JulieW

They always used to alternate years - one year it was an Open Day and the other just Summer Fair (I think that's what they called them). However, I attended for the 2 or 3 years before my son started there full-time, and several years after he left and no-one seemed to mind! On the open days, they put on tours, but that was the main difference I could see.

I'm looking forward to all 3 of mine together on Sunday too - 2 home from uni and oldest visiting as we'll have a belated Fathers' Day (hubby was away last weekend). And a wedding tomorrow (work friend of said hubby) - should be a posh do - haven't been to a wedding (except for an evening reception recently) for aaaaages. Good excuse to put a nice dress on!

I've only missed 2 in about the last 14 years! Many fond memories but my favourite one was when 2 of my children were dancing on the lawn on the same day (one in year 8 and one a JA) - very special. So glad you enjoyed it.

But you didn't just give feedback - you asked a question which has been answered

Congratulations to those with a yes, commiserations to those with a no and fingers crossed to those on the waiting list or still waiting to hear. My son was on the waiting list (gosh, was it really 14 years ago), was offered a place in the July, went to White Lodge, then Elmhurst and became a professional dancer - there's always hope. Some with a no now will still go on to be professional dancers, and some will find other things that they are talented at instead. My youngest son was on the waiting list, didn't get a place and eventually gave up dance and is now at uni; daughter was a JA, didn't get MAs but danced competitively and is now a rugby playing vet student! Thinking of you all

And, while talking about prospects target than the EU and the dreams of those entering WL in year 7 (for example), it's about giving them the opportunity to earn a living doing what they love and maybe finding they'll turn out to be something special. But it's good we have discussions like this if it means people go into it with their eyes a bit more open. Too many parents I met in our vocational school years seemed to think that getting the place meant future success. And another female AD in Estonia - my son's old boss!

Great to see the judges have some sense and have given their wildcard to Shannon and Peter

A dance teacher friend of mine from the Midlands has posted about 2 of her girls getting in, but sorry, I can't help on ages!

I saw it at the cinema last night and sent a message to my daughter afterwards saying it was the best thing I'd seen by the RB in ages. It has its flaws (I'm still irritated by Elizabeth wearing the same dress after 7 years) but overall I loved it. Full of theatre, music was great (if not very memorable but I feel like that about Manon too), I was more and more moved as the evening went on, and was gripped by the performancee. And I didn't have to fight stay awake like I do sometimes in an evening cinema showing lol! I don't hold it against them that there were odd things about story or that the characters could've been portrayed differently - since when has ballet been "realistic"?

How funny - she's 21 now, how old's your daughter?

I've seen on FB this evening that 2 girls from our old dance school have places - I presume as JAs but don't know for definite. My eldest son and my daughter both danced with them as JAs so I have fond memories. DD got to dance in main cast as she used to watch all the rehearsals while waiting for a lift and one of the roses in Alice got injured, and they asked her to step in. The JA dance was a bit disappointing that year so she was really happy!!

Thrilled to say she got a first for her BVMedSci (Batchelors in Veterinary Medicine and Science) :-) She's thrilled because she lives with a bunch of the brightest students in her year who were on for firsts and as much as she'd've been happy with a 2:1 she didn't want to be the odd one out in the flat ;-)

LinMM - I've got 3 at the mo. The flatcoated retriever who's my avatar (he was less than a year old in the photo and he was 7 last October!). The other two are Welsh Springer Spaniels - one's year 4 and the other's nearly 7 months old - will try to put a photo on

That's great news Lisa! My daughter gets her degree results tomorrow. Her mark doesn't have much bearing on her final vet degree in another 2 years' time, but she's worked really hard and it would be lovely to see her get a great result (I don't think we need to worry about her not passing as her marks so far should carry her through, but it's still nerve-wracking!). Her tutor has nominated her for a graduation award/prize for all her extra-curricular/charity stuff. So happy for her even if it goes to someone else, she's chuffed to bits to be nominated. Youngest son has 2nd year exams starting this week. He seems a bit stressed but he doesn't have too many so hope he'll be OK! And eldest son seems to be having a good start to his personal training career with some lovely clients. He's happy that he's getting more confident at it all the time (and already earnt more than he did as a dancer lol!)

Sorry to hear about your parents Hudds but glad you had a productive weekend. It's hard when you don't live nearby - that's why my dad moved to be near us after my mum died. My dad moved into his new home last Monday - it's a lovely place with caring staff but he's not overly impressed! My SIL's been visiting most days along with visits from my nephews. He's better some days than others and unfortunately want great when I visited on Sunday but I'm just glad he's safe and being looked after. Had a lovely day on Saturday - went to a dog show and won Best Puppy and then 2nd in the Puppy Gundog Group. And my older one won Reserve Best of Breed. Our ring was moved outside so we had a lovely time sat in the great weather.

Another good "dog day" today. Local fair type event on with a companion dog show. Jiffy won the AV Pedigree Puppy and overall Best Puppy In Show prize , and we came 2nd in the Brace class (2 dogs together) even though Tartu just wanted to sniff the ground. In-laws visiting tomorrow (they don't venture out to us often) and my 3 children are all coming home - the lure of pork belly with crackling did it I think (daughter's visit is a surprise for everyone else as she's at uni a long distance from us). Then Monday I'm moving my dad out of hospital to a care home near where my my brother and his family live. Must go and do some packing.... It's all go

We're supporting a friend's daughter - so exciting to know someone in it! (We're friends originally through this site - live in different countries, have never met, but feel really close)

Thanks everyone. We're lucky that my sister-in-law's dad was in a lovely home near them a while ago, they specialise in dementia, and because they remembered her and her family, he made his way up the waiting list rapidly.

Can't believe I started this thread three and a half years ago. My daughter has just finished her 3rd year exams and is now classed as a 4th year vet student, and we'll be going to get first graduation (assuming she's passed!) in July. Two more years to go...

Lisa - thanks for asking about the dog show. Just an "open" show so small classes, but it was my puppy's first show and he came 2nd in his class (as did the other one) and behaved impeccably. More exciting is that I took the day off on Friday to go to a "championship" show and got another couple of 2nds in bigger classes which means they've both qualified for Crufts next year :-) This is all a welcome relief from other family stuff as my dad had been in hospital for 3+ weeks with a sudden worsening of probable Alzheimer's (that, although I suspected, we didn't actually know he had). He won't be able to go back to his flat (he moved to be near us last year) and we've had to find a care home for him. All been quite challenging, and I find enjoying activities with my dogs a welcome relief.

Thanks both!

I've now seen it, thanks to friends who posted the YouTube clip on FB, but I'd still be interested to know when it was on so I can see what else I missed

Sorry if I've missed someone saying, but can someone point me in the right direction to find a way of watching the Matthew and Yasmine pdd! I can't find it. (I forgot to set my machine to record yesterday and only saw the last hour - tried iPlayer but still couldn't find them but it was a bit late at night and I was tired!)

I've unlocked this briefly to add some encouragement for "Doing Dance" people to go and read the thread and take party in the poll - you'll find a link on page 2 - it started as an idea for ballet watchers to be able to spot forum members, but I think lots of you might like it for when you're at competitions/auditions etc perhaps. Although as a moderator I'm not getting involved - I think it's lovely that the members are doing something together.

I'll quiz him for you! (He's working in the USA until Thursday so might have to wait until then). Sadly I don't think I can help with the bickering siblings ;-) He does have tinnitus but he didn't get them for that - they were to protect from the loud noises but still allowing him to have a conversation. The audiologists should be able to point you in the right direction.