Class of '18 nervously waiting.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

They've left college, now we are trying not to think about a certain date.

When mum died my dad slowly emptied his kitchen apart from bare essentials to my house, then he died and I got the rest of it. I have a surfeit of everything so I plan to send her off with some well used stuff that is unlikely to get nicked. Friends often laugh at my collection of wooden boards and utensils, but I will not need to buy anything on that front.

If she ends up where she wants to be, then it is only an hour away so I imagine it will be one trip to deliver her and her make up box and party outfits, then sit back and wait for the phone calls.

Ursula, according to us so far; bike repair kit, tools in case something breaks including a set of allen keys, all the stationery you might need to open a post office, medicines in case of flu, norovirus or ebola, kitchen stuff (I drew the line at an avocado slicer dd spotted) laptop, alarm clock, kettle, drying rack if it's her insurance, large whiteboard (it's a mathematician thing, but could be helpful in the event of disaster planning)

and that's before the actual clothes malarkey.

I looked at dds insurance, they only have induction hobs in most of the halls. So hanging fire on that. She may not even have a real kitchen if she goes to her firm, depending on which bit she stays in. Pyrex jug with lid is in The Box. I figured it will do for microwaving food and at a push she can eat out of it too So the kitchen stuff so far is based around being able to prepare snacks and light meals.

We've just been in Scotland Haudin, visiting relatives in Dundee and a big Reeling session (kids first experience of family Scottishness) It was hilarious and we listened to some amazing live flute/fiddle and harp and BOWRAN (sp?) music whilst dancing. And it started to rain. bliss. Caught in a massive delay due to lightening hitting signal boxes in York area, real zombie apocalypse stuff as whole East coast knocked out as a result.

Ds1 loved it. He can't dance but he has rhythm!

Now back in London and off to Berlin and he is being difficult again. Big meltdown over organising the accommodation payment which we did upfront, a lot of rudeness and impatience. the thought of discussing things like frying pans with him just is well....impossible...as he cannot even open his Pin number slip without getting in a state and peeling off the wrong bit...

However he has managed to open a bank account by himself. Baby steps. I've now cut off his allowance until term starts in hope that he will be motivated to do some paid chores around house.

Not feeling that nervous about results any more, more nervous about ds growing up a bit this hols before he goes to uni. we've ticked independent travel and socialising and getting used to alcohol for the first time and that it can be consumed in moderation not hangover inducing excess, but not yet budgeting in any form. Or housework.

Knitting I smiled at the World of Warcraft day of reckoning Puts A levels in their provincial place doesn't it..

My travel anxiety has almost completely receded due to so many journeys, and the wrong items taken everywhere and continuously returning to filthy house and trains and plains being cancelled and delayed. Clearly everything can go wrong and we will survive..dd is pretty bombproof though, today she has insisted on going to Mamma Mia and last night was another teenager party, despite a 6 hour train journey preceding in the daytime..

There was a kettle in DS1's kitchen and he wasn't allowed one in his room. (This was a pain in his halls, he was on the ground floor and separated from the kitchen by the entrance hall, so had to take key each time. Higher up floor didn't have locked doors between them and the kitchen!

Ds's kitchen also had a toaster but the same was not true for other uni halls.

This is all just reminding me. We took a friend of Ds1's toaster just after he started, we happened to be taking DS2 to a music event at his uni. It was still 2 weeks before DS1 was leaving. We went into the local Morrisons to get some drinks - it was a hive of activity. There were Welcome Banners everywhere, offering student discount and people with trolleys piled high with duvets, airers, pots and pans.

I burst into tears because it really brought home DS1 was going ......

Glad you had a good time in Scotland nettles. And survived all the journeying chaos.

In ds's first year we arrived on the Sunday (we were depending on a friend with a car who kindly gave us a lift). The local Tesco's was heaving with students and they had run out of all sorts of things, including the hangers we were looking for.
The next year ds's was helping with the buddying scheme for new students so we went early. Tesco's was empty but stacked high with student necessities including 5kg bags of pasta everywhere.

