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GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

992 replies

mmzz · 12/07/2018 22:58

thread 14
The next step of the all new GCSE journey.

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12
LARLARLAND · 26/07/2018 18:26

Sadly I knew a girl when I was a teenager who died taking ketamine too. It’s scary stuff. You don’t expect these things at the NCS residential.

GettinTrimmer · 26/07/2018 19:14

No not at all. Kids I know who have gone had a great experience.

PandaG · 26/07/2018 21:44

Worrying about the ket. We and dd signed a behaviour agreement - any drugs or alcohol and would be kicked off ncs at parents' expense. DD thoroughly enjoyed both residential weeks, though got a bit irritated with the v late hours kept by her roommates the first week. The volunteering hasn't been quite as much fun, but she has got stuck in with the planning and then executing. I'm really proud of the film they made to promote awareness of pnd. Not sure how much it will raise awareness, but they engaged really well with mental illness. The litter picking (while advertising their film and gofundme page with hand painted tshirts) over the last couple of days has been moaned about by a lot of the group, but dd has been stoic and got on with it. She knew it was impossible to get council permit to sell cakes or run a fun day in the timescale they had - in fact one of the other groups had a cake stall shut down as they didn't have the relevant permits. DDs group have got litter pick permission from the council, and borrowed the equipment from them. They've raised £300 for 3 charities working with people suffering with a and pnd, granted mostly donations from parents and school friends, but in all I think it has been a worthwhile experience.

Stickerrocks · 26/07/2018 22:11

Panda I've had similar moans from DD about her activity week. They will be the final group to do the volunteer week and I think our community will be fed up with requests by then. There have been fun days, leg waxing, quiz nights, danceathons, colour runs and litter picking already. I think they will either do a beach clean or gardening somewhere.

They were given a final opportunity to hand over any contraband on Monday before they left. The DC in their group was either stupid, naive or simply didn't want to be there.

Teenmum60 · 26/07/2018 23:38

I am not quite sure what will happen with the volunteering aspect of DD's NCS week given that it falls week commencing 20/8 and they have already stated that the DC's can have a day off on 23rd to collect exam results...I know DD is intending to go out celebrating/commiserating on the eve of the 23rd so I'm hoping they also take this into account. DD's group is very boy heavy (EEK)...I guess because its run by MK Dons (Football club)

Lovely evening in Cambridge tonight...I think this is the rear of Kings College (?) backing onto the river..such a lovely atmospheric city to study in.

Teenmum60 · 26/07/2018 23:38

Would help if I posted pic!

GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning
Oddsocks15 · 27/07/2018 07:26

teen beautiful picture, I love Cambridge...

DD back from week 2 of NCS today. Not heard anything from her and only a few photos have been posted on NCS social media. She was as moody as hell when she came back from week 1, I guess she was tired but she really was horrible. It is wrong to have enjoyed the peace this week?!!!

ItsHot · 27/07/2018 07:34

First time NCSer here! This is DS’s final week. No horrible stories. They’re all going out for a meal this afternoon. Thank goodness.

BlueBelle123 · 27/07/2018 08:14

No Oddsocks make the most of it Grin

Picked DS up from his first house party, luckily it seems to have been a very civilised affair, it finished at 11 and everyone leaving seemed sober, DS said it wasn't great as only one of his friends went and everyone sat around in their normal friendship groups talking just like school..........I wonder at what age they start to mingle?

Anyway DS stuck to his soft drink the same as after prom I think he's getting a reputation as the guy that doesn't drink, seems no-one was trying to get him to drink which was good.

Stickerrocks · 27/07/2018 11:54

Very annoyed. DD will need to use her initiative to get home later as her ETA of 4-4.30 has moved to 2.30-3.00 and I really can't leave work any earlier to get her. I've told her to hang onto her pennies & get a train. This will probably be the greatest test of the week!

AlexanderHamilton · 27/07/2018 14:05

Hope everyone isn;t finding it too hot.

I'm back in work today after our few days away and a trip to take dh to his appointment yesterday.

It isn't terribly good news I'm afraid. Its now very unlikely that what dh suffered was a mini stroke after all and they are going to be referring him for more tests and scans. His CT scan is so far clear, there appear to be no tumours in his brain but his symtoms do indicate there may be a problem with his ears, possibly a slow growing benign tumour on the nerve. In most cases it is so slow growing that is is just a case of wait and see but it can cause tinnitus (which he now has), dizziness, hearing loss, blurred vision and tingling/temporary paralysis on one side of the face.

