A Very Crepey New Year

[Cremolafoam]

Will this do ??

Last time I had an appliance malfunction ('twas the freezer), I had Appliances Online deliver one the next day, which happened to be a Sunday. They were brill, and so were their prices.

No news here. Same old same old. But there's been no shouting (DH) and no walking on eggshells (me) since Tuesday, so that's good I suppose.

Had lunch with my friend yesterday. She knows me, the family and DH pretty well. It was good to get her perspective on my situation, and as a result, I also now have the name of a nice lady lawyer to contact.

Forrin Parts not far and would make excellent venue for Crepey Meet Up.

DD2 is currently having hysterics as she is being "downgraded" from triple science to double. I have little sympathy - she did appallingly in all of her mocks except art, English, French and Spanish and was told off a few weeks ago for watching a film on her friend's ipad instead of working in a lesson. She is now saying she will work hard, but I think it is too little too late. Oh how she reminds me of me at this age... I didn't even read two of the books on my English Lit syllabus.

Arf at Aunt Flo Crem.

Molly.... are you OK?

Arf at Aunt Flo Crem.

Molly.... are you OK?

Arf at Aunt Flo Crem.

Molly.... are you OK?

Love the dress CV, but why did they style it with boot-cut/flares?
DD wore black trainers from Y9 onwards - much more practical for school than silly girl-shoes. Before that she had Kickers which are quite wide?

Whilst on the subject of shoes, what style do 17 1/2 yo girls wear when they go out? DD doesn't possess any shoes and can't walk in heels (though she does have some platform heel sandals from prom!)

Cremo, I just ROLFd at the Aunt Flo (because DH was called Bod by some old pupils ) - I'm sure you don't look a bit like her!

MrsS, DD didn't read any of her A'level English books last year and still got a B for her AS

Lovely meal/chat round friends last night with DH and DS. DD went clubbing with her fake ID

Sorry for triple post.

Phone getting unreliable.

So did dd, on and off (trainer type shoes). When challenged, she pointed out that uncomfortable shoes in which girls cannot run or kick are a tool of the patriarchy .

CV, mine both have DMs for school. DD1 used to have Kickers.

Have had quite a good weekend so far. Excellent meal last night with old friends.

We sprang dd3 from school yesterday evening for cheering up but it was quite unnecessary as she has already come to terms with her Oxford rejection. Her housemaster has talked to her and she has realised that the aspects of her subject that she most enjoys, and the way she likes learning, are not particularly prevalent at Oxford and she will probably enjoy her other choices more. She doesn't regret applying, it was a success to get an interview, but the result is not a bad one and quite possibly a very good one. I am beyond impressed with her housemaster - that is pastoral care! dh has managed to make his peace with the situation too.

And in more good news - my boiler is mended and still working, my cleaner is back from holiday so my house no longer looks like a student hovel and my cat is responding well to his new insulin regime. Happiness and contentment are filling the Wobble house and I wish the same for you and yours.

Any advice on the science issue please? DD2 won't be doing a science degree and the school seem to think she will get better grades if she does double science as she has already covered all of the work, and it would just be revision. DD2 wants 3 sciences as they look better on the cv, and doesn't want to be demoted.

MrsS, I would think 2As is better than 3Bs or whatever the trade is. If she's not going to continue science to A level then I can't see any problem there either. I completely understand the 'demotion' point though and don't underestimate it's importance or impact. What worked for me with dd1 in a not dissimilar circumstance was getting her to think about it and make the decision herself so if I were you I'd be finding all the reasons why dd2 might want to suggest to school that she would like to change. I think it helps if she can own the decision rather than having it imposed on her as she'll then not fight it.

MrsS, lots of schools only offer double science. Most DC do double science (DD really wishes she had as she would probably have got better grades) even if they are going on to study sciences at A'level. My DGodD did double and is now doing 2 sciences at A'level and will possibly do a science-related degree. She did have a bit of catch-up to do initially (particularly for Chemistry) but seems OK now.

So even if she does want to study Science at a higher level, but she doesn't so there is absolutely no problem doing double Science. Tell her 2 A*'s for Science will look much better than 3 C's on her CV!

I'm not an expert but if she is certain she doesn't want to do anything sciency post GCSE there is no problem for future options in having double science. Better to have good grades in what you do take than 'more' but with possibly less good grades in some? How many GCSEs will she be taking? Most University choices will not depend on having loads. Does she have any ideas about what A levels she fancies?

Always pleasing to x post advice with other Crepes!

Agree with MrsW and BTM. The several-crepeys' off-spring school we attend which is big on science, was hugely encouraging re double. They even have students applying for medicine on double, as they didn't want to give up Music/Art gcse.

Same GGG!

Yes, have been trying to sell the "better 2 Bs than 3 Cs" but she is being a bit hysterical. Will try and speak to her later when she has calmed down. She's doing Art, French, Photography and Film for A level. And I think this will mean 9 GCSEs rather than 10, which is fine. It looks like the mocks have been a bit of a wake up call for her, so fingers crossed, she will pull her finger out and do some work now.

The demotion thing is the issue, particularly as her friend is going up from 2 sciences to 3. She sent rather a hysterical email to her physics teacher last night, promising to work hard and to take things seriously and to sit on her own so that she didn't get distracted. He has kindly told her to calm down, think it over and discuss it with us. Decision needs to be taken tomorrow and whatever she decides is final.

Thank you all - that's really helpful. She has her interview for the art scholarship on Friday and I think this is stressing her out too.

Is she planning on going to Art school Mrs S?

MrsS, the Physics teacher sounds very sensible. And I bet she is worrying about the Art interview. It really sounds like there would be no need for her to do triple science given the A'levels she plans to study.

GGG, yes, she wants to do animation. She already has quite a following on YouTube.

Thirding others re triple science. Both mine did it and it was fine but loads to learn and some eye-poppingly dull bit in the part 3s (syllabi have changed). Plenty do double at their school - it is given the same number of lessons and they told us that some dc do double, enjoy the slightly slower pace, get into it and then go on to A level science, perhaps because they have been given a bit of time to think and discuss concepts.

Good to hear of such good sensible advice coming from physics teacher and from your dd's HM, MrsW.

Always good to have a plan!
if that is what she has her sights firmly set on then pfft to triple science.

Yes Mrs W, school sound as though they've been really helpful and kind to her - but I'm sure she liked being swept up and taken out by her parents too!