End of Year 13: Results, Summer and plans for September and onwards

[Rollergirl11]

Noticed the current thread is almost full so thought I better start a new one for discussing results day and our DC’s plans for uni/gap years or anything else!

Hope all the starts go well. DD isn't off until 7th October, think their dates have remained the same. DD is currently in Venice with a friend. We had several 3am messages so she's fine but not sure a lot other than chatting and on their phones is going to happen. Her gown and mortar board arrived here today. She said they have 2 matriculations, one for college and one for the university, and first one is on 8th so she wanted it here.

Oh wow @MrsAvocet that is an expensive e year for you!!

I meant to say, I felt very chuffed you got spring rolls (a while back) in my honour. I grew up in China and used to make spring rolls, so it felt v fitting

DD starts on the 14th Sep. I’m another who, when I went to university in the ‘90s, it started in October and had 3 terms. I find the 2 semester system odd personally. And we always called it university and never uni!

I am another one who always called it university. Think my relatives in Australia called it uni but here it was university

@SooperOuting Hope your DS is ok for then and get well soon for him. Its nice his friends will help him move his things. And DD that would be nice a bit a supper, I bet she would like that, after all that moving in 😀 DD1 is starting her phd in october and got her keys yesterday (Manchester). Shes staying with her boyfriend and his mum in west manchester, so she will be flitting back and forth with the lighter things on couple of bus trips. Its only the decorations she wants to make a start on in her room, then take all the rest of the things on Sunday in his car. DD2 and B/F move in on Friday and will be a couple of car journeys. thank goodness its local

Bit of an emotional day here. DS has been a member of the same sports club since he was about 7 as a participant and from his teens he was a young volunteer then qualified Coach. Tonight was his last session and they did a presentation for him which I confess brought a tear to my eye. And we also got a letter from school inviting us to Speech Day as he's been awarded the prizes for 2 of his A level subjects. One I thought he might possibly get, but the other was a complete surprise. So we haven't quitebeen to school for the last time after all!

@MrsAvocet Thats so nice they did something for him. Being there since 7 years old thats dedication :)

@MirandaWest University here too. I think uni came from aussie soaps in the 90s!

I was going to say the same thing. Plus the influence of lots of Aussies spending time in the UK during that decade (we had an Aussie housemate for a while), and many young Brits spending time travelling in Australia too.

I regularly use 'bathers' and 'footie' from spending time with Aussies in the past.

Now that university years are in semesters not three terms, it makes even more of a mockery of the length of accommodation contracts. It seems as if most young people end their academic years in May now.

The two universities I've worked in (current and previous this year) and the one DD3 is going to use both terms and semesters.. teaching is in semesters, but terms are the gaps between holidays. My work is research-related so terms are relevant for committee meetings, etc, but we need to be aware of semesters for availability of academics for things (they have to prioritise things like marking after exams). Back when I was at Bristol in the late 80s we had a 30 week teaching timetable - I think exams were in weeks 11-12 and 25-30 but who knows, even my ridiculously specific memory is forgetting this!

Exams were in January and May. Every sodding year. So I had January exams for 7 years running as in Scotland O Grade prelims, Higher prelims and SYS prelims were all in January, then 3 years at Bristol then my Masters (London) also had January exams...

I know we've been saying this since y11 but... isn't time galloping fast now? I'm trying to grab every minute with ds! Whilst telling him everything he might have missed in the last 10 years!

I know what you mean @aramox1 I am really torn about what to do tomorrow - go with DH to take DS1 back to University and hence spend the day with him, or stay at home with DS2 and go for a walk or bike ride with him since the weather forecast is glorious. I want to spend the time with them both but that's not possible of course!

@GreatWorldAtlas DD's uniVERSITY (I refuse to be swayed ) uses both semesters and terms which I find quite confusing. The last semester/term finish in May, but her accommodation contract runs until June, so several weeks after ,which I also find a bit odd but am cynically assuming it's to get more money out of them under the guise of giving them some time to move out.

DD got her timetable through and on one day of the week, she has 5 lectures/seminars back-to-back, which means 7 hours straight with no lunch break.

She contacted disability services who agreed that's not feasible for her and is going to contact the relevant people to try and change it. I'm very pleased her disability adviser was so quick to respond and is on the case. As well as having AuDHD so problems focusing for so long, DD has physical health issues, including thyroid problems, which means she is on strict doctor's instructions to eat regularly and consistently and have rest breaks.

@Penguinsa I meant to say, I'm assuming your DD is going to Oxford or Cambridge if she's starting in October? I'm fascinated about the gowns etc, I love those details. I'm so glad you shared them here even though there's an Oxbridge thread. Please keep doing that!