They are also going to be testing for some other things which to be honest don't bear thinking about.

Dh is fairly convinced its the first as the symptoms seem to fit but he is obviously a professional musician and teacher who travels to get to work. He may be able to drive, but he may have to relinquish his licence for good. This will impact dd and we are contacting college to see if there is any landlady accommodation left (all the best will have been taken by now though)

So sorry to bring a downer to the thread but at least we know he isn't going to drop down with a stroke.

mmzz · 27/07/2018 14:12

I am very sorry to hear your news, AlexanderHamilton. If he loses his licence, would it be feasible to rent your house out for two years or longer and rent close to DD's (and DH's) school?
Or your DD could learn to drive when she turns 17 (when is her birthday?) and then drive your DH instead?

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AlexanderHamilton · 27/07/2018 14:15

Ds goes into Year 10 next year & he is finally happy & thriving at a school he can cycle to sfter 2 years of hell at his previous school so I wouldn’t want to move away.

Dd is 17 in October. I think we should consider selling dh’s larger car & consider a smaller one she can be insured on.

mmzz · 27/07/2018 14:23

In my head, there are places you can learn to drive off public roads before you turn 17, so by your 17th birthday all you need to do is sit the driving test.

I don't think i am imagining that.

She'd need a provisional driving licence, which can be applied for any time from age 15 years, 9 months (I looked into getting one as Photo ID for DS earlier this week). Cost is £37, I think.

And there's a theory test these days, but how hard can the theory test be for anyone who has just done a whole slew of the new GCSEs?!

It would be expensive with insurance etc, but perhaps not as expensive as landlady accommodation. And another driver in the house would be a help for you if your DH can't do it any more.

I am sorry that you are having to go through this.

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TeenTimesTwo · 27/07/2018 14:26

teen I think it might be Clare college - that looks like Clare Bridge if it has the stone balls on it? From the river, Clare is to the left of the Kings Chapel. But my memory is hazy .

Sorry to hear your news Alexander

It's been interesting reading the NCS experiences. DD1 didn't do it, but if DD2 doesn't do DofE she might in 3 years.

AlexanderHamilton · 27/07/2018 14:33

Now that’s a thought. She should at least start studying the theory now

PandaG · 27/07/2018 15:07

So sorry to hear your news Alexander H. Flowers

LooseAtTheSeams · 27/07/2018 15:36

Alexander so sorry it wasn't better news. Thanks
wait and see on the driving licence but no reason, as you say, why dd couldn't take a look at the theory for now. I should have thought of that before for DS - he's 17 in November!

Stickerrocks · 27/07/2018 17:00

Alex It's a stressful time for you all, so please don't worry about bringing a downer to the thread. Hopefully you feel you can says things to us that you don't necessarily want to say out loud in front of the rest of the family. Stay positive.

DD is safely home & buzzing. Being an only, she likes her own company, so I'm not expecting her to emerge from her room very often over the next couple of days.

TheThirdOfHerName · 27/07/2018 17:27

AlexanderHamilton glad you have got some answers but sorry to hear it's something that will have such an impact on his life.

Oddsocks15 · 27/07/2018 17:52

Sorry to hear your news Alexander Flowers Bear don’t worry about being a downer, we will support you x

DD back from week 2 of NCS, she was fairly chatty to DH on way home but not spoken to me since I’ve been home. She is holed up in her bedroom and fairly stroppy, to think I was actually looking forward to seeing her Shock

GettinTrimmer · 27/07/2018 17:54

Alexander sorry to hear about your dh Flowers

As mmzz says there could be opportunities to learn to drive under 16. I am thinking of arranging a driving experience for my ds I found something on Buyagift.com.

In my ds's case I am wondering if there is such a thing as a driving simulator whete you can get the feel of steering and the gears first of all..

I am packing now and hoping the trains dont let us down (train to Gatwick) last year train was late & had to get a taxi cost £100 as missed our connecting train.

We've had some rain but not very much. Has anyone had a torrential downpour?

GettinTrimmer · 27/07/2018 18:03

I mean under 17!

mmzz · 27/07/2018 18:16

I think BSM used to (probably still do) their first few lessons on a simulator.

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BlueBelle123 · 27/07/2018 18:38

So sorry to hear about your DH Alexander Flowers

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