Class of 18. No need for new school shoes

We moved most of DD's stuff into her year 2 house a couple of weeks ago, so it will just be mostly clothes when she moves in properly, plus some kitchen stuff that she got for her birthday.

I can't believe how nice her year 2 house is. Apparently the LL used to live in it, so it is a higher spec than most student houses. They even have a range cooker in the kitchen!

DD and some of her housemates enjoy cooking together, and the kitchen was one of the deciding factors for taking the house.

My garage is full of student flat contents. I don't remember it being so big a heap last summer.

I hope we're all well and getting through the summer. I dream of a holiday with sun, sea and someone else's cooking but that's not happening for us this year.

I think DD1 has been told to expect lectures online but small group work face to face. They haven’t finalised labs, but are working on it.

DD2 is hoping to go to Southampton in Sept. They did a webinar last night for prospective freshers and had lots of planning to share. Easier for first years than third years though, because they were talking about most of the lab work teaching and follow ups being online and teaching/accommodation bubbles across her broad subject. As withDD1, lectures online tutorials face to face. It all seems quite sensible and feasible.

I read the government guidance to HE providers that was issued yesterday and I'm still no closer to guessing what next year will look like.

DS is planning to stay in the same place, and has paid a deposit. 51 week contract, so I guess we'll have to collect the rest of his stuff, keep it in the back of the car for a week then put it back in again.

The good news is that he passed second year; one mark off a 2:1. He is really pleased. He had to work particularly hard this semester to overcome missed teaching (strikes then pandemic).

DS signed up months ago, well before this all kicked off. His accommodation is sorted but he's no idea what will be happening in terms of tuition. I can't begin to guess what things will look like in September, it's going to be hard because presumably there will be different levels of risk between a choir, a string quartet and a brass band and someone somewhere has got to work out what can run and what can't. I'm glad that it's not my job.

We own the flat DD lives in so no stress there, but we were/are worried for her that her flat mate who is an international student may not return. She says she intends to so far, but obviously September is still a while away and anything could happen.

I know her friends all have places lined up and intend to return, apart from one who has just heard that his year abroad is cancelled. I’m sad for him. He wants a career in politics and it would have taken him to Washington.

Anyone’s DC started to think about accommodation for year 3 yet? Mine has just agreed to share with one of his current flat mates and look for accommodation from September (in London). Another friend is deferring for a year because of the potential online lectures.

DD and I watched Pain, Pus and Poison, a documentary about the search for drugs for modern medicine. It was made in 2013, and the section on viruses where Dr Michael Moseley said that he thought there would be another flu like pandemic is so scarily true.

I've spoken to one sort of behaviourist who says one of her rescues kicks off every evening but now takes himself off to another room. I wouldn't mind if he chose to go but he always looks so sad. And I'm a pushover for sad animal eyes. He is fiercely protective of me, to the point where he starts barking and snarling if anyone stands up or comes into the room. He really is ruling the house. I am hoping that when DD goes back to University DH and I can try and train him in out of him. Unfortunately he doesn't bark when people come to the house so he is useless as a guard dog!

Tbh, laziness is a positive virtue in lockdown. I like just staring at things. Went for a walk down street and found myself just.noticing things, prches, archtraves, brambles, gates, nettles.it is zen really. I worry about the runners, no time to see the minutiae all around (too lazy to run, although it seems to be a handy way to get dog recall if I say "chase me" and sprint away from something forbidden like a chicken bone.

Im reading a good book about humboldt by Andrea Wulf. Oh and lots of reviews of things I will never read....sigh. personal improvement apart from possibly an improved patience quotient is not.happening.

Gosh that is difficult Ursula. Have you contacted behaviourist? Mine can on occasion get v territorial.about his percieved spot on sofa. Im not being humorous, just remembering there can in fact be tipping points when their behaviour is very aggressive/reactive and it can be anxiety control etc setting in. Mine still has crazy zoomy stuff going on when overtired/rattled and it is not pleasant. Mostly in mine it is toileting ocd (wont use garden in evening, needs another stroll, but is also really tired by all the noisy people here) dh is really annoyed with me cos the dog unsupervised just helped himself to a lot of butter. But that is just mischief, it is snarling that is upsetting, even few times mine has done it (tho im now working out prevention methods)
Things continue rather drearily (with family life)but my dog walks are highlight.

DD and I plan to watch the Frankenstein but we have to watch on the ipad as we don't have a clever telly.

I am doing absolutely nothing character building or life enhancing during lockdown which just goes to show what a lazy arse I actually am.

