One Step Beyond

It was 7:30am Thursday morning.  I am asleep when I feel a slap on the back of my head. I opened my eyes only to look up to see my six foot three inch son towering over me.  In itself Joe being out of bed at 7:30am.

“I’ve got my place at Falmouth [University]”

“Sorry.  Just say that again”

“I’ve got my place at Falmouth.   Its been confirmed online”

I just reached up and gave Joe the biggest man hug ever.

“Well done mate.  That’s brilliant news.  I can’t believe it.  Fantastic”.

Joe had a big grin across his face that lit up the room.  He was so pleased with himself.

“I’m going to go school now to collect my exam results”

“Ok mate.  Don’t forget we’ve got to sort out your student account later this morning”

“Ok dad!”  Off he went

I led back in bed and just reflected on the year my two kids have had.  It was only a year ago when Georgina had passed her exams and had met the entry requirements for Cardiff University; Joe had got decent grades in his AS Level exams most incredible day for the Watsons. Wow.  Now a full year later these two kids have navigated through some turbulent times that anyone could experience.  Caroline would be just so proud of them both.  If only she was here with them.  Life can be crap at times.

Over the past year Georgina has grown in self-confidence and has worked very hard during her unscheduled gap year.  Furthermore Georgina has been a huge support to me by stepping in on the domestic duties when I’m not around.  Georgina starts Psychology in September and is sharing a house with her student mates.  Georgina enjoyed Psychology at A Level and I believe that the step up to degree level will not be a problem.

Now Joe has cleared the A Level hurdle.  I am so relieved.  Joe’s chosen degree course is Film.  He just loves film and often discusses with me, not that I know anything about film, how certain scenes are put together; the technology used to produce films.  He has also started a foreign film club at school and has numerous film blogs on You Tube.   I tried to give him other courses and locations to consider but he was adamant that he wanted to do a Film Degree at Falmouth.

Thirty minutes later Joe text me the confirmation of his results:  B – Media Studies; C- Business Studies; D – Music Tech.  Joe had not actually reached the grades required in his offer letter.  Thankfully, he showed the passion and knowledge for the subject during his interview.  Falmouth University has a reputation of selecting the person rather than the academic and has accepted him on the quality of his interview.   Joe had done it by the ‘skin of his teeth’.  My relief was palpable.  However, I just wanted Joe to get over this hurdle no matter how he did it.  I know that he will be successful at Film and that it is a much sought after skill in todays world.  Now he has to put his back into it!

My mind now switches to moving both of the kids to Universities that are in different directions.  There is so much to do between now and their start dates in mid September.  Moving Georgina will be much easier.  For one Georgina is much more self-sufficient.  Additionally, she has already been to University and we will only need to move in her clothes – no mean feat.  On the other hand, Joe’s move is much more involved.  The preparation will start now.  Well in my mind it starts now, probably in Joe’s mind it will start the day before he’s due to go!  Basically we will have to pack the contents of his bedroom into boxes, make a trip to IKEA, grocery shopping around Sainsbury’s to stock up on Super Noodles and Turkey Drummers and a probable visit to Topman or similar to kit him out.  Once all this stuff is gathered I will have to ship it to Falmouth in the back of my car.

So only a month and they will both be off.  I will then be left rattling around in my house alone wondering what to do next.  It’s certainly not the chapter that I thought I was going to write three years ago.  There are a few sketches and outlines on the pages but there a lot more blank pages.  For now I will just celebrate the fact that Caroline and I have two great kids and both are on the right road!