GCSEs 2018 (16) - The Final Countdown

[mmzz]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3304925-gcses-2018-15-the-reckoning?

....so.....complete change of tack.
We are considering getting a dog!!!! Going to see westiepoo puppies this weekend.
Anyone think it's a bad idea?
What should I ask the breeder?
Should we go for a boy or girl?

Cblue....I adore dogs ...puppies sometimes are more hard work than children though...you really do need to have someone at home in the first 2/3 months and invest heavily in training (puppy classes it really will pay off and the stricter you are in the first few months the better long run).
In terms of the breeder do some research on the breed ...Westiepoo is a cross breed and poodles tend to have eye issues so its important that you know who both parents are and whether its a first cross (I am not an expect in this field but my last dog was a Goldendoodle - so also a cross breed).
Not sure about girl or boy...but I has a boy who was a nightmare anywhere need a bitch on heat!

Girls are the better option. With boys there are fights and stand offs when a neutered male comes across an intact male.

cblue don’t know anything about dogs but I would love a puppy. Friends have a miniature cockapoo and she is adorable. Please post a picture once you have him/her.

Just to change the subject for a moment, have all of your DC registered to vote?
We had the voter registration forms come in yesterday and, apparently, 16 year olds are supposed to register. If they don't then there is a fine.
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

PS they are asked for their NI numbers when registering.

Quickly catching up before doing more packing. Ellen hope you have a better day today. Peggy I love the sound of lemon and lavender cake! Alexander congrats to DS! cblue good luck with pup search!

Mmmz yes dd has registered.

You've given me flashbacks to her English presentation which was on lowering the voting age to 16.

She's getting more political by the day.

Soursprout you are very welcome

I just checked the first GCSE 2018 thread start date and funnily enough, we will be a year old tomorrow. It started with a bit of chat about what preparation, if any, might be done in the Summer holidays and gradually things built up from there.

It took us to December to finish the first thread, but by the first week of exams in mid-May we were going through almost a thread a day.

I can't recommend strongly enough trying to create a group like this. It's very unlike almost every other mumsnet thread. Sniping is frowned upon (so no AIBU for a start!) and somehow we manage to celebrate success without pushing down on anyone else. When someone needs support, they get it. Basically, decency prevails. These threads made this last year infinitely easier for me, and I can think of lots of times it has helped me to help DS.

So, yes start a thread now. It's a very good idea!

Political activist DD will be registered this weekend. Thanks for the heads up. Shame We're not in Scotland where our DC could use their right, but then again, half the DC around here should be given a permanent injunction against voting!

Wow, a lot to catch up on even in one day! Nothing particularly nice for me yesterday, worked a 13 hr shift. The evening before was lovely though, we had old friends plus their kids for dinner, ds and eldest have known each other since a few weeks old. Ds did most of the cooking and made us a fabulous chicken curry and melting chocolate fondants. So GCSE Food Tech is paying off!

stickerrock definitely travel on your own! It's great, I have done a lot and generally find people friendly and helpful to solo women.

Got a bit of work to do to link name changes now.... Don't everyone do it all at once!

By the sound of it I could easily organise a thread trip & we would all get along just fine! I'm heading for somewhere cool, like Reservoir's ice hotel though.

Noddy trains & donkey sanctuaries are taki g me back to days when DD actually wanted to go somewhere with us!

Perhaps in our next thread title we should subtitle it "we are not a clique of tiger mums".

So much to catch up on!

Nothing particularly nice for me yesterday; I discovered yesterday morning I had lost the sapphire out of my engagement ring. It wasn't expensive, in fact it was second hand from a pawn shop as that is all we could afford 29 years ago, but it is the sentimental value...
Then straight after I went to a funeral, someone I was just starting to get to know better through joining the committee at WI. I'm not massively upset for myself, but I do really feel for her family - her daughter died last year at only 18 too...

CBlue I am currently looking after a friend's terrier whilst they are away and after the last 3 days I would say definitely look at the characteristics of the dog your considering, the one we have likes to be in a pack so can't bear to be on his own, woke up yesterday to a trashed kitchen . Despite my rule of no dogs in bedrooms he is currently asleep in DS's room as I could'nt have another night of very little sleep and his destructive behaviour!!!! Second oneteen firm from the off and puppy classes....good luck!

Kick you sound like you do a very admirable job

Today we are going to take our little guest for an extremely long walk, I am determined to completely wear him out!!

On no, Panda. Could it still be in the house somewhere?

Checking in from the South of 🇫🇷. I go away for a week and there's hundreds of new posts and a new thread.

Very little mention of GCSEs here. Too preoccupied with the pool and croissants. I will be the size of a house by the time we get back. Hopefully our adventure activities in Andorra next week will burn some calories.

Interesting to read the chat about careers. I've worked throughout the DC being little but haven't worked full time in 16 years (except for a 12 month contract about 5 years ago). I know I need to grasp the nettle and get a 'bigger' job FT but I've come to like my life/work balance that includes dog walks and coffees with friends.

Mmmz - I'm hoping it is, checked all the washing I hung out and brought in, the filter on the machine, shower filter, bedding...it may turn up, but I'm not hopeful.

DH lost his wedding ring, it turned up 2 years later in the compost bin......have you looked there?

Loving the name change mmmz . Thanks re the reminder about registering to vote for 16 years olds - this had passed me by tbh

We absolutely have to use Stickers tongue in cheek suggestion for the next thread title

Sorry to hear that you had a less than great day Panda and the reasons for this

I have just be googling how to dress for 'apple' shapes and am off into town to buy something acceptable for a thing I've got tomorrow. Apparently the best advice is layered or wrap style tops, v neck or other lower necklines, bold patterns, lots of accessories, waterfall style cardigans, scarfs and slim fit bottoms. I'll still look like a potato but one can't give up

Although he lost it again, still hasn't found it.....do you think he's trying to tell me something?.....

BlueBelle sometimes it is really rewarding. Sometimes it's frustrating and depressing. Never a dull moment though.

Re travelling alone. I've been on several solo trips where I was meeting up with people along the way and lots of trips just me and dd when she was younger including 4 weeks in South America.

Only one truly solo trip though. I went to Stockholm for a week on my own when I was 5 months pregnant. I stayed in a hostel and just walked around the city. I even went out for meals in restaurants alone. It was lovely.

I think it was a bit of a point proving exercise that I could be independent and that my life wasn't over because I was pregnant. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

hmcAsWas Can you believe it: someone has taken mzzz!

I think it was a bit of a point proving exercise @kick. I went through that stage too even went to Centre Parcs with just DD (when I just split up with DDs DF) It was I dont need to be a typical family to do this!

Talking about Ice Hotels - I took a group to Romania over NY (I like being off the beaten track). We did have an amazing time (they know how to celebrate NY eve - still going strong at 4am when we left). There is an Ice Hotel near Balea Lake and we went up for the day ...amazing place - the cable car journey was spectacular...but I dont think I could have stayed (so well done reservoirdog)...if your looking for the experience on a budget and a visit to somewhere different - link attached www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g2699691-d598897-Reviews-Ice_Hotel_Romania-Sibiu_County_Central_Romania_Transylvania.html. There is a company called Untravelled Paths who run trips to unusual places including Romania (they were very helpful even though we traveled independently).

DD not registered to vote yet and I have not seen a card yet...but thanks for the tip mmmz.