Year 13 support thread - The End.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Not the end of the threads, just this chapter of life. We'll keep going, don't worry!

However! Not to be used until this one is done

Ds hasn't heard anything from Warwick about accommodation, but the application process didn't open until June so perhaps we won't hear anything until after a level results have been released. He applied for 4 places in same area of the campus, so he's probably not bothered which one he gets.
Not given much thought to what ds will take to university (but he does have a sewing kit) as we move house next week so surrounded by boxes. Dd starts at a new school on 13th August so ds has been relegated to third place. He will leave China on 27th August, stay with my mum until 18th September and I will fly over on 17th to finalise any last minute stuff before freshers' week starts on 24th September. His girlfriend is also going to the UK so she will also stay with my mum too as her parents are teachers working overseas and term will have already started for them.

catslife good luck on the apprenticeship applications. Getting interviews sounds hopeful.

Oh dear. conservation thing is not going well. Apparently they are in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to do! Not enough food, the pool is broken, toilet door doesn't close, they had to pay for bedsheets. No Wi-Fi or signal in the bedroom, i doesn't sound very well organised. He hasn't spoken to most of the people and would like to come home!!

Sorry to hear that Derek.
So hard when they are far way and miserable.
How long is he meant to be staying there?

Until a week on Sunday, but we are flying out next Thursday for a holiday.should be still feel miserable. I think it's more to do with the fact he hasn't made a really good friend yet, and two thirds are girls. It's all quite basic stuff he's moaning about. Heaven help him when he discovers what it's like in student halls....

Derek student halls will feel luxurious after this!!

It sounds rather formative Derek!

Ds1 turned 18 on Tuesday. I'm now the owner of an adult!
We went to Tesco so he could buy his first alcoholic drink, he took his id and had it ready, only he wasn't checked! We were stunned as he looks young for age anyway.
We had started gathering bits together for him, unfortunately they were in the kitchen so we have to start again. I love the ideas here though- keep them coming.

Happy birthday LDG's DS

catslife I hope something will come out of the apprenticeship interviews. I do think apprenticeships are a really good alternative to traditional academic routes for many DCs

DD went for another interview for a FT job today, but won't hear until the end of next week. She decided to turn down the previous job offer as it wasn't quite what she wanted. I'm happy with that though - she's signing up for plenty of overtime with her PT job, so no rush to get a FT one

Happy Birthday to your ds LDG. I'm sorry that you need to start again on the shopping.

Shanghai looks like allocations are on 23rd August. warwick.ac.uk/services/accommodation/studentaccommodation/apply/18/new/allocation_policy_1819.pdf

I'm trying desperately to stay awake. Need to meet dd at the station later and I'm so tired. I want my bed.

I've booked a room in dds insurance town in case I have to go up there with her by train at the start of term. Free cancellation.

Good luck to your dd chocolate.

Thanks Kitten! Will let DS know.

End of term today and so theoretically I am done till September. I have at least we weeks work in front of me though because my very lovely but utterly useless boss has just been made redundant and left me a huge pile of mess to resolve.

DD has a phone interview with disability services at her firm offer next week. I really want a mentor in place for her - because she tends to mask when she is unwell and I think she’d be more likely to open up to a mentor than worry us. I’m delighted she has agreed to take the call herself though, with me in the room. A few months ago she would have refused to talk to them and insist I do it for her.

HardwickWhite DS1 would find that sort of phone call so hard. He can answer the phone at work and take reservations and orders, but really struggles with phoning the bank / university accommodation office / DSA assessment centre. He says it's because they ask him questions about his personal details, and his mind goes blank.

DSA have agreed to pay for a weekly meeting with a mentor for DS1. He says he would be happy to give them (and disability services) permission to contact us if he becomes very unwell.

That is exactly what I am hoping for for DD TheThird. The DSA approval to go to the assessment centre has just popped in my inbox, and I am relieved it is somewhere she knows quite well.

In a way, this is all quite good. It gives her something to do, and helps her believe she is going to be well enough to cope when she is away.

I've just remembered though that she mentioned that her firm had asked for her certificates for those subjects she had done already, and I am fairly sure she hasn't done anything about that. I'm off to put a post-it on her door!

That's really good Third :)

The following lists are from DD1

Room
• Over door hooks
• Coat hangers (lots & lots)
• Clothes horse/airer
• Plug in air freshener
• Fabric spray
• Make up caddy
• Bathroom caddy
• 2 sets of bedding
• Throws/fleece blankets
• Bath sheets * 2
• Hand towels * 2
• Bathroom/shaving mirror
• Sturdy random crap box
• Small bathroom/bedroom bin

Kitchen
• Cutlery & crockery (4 place settings)
• Tupperware boxes (lots)
• Sharp knives (not the cheapest & not a block)
• Washing up brush (one you can put the soap down)
• Good quality kitchen scissors
• Kitchen scales
• 2 saucepans & 1 or 2 frying pans
• Measuring jug & measuring spoons
• Pizza cutter
• Bottle opener
• Tin opener
• Pint glasses
• Mugs
• Fish slice
• Spatula
• Wooden spoon, wooden spatula
• Chopping boards
• Electric whisk (cheap)
• Mixing bowls (medium & large)
• Potato peeler
• Roasting tin & baking sheet
• Loaf tin
• Kitchen timer
• Cling film
• Baking parchment
• Tin foil

Thank you GnomedePlume
DS1 asked for a dishmatic; he uses them at work.
It hadn't dawned on me that there might not be a mirror in the room!

That's so kind of your dd Gnome, thank you to her! There's lots of things I wouldn't have thought of.

Welcome!

It made me think of an old fashioned wedding list and it could be managed in a similar way. Auntie Maud asks if DC want anything. Make suggestions and tick them off the list.

Most things dont need to be new but it is worth getting reasonable quality kitchen knives and scissors. We made the mistake of getting the cheapest knifeblock set which didnt last long. The knife block got in the way and the knives and scissors quickly broke.

It is worth keeping in mind what isnt needed. Student rooms are small and storage is limited. Like when setting up any new home beware of accepting anything and everything.

Both my DDs enjoy baking which might help explain some of the cooking items.

I could really do with a sturdy random crap box with a fastening lid, totally opaque so you couldn't see the level of shame contained in it.

It made me think of an old fashioned wedding list and it could be managed in a similar way.

I've said before on here that I think it's the modern equivalent of a hope chest or 'bottom drawer'. I've been putting aside or buying something for DS1 each week, but trying to stick to things he can use in any type of room.

Great list Gnome - thank you!

DS has had bins in his rooms, also mirrors.

He also has only 2 place settings, his choice, less washing up to build up!

He also has a shoe polishing kit and his own iron, asked for his first Christmas. This is because he plays in music ensembles and likes polished shoes and a properly ironed shirt. Hall's iron was rubbish. (We replaced the ironing board cover too).

He/We budgeted for buying bits the first couple of weeks where they were needed.

The first month is the most expensive, Freshers, extra bits, establishing food cupboard