Yup, it is worth waiting until you know what is allowed in rooms so far as electrical equipment is concerned. DD2's firm choice doesnt allow kettles , toasters or even fairy lights in rooms. Probably to do with fire risk (ancient electrical items with frayed wiring being dug out of the loft). Same with extension leads.

I'm very much liking the 'drunk rack' concept - as a business idea I think that would sell very well & the first thing most students would buy

I guess uni provisional packing is a bit like holiday packing - some will fling it all in an IKEA bag last minute, whilst others will pack lots of stuff & some more, whilst Ikea bag student will beg, steal or borrow from super organised student. DD has informed me that she will need a whole new business wardrobe, nice bag & shoes - suggesting she can just re-use her 6th form wardrobe was met with a look of horror!

Kitten ostrich style for me at present is piles of holiday washing, catching up on to-do's surfing internet & Mumsnet!, baking/cooking new things & have social stuff intentionally in the diary too - in denial, moi?!

It's taken me a while to catch up! You lot move fast.

Good Luck to new drivers and those who are taking tests. DS drove his DG for the first time yesterday to an appointment- he was impressed and said he drove better than my DB who scares him when he gets behind the wheel. DS is not a shouty ranty driver like me.

Don't small electricals (kettles, toasters, mini fridges etc) have to be PAT tested to be used in halls? I'm sure I've heard this somewhere.

My halls provided nothing - self catered so took all my own kitchen stuff and also bedding etc. I can't talk to DS about shopping for anything yet as he is still in the "it's all going to go wrong" frame of mind. Although I have sneaked in a basic set of crockery, shower mat and a collapsible laundry hamper - have hidden them in the garage.

OYBBK if your DD gets her insurance the induction hobs are a pain as old aluminium pans won't work. DS1 was lucky that his kitchen had one induction and one gas. Luckily the very cheapest pans are steel. I bought DS1 a set of very, very cheap kitchen equipment, something like 50 pieces (including cutlery) for around £40. He's lost half of it but at that price... For him the baking tray has been very well used, for oven chips and chicken nuggets. Sigh.

Something like this.
www.argos.co.uk/product/1450130

Welcome bake and congratulations to your DS on the driving test

That's nothing derek - I've been to Elevenerife

At least induction hobs are quick. Ds's halls had oldfashioned solid plates which took forever to heat up. This was definitely a factor in putting him off cooking. He is very bad a planning ahead so what only start cooking when he was already very hungry.
He wants me to do a meal plan and times for him for this year when he will be in a shared house, including when to set the alarm to tell him to get started.

Brace yourselves. Ive done something remarkable this afternoon......

I've tamed the Scary Cupboard.

It is no longer scary. It's all in labelled boxes.

Gosh that's a good deal Ellen!

I think dds firm allows kettles only. Plus obviously alarm clocks. But no extra lamps. I should check insurance actually before we buy anything.

Good call! Her insurance doesn't allow a kettle.

Can you remember when WE went to uni - a rucksack on the train was about the limit of stuff. Even self-catering I only remember having one saucepan, one frying pan, one cup, plate, bowl and we bought food when we got there.

So they don't have Agas in halls then? DD will be challenged 😂

We're leaving for France & Belgium in 36h. Reminded DS1 to bring his EHIC card.
It turns out he threw it away after he got back from Belgium three weeks ago.

You have insurance though?

Yes, we have insurance and he has his own (separate) travel insurance policy. Just aghast at his lack of common sense.

We never throw anything away.

I could be on one of those hoarder programmes soon.

Phew, it turns out he still has the card.
The thing he threw away was the travel insurance certificate, which we can print out again.

You/he can ask for a new EHIC card over the phone. They give you a reference number and have record that the EHIC cover is in place.

Worth doing as insurance may assume EHIC cover for the big expensive emergency costs.