GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

[mmzz]

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

Go Third’s DS!

At least it makes him easy to spot in the photos! 😂

I wonder what he spilled down it .....

DS2 rarely turns his phone on, so I asked a friend to relay a message via her son, who is playing in the same orchestra.

Apparently DS2 forgot to change into his tour polo shirt before the concert. 🙄
I would have thought that multiple boys getting changed before the concert (in the same dormitory) into the same item of clothing might have been a clue, but this is DS2.

Third embrace this as a positive gesture of individuality! And if he's in Germany, the audiences are lovely. DS got hugged by middle-aged women two years ago!
Last year, DS1 lent the polo shirt that fitted him to someone else. Never saw it again. He's had to take 2 different colours this time and they're completely different sizes because we only found out a couple of days ago that he needed the red one as well as the black. The red one belongs to younger brother who has grown out of it. He claims the red one fits but if I see a photo of a boy in a marching band with a ripped T shirt I will know different!
You know you packed the shirt. That's what matters.

At least the clarinet section is at the back...

I love him.
So will the audience!

Loving the purple shades of the guy in front! Like they said, you know he packed it, this is not your fault unlike everything else that parents do

I can just visualise a speech bubble above his head:

"Hey, look. Everyone is wearing green. What a coincidence. Oh, wait a minute ....!"

AChickenCalledKorma 😂

Ha! Korma that actually would be my DS.
I'm liking the purple shades, though...

Hi all, have to smile TheThird as I know my DS could have easily done just that.

May be just me but I imagined this summer would stretch out endlessly with extra time out for the dc but it actually seems to be flying by.

DS really enjoyed the last couple of weeks of term popping back in for activities and rehearsals and then had a week away with the school. Could hardly stand when he got back as it was the first but if physical activity for months and late nights/early mornings but he said he s definitely going back next year so that’s great news in that he must have enjoyed it. I have to say again the last few months have been tough for both of us but he seems to have really matured and started to mix more both of which I thought I would never see so some good may have come from the struggle whatever the results.

DD back from first week of NCS. As usual limited information, all I know is she did the following activities; raft building, canoeing, giant swing (sure there was more but that was all she mentioned).

My only gripe so far is they were 1 1/2 hours later than we were told. Organisers didn’t contact us to let us know and as DD didn’t take her phone she borrowed a phone to let us know just as we were leaving to collect her..

At least she rang, Oddsocks!

I'm loving the very subtle white T shirt, TheThird!

We have managed to get to Center Parcs 30 odd miles from Amsterdam by public transport but trying to get tickets for the bus has been problematic. A kind bus driver took pity on us when we'd failed to pre-buy tickets and he couldn't sell us any but took us for free! Except now we can't buy tickets to get back! Might have to fork out mega € for a taxi. DS2 nearly had a meltdown. Getting public transport was supposed to be an adventure not a nightmare.

mmzz thanks! It was really only English Literature that I helped ds with; it would have been better had he read the books again before the exams; I did keep reminding him but other subjects such as Science were more pressing for him. I went through themes for Jekyll and Hyde, Macbeth and An Inspector Calls and discussed the texts, relating them to sample questions, and pointed him towards Mr Bruff. All crossed as he didn't think the exam went well. I admire your ability with spreadsheets and I am sure it has helped your ds no end.

EllenJane I hope the public transport works out for you. I've heard the Center Parcs there is very good. Enjoy!

TheThird your ds adds a bit of variety! Well done to him.

My ds is pounding the home treadmill at the moment; I am hoping the flurry of activity will result in an interest in taking up an organised sport somewhere....

I'm sure it will be fine, GettinTrimmer. (Famous last words!)

I didn't help DS3 at all with his revision past encouraging him to make a revision timetable and encouraging him to stick to it. This thread is a broad enough church to support us all.

@Ellen We had a similar experience in Hamburg - I only had a 50 Euro note and the transport machines would not take it...so I tried to buy some drinks on the taxi boat but he would not take a 50 Euro note just said pay later...we got off taxi boat into metro station and ticket machines would not take note or credit card...so we just jumped on train into city and hoped for best...on way back the ticket machine was only taking coins and NO notes and the taxi boat was so packed I could not get to machine....there were no ticket barriers or ticket checkers on any transport we used - seemed really odd. Enjoy Centre Parcs...

I'm feeling like a plane spotter (planes definitely landing 1 a minute)...DD is at a weekend Musical Theatre convention at HRow ..I'm just staying at hotel because I didnt feel comfortable letting her stay alone at least on Night 1 (she is meeting up with people from all over the world she has never met before)..

@stickerrocks - we did the land train in Olden to the Oldevatnet lake and the glacier. ...have virtual identical photo to the one you posted...but also took photo from opposite direction at the lake...loved Olden so incredibly beautiful ...

love the white t shirt at the back!

