Class of '18 nattering as they head in different directions.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Hope this works. On phone with dodgy signal.

haudin
Dd said it was funny what she wrote as dd isn’t skinny but not obese

Dds accommodation should come through today or tomorrow. Yippee

Dd is feeling worried about being homesick even though for the past 5 years home was really Boarding school I think it’s because she’s been at home since June-September
I do feel a bit nostalgic as it feels like I should be sending her back there.

Dd has a place in Halls! One of the most expensive but she’s on a waiting list to swap back
It will mean she has £100 per month to live on which in London just isn’t enough I will top up. And she’ll work so I’m hoping she will be fine

ds has been sweet but v annoying today... still refusing to discuss how we are going to get his stuff to college in any detail. I don't drive on the motorway or long distances so it is preoccupying me disproportionately what the best way to buy things is, in advance under my supervision or leave him to buy everything himself locally (there are shops EVERYWHERE all geared up to students)
I've discovered a place that will deliver all kitchen equipment/duvets locally (still obsessing about his housekeeping arrangements, silly me as it turns out ds is really not interested at all!!!) Again, it has been a learning curve, he doesn't care or else I am stressing him out by just even talking about it... I need to stop overthinking it. He is going to live on bread and cheese off paper plates and take his old duvet cover...well...so be it. I do love shopping for housekeeping stuff, it is sad he isn't fussed!!

I went to M & S instead to drown my sorrows in overpriced groceries..Trying not to feed ds in the hope that he will start noticing what is like without meals, but that isn't working either. He came in and started scoffing chocolate chip brioche rolls and cold pasta. Also trying not to wash his clothes, that IS working.

Fantasy I think it is one of the things that isn't so much talked about, which universities are so much more expensive to attend. The idea that all are equally expensive because of equal tuition fees just doesn't get borne out in reality. And surprisingly people say that Ox and Cambridge are comparatively cheaper, something that no-one would assume from appearances (ie grandeur of architecture) What is strange is that you can spend as much money on university accommodation in halls at Hull as you can in the more obviously expensive accommodation in the south east.

Ds is purportedly going to live on 65 [over and above rent]a week - self catered. I am not holding my breath before he starts saying this is impossible, and THEN he might want to LEARN how to cook/budget. But we are not getting anywhere discussing this theoretically. He seems incredibly young for his age. I'm waiting for him to become a compulsive penny pincher now that the bank account is kicking in.

I am currently in uni city. They started major road closures yesterday. The roundabout I have to go all the way round to get to the car park off the dual carriageway isn't a roundabout anymore and the satnav had to cope with three road closures. I am going to pin the road map on the back of the bathroom door and study it I'm glad that we didn't find this out on moving day.

I have just discovered that there is no parking at drop off for DD at halls. that certainly explains why we couldn't find the details anywhere. We can drive in, unload the car, but not park. Aargh!

actually, it is the same for ds's halls. They said 15 mins unloading. And you could then drive off and park somewhere else...unspecified....if you could find a place....(but there was v limited chance of finding anything hint hint) So I feel slightly better about not being able to drive there.

I wonder whether the whole point is to get rid of the parents as quickly as possible? I have also heard tell that it encourages the second years to come and help the first years unload (as fast as possible!), and that makes for a good icebreaker to stop the wobbles when you leave abandon them for good

Maybe this is where my blue badge can come into its own.

But to be honest I don't care as I am currently sipping cold white wine here

Ds1 has a budget of £35 a week, self catered in London. We will top him up a little bit and he has strict instructions to get in touch with us ASAP if he needs more.
He declined an overdraft as he is determined to manage.

Dd an in tears now...
She has got her booking through and her weekly fees are £207
It leaves her with £100 a month to live on in London which doesn’t seem enough
There are cheaper rooms still available and she has emailed to enquire to have one

There's no parking for DS either but my road trip today has found a car park that is a couple of minutes walk to his flat. Rather than fight through the junction that is no longer a roundabout then have a multi mile tour of the one way system to get to the car park next door (doing another U turn where the roundabout should be) I'm just going to park up and carry stuff in.

Now they are discussing having two groups. One for high achievers and one for 'normal' children

I don't normally use this expression, but WTAF!!!! I'll pop in and see if I can back you up marmite

Fantasy I'm so sorry for your DD - she doesn't have life easy at all. I wish I had some fabulous advice

Chocolate I am still lurking to see if it continues in the same way or sense prevails!

marmite is it the one in secondary education - called "Are we ready for a GCSEs 2019 thread" ?

chocolate yes, that’s the one! Were we like that when ours did GCSE’s? Surely not!

OMG I've just reached that bit

We have a 20 minute unloading slot at DS1's halls, but after that there is some parking on the road and also free parking some distance away with shuttle bus provided.

A question for next year (which is when DD will be going)...
If results day is on 15th July, would you take the chance on going on holiday 9 days later for a few days? A friend has booked their hols and doesn't have kids in exam stress/pre uni age, so didn't think about the dates, but is hoping we can join them. I'm thinking a few days rather than a week, but still not sure if we dare go for it in case we are needed to be here, sorting all the pre uni admin out.

Advice welcome.

we definitely weren't! To be fair, at least the OP said no to the idea.

You don't need to physically be at home, but might need access to emails, the internet and a phone. There are some crucial windows of time (e.g. to confirm accommodation allocation) when it would be stressful to be off the grid.

Ds2 is now having a screaming breakdown over his first A level History homework (we suggested typing up his bad handwriting, which is what set him off - fools that we were) but.....trumpet blast!
Ds1 cooked himself some supper. But that was because I forced him to fry it himself, it being a lamb chop. I left it uncooked whilst we sat happily eating the other chops. He has just come in and told me his chop was delicious, and thanked me for buying it

madness in this house Dd is in an excellent mood though. She has decided to do Biology A level instead of Geography, so long may that last...

I don't want to induce PTSD in anyone, A levels are officially over aren't they? on this thread.

Nettleskeins
DS2 has his Maths readiness-for-A-level test tomorrow. This year I have one in Y12 and two in Y10, which hopefully won't be too bad. I refuse to think about the following year...

DrMadeline probable the worst case scenario is Clearing which was us this year. DD went to Leeds Festival on the 23rd, with strict instructions to pay her accommodation charge on the way. There was a lot of drama and emotion flying about, but practically you would be ok to be away. Probably internet access would give you peace of mind.

I definitely have A level PTSD. I went back to school for the first time since results day, to collect DS2. Not pleasant