I am having to shut rescue dog in the futility room all evening which really upsets me but we can't cope with the aggression. He turns into a snarling bitey bastard in the evenings and in fact bit me when I was trying to remove him from the lounge the other evening. I had to have a tetanus jab in the car park at the doctors.

My DD would love a house with friends right now, despite us giving her two rooms to herself!!! Oh dear, we are so not fashionable now!

Have been trying recipes but not bread yet, will give that a go.

I have a carefree cat no dog! They always look so cute in park but sense need so much attention. I did have a challenge of another cat though who was territorial and not always clean! Sadly she died last year.

I've been watching all the NT plays. They are great!

@Nettleskeins DD has nowhere to go back to because her halls are being used by NHS staff as they are next to the hospital. The summer term's hall fees have been waived because she came home in March.

The second year house contract starts in July.

I really do recommend the NT Frankenstein if anyone child did itbat A level for English. Remembering all those themes made it an even richer experience to watch.Ben Cumberbatch as Creature. Superb and interesting re Science too. And History/philosophy. Ds thought the music wasnt up to much and stormed off cos it sounded "religious".'hrmmm

Poor dd.Gin, hope safe haven improves things, and hopefully more sun (raining here now, wind howling) will she return in two weeks do you think?

Knot im glad youve got ds there, it is nice to have them in the house, but yes the dramas can feel like squeezing a dry sponge out (im.sponge) partly cos one feels their dramas should be part of their new independent lives. It is all a bit glass menagerie for me!
Ds has a discount on his acc come through, cue more scenes about whether to go back or not, and forgo discount. He didnt read email right and got completely confused,bthen stressed about belongings packed up by uni in his absence. If only there was some timeframe for bloody lckdwn exit or indication of what freedoms we might have and he could PLAN!

DD is watching the odd online lecture and doing lab work using data provided by the lecturer. Her chronic fatigue has kicked in big time so she isn't able to do as much work as she should. She has an exam in three weeks, and will keep her average grade from the first semester if she passes.

DS is still turning in work, I think he has an essay due next week and he is supposed to be recording something. His tutor is trying to get him to submit that early, the usual method is to wait until the last minute then have something go wrong/break/need replacing which is a disaster because of lack of time. I was enjoying being out of sight of the drama and then here it is, back under my roof.

I'm still glad he is here and not at the flat because it forces me into the role of responsible adult. I wouldn't be making such a varied range of meals if it was just me but I'll make more of an effort for him.

Our dog makes the day more bearable and the world wider. That said, I think I might have done a lot more cleaning without his adorable assistance. The house is an utter sh* tp at present, and it just doesnt seem worth missing out on snuggles on sofa with only person that tries to make polite conversation.

Would rescue dog counterintuitively like a second dog in the house so he could engage less? I think you said he was very uncuddly. That is difficult when they dont want.contact

DD has been busy doing University work. She had to submit three presentations last week and has three essays to complete in the next few weeks plus two exams at the end of May. I think they are online, 24 hour type things which DD thinks will be harder than just sitting a three hour paper.

She has been furloughed from her job so is still getting paid, so with that added to her student loan for next term she is quids in at the moment.

She plans on going back to her University house next week now she has persuaded the student nurse to move into the accommodation provided by the hospital were she is starting work.

The rescue dog is proving to be a bit of a challenge ...

Ds1 plodding on with uni work but tbh I think he is doing less than he would normally do - the motivation from his group and all the practical stuff that gets him out of bed at uni, just isnt there. I am finding he has reverted back to his worst "holiday" self. But he is making lots of social contact, chatting on zoom and facetiming, real telephone calls so that is at least better than when he was younger and a bit depressed and solitary in year 12/13. Doesnt leave house or take any exercise besides a brief walk to supermarket occasionally. Wont engage in suggestions to find other students who might need a temporary.housemate in uni town, so that he can go back there and be more independent/get job. Very becalmed. But cheerful. Just irritatingly unhelpful...not helped by his granny giving him money for his.birthday, so he literally has no outgoings.
Dd still doing a bit of work for her a level, ds2'finished his. None of it counts but some of the work had an original deadline of may, so without doing it, teacher hasnt much to go on (this is art written component) there is definitely a difference between private and state. No formal lessons or resources or even live contact at our state schools. But that is a relief in a way and how it should.be after cutoff.

'Investing time in future work'
What a good idea! I told my boss as we went into lockdown, this will change work and the world. I've been told some firms will now rent less space and work permanently on shifts out of the office. Game changer! When the horror is over and hopefully some therapeutics work, I hope the world works together to make it a better place! Ever the optimist! Keeps me going!