Sorry to hear about the bad NCS experience. Hope others have had a good time. No NCS for dd because she couldn't quite fit it in with holiday and family commitments.

We're on day 21 of our holiday. Just 4 days to go. It's been amazing. We particularly loved borneo. This week we've trekked up a volcano which we're counting as geography summer homework! Dd hasn't been able to walk since but I'm hoping snorkelling today will sort her out

We haven't given gcses or results day a thought so I'm hoping by the time we get back the last month will go quickly.

Living all the holiday snaps. This pic is from the first place we went - a week of post exam relaxation and no wifi

Oops! Forgot picture.

Morning all!
This is indeed a supportive and fantastic thread!
I feel a bit down as dgd hasn't done half as much as some DC on here! Its all we can do to get her out of bed! She is enjoying hospital placement, visiting friends, having sleepovers but generally lazing around. I noticed she has changed a lot lately as if she is very hesitant about the future. I think she is overly worrying about exam results as the time gets closer. I said worry will not help as what is done is done and nothing is the end if the world! But my illness hasn't helped though I'm pretty strong when family are around but I do feel that lack of money deprives her of lits of things like holidays and adventures. NCS would not been for her ( a friend who is on one is having trouble on her course based in Essex with out of control dc) and sometimes we feel dgd is missing out compared to others

Am loving holiday pictures and various experiences! Absolutely lovely that all is having good times! My post might have sounded depressing but rest assured dgd is a home bird and loves being round mine. Its just how I feel maybe more than she feels.
Its extremely hot here which I don't like but am up and about today almost getting gback to normal and awaiting final results after treatment ( should know very soon). Dog is now no longer a pup and us one year old!

Don’t feel down sost, NCS is the first thing my DD has done since exams finished, rest of the time has been spent alternating between lounging in bed and watching Youtube she has only met up with her school friends once and prom was a disaster. Tbh, I thought she might back out of NCS as she was feeling very down during and post exams. NCS isn’t for everyone, I can’t comment on behaviour of other DC who went, as usual DD has only provided limited information. Your DGD isn’t missing out sost - aww love the picture of pup, I mean dog

Hi sost. So glad your treatment is over and I hope not-pup-any-more is taking care of you.

I'm sorry you feel down about some of our dcs summers. I completely know how you feel as until 3 years ago I couldn't really give dd much in the way of extra curricular activities or holidays. I've been a single parent since pregnancy and chose to work part time to spend more time with her so we had to make our own fun and holidays were mostly a tent in Wales in the rain . We had fun though.

My mum had a large inheritance a few years ago and chose to split it between me and my brother which meant I could pay off my mortgage and finally do the travelling I didn't do because I got pregnant.

I'm so grateful to my mum for giving us this opportunity while dd is still willing to come with me and this holiday has felt a bit like a last chance to spend time with her before she wants to start holidaying with friends (although she told me she'll keep coming for as long as I keep paying!)

But I do know what it's like to feel like you can't give dc opportunities others are having. Dd went to our local requires improvement rubbish comp because I couldn't pay the travel pass to to the better school and I talked her out of food tech GCSE for financial reasons.

Of course now I'm worrying that she's getting spoiled and forgetting the value of money so I will never be happy!

Engaged adult input is SO much more important than holidays and expensive extras! Sost you were there for every day of dgd's exams, supporting and listening. Whatever happens, she will remember that as being a stressful time that was made easier by having you there.
My kids have travelled a LOT, but DH works in the industry so gets all the perks and freebies and whatever. But DS2 would, given the choice, rather stay in a caravan park on the south coast with snooker table, arcade and a pool than fly long haul to a strange country. And our camping holidays are the ones that get talked about the most. I just want to go on a luxury AI by myself but perks like that never seem to materialise!

I've stupidly agreed to organise refreshments for an end of season cricket fun morning for DS2 and I have to be there in 20 mins and I'm not dressed aaargh!

All your holiday snaps are giving me wanderlust! DH and I have 5 days in the Lake District to look forward to, it's the only chance we have to get away together.
DS flew to Holland this morning (4am drop off at the airport!), DD is still unpacking from getting back from Y9 Camp yesterday.
DS gets back from Holland on Thursday, collects his bike and stuff from school Friday lunchtime, and by teatime he's off to scout jamboree. The washing machine won't know what's hit it. Then on the Saturday we're dropping DD at the airport to fly to Morocco to climb the Atlas Mountains with Explorer scouts.
At least they are having a great summer, I on the other hand, having twiddled my thumbs all term time, have work every Monday and Friday over summer hols. Annoying timing but the money will help.