to Au Pair on a working farm. DS Gap year in NZ (teaching windsurfing) Starts Cambridge Nat Sci in Oct 2026
craggyrat Cambridge history - Worked as a TA after graduating. . Possibly going to do a PGCE or start a business or Officer Training in the Army.
cariadmbyth Royal Holloway history, going on to Marketing master's at Cardiff
aslockton 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.
ewwsprouts - Durham, biology - grad role in food science
handmademitlove- York, maths
alwaysplayspiccolopiccolo- Birmingham , English and film
piggywaspushed - 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.
extensivelydecorating - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History going into y2.
socks1107 - graduated , and now working?
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.
delphigirl - Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying
sonofmummyinbeds - Nottingham , law and French law
oblomov - Nottingham , financial stuff , all very high powered degree apprenticeship
ealingwestmum - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages. Graduated and starting work in Belfast: Associate Consulting, Big 4 from Sept 26.
zebracat - off for a year in Denmark
crazycrofter - Nottingham, Psychology- working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
seeline - UEA , archaeology, anthropology and art history. DD has now graduated, and is job hunting primarily for museum/gallery/heritage/culture type jobs, nationwide.
shimy - Warwick, management
Anneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- Starting first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDN - Liberal Arts, Bristol. DD has just graduated with a masters from Bristol. Now job hunting in the south west.
Icanbewhatiwants- history, Sussex