Thread 16 - Corona Cohort Year 12, 2021 Zooming through Summer Term

[orangecinnamon]

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I booked ds's theory for a Tuesday afternoon as he finishes midday every other Tuesday. He has a diving lesson Monday afternoons. It is a free period but he's meant to stay at school, so has to sign out and say where he's going. Actual driving test is in summer hols.

@crazycrofter ds's licence took ages but that was after first lockdown. It was much quicker for those using their passport photo. We sent a new photo in. So if you used passport photo it shouldn't be long.

@Seeline - on a previous topic, I remember you helped me with the British Gas issue on the last thread. I am wondering how long it actually took you to get reimbursement from British Gas in the end? I submitted the claim on 6/4/21 and haven't heard a peep back. Thank you!

Well done to @AnneOfCleavage's DD!

@20newnames - ages! They didn't even acknowledge our original email, it the chasing email after a month. They only way we could get in contact was using the chat function on the website which only operates limited hours. When we finally managed to get through, the operator could see that the payment had been made earlier that same day - I don't believe in coincidences. It took about 2 months in the end!

@Seeline Thanks! I will get chasing when I have the energy. No acknowledgement of my initial email here either but to be fair I was warned not to expect one. I’ll do a chaser email this week and a web chat next week.

Wish me luck!!

Are we looking at a summer of discontent again with regard to A level and GCSE results? I can't quite get my head round it, it all seems so unnecessarily complicated.

We had to send a photo : they didn't say why , just sent us a form. DS messed up the signature. Sent it to them about 5 weeks ago and not heard a dickie bird.

DVLA is undergoing some union issues at the moment due to not adhering to covid safety for staff and big outbreaks. Lots of discontent. Wonder if the DVLA has cut back staff on site as a response.

Ours was 5 weeks from sending the photo off. Had a stressful driving session with DS1, almost hit a BMW and a mini getting out of parking space (they were across the road). Fortunately it got better from there.

Sending positive vibes to all DC doing formal end of year exams this week
DD has completed two A level subject exams and has two papers to sit for her third subject.
The end is nigh and a week’s rest in half term beckons!

Good luck to all revising for exams.
DS had some after half term and is not happy about spending half term revising!

He is going to a friends on Saturday to watch the champions league final, he has asked me if I would get him some alcohol for the event (just some fruit cider) this is the first time he’s asked and will be his first time drinking (at least he’s not had more than a few sips before) I’m not adverse to buying it but I’ve no clue how much to get, any advice?
I rarely drink and DH doesn’t drink at all so really have no idea

DS has formal exams in mid June, so will also be spending half term revising (well I hope he will anyway 🤞)

@Fiddlersgreen I would probably buy him three or four cans? DS is also going to a friends to watch the football but has been drinking a while so will probably take 5-6 300ml bottles of corona. I’d rather it was less but there are a lot worse things!

Thanks @20newnames I was thinking 3 or 4 so that’s good!
Yes I agree a lot worse things they could be doing than drinking

We have exams June, so 1/2 term spent revising.

DS attended an online thing about working in government yesterday. They were all 'Young Professionals' (for which read a proselytising branch of Young Conservatives!) : all very public school, Oxbridge , all white, all male bar one. DS did guffaw when one of the attendees (nearly all had BAME names..) wrote in Chat ;' do you have to have gone to public school to work in government?' Nonetheless it was informative.

Springpod has come up with the goods at last and he has some half term VWEX lined up doing something politically related...

DS putting in approx 8 hour days atm at school +revising. I am most unused to this work ethic form my dealings with DS1 and DH. Think he may be overdoing it, a bit, though.

Warwick has opened booking for virtual open days next month if of interest to anyone.

Yes I saw the Warwick thing Fools. Sadly DS has exams on two of the days and whether I can persuade him to give up his Saturday for it is a debate to be had. Warwick does look really good though and I have good memories of getting very drunk in Warwick student union thirty years ago

DS is currently unaware he is booked for the Saturday as also has exams on the other days . He is also currently unaware he is now booked for Bath on another Saturday and Exeter during half term!

Am working on the principle they are easily cancelled!

Oo, didn’t know Bath was open. That is also on our shortlist although I know it well and we plan to visit in the summer anyway.

I think I booked some stuff but have lost track now. Am sure I booked York and maybe Bath...

I have now booked Bath and signed up to book Warwick but it requires DS to click a link in his email to actually book on. Let’s see…

I must investigate others on the not so shortlist. Only just looking now as he was so determined to go to Cambridge but a couple of weeks ago had an about turn and changed his mind.

I looked up Warwick's sociology degree and Bath's social policy one on Discover Uni the other day and was surprised by how low the earnings were and their onward employment rates (sociology is not amazing , anyway, but Leeds and York were considerably higher)

I think DS has probably knocked Cambridge on the head but we will see how exams go.

DD ruled Warwick out awhile ago due to the lack of job opportunities during first year and even more so given the commute from second year.
Surprisingly, she’d be better off at a London Uni

We've booked a self guided campus tour at Winchester next week. It's not too far from us and we have had a little peek at it previously, DS liked the look of it.

I signed up with my email for everything so have been able to book things which I did. With Cambridge a few weeks ago as only found it a couple of days before and was just easier to book and tell him. He was fine about though moaned a little bit about lack of notice. Will sit him down at the weekend and run through them.

We are planning to go in the summer and see what we can of the campuses but the Cambridge virtual one was pretty helpful so want him to do some more of them.