UEA (2019) dealing with the unexpected and on to 2nd Year

[juicy0]

New thread for the parents of 2019 freshers. Thank you all for sticking around!
At the start of the year we never would have guessed the topics that are currently being discussed in this page but I'm grateful we still have each other to help navigate our way through this with our DC.
With the emptying of 1st year rooms seemingly on hold for many until the end of lockdown our thoughts will soon turn to 2nd year accommodation and whether term is likely to start as normal in September.

[sluj]

Thanks Juicy0.
We are waiting for some email response to DS2 but he only sent his email on Friday. 90% of his stuff is still at UEA but he has the basics at home and was careful to cart the x box back.
DS1 is waiting to hear if he is needed for the NHS volunteer scheme so is still with us at the moment. I expect he will head back to UEA at some time.
On the good news front, I am feeling so much better and just have a residual cough. It's strange because I had a small chesty cough throughout my illness but this is finally dry after 2 weeks. I had every other Covid symptom though so I would be surprised if I haven't had it.
I'm working from home so doing ok really.
How is everyone else?

[Itscoldouthere]

Just checking in, thank you for the new thread.
All fine here although slightly concerned about how long this is all going to go on for.
It’s sounding very likely that this lockdown will be continued, so don’t think we have any chance of getting back to UEA by 19th April (unless we ignore government guidelines) so fingers crossed that they extend the date.
Hope everyone is ok.

[Missyelliottsaysso]

Thank you for the new thread.

I am hoping that UEA will make the sensible decision regarding our DC’s belongings left behind. Really don’t want to do that drive, especially reading about a couple who got stopped on the M6 after making a 220 mile round trip to pick up an eBay purchase!
I can’t imagine trying to explain why i would be making a similar journey for DD’s duvet, pillows, straighteners and trainers!

[ZaZathecat]

If a student's tenancy is ending and they have to remove their belongings I assume that's an essential journey? Can be done without interaction with other people too.

[NotSorry]

Ah a shiny new thread - hello all

5 adults in the house at all times is proving very crowded - eldest DS in his own home otherwise it would be 6!

[icanbewhatiwant]

Thanks for the new thread. I hope those feeling poorly are now on the mend.
We are all fine in our house🤞🤞

They were saying on the news 6 months until we get back to normal. That's a long time isn't it? Bringing us to end of sept Beginning of October.

My older 2 seem ok at being home. They can still game and chat with friends. But entertaining an 11 year old isn't so easy. He isn't keen on doing his school work either. At least so far we are healthy...that's the main thing. We have the pup to entertain us too. Ds1 is still insisting she's a horrible dog. That's what he called her yesterday 😩

[GoldenRuby]

Thanks @juicy0 for the new thread. DS only has a few clothes here so if the lockdown continues we may have to risk the trip. I'm more worried about DS' house for next year, as the agent had a long queue of paperwork for other houses to process so hasn't got to DS's house yet. So we haven't signed anything yet, and they need to do it in person apparently with proof of ID. I'm hoping the agent is pragmatic about things as otherwise they may not know where their income is coming from and may have to agree to sort things out over the internet. DS claims all of his friends are in the same boat, which I doubt seeing as everyone on here's DC seem to be all officially signed up.

[sluj]

GoldenRuby
We are in the same boat, the holding deposits are paid and I have taken my passport etc to a local branch of William H Brown for guarantor verification but heard nothing else for weeks. No tenancy or papers signed yet. DS rang the estate agents last week and they wouldn't even look into it for him, they just said they were prioritising other stuff.
I thought it was just us too so I'm glad you posted. Unless it's the same house of course.

[icanbewhatiwant]

Ds says his house is all sorted. Dh filled the guarantor forms out online also he had to send in proof of address etc. So that part you can do remotely. But yes, the showing of passports /photo ID may be a little harder. Dh has just rented out a house out last week, the tenants went on Saturday. The lady at William H Brown said she'd been into the office and collected all paperwork for as much as she could and is working from home. So I'm sure all agents are doing the same. I think all house sales are on hold. So surely the agents don't have that much to do. They could at least reassure you.

