Class of 18. No need for new school shoes

and warm wishes to your DD nohaudin. Hope you can all hang in there until all settles. Hope PT happens soon. So good she loves her course.
DD hasn't mentioned strike bronzegate. When DS was amongst strikes, it was ad hoc which subjects were affected.
Not too sure what to add kitten re: cold remedies other than those uniqlo layers sound lovely. Also, would want remedy from college when she's paying.
Don't have a dog but cat sleeping next to me to feel more cozy in cold. I went for an autumnal walk though, kept mostly to paths, so only a bit of squelchy mud which I don't like. Fresh air in my new purple coat and orange leaves cheered me up as not feeling well today.

Icebreaker

Kitten merino wool ski thermals from NZ (cannot remember name but from ski suppliers)....very thin non scratchy and they don't get sweaty when you are in warmer rooms. Actually I think M & S do a woollen thermal vest
Celtic sheepskin houseboots or cuffed slippers.
Also a muslin net curtain at the window gives an extra layer without blocking the light if you can fix it somewhere with wire?

Lots of lovely dog walks here with poodle/terrier. He was so drenched in mud yesterday we washed him, he is a different colour (creamy white)this morning (we had got used to him being a light grey from the autumnal mud)

Kitten the quick and cheap solution is to wear a hat and gloves indoors. She could go the glam route and wrap her head in some stylish manner but a wool beanie works just as well. I've had the room with the ice on the inside of the windows, I don't suppose that student experience has changed much over the last three decades.

Just popping in to recommend heated throws for chilly students- we got dd a dreamland one from amazon which got her through winter in a very damp chilly flat. Game changer. They can wrap themselves up whilst studying!

Oh Kitten your poor DD, being too cold is miserable

DD and her housemates have been ridiculously frugal so far with putting their heating on (worse than DH!) and it's quite an old, cold, damp house (typical student digs!) so she's had to come up with some strategies too!

Thermal tops and leggings - dd had lots from a school ski trip so she's taken all of those with her. Cosy fluffy socks at all times. Hot water bottles and blankets and a hat.

Her main problem was drying laundry (it was literally taking weeks to dry anything and clothes were damp and smelly ) - so I bought them a Heated clothes airer from Lakeland. A bit of an extravagance, but will work out cheaper than having to take everything to the laundrette to dry, and without the mile long round trip too.

It actually gives out a lot of heat and as it's in DD's room it's almost solved the problem for her - it's like having an extra heater.
Not sure what the college rules would be for something like that though?

DD is home this weekend for a flying visit - a friends birthday, my birthday last week, and an unusual gap in classes and lectures Friday-Monday (but mainly I think to see the dog!)
It's so lovely to have her home

Kitten - recommend Heattech clothes from Uniqlo - they have long sleeve tops (very thin so easy to layer) - link below is to the Chinese site, but you get the idea.
uniqlo.tmall.com/category-1489806932.htm?spm=a1z10.1-b-s.w4007-22184188827.3.156456a37fieDR&search=y&parentCatId=1489806930&parentCatName=11.11%C5%AE%D7%B0&catName=HEATTECH%CF%B5%C1%D0&orderType=defaultSort

That's miserable for her kitten.
Here's a random list of things dd does to keep warm:

keeping her curtains closed to reduce the draught from the window

multiple pairs of socks - alpaca ones are particularly good

several layers of clothing - vest, long and short sleeved tshirt, jumper, fleece, another jumper!

silk scarf round her neck

silk liner gloves which are thin enough to still allow fine movement

fleecy blankets - even over her head at times

hot water bottles are good. Dd uses wheat bags as kettles are tricky for her and the bags can be heated in the microwave. They also come in different shapes so can be wrapped yourself more easily.

Cocoa!

DS1 was at uni during the last strikes, it was very individual by department how they were affected. But as far as he was concerned he just carried on.

Dd thinks it will depend on individual lectures. One of her tutors has said he will definitely be going on strike. She doesn't know about the others. Most of it falls in revision time for her anyway.
She is waiting for a letter from her GP and then will put in her request for part- time study. It should be decided quite quickly but she feels anxious until it is decided.
Still no news from MH services. I phoned on her behalf yesterday but the person she saw is away until next week so another wait.

I suggested to DS that he must submit his work by the planned deadline, but that it might be late in being marked. He replied to say that's what normally happens anyway.

DD got an email from uni this afternoon telling them it would be business as usual until further notice. That included coursework, exams and graduations. They said it could be a while till they know more.

I imagine for some it may not make much difference, depending upon contact hours/term dates etc. DD is not due to finish till the 19th though and has a relatively heavy contact schedule. Some of it is with PhD students though and I am not sure if they are involved. I suspect not.

I suspect it is too early to tell. DD is due to start exams the week after and lectures that week were supposed to be revision based. I am sure they will announce plans in the next few days.

UCU members have voted to strike for 8 days from 25 November. Does anyone know what this means for DS's course? If they are on strike then obviously they won't be teaching during that time. If he has assignments due during the strike, does he just submit them as normal and then they are marked when the staff return after industrial action? Or do they move the deadlines later?

Great news Marmite!

Wonderful news marmite

Thank you all!!
It's still sinking in!!

Hurrah marmite.

Wonderful news Marmite !

That's great news Marmite. You must be so happy.