Class of '18 still nattering.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

forgot the old link hang on a mo...

Knitting good to hear (end of previous thread) that the Georges are still doing well - I often wonder about them!

Nettles love your DS's not-so-subtle hint that he'd like you to send him some post please!
I'll remember that and try to send DD a little surprise for early in her first week.

Marmite the afternoon tea sounds lovely, as do your girls. Will be thinking of you all every step of this tough, tough week

Lonicera we have a gap year girl volunteering at the primary school I work at - she's just doing 2 mornings I think and started today. I expect your local primary would welcome your DD with open arms, particularly with her brownies experience.

Fantasy I bet your DD can't wait to get away and start over. I can't wait to hear all about her new life in London!

DD went out to her first Fresher's event last night. She faced timed me at lunchtime to tell me that she had got in at 6am.

Despite all their protestations she ended the evening with about 5 other school mates who have gone to she same University and two others that she knows locally. Her flat mates had gone home earlier but she stayed on in the comfort zone of people some of whom she has known since she was 3.

Talking to DD and reading stuff on the FB group it does seem to be sons and mothers of sons who struggle more with the transition to University. Apologies now if that offends or upsets anyone.

I also suggested the primary school Lobster

marmite hope everything goes smoothly with the surgery and post-op recovery

Ursula I feel a bit like you feel towards the horse. Responsible, unable to communicate except through the medium of whinnying/inarticulate text messages, and worried that he won't cope with new friends..after 18 years in my paddock..marvelling at his adorable fetlocks Also concerned that the previous experience of said horse is that he has been in various scrapes..and will he be alright in his new livery yard/with his new owner?
Its serious stuff

There you have it, in a nutshell!

The Georges had to be evicted from their tray of lovely compost because I wanted it for the garden. They had failed to read the leaflet that said that they should be living in the top tray with the food in it and had to be picked out one by one. I hadn't realised just how many of them there were, lots of eggs too.

Moan of the day - I am sick of people cooing sympathetically over me. I know they mean well but really, I coped with the loss of my husband so having my son move out is nothing. He's not dead just living 90 minutes away. My phone is going off frequently because I am obviously a better source of knowledge than Google so it's not as if I'm not in touch with him (for this week at least)

DS doesn't drink (this week) and a room full of people shouting to make themselves heard holds no attractions for him. I suspect he will be happier when the "fun" activities have stopped. He is being dragged out by his flatmates who are on the same course and as one of them has the appearance of being an irresistible force I think he will be going to the course socials.

nettles well put!
marmite thinking of you and hope all goes well.
lonicera hope DD finds something she can enjoy soon.
fantasy hope your DD can put that job down to experience and move on thankful that she's not there any more!

Heard briefly from DS today. I'd sent him link for over door hooks (Robert Dyas but mentioned cheaper on amazon) - no idea if he'll bother. He's complaining it is way too hot in room and he needs a fan. Well he knows where the shops are! He questioned which Dr to register with and told me he's cooked himself a bacon sandwich today. No idea how last nights freshers party went, how he's getting on with room mates, etc.

DD's boyfriend had a shock this morning when he was told to buy an expensive book. Please tell your DC to take into account how expensive books are.

I got sent the email to buy a book for her.

Also received a request for spinach and ricotta cannelloni and moussaka frozen in individual portions. I offered to make before she went but she poo poohed the idea. Changed her tune after two days of eating rubbish. Also her bread has gone mouldy in only two days. I did tell her to freeze it to use for toast. Hell its great being wise.

Loving the analogy nettles.

I’m bloody exhausted being wise. DD had lots of advice from us before she went but chose to listen to a friend who said we were being uptight and controlling. I am finding it very hard to bite my tongue on occasion. She has now wasted loads of time trying to sort things out that could easily have been done more quickly in advance. Even little things like the correct money for laundry. I laid out a pile of the correct coins, suggested a receptacle for them etc etc etc. She knew better and spent hours on Saturday trying to get change. Honestly more exasperating than toddlers.

Brilliantly put Nettle

marmite sending lots of positive vibes your way

lonicera I'm so sorry to hear that your DD is struggling - that must be hard on you. When does she turn 19 (there is a reason for asking - it's not a random question)?

“Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while

[Pre-Chorus 1]
The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

[Chorus]
Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind?
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

[Verse 2]
Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake, I let precious time go by
Then when she's gone, there's that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I can't deny”

I was watching a programme about Mamma Mia yesterday, and they mentioned this song, and the poignant mum and daughter scene at the end. Thought of this thread during it.

Am back in the UK. Feeling quite at home as everyone on train with me and in lift was Chinese!
marmite - hope everything goes well for you this week.

Marmite, thinking of you

DD2 is enjoying the antics of her flatmates. It is sounding like quite a few of them have been let off their leash for the first time and the freedom is going to their heads (quite literally in hospital boy's case!)

Thankyou loni, flat,lobster
ursula I agree in regards to the boys, it must be hard but my sisters boys are the same very dependent on her and their adults! There is only me and my sister and I have 3 brothers and they were all very much dependent on my mum.
loni
Dd said her books were expensive but mainly written by her lecturers, I.e they want the kids to buy their books because they’ve written it so obviously it must be good seems more like a money making scheme. Although, dd has said on her reading lists chapters are recommended so they don’t have to buy the books as most are on an online portal system.

Petal I was not prepared for that right now!

I've studiously managed to avoid mama Mia all summer for that exact reason!

Welcome back Shanghai, hope you had a relaxing journey.

DD wanted to drag me to IKEA after work for more "essentials" but I talked her into an online order accompanied by Chinese takeaway instead! Phew!

chocolateworshipper next July. I know that education is free until 19. Is that what you are thinking?

Hoping all goes well for you marmite

Sorry Lobster!

Marmite -wishing you all,the best.

Wishing you all the best this week marmite.

Ursula you may be right.

DS has cooked his own tea after several texts about oven temperatures. If he wants to eat he'll learn. Although his DG did send him away with frozen individual portions of his favourite food....

I am currently ignoring moaning about enforced social interaction. I don't hear from him when things are fine, I just get messages when things go wrong. At some point I am going to have to address this because when my phone pings four times in quick succession my heart sinks. What exactly I am supposed to do other than feel bad I do not know.

Having just spent two hours hospital visiting with an aged relative who has made complaining into an art form I can be sure that he's having a better evening than me except my dinner would have been better because I can cook. He is probably a better cook now than I was at his age and I tend to forget that you can't acquire decades of skill overnight.

I have so far managed not to say "I told you so". I'm thinking it a lot though.

Thanks everyone!!