Nice People Thread No. 15, a Cyber Summer

Pyxis wrote: »

Can't remember......there was a very mercurial cook, though! called Grumio.

Ah yes, twas the cook.

Pyxis wrote: »

In my day, ALL grammar schools taught it. Nowt posh about it!

At my school, Latin was compulsory for the first 2 years, along with French. When we then made our O-Level choices, if we wanted to do any languages, French had to be the first, Latin had to be the second, then, if we wanted a third, we had a choice of German, Spanish or Greek - the latter being classical I think, not modern.

Some sixth formers also had a bash at O-Level Russian in addition to their A-level choices - but I think that was solely because we happened to have a teacher who could do it in addition to his usual subjects..

The sciences were similar - Biology, Physics and Chemistry for the first 2 years, then we could drop Biology and replace it with something else if we wanted - I did Design & Technology instead.

To complete the 9 O-levels we were expected to take, maths and English Language were compulsory. I think English Literature was as well but can't remember for sure - I suspect it was else I'd have chosen something else instead

chris_m wrote: »

Ah yes, twas the cook.



At my school, Latin was compulsory for the first 2 years, along with French. When we then made our O-Level choices, if we wanted to do any languages, French had to be the first, Latin had to be the second, then, if we wanted a third, we had a choice of German, Spanish or Greek - the latter being classical I think, not modern.

Some sixth formers also had a bash at O-Level Russian in addition to their A-level choices - but I think that was solely because we happened to have a teacher who could do it in addition to his usual subjects..

The sciences were similar - Biology, Physics and Chemistry for the first 2 years, then we could drop Biology and replace it with something else if we wanted - I did Design & Technology instead.

To complete the 9 O-levels we were expected to take, maths and English Language were compulsory. I think English Literature was as well but can't remember for sure - I suspect it was else I'd have chosen something else instead

I have this strong suspicion we were at school in the same county at a similar time?

chris_m wrote: »

Mine started with a K and was in Southampton, I was there from '76 to '82.

I remember, we have had this conversation before, I was a bit to the NE beginning with S and 5 years later. Not much chance of my being retired in 5 years time

chris_m wrote: »

Ah yes - maybe both schools used the same exam board, therefore offered similar course ranges.

As to retirement - I was fortunate enough to be able to do so extremely early, at least eight years earlier than I had previously expected. However, I do have a long wait to see if I'll actually get a State Pension.

My kids do not finish school for another 11 years so I can't imagine being able to retire before that point - although I am looking at whether I could reduce to exactly 24 hours/week from next April as potentially the remaining 13.5 hours might only be worth 4k net. Combine overpaying pension with downsizing and a frugal lifestyle and I guess retirement in 11 years is not impossible (a la pastures) and any future inheritance would make things easier still although hopefully not for many years. The problem of factoring this in is that it won't happen until after it is too late to do anything about it if it doesn't happen.....