[CointreauVersial]

Luckily, DD1's tenancy for next year is all sorted; they all met the landlord in person, showed passports and so on, just before she came home. Her new place is just up the road from the University Village, where she is now. I sincerely hope all will be back to normal by September......

Will be carefully checking that this month's accommodation direct debit is not taken, following Friday's email from the accommodation office, and am looking forward to hearing what their new position is, with regard to clearing belongings.

Meanwhile DD1 has been busy on assignments. She worked really hard all weekend on one submission which she thought was due today, only to realise it is due 30th April, not March.

[icanbewhatiwant]

Just spoke to ds and he said they just sent a photo of their driving licences via email. They didn't go in in person.

Ds also says his gf told him she has had an email saying they aren't to go to empty their flats (hers is right in the city centre) but no sign of refund either.

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Waves at everyone.

I too am finding it a challenge having so many people (and cats) cooped up. Today I was making a long-distance call for work during which time DS appeared to ask me to review the shopping list, DD announced she was starving and why hadn't I cooked lunch (because she's old enough to sort out something for herself??), I had to answer the door to the postman etc....

I am craving personal space.

Haven't asked DS if he's had an email from UEA today but will do so later on. The implication was that they would be in touch ASAP.

[Itscoldouthere]

I’ve just cancelled my direct debit to UEA, not sure if I should have or not, anyone else done this? I think we paid monthly.

[GoldenRuby]

Email just in from the Uni. Anyone who wants to be released from their licence can be even if they still have stuff in their rooms. The student needs to fill a form in before 5th April though.

[Missyelliottsaysso]

Yes DD just received the same. Sensible decision by Uni, no immediate rush to collect stuff now.

[sluj]

Fortunately we got the email too but I wouldn't want to work in UEA finance at the moment. They must be worried about money and income.
On the good news front, I finally got the guarantor document for the 2and year house. Phew

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

@sluj, UEA has one of the most in the black expenditure: income positions (£42million) amongst UK universities at the moment. I read an article earlier on this week. It's 8th of about 140 higher education institutions coming behind only such illustrious ones as UCL, Imperial, Oxford and Cambridge. I think more are in the red than the black.

[icanbewhatiwant]

Did anyone hear the lady on bbc1 earlier saying year 1 university students are the only ones to do well out of coronavirus? She said year 2 and 3 students may have to continue to pay rent to private landlords, year 1 have mostly been told they don't have to pay rent now. Plus they will still be getting their student loan while most are at home with parents.

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

That makes sense @icanbewhatiwant. Both our DC are in fortunate positions - Yr 9 and Yr 1 undergraduate.

[icanbewhatiwant]

She also said people are trying to claim back for missed lectures during the strikes and will try to claim for missed lectures next term. Ds said he's not a lecture for quite a while due to strikes. It's annoying because they have paid for them. Even lab time was cancelled and obviously will be next term too. I think there will be lectures online next term, but a lot of lab time missed.

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

This really will impact on DC across eight or so year groups, from Yr 10 to Masters immediately post first degree...

[Itscoldouthere]

All gone quite on the UEA thread, I hope you are all doing well and coping with the current situation.
DS not doing much work, but I’m assuming they aren’t setting any at the moment as it’s the Easter holidays.

[NotSorry]

I asked DS about work and he said none being set due to Easter holidays - it seems to be an excuse for him to stay in bed until 3pm every day 😲

[Itscoldouthere]

Yes DS seems to get up late, go to bed late. It’s hard trying to impose anything on them regarding time keeping, although I am making them do some cooking and do their own washing etc.

[sluj]

Medical son is doing a fair bit of revision before he goes back for the volunteering thing. DS2 geography isn't doing anything and is having a proper Easter break which I suspect will continue.
At some point DH and I will have to reduce the weekly financing. There is no reason for us to keep on paying him maintenance contributions if we are actually maintaining him