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

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Hope this works. On phone with dodgy signal.

Thank you all for your lovely messages

Congratulations to beka too

The Santander letters (one with password, one with number) arrived within a few days.

Nettles DD has a reading list of very expensive books. She has bought the cheaper ones and we are trying to work out if the £150 set is compulsory or suggested. I have told her to look on the music noticeboard in case any of the 2nd years are selling theirs.

No composing going in but lots of singing and I have encouraged her to get back on the piano and violin.

The code is supposed to arrive within 5 days of opening account, and railcard can take a week to arrive, unless you can go digital in which case it's immediate. (You can pay for express delivery)

I don't think the rail card arrives until they've registered at university and had their first loan does it?

Yes, the railcard code isn't activated until the account has a balance of at least £500.

DS1 paid £500 of his savings in from his job, to pay for start-up costs.

marmite we bought some of the books for DS second hand on Amazon Marketplace (some of them are brand new!). The university tutor recommended getting them this way (just check they are the right edition), I spent £30 on two yesterday, instead of £70 new. Might be worth a look.

Thanks Bake. We have looked on there, oxfam books and eBay. No luck so far but will keep looking.

No book list for DS yet - he will have his timetable on Monday so maybe more information then.

He didn't go with Santander for his bank account - he stuck with his old bank and just opened a student account but can also keep his old account until he is 23 (not sure why that is the cut off age!). He just applied for his rail card tonight as he wasn't getting a freebie.

Marmite - hope you are doing well. I shall definantly shout at the adverts from my neck of the wood on your behalf, although I do like the one showing the woman dancing, showing life carries in and you can enjoy life following cancer.

Am I officially the first person to have their dc leave home. Dc1 is now living in a flat several hours drive away with three other people he met a few days ago. He’s doing a higher apprenticeship hence the early start. Because they are officially working, they are not covered by student exemptions such as tv license, home insurance etc. It’s slightly annoying really, as although they are working, they’re not earning a fortune, and they are still only 18. We’re still supporting him (at least initially) with rent etc.

I think he is settling in okay, but he sounds very tired. Also, not being a student, I think they’ll have to try a little harder to make a social life as it’s not laid on. I hope he doesn’t hibernate in his room.

Sorry, expressing all those parental fears you have when dc moves away.

Incidentally, how often is everyone planning to contact their offspring? Saw an episode of the Goldbergs when Beverley (mum) negotiated with her daughter often often she was going to phone.

Hope you are Adjusting ok Petal and I hope ds is enjoying himself.

Are the other flatmates also doing the apprenticeship?
Hopefully they will build up a network of friends between them.

Am also negotiating with ds on contact.

Have asked for more updates in Freshers week than I would expect him to give in usual termtime. Simply as I am so excited to hear all he is up to. And I may need a gentle weaning programme :)

He knows me well and is fine with that and also knows that in reality he will actually be the one setting the pace of my weaning programme :)

Abebooks.co.UK can be a good source of secondhand books.
No book lists here yet, nor information on accommodation. We know the letter has been posted, as ds had an email to tell him so on Tuesday. Why couldn't they email the contents of the letter too?!

Petalflowers hope the apprenticeship goes well.

I have heard that some parents negotiate frequency of contact, but I'm not sure I want to be that prescriptive. I'm expecting a few texts and WhatsApp messages asking for practical help or advice on new 'being an adult' type skills. Once he has settled in, I hope he'll want to be in touch regularly but I don't want him to feel like it's an extra chore to have to get done.

We've arranged to visit him five weeks in. We'll bring anything from home he has forgotten, take him out for lunch and bring home anything he doesn't need that's just taking up space in his room.

Petal dh did a higher level or equivalent apprenticeship in Germany (more common there) and he said it was very much as you describe. In at the deep end, but he managed okay, and met people very quickly through the apprenticeship and in the town. And he loved the fact that he was "working". His parents essentially didn't have any contact as they moved abroad at that point, and he was still fine. And he wasn't a particular confident person either. I think people of a similar age/interests will always end up talking/socialising in one way or another even if they aren't in a formal course together, in the usual way that people meet, films, cafes, cultural events.

We've just had a nice evening watching The Press drama on tv. For once ds2 didn't interrupt

Hasn’t sunk,in that ds1has left home. Apart from meal,times, didn’t see much of him anyway, as he was permanently stationed at his computer! However, did go to charge the iPad on the first night and Was very conicous his phone was missing.

Also had a very busy week with major changes at work, dc2 starting six form, evening six form meeting (what fun!), mammogram (even more fun!) and doing bits and pieces. I think it will hit me more when life slows down a bit.

Yes, the other flat mates are all doing apprenticeships at the same company, although in a different team. I’m hoping dc will make the most of the lovely city he has moved to, as well as exercise, eat well, work hard.

Actually to quote an old Mars Bar advert, I hope he will ‘Work, rest and play’.

Thank you for all your comments.

Was The Press was watching?

The Press was very slickly done, funny, witty, main characters very well acted/charmingly/warmly acted. But all a bit fake for me - real people just don't behave like that do they? Still as a drama it was very engaging. I am increasingly diffident about the way RL is portrayed in these TV dramas. The locations especially annoy me, the spotless houses in artful disarray if at all disarrayed.
The Bodyguard was even more ridiculously unreal.

DS had his welcome pack from the Chemistry department yesterday. I have read it, not sure about him. One of the helpful checklists mentions making sure you have your A level notes to hand...unfortunately I encouraged him to bin/recycle all of his school books etc How much of a problem is this likely to be do you think?

Thanks Petals. I think they will be tired the first few weeks. On top of meeting new people they have all the additional new experiences of actually looking after and feeding themselves without help/prompting from us. I think that is why so many get freshers flu. I have told DD if she avoids kissing people she won't get it!

I will look at that book site. Thanks Panda.

I've managed to fall out with DD and I'm hundreds of miles away at the tip of Italy.

Sigh.

Awwwww Ursula - that must be really hard I hope you can sort things out over the phone fairly quickly. Big hugs x

Petal I hope the apprenticeship works out really well and hope you are keeping busy to cope with the separation x

Sorry to hear that Ursula. Suspect we will all see emotions flying around as the kids prepare to leave us.

Hope things are soon back to normal.

DoIStay I'm sure he'll be fine without them! I think they only say that so they don't have to keep referring back and going over stuff in the A Level syllabus in the first few weeks of the course - but if he can't remember some of it, that's what Google is for!