Thread 57- Covid GCSE Cohort- Autumn 2026

[Aslockton]

New thread as Thread 56 was filling up.

Updated list:
ComefromAway Leeds Conservatoire. Completed Year 2 - DS 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). Has moved to Germany to Au Pair on a working farm. DS had a Gap year in NZ (teaching windsurfing) Started Cambridge Nat Sci in Oct 2026
cariadmbyth Royal Holloway history, Marketing master's at Cardiff- DD now job hunting
Aslockton DD LSE Geography with German- Military Officer
DS 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 - DS1 Lincoln - Job hunting
DS2 Birmingham , history - Sheffield for a journalism master's. Journalism job for a local paper in Worchestershire area
justherewithmybabypopcorn - Nottingham, law - now has grad position with funded SQE
Coffeeandbiscuitime - DC Y4 Medicine
oublietteletbravo - Exeter, business with law, now a sales and marketing coordinator (at a specialist software company).
DS - Newcastle, medicinal chemistry - Y3.
extensivelydecorating - Cirencester , countryside management (2025), at home, portfolio career in the outdoor environment. DC2 RHUL History in y2.
Sansou- DS Software engineering in the Defence sector
Orangecinnamon- DD has graduated and starts as an unqualified teacher (apprenticeship/post grad route)
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 - DS1 job in political journalism/campaigning for a political publisher. DS2 Plymouth - ocean exploration and surveying- DS has now started an offshore survey job.
DD Demi chef de cuisine
mummyinbeds - DS Nottingham , law and French law- Working in pub, hoping to do ski season. DD graduated from Aberystwyth Uni with a degree in International Relations and Global Development and will be starting a Masters in Global Development at SOAS in September.
oblomov26 - Nottingham , finance degree apprenticeship. DS now working in London for PwC
ealingwestmum - Trinity College Dublin - Middle Eastern and European languages. DD has Graduated and started work in Belfast: Associate Consulting, Big 4.
zebracat - off for a year in Denmark
crazycrofter - Nottingham, Psychology- DD working for Mind on a new mental health outreach project.
DS year 2 of Politics & Int Relations at Nottingham.
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 - DS1 (Cardiff Uni) 'Software Engineer - Tech Consultancy (Aviation & Defence).
DS2 Warwick, management- DS job hunting
Anneofcleavage - primary education , Chichester- DD Started first teaching post in Sept 2026
NCTDN - Liberal Arts, Bristol. DD has just graduated with a masters from Bristol. Secured a first job in the south west.
Icanbewhatiwants- history, Sussex
decorhate - Economics and Politics, Sheffield. DS is a Data Analyst in London
Bluemarigold- Birmingham Biological Sciences- DD now working as an assistant ecologist
Heifer- Nottingham Biology- DD now doing a Masters in Public Health (International) at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Cantonet DD1: Working as a vet
DS1 Retaking a uni year / job hunting (in limbo)
DD2 UCL Year 3 Architecture
DS2 Bristol changed from Psychology, Yr1 Engineering
Lentilcakes: DS graduated in neuroscience at Bristol uni. Currently looking for work, has a voluntary role coming up (Mind charity shop - at least he’s in the right ‘sector’).
Kingscotestaff: DD 5th year Medicine at Newcastle

Thank you, @Aslockton, for the new thread and for keeping on top of the list! We've all been through quite some adventures!

Thank you @Aslockton yes, who'd have thought we'd still be going strong after all these years!

Thank you @Aslockton !

Thank you very much @Aslockton , I love this little group 😍

Let me think of an update...
My mum is recovering pretty well from the broken hip, is taking some steps with the aid of a walker, her care home staff are absolutely fabulous with her.
DS3 (aged 23) has told us that he thinks he is going to split up with his lovely girlfriend who he has been with since 18 - first girlfriend - because he just wants to work offshore and explore the world and he doesn't think that his job and how he wants to live for the next few years is compatible with a long-distance relationship. They kept this going through 4 years of his gap year and then uni in different places and I think he just wants to spread his wings. I'm v sad for her as I know she will be heartbroken, but I know that he will do it as respectfully as possible, he is a lovely decent man.
DD2 has been on holiday by herself eating her way around Bilbao and N Spain and sending loads of pictures of amazing food and her looking delighted with it all! She has been staying in an all women's hostel. She signed up for an evening cookery and wine evening which she really enjoyed and spent part of the next day with some people she met on that. Back tonight!

Thank you!

Thanks @Aslockton !

@Delphigirl you must be sad about the girlfriend, but he sounds very self-aware and like he's thought things through carefully. It's an obvious transition point isn't it. I remember one of my brothers had a girlfriend through sixth form and separate unis, and they split up not long after graduating. We were sad too as we liked her! Ds is still agonising over whether or not to finish things with his lovely girlfriend too... It's only been a year though.

Your dd's holiday sounds lovely!

I love this group and following all the young people's progress- it's been 8 years now!

Thanks @Aslockton

My update is that DS has bought his house and now moved in! 🏠😊😊

Another one dealing with elderly parents and all the various issues here but DC are doing great so that’s a relief!

@Delphigirl sorry to hear that, that’ll be difficult for all even if it is the right decision.

Am back after a while off the board - new username as someone IRL found me so needed to wait for new thread to change name. DS has first Army board in three weeks, which should probably identify me ! His start.up seems to be going well as well. Health scares all round though. DH had biopsy skin excision which was all clear but a long 6 week wait. He had melanoma many years ago so huge worry. Optician thought I had a detached retina but two hospital visits later it isn't. Fun fun fun! And now i need to catch up.

Thank you @Aslockton :)

I'm also sorry to hear about the imminent break up @Delphigirl but I agree with how well he has thought through. It's tough when they have been such an integral part of the family, even if extended part.

