Class of 18. No need for new school shoes

Change of plan due to HK quarantine issue, so in Australia for a bit longer then fly from here to HK and on to London with two hours transit in HK. We left China for a planned holiday to Australia, so no warm clothes or coats. Not to worry says my mum, you can borrow from me. She is 80. Pleated skirts and sensible raincoats her i come!

Shanghai how awful for you all. I hope at least your traveling is trouble free

Sunndowne
We cannot get home even if we wanted to a flights to my city have been cancelled and we would need to fly to shanghai. As there are controls and checks between provinces (I live in Jiangsu province) it can take hours to get anywhere and as would have crossed the province border as would need to self isolate for 14 days.
My dd’s School will be closed until 2nd March and perhaps beyond. Decisions are made but the govt education board, not the school.
We fly to HK on Monday and then uk on Wednesday, no need to self quarantine as It will be over 14 days since we left the mainland, although as we have two long haul flights we will stay in and monitor our health for several days at least.
My dh will stay and work in H.K.
Dd has online learning from Monday so will try and keep things normal for her, but many of her friends are still in China.
Thanks for thinking of us.
Things are so much worse for many people.

Very sad what's happening in China

Lovely news catndogslife. Will she be far from home? Agree HND is a good option for many students.

So will you stay in Australia for a bit Shanghaidiva?

That is fantastic news Catndogslife I was just saying to someone the other day that it is a pity HNDs are not so common now. I suppose they started to disappear when the old FE Colleges became universities. There are so many jobs where an HND would be perfectly suitable as a grounding, and of course if it goes well and she enjoys it, a degree would be a nice next step too. My DSis did an HND and loved it. She would have hated a degree because she wanted to be out and working asap.

Excellent news Catndogslife!

Exciting news today. dd who took her A levels in 2018 and has now received an unconditional offer from her first choice course. It's an HND and she already meets their entry requirements.

Yes, we arrived in Australia 5 days before they closed the border to non nationals coming from China.

Keep safe shanghaidiva. Tricky situation. Are you in Australia now?

@Hardwickwhite
Thanks for thinking of me! I don’t live in Shanghai, but in a city about 280 miles from Wuhan. There are confirmed cases in my city.
The govt. is taking action and public holidays and the start of school have been extended, wearing masks is compulsory in public places with temperature checks at airports and stations.
We had already booked to go away for the Chinese New Year holiday and will now be in Australia for two weeks.
I imagine the number of cases will now start to dramatically increase so not sure what we will go back to mid February.

Great news hardwick about exams. Such a boost!

Really sympathise about housemates. My DS has an often a sent flat mate, it's not so much fun.

@ShanghaiDiva is everything ok with you. I remember (I think) that you are relocating, but can't remember when. If you are in Shanghai, I hope everything is calm and healthy!

DDs exams went better than expected (still waiting for one mind you) and despite her constant fear, she did not fail, and in fact got really good marks. I hope this helps lift her spirits a little.

Her flat mate has not been around as much as we all hoped/expected and despite insisting that her relationship with her boyfriend was not serious, and they should not all get a flat together, she has pretty much moved in with him. DD had to ask them to please stay the night last week because she had been frightened by noises from another flat, and didn't want to be on her own. DD is used to a busy house, and hates being alone, so we'll give it another while, then perhaps think about letting out the spare room we keep for ourselves. Living alone may suit some, but definitely not DD.

DD2 is doing a couple of offer holders days in the next fortnight. Her closest friends have all had recent changes of heart about their favourites, and she is slowly realising that in a few months they will all be heading in different directions.

Thanks!! Give me a nudge if you see it opening

Sorry, you had dropped off my TIO.

I think student finance opens in late February, although that might just be for initial applicants rather than returners.

catndogslife that's exciting; hopefully she will hear soon.

Not yet Marmite I think it might open March time, but its usually May by the time I get round to it (5th time for me this year).

Happy New Year all!

Just wondering if anyone remembers when we need to apply for third year loans? Having a sudden panic that I should have done it by now?
Thanks.

Wait for the offers! Then hopefully, she'll be able to narrow down her choice. Exciting times. Very best of luck. and happy new year too!

Anyone else got builders or works in house. My house has been thick with dust for 2 weeks as I'm having new kitchen. No DC at home though adding to mess. Bought paint today. Feels real! Diverting thread but life happens when kids go doesn't it?

Hope it's not too late to wish people Happy New Year!
My big news is that dds UCAS form has been submitted! She has applied for an HND course and has enough points from her A levels taken in 2018.
Any tips about the next stages would be helpful.

I took DD back on Monday where she was welcomed back with open arms by her friends. Apart from exams I think she was pleased to be going back. Boxing day onwards was rather lacklustre on the socialising front so she was happy to see her friends.

Happy new year!
Christmas holiday whizzed by and ds went back on 3rd January to a rather chilly house as the last to leave switched off the heating, despite agreeing to keep on 15 degrees over the winter break. After travelling for 20 hours he was pretty pissed off.
I am going back to the UK for a couple of weeks in Feb (need to find somewhere to live) and looking forward to seeing ds.

Indeed Sunndowne I am taking the four hours comment with a large pinch of salt. The parents of the friend in question have told me she is mainly socialising, so four hours may well refer to how much she is turning up to, rather than what is on offer!

Happy new year! My DC have gone and I'm back at work!!!!

Is that really true? 4 hrs!!!!!

Haha. Funny when our perfect DDs succumb to mistaking how much alcohol to have. My DD did that once by accident too. My DS did it many times and not by accident!

Happy New Year All!

MIL has returned home in one piece. We kept her very busy every day she was here, and so she has returned home with lots of nice activities to tell her cronies about. The place we took her for an afternoon tea was an absolute delight, and even had a (real) fake snow storm for a few minutes when they played Christmas music. We had our first ever visit to a professional panto, and I am sure it will be our last. It was well enough done, but I think the rest of us prefer a seasonal theatre or ballet trip. It was good to try something new though! The tour of the lights in town went down surprisingly well, and Carnaby Street in particular blew her mind a little I think. We had seen them in daylight, and been slightly underwhelmed, but in the evening, they were spectacular!

DD1 shocked us on NYE by going out with friends, and returning home rather the worse for wear! The first time ever. She was still throwing up when we were trying to leave for the train for a few days away, next morning. The poor thing felt so bad, she actually thought there was more than 'just' a hangover wrong with her. She got only a little sympathy, but a hand hold on the train, and a link to a list of the various ways too much alcohol can affect your body. She calmed down a little when she realised it was all to be expected! As a good friend said, we all remember the first (or only!) time we did it, and swear never to do it again.

She is heading back to uni on Friday and has realised she will have 20 contact hours again next term, after just 14 last. Her best friend from home has only 4 (she says - is that possible for history?).