Class of '18 Best foot forward through the autumn leaves.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

old thread was getting big....

LoniceraJaponica both DDs plus colleagues report of students engaging with enthusiasm in the student party life but not with their courses. Sadly those people tend not to make it through to complete their degrees. They enjoy the lack of normal controls which they had at home and school but dont realise that they need to replace those with self-discipline.

I cant criticise too much as I did this myself. The thing which ultimately saved me was that I couldnt have lived with the total ignominy of giving up my course and having to move back in permanently with my parents. The year I had to spend at home working and writing essays in the evening was enough of a salutary lesson.

My parkin recipe uses golden syrup. The first batch I made is long since eaten. I'm still in UniCity so don't have access to the recipe.

I took my DD banana bread. BBC food online recipe. She saw it as more healthy as has lots of banana and some yoghurt in it. enjoy baking!

Yes, enjoy baking!
DS is coming home tonight for the weekend - we have a wedding to go to on Sunday afternoon, which DD and I will be baking for. I'm hoping to do some extra baking to send back down with him - he shouldn't have too much with him to carry on the train, as he has a suit here as well as one at uni, and I think he may well borrow a pair of smart shoes from his dad! I'm really looking forward to seeing him, but already not looking forward to the goodbye on Sunday night, him not being here is ok, we have settled into the new normal, I am a bit concerned I will miss him all over again after seeing him this weekend.

Flapjack, Christmas cake and bolognese all in the oven. She can have a portion for tomorrow night. And her blanket which is now finished, huzzah! (that isn't in the oven)

DD has had a dreadful cold bug all week and has found the work load (her course seems to be brutal) totally overwhelming. It’s all been a bit tearful and desperate. She’s got a friend visiting today/tomorrow and then I’m driving up to visit on Sunday. I’m really hoping that next week is sunnier and calmer. Love the baking ideas. She’s asked me to take a text book and some pound coins for the washing machine but some comfort food sounds like a lovely idea too. This is so tough....(I’ve name changed, I was hurrah for adolescence) but that seemed sadly out of date!).

Thank you for all your updates and keeping me company through this.

What subject is your DD doing Biscuitburglar?
DD wants to do biomedical science, and that has upwards of 20 contact hours depending on where she goes.

LoniceraJaponica DD2 on a science course has 25 contact hours. There is also self study which is pretty heavy going - prep for labs, write ups after labs. On top of this there is the normal writing up of notes and other non lab related exercises.

The plus side is that compared to humanities courses it doesnt require the same self-discipline. You have to prepare for a lab because the lab is on Monday, not at some date far off. There is pressure but it is constant.

Biomed is an exciting area. There is a lot of development in diagnostics. It is moving away from path lab to testing being done in doctors' surgeries and the home.

"Biomed is an exciting area. There is a lot of development in diagnostics"

I think you mentioned that before Gnome. This is what interests DD. She is visiting the BF again this weekend, and he and his flatmates just seem to have constant parties. I hope she won't be disappointed by the time she goes to university that she won't be able to live such a hedonistic lifestyle.

I am really worried about how DS will cope without his girlfriend next year. They are absolutely obsessed with each other and barely have any other friends, to the extent that his girlfriend got a job with similar shifts to his so they could see each other as often as possible. There is no interest in meeting other people at all.

I know what you mean derek
I used to worry about DD and her BF. So far they are still together. They have been together for 3 years, but both have kept their friends. I'm sure they will part company at some point, but I am philosophical about it by now.

biscuitburglar - have the same sadness/moan from DD the last few days and my DS said as much Year 1. For some degrees, the independent learning expected is a real step up. My DS couldn't fathom how they "weren't teaching him" - lectures didn't do it for him to start with. It's hard for them.

Told DD today - 'just think how well educated you will be with all this knowledge gained from so much studying' - she was trying to see it! But she's off out tonight and my DS is popping home

DD is doing Natural Sciences Biological. Her course has a reputation for being brutal and she has 28 contact hours plus a lot of self study and assignments to hand in. She’s been doing really well but I think having a really bad cold has made it all seem totally overwhelming. She’s got a few social things sorted for this weekend so sounds a bit sunnier today

Of course I can't find my grandma's recipe for Parkin. Written in her Sunday School book started when she was 13. Kept with a letter from my great uncle written just before he died from his ww1 injuries. Honestly I'm so bloody hopeless. No idea who DD takes after.

Hi all. Nice to read all of the news.
I have sent DD1 a little package of Halloween sweets, skeleton earrings and some spooky make up for next week. She has her first essay due and then she is going to a Halloween party.

Had my first chemo today. Had to wait an hour and a half for a chair. They were so busy. Nurses were lovely and could have a laugh even though they were so busy.

Getting an early night as the next few days could be difficult.

I now have my wig which comes from the Racquel Welch collection, yes you couldn't make this shit up! 😂😂 Hilarious. I think it looks more Theresa May to be honest. Going to get my hairdresser to modernise it.
See you on the other side. I will be reading for a few days but probably not posting.

Take care marmite hope it doesn't make you feel too horrendous for too long.

First dose done Marmite, well done :) we are rooting for you for it to be not too horrid.

ahh, I'm sure it will turn up Ursula.

Heads up that if your dc ever took sandwiches to college or elsewhere, check any rucksacks they may have left behind at home.

Thinking of you, marmite.

All this talk of cake is making me hungry.

We went to see Bohemian Rhapsody this evening. I loved it. I can remember watching Live Aid in the summer holidays after my 1st year at uni with my boyfriend at the time. I loved Queen but never got to see them live. Was stuck in the traffic of the Knebworth 1986 concert feeling really jealous I didn't have a ticket. That was their last concert. Went to the tribute concert in 1992 at Wembley but none of them were Freddie.

Rami Malik (sp?) was a brilliant casting choice, as were the rest of Queen. Touched on his lifestyle, not enough for the critics but I thought it was pretty obviously implied. Songs from all my formative years.

I saw the film with DD2 on Wednesday and loved it. I thought the relationship between Freddie and Mary was beautifully portrayed. Also Freddie and his Dad made me cry.
The funniest thing was when DD turned to me and whispered "Oh I thought Jedward sang that song" !!

Marmite Jedward

Just realised you're on the thread in films as well.

Good job I booked the tickets before the Rotten Tomatoes review, currently 53%. DS2 would have refused to come, he's so influenced by them. And he really enjoyed it too.

Hope you don't suffer too much from the treatment marmite

Thinking of you marmite
I hope the treatment isn't too onerous, and you make a complete recovery

ddog has had his first birthday so a new NN to go with it. I think someone on here suggested it ages ago.
dd is adjusting to the world of work. It's different shifts each day including some Sundays, but work is spread across 5 days.
She is doing more shifts than her contract because another new recruit dropped out.

Hope you're feeling better marmite

Marmite I hope you are curled up with the heating on and some suitable mindless tv.