Nice to have you back @Bagpuss67, and good luck to him in 3 weeks. The outing happened to me years ago. The individual decided to share some of what I had written about DD in a public gathering, with a more public flogging of why I used MN I just don't understand why, even if I was pretty identifying on here. Why couldn't they just leave it in their head? But the new name didn't feel like me so I changed back, with a fuck it, no wonder I have few friends IRL :)

I am sorry to hear about all the poor health though. It is crazy this time of life isn't it. My DH has urgent medical follow up next week, and I am attempting to manage my new life with Crohn's and really trying not to panic at next week's graduation where I may be locked in a hall with no access to leave for over three hours.

@Aslockton forgot to thank for removing my old name from list and for new thread onthank you.

@ealingwestmum honestly what is wrong with people! In a public gathering? Just why?! I hope your DH gets on okay next week and that the graduation goes well. I hadnt realised you had Crohns. Loo access always worries us as a family. DH has IBS and all the stuff i take for my slipped disc has unfortunate repercussions...

@Aslockton thank you!

Can't believe 8 years, they have whizzed past. You are all great company 😀

You will know the anxiety that comes with that well too @Bagpuss67 . I just need to have a further MRI to rule out inflammation in areas other than the endoscopies have identified, and that it doesn't show up C (it hasn't so far). And being able to be frank about how it effects people's lives helps, there really is too much stigma around certain health conditions.

@1Anothernewname that is an amazing achievement; hope he is really happy in his new home!

Thank you @Aslockton .

How exciting about the house. Is he living on his own? DS has a friend lodging with him and it is working well for both of them. He is a great chap. I will update the list when I have something else to add. I edited it before starting the new thread.

Great to see you back @Bagpuss67 . I have been thinking about your DS and have my fingers crossed for him.

MIL is out of plaster and the Drs are pleased how well her wrist has healed.

3 more days until half term! Off to Jordan next week, unless it all kicks off in the ME.

@Aslockton yes it’s very exciting considering uni all went wrong for him and he’s found his feet and saved very hard.
He’s on his own for a few months at least. He has just come out of a house share where he never knew who would be in the house as one of the others continually had randoms to stay for weeks on end. He is loving being in control of who is invited in! He does have a spare room so the option is there in the future.

Enjoy Jordan!

Congrats on ds' new house @1Anothernewname - fab news! He's done so well; and you were so worried about him for a while, if I remember rightly. That's encouraging for any of us who have worries about our dc!

Yes @crazycrofter you’re right, he was in a very bad way for quite a while 2-3 years back so it’s a massive relief.

@1Anothernewname - that's such good news on the house!

@Aslockton have a fab half term break. I've been off work for fortnight holiday of just pottering and life stuff which has been terrific. I could definitely retire.

Do you know when your next MRI is @ealingwestmum ?

Just catching up on the news - good and bad.
It's a difficult time with DCs not fully independent, parents becoming more dependent, and us entering the post-middle age phase of our lives. I find I just never have the time or space to just .... be.

DD didn't get her dream job following the second interview. They told her it was really close between the last two, and if they could have given 2 jobs they would have done. She had a task to prepare for the second interview which she worked really hard on. But they found the most ridiculous thing to separate the two candidates. She is very upset about it, and very down at the thought of ongoing searches for jobs, making applications, interview prep etc, and is highly doubtful of finding anything as good. It's very hard trying to keep her spirits up.

So sorry to hear that @seeline😢 It’s so hard for her to have come so close, and the effort required to get back onto the applications merry go round is huge. Give her time, and lots of support and she will bounce back - she sounds very resilient. But I know what you mean - both mine are struggling in different ways at the moment and it can be exhausting and worrying. Definitely an unexpectedly difficult phase of parenting, this one!

Thank you for the new thread @AslocktonIs it really 8 years!! Wow, I guess it must be, meaning we must fill c. 7 threads à year with all our yapping 😁 Love a good yap.
So sorry to hear about the dream job outcome @SeelineHow disheartening to come so close. Sending positive vibes that à more perfect dream job is just waiting for her.
Congratulations on DS’s new house @1Anothernewname- he’s our 2nd one on here to buy one after @AslocktonDS. Amazing at their age. Do you have two weeks half term then? How wonderful. Does that mean a shorter summer hols or a longer school day to
make up the time? A couple of DD’s uni friends are also getting two weeks Oct half term and she so could have done with finishing this week. Is having a full hour observation this morning for guided reading - the children hate guided reading so it’ll be interesting. Parent’s evening next week too so lots going on for her.
So sorry to hear about the outing @Bagpuss67but lovely to see you back. How beastly re your outing too @ealingwestmumWhat is wrong with people 😲
Have you been to NI yet @crazycrofter?
It’s never easy when our YP go through a breakup so sorry your family are experiencing this now @Delphigirlbut his plans to explore the world sound great and now is the time to do this while they’re young I guess. I’m glad your mum is doing well too, that is good news.
I hope your DD is settling in to her new role in Germany @PhotoDadand that Uni is going well for DS.

@Seeline I'm sorry, that's really hard for her. There is consolation in the good feedback but it doesn't really help in the moment. Sympathy re sandwich generation stuff, it's the same here, DCs still needing support, parents needing more and more support. I make breathing space by making sure I go out somewhere by myself once a week and do a bit of shopping/walking/whatever and have coffee, watch the world go by, do a bit of journaling. I have decided in the last week to pack up my second job in a few months (there is a project I want to finish and it would be really hard for the company if I left in the middle of it) and it feels like a weight off my mind having made the decision, haven't told the boss yet though. First steps towards retirement (I will be 60 next year).

There are quite a few of us sandwichers here at the moment aren't there. Solidarity to all.