Class of 18. No need for new school shoes

I keep losing you all!

Gosh it's total madness isn't it. DD's university has suspended all face to face contact until at least September 2020. Some stuff is available on line but after losing 7 weeks to strikes this year she is feeling pretty devastated. I did suggest to her that she could re do her second year.

She is constantly stressing about whether she is OK to come home, as DH ticks every box of the most vulnerable categories. Her job is keeping her in her University City but it's only 12 hours a week so she can pop home on days she is not working. But I can't see department stores staying open - perfume purchase hardly falls into essential travel does it?

She is normally pretty resilient but I fear for her mental well being. Having all your plans for the future thrown into disarray could send anyone into a tailspin. I keep likening it to WW2 but at least then the enemy was known and visible.

Anyway, I hope everyone is coping as best they can in these strange times.

Ds finished yesterday as planned and now has a five week break. Warwick is due to send out info on Monday regarding summer exams.
Dd and I are still in the uk and dh is now working in Hong Kong.

It’s difficult to get back to China as so many flights and routes are cancelled and there are strict quarantine measures for people returning to China. With numbers increasing in the uk, if dd and I went back we may need to be quarantined in a designated facility rather than being allowed to self isolate as home. Isolation at home means no going out at all and twice daily checks by local govt, but better than being quarantined in a place chosen by the govt!
Consequently dd and I will remain here. Her school is still closed.
We are staying with my mum who is 78 so we have her under ‘house arrest’!

That's hard 'Nohaudin'.

DD has handed in notice for their flat, one flatmate lives abroad and will be returning this week. She is very down and struggling with her life turning upside down in a week!

Dd's university is stopping face to face lectures from tomorrow. There are no lectures this week and the last two weeks will be online. It is also likely that exams other than finals will be cancelled.
At the moment she is staying put because of appointments with the Easting Disorders service but it is possible that they will also become remote.
This term has been an almost complete write off for her and ironically not really because of her own issues. One lecturer was off sick for a week, then there was four weeks of strikes , now contact has been limited by corona fears.
She is also concerned about assessment being on essays only. She always does do better in exams but this is especially true when she is finding it difficult to concentrate in independent work.

Knot DS 2s similar place has just announced face to face teaching is ending.

DS is home for the weekend, we've had some interesting discussions as this is the first time that he's seen the results of a lack of confidence in the supply chain. History GCSE covered the lack of faith in banks during the depression and there's no difference between a run on the bank and a run on toilet paper.

He's hoping that he doesn't have to go back (I suspect because I'm the one with better food options) but so far it looks like it will be business as usual but with more cleaning of door handles. I keep telling him that he will be fine, I will be fine and it's the grannies that we need to worry about.

So far DD's university is holding out. Business as usual, but I will be on standby to bring her home if necessary.

It all feels so unreal - like a science fiction film.

I have a theory that this is biological warfare gone wrong.

Ds1 has.been in a uni musical in the back row but a small select cast..a musical with something oily in the title no not hairspray. He is staying put, uni not closed, although several cases in main uni where term is ending this week. He is in good spirits. My kids are 18 this weekend and complaining bitterly about corona ruining everything (we.hadnt planned anything anyway but dd wanted to go out and go clubbing in west end and now her sensible friends saying no) dh shocked by their narrow view of things, but I suppose it is too much to take in how serious it all is . The exams are really not a worry at all...perspective etc. Im worried about being allowed out with dog if there is a.serious lockdown. But not much else. It feels quite unreal. Glad to think ds could get home in two hours if nec or even two days walk.

DS2’s lectures and tutorials are online for the last week of term and his exams will be online next term which he’s quite happy about. He’s self isolating at the moment due to a cough and more than usual tiredness, lots of Italian friends and a flat mate whose girlfriend has been on a ward with Corona patients.

DS1 (first year of PhD) is gutted as he was presenting at a big conference which has been postponed for a year and colloquia organised by his DTP have been cancelled. No good telling him it’s the same for everyone!

Shanghai how are things working out for you?

DS1's uni announced no face to face contact yesterday. He has a very complicated final bit of his Master's to do so is hoping the online content will be sufficient. He lost all contact and supervision time during the strike. They have also suspended uni social activities.

DD'S is also stopping face to face from Monday. She also lost most of her lectures!

At DS's university, face-to-face teaching has been cancelled for the rest of this term. Lectures will still be recorded and can be accessed online. He will be coming home this weekend, two weeks earlier than planned.

DD was coming home for the weekend anyway, but picked up an email when she landed saying all classes and labs are cancelled for the rest of the year, with content delivered remotely. It doesn't seem to be the whole university though, just her dept so far, which is slightly odd, but she thinks may be related to the time it will take to clear the labs. She only lost one day (today!) to the strikes though, which she was delighted about.

She was due to visit her DGF next weekend. He is in very poor health as well as being very elderly, so we'll have a family chat this weekend to discuss how sensible it would be. They would love her to come I suspect, but she'd never forgive herself if he became ill. One day at a time I suppose!

DS survived his assessment weeks without drama which was nice for me. The strike didn't seem to affect him and he's not showing any anxiety over the current health situation other than checking that I'm still well. I suspect that he's put me in the "old and at risk" category with my mother. Thanks DS

NoHaudin
I'm glad to hear that she is accessing treatment.

I'm pleased to report that DS is still healthy and well. He has submitted his preferences for his dissertation topic for next year and is waiting for confirmation of the topic before writing an initial plan.

Epic name change fail!

A small step in the right direction for her then. That is good to hear.

DD has not had any classes cancelled due to the current strike. Her very political friend is extremely disappointed by the lack of drama!

shanghai I hope you have a good holiday and things work out for going back.

DD is now being seen weekly by the Eating Disorders service. She has so far managed to stick to their (mutually agreed) plan and has put on a little weight. Things have to be gradual as she lost so much so quickly.
In a way the strikes have worked in her favour as she has been able to concentrate on eating without having classes to go to.
She still has a long way to go though but at least she is now heading in the right direction.

Goodness Shanghai worrying times for you. I hope you and DD are managing to enjoy spending some time in London and aren't too traumatised by the rain (and the pleated skirts! )

NoHaudin sorry to hear your DD is struggling, hoping you had a good visit with her and things are looking better.

nohaudin
Hope your dd gets a suitable plan in place and you have a good visit next week.
Dd and I have arrived in London. She has already complained about the weather! She has not been in the UK since she was two so this is quite the adventure.

I had already planned to go up next week and will still do that; I hope with some kind of plan in place.
I hope you have a good week with your dd.

Oh NoHaudin I am so sorry to hear that. My DD has an alternative learning week next week which means no classes - does yours too? It means that DD can come home for a week, which I am looking forward to. It has been a challenging half term. I hope all goes well at her appointment.

shanghai I hope all the travel plans go smoothly.

I am going up to see dd tomorrow. Her eating has really gone down hill and she has an appointment with the eating disorders service on Friday.
I am hoping they can come up with a sensible plan both short and long term. Naturally I am extremely worried about her.

Scary times for you ShanghaiDiva. And not just for the pleated skirts!