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

Oh well done to her @Aslockton . I’m sorry about your job, that sounds horrendous. I’m a school governor and am extremely concerned about the state of our education system which the government seem determined to make worse and worse.

@Aslockton wow really well done to your DD that's fantastic! Sorry to hear about work. I work 3 days a week and basically that is 5 days worth compressed so I feel your pain..

Fabulous achievement by your DD @Aslockton. You’re rightly proud of her.

I hear you on the job front. I keep thinking about PT, but it would be a pay cut for the same amount of work. So what I need to do is stick it out working FT and retire early. I can definitely afford to go at 60, although I’m currently aiming for 62.

I am fortunate to have been able to stay PT since the DCs were young, it was partly necessary due to DS's SENs, but this was a part time job from the start and there isn't really much scope to convert it to full time even if I wanted it to. I have increased my hours over the years from 12 hours over 3 days to 3.5 days as the workload has increased but without taking on completely new responsibilities that's as far as it will go. I feel very fortunate but on the other hand I have limited my career development by staying put here so long and wonder if I could have achieved more.

Amazing news re your dd @Aslockton - you must be so proud!

Sorry to hear about work, that sounds like a really raw deal.

DS2 now having opposite issue to DS1. He is getting interviews but they are all in person (DS1 has nearly all been online which he hates) but some of them are the otehr ed of the country.

DH made him ask about travel costs to attend interviews (one is in Bournemouth!) and they have said no expenses.

In the old days, even in teaching, there were petrol expenses and even a hotel if you needed one!

@Aslockton Congratulations to your DD! Understand your work issues. I work p/t but seem to be there 5 days a week.

@Piggywaspushed Ouch those costs will quickly add up but delighted both DS are getting interviews. Fingers crossed.

Well done to ds2 @Piggywaspushed- that’s great news! Hope he gets something soon!

I’ve never had interview expenses paid and neither has dh - when was that a thing? I can imagine it’s quite expensive though to be jetting off across the country. Are these first interviews or second?

First interviews.

He isn't going to the one in Bournemouth. He really can't afford it.

Honestly, I am quite old but interview expenses were definitley A Thing. I guess teaching has needed to work hard to recruit people, even in the Dark Ages!

@Piggywaspushed fingers crossed for your DS. It is great that he is getting interviews. At least you know his CV/covering letter are making the sift.

Yes, I think journalism still does things a bit old school which is probably good!

DS1 has had two interviews, one a repeat application for our MP but I assume lack of success.

Wow, I’m surprised they’re doing first interviews in person - I thought they were all online these days, with possibly a second one in the flesh. Although I’m actually talking nonsense - all three of the jobs dd was offered were in person interviews! Thankfully they were only an hour’s drive away though so not too costly to get to.

Great news for your dd @Aslockton. Not so great about your job. I’ma teacher on 0.6 but definitely do full time hours but for 0.6 pay.

Hi just popping in to see how everyone is doing. No real news from my own DD but her friends are starting to get married and one of her friends is expecting a baby.

DD has finished exams. We are waiting for the results now so I am feeling a bit nervous.

All DS's interviews so far have been in person. The issue of expenses hasn't arisen but he is only applying locally so no significant travel.

Wow that seems young for marriage and babies @BlueMarigold . One of DS's primary school friends has bought a flat with his GF but no signs of any other DCs in our cohort settling down here. Mind you I didn't meet DH till I was 30 so I am biased the other way I guess.

Dd went to her first friend’s wedding in April and she’s going to two more in the summer. No babies yet though! Ds is going to be a best man next March too! 😮

Dd is still waiting for her DBS to come back so she can start her job. She’s having a nice final week in Nottingham but has no money! 😩

That's amazing @Aslockton! Well done to your DD!

DS went to a friend's wedding a few weeks ago 😮

We do know one of his friend's exes now has a baby, which is arguably more scary than a wedding!

He is moving out of his current rental in autumn and had planned to rent with another friend for a year and then hopefully buy his own place but the new rental arrangement has fallen through so he's looking at houses to buy now! I have seen one with him and off to view another couple soon. Quite a scary commitment aged 22 but I'm proud of him for being in the position to have saved a deposit and be able to get a mortgage (no family help here).

The thing is that him and his cats will probably have to come here for a few months between rental and purchase going through so we may have cat wars with our resident cats and I may turn into a mad cat lady with loads of them!

They do seem awfully young for marriage and babies. But, I met DH just after my 19th birthday and got engaged at 21. We didn't get married for another three though 🤣 I can't imagine either of my two settling down anytime soon - DD has too many travel plans and DS is, erm, DS.

Nottingham Graduation Ball tonight. DS is starting pre's at 3 and going to an all nighter afterwards apparently. I'm glad he's finishing Nottingham in a much better place than where he started but fear for his liver this week. And then there's the strikes and uncertainty of actually getting a degree...

My first boyfriend (age about 18-19) was very much in the wanting to settle down camp. I simply couldn't imagine it at that age so things didn't work out, he did marry someone else within a year or two. In fact he had three children and was divorced before I even met DH (we're not in touch but have mutual friends).

I grew up in Scotland so you could get married at 16. It was the talk of the school when 'AnneMarie' (actaully that really was her name) did not return after the summer of 4th year (English year 11) because she got married.

I don't think either DS or any of their friends have even ever had girlfriends! Apart from DS1 who has a friend who is about 30 who has been married twice, both times to much older women!!

@mummyinbeds I was the same. I met DH in the 1st week of university just after my 19th birthday. We got engaged on my 21st birthday but we married the week after we graduated aged 22! We did not live together before we got married either and we moved to the other end of the country after graduating for work. We did not have children for 7 years and used the summers to travel.

DS's best friend from primary school is getting married this summer age 23. He is from a church family. DD has a primary school friend who has a 5 year old. Personally, I can't wait for my two to have children!

I feel like that too about grandchildren @aslockton! Although I also don’t want them to rush into it… Dd’s bf finished with her just before her birthday and she was initially very upset as she was planning a future with him. She seems to be ok now though and thinking it was actually for the best 🤞Ds and his gf are planning to marry when they graduate and I think they’re a very good match but who knows, it’s early days.

In England I think you could get married at 16 with your parents permission. My best friend from primary school married the boy next door the summer she left school IIRC. Her DC are probably 20 years older than mine, which feels a bit odd.

I think I will possibly not have grandchildren, DD is dead set against having DC and DS may or may not. At the moment that seems fine to me, I would worry about DS coping. But if there comes a time when all my friends have DGC and I don’t it might start to hurt, that’s what eventually kickstarted me into wanting babies in my mid 30s.

My niece is in this cohort. Left uni last year, has been travelling/working at a pub this year but still no idea what she wants to do. It's bad enough for young people who know what they want to do and have a plan, but I really don't know what DN should do! She has a 2:1 in history from Manchester.

TBF I was kind of in the same position when I left uni - I did at least have a general lean towards publishing, I worked for a charity for a bit, and then did a Masters in Publishing Studies which got me my first job. But a bit like DN I hadn't done anything (in my case, I wished I'd written for the uni newspaper) that might give me that extra something to stand out.

@Aslockton are you me? Uni, 21st birthday, moving across the country for work, travel, 8 years after we got married until we had DS.

Several of DS and DD's school friends/acquaintances have babies. I am not ready to be a grandparent. I find it quite strange that my sister already is (although her DD is in her 30's)