I didn’t go to uni but my boyfriend and all his friends did so I visited a lot. They all called it “college”. 😂

@aramox1 I hear you! I spent a while today explaining to DD how to get stains out of clothing and use an airer for drying before giving up and just saying “FaceTime me if you’ve got any questions”. 😬

She did download the Uber app in readiness for post clubbing trips back to campus. Uber doesn’t operate round here so DS explained to her how it works as DH and I clueless.

I spent a while today explaining to DD how to get stains out of clothing

@SooperOuting <whispers> can you also explain this to me please?

Today was the day I helped daughter and boyfriend move in to their student studio. And also had my front tooth out and partial denture fitted this morning so have been a bit sore. The room is pretty nice, we managed to fit everything in. Theres a few scuff marks and some command hoks which had not come off from the previous owner so we did take photos. Going out for a meal with them and boyfriends parents who arrived this afternoon tomorrow night.

Weeelll…we were specifically discussing blood - time of the month. Soak in cold water, rinse, then spritz with Shout! (other brands are available) then hand wash in sink with washing liquid.

There is probably something fancy you can do with baking soda or vinegar but the above works for me!

Meal with BFs parents your DD and BF sounds lovely. Hope your mouth is better for it.

thanks @SooperOuting sorry to ask something that turned out to be personal!

@sammyjoanne is your daughter a fresher or is she a returning student? Hope your mouth is OK.

No problem! The soaking in cold water thing is a specific solution for getting blood out. Other stains I’d just use Shout and then stick it in the washing machine.

@SooperOuting - hope your mouth is ok and not too sore.

I've stopped doing DS's laundry now for the last few week so he can get used to doing it himself before he goes. He's been asking for ironing tips but I have said to him that I didn't think he'd be doing much ironing in halls! Might get him a mini hand held steamer thing for any shirts/polos. He's a fairly smart dresser day to day so will have a few things that aren't trackies/hoodies to wash!

We also went out this week to buy all his things which was a lovely few hours out (if expensive!). Just the last few bits left now.

I've reserved a click and collect slot at the nearby supermarket for move in day so that once we've got him unloaded we can go and pick it all up in one quick run.

He's opened his student account so I just need to sit down with him now and help him set up his budget. DH and I are going to hold his student loan and send him a monthly amount to make budgeting easier.

I also wanted to get him some "emergency" gift cards to use. Will do Costa, Greggs, Supermarket etc. Any other suggestions?

That doesn't sound realistic for anyone @WriterOfWrongs , glad they are responsive. I am also grateful to @SooperOuting for the laundry tips! Nothing seems to work 🙈 I spent a bit of yesterday going through laundry symbols with DD and was very surprised when she added an iron to the shopping list. We're only halfway through the shopping; rest to be done at the end of the month. DD is about to depart on her fortnight residential course ahead of term; very exciting but a bit of a pang as the first instance of not putting her stuff on the weekly shop, packing away the linen and so on.

@QueenMabby I'll be adding a book token for DD, she can't resist a bookshop no matter how limited funds are.

Hope your mouth is better @sammyjoanne , I'm having orthodontic treatment at the moment so can sympathise.

That sounds too much Writers and yes my DD is off to Oxford.

DD is back from Venice though not got much information out of her other than they stayed in Venice and sort of sightseed. Probably on their phones.

Her boyfriend left for Bristol today and she saw him before he went but won't see him for another 2 weeks.

I have a proposed date for surgery and a proposed date for starting new job.

Thanks @TenSheds & @Penguinsa
I’m hoping it gets sorted quickly and before she starts.

So glad to hear you have a(mother) proposed date for surgery Penguinsa, and a job start date!

As for Oxford, DS (just started year 11) has said he’s like to go there. Being the selfless mother I am, I thought oh great, more university application stress to look forward to

This time next week DD will be in halls. I feel like this coming week is going to go incredibly quickly!

I have started my new job at the kids school. All very new and exciting but means I won’t get to see much of DD in her last week at home. She is all ready.

I have been making a care/gift box to give to DD when we leave her next week. So far it has her favourite chocolate and sweets, some Green & Black drinking chocolate, freshers flu kit including Cold & flu tablets, Nurofen, Diarolyte and Berocca. Ear plugs, a sleep mask and room spray. And finally gift cards for Starbucks, Pret and Uber Eats.

Exciting re the new job - all the very best with it.

Had a weekend getting DSs stuff down from the loft and helping him go through it (he’s still pretty immobile - but getting there) - we have piles for sell (a bit late for that!!!), charity/bin, see if DD wants (she’s away with friends this weekend) , iron, wear this week and pack. We are driving him back on Friday and I have a manic week at work so trying to get everything ready now.

DD has about 90% of her stuff, she’s off shopping with friends next week to top up the rest. We went through the bags of what we already have and she is getting really excited now. I did the “open when” envelopes which she is really chuffed with. Nice to be able to do them for her - DS wasn’t interested!