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!

@sammyjoanne sorry for your loss, that's tricky timing.

@MirandaWest I guess the birthday is a good ice breaker but strange for you & your DD!

@Penguinsa hope all is well.

We are heading up to the Durham open day - bit of deja vu but I have some different questions this time (including re accommodation which seems to have been even more chaotic than in previous years, with 100 or so freshers who can't be accommodated in their college) & it's a chance for DS to look with fresh eyes.

All systems go from here as we've returned from holiday. Need to do the 'stuff' shop so we're off to Ikea later. Ds sorting out finance. His accommodation invoice is due 28/9 but he doesn't get his maintenance loan until the 30th. Bit annoying re; timings.

Glad to hear about dc settling in and I hope things improve for those who have got off to a rocky start. There is a subject meet up (informal) today but ds won't go - grrr. Says he's too tired but I suspect more anxiety about meeting new people. Sigh.

Also an empty nest temporarily here too @MrsAvocet. It's going to feel so strange and I'm feeling a bit sad about it now. Just hoping ds will be happy.

Thank you everyone :)

We FaceTimed with her this morning before she went off to a seminar. We got to see her making breakfast and then opening presents 😊

The thing I felt most was that it all seemed matter of fact in a good way - I feel she’s settled in and is enjoying it which is good 😊

Some friends are coming to her flat with one bringing cake and then they’re going out 😊

Still feels odd not seeing her on her birthday but she’s going to come here for some of reading week and then DH and I will go down there in November too

@legosnowqueen thank you :). yes it is tricky timing unfortunately. We have managed to arrange the funeral mid October, so it gives DD1 (phd) and DD2 (undergrad) to settle in and get into a routine.

Sorry for your loss @sammyjoanne

And a belated happy birthday to your DD @MirandaWest it's our DS birthday in October but fortunately it is a weekend day so we will take him out for lunch and probably give him a cake to share with others. He has had his first DSA software training session which went well I think, he has another next week and also his second Men B dose. At some point I need to get him to actually think about practical things he will need (plates, cutlery etc) he is still thinking he has loads of time but it is two weeks today he moves!

Thanks @IThinkIMadeItWorse :) @MirandaWest sounds like shes settled in nicely :)

Without wanting to jinx anything, DD has had a fantastic start since we dropped her on Friday.

She's made connections with nearly all on her corridor, been to meals and the common room with them, plus other halls bars etc. Been clubbing twice in town using the buses and went to a subject induction today and met a few coursemates she really liked. Everyone is really friendly and she seems very happy.

Fully expecting a come down soon, with a minimum of freshers flu and some homesickness. But I’ll take the good feelings now - which is the best start she could have.

The empty nest is all calm. I’ve cleared out the fridge and am not cooking properly again until either we have people round or DS or DD comes home for a visit (Oct/Nov). Beds are stripped and rooms cleared and aired. Planning a few weekends away! Can be spontaneous now we don’t have anyone else to be around for.

I felt sad driving home after dropping DD, until we were nearly at our door and I had a flashback to how foul she was the last 3 weeks - she was ready, we were ready and she is where she needs to be. And we still have the cat 🐈‍⬛!

Great news @SooperOuting - long may it continue.
DS had his first lectures today and got off to a slightly embarrassing start by walking into the wrong one. But apparently quite a lot of people did the same so it wasn't too bad!
Biggest empty nest issue here is my continued inability to cook for two. I made a casserole tonight, thinking I had reduced the quantities sufficiently but it was still far too much. Not good, considering I have a significant amount of weight I want to lose before DD's wedding!

We've not gone yet! Ds is going on Sunday. We're all ready. I know it's going to be horrible without him but it's been such a long wait I want to get the bad bit over with - a bit like ripping the plaster off!

Glad DCs elsewhere are settling in well.

@SooperOuting i can identify with much of this! Been having lots of interesting non-meals and wondering if we should get a camper van. Today is the first time we haven't had a text - I'm holding strong to give him space. Like The Rules !

Really recognise this too, may your last week pass swiftly and painlessly

@aramox1, the camper van conversation made me laugh as we had the same discussion yesterday. Quite a few of our empty nest and child free friends have bought one in the last couple of years and are having a great time using them.

Thank you all so much for good wishes about the operation, went well, in 7 days and back home tonight, lovely to be home and very pleased with result.

Hope new ucas application goes well for you DD Louis.

Sammy So sorry for your loss.

Ten I am a huge squirrel fan so would love your DDs communication.

ABBA night sounds great Miranda and happy birthday for your DD.

Glad it's going well MrsAvocet and Sooper.

Hope Durham went well Lego

Lovely to hear everyone's news. Sorry for any I have missed still quite tired here but very happy it's done and results.

Great news @Penguinsa Hope you continue to make a good recovery. Take it easy and keep us updated on progress as and when you can.

@sammyjoanne I’m so sorry to hear your news. I hope both DDs are coping ok.

@Penguinsa Glad to hear the op went well and that you are home. Hopefully you can get plenty of rest and will soon feel less tired.

@SooperOuting it sounds as though your DD has got off to a great start. It makes it so much easier when you know they are settling happily. Two and a half weeks in now for my DD and she is still loving it. She had a baking day on Saturday and made cinnamon rolls to share with her friends, then she and her two flat mates made pizza from scratch and had dinner together. After that she went out clubbing. She has joined the gym and a couple of societies, and seems to be enjoying her course so far. Fingers crossed it continues to be good for both our DDs.

Dd goes tomorrow, and most things bought but no packing done. I left dh to sort towels and extension lead with her over the weekend while I moved our other kids - he likes to be part of it all - but no, he took her to a faraway parkrun and mountain biking (how can I be annoyed that they had fun!) and yesterday told her not to buy some lovely adequate towels because he wants to take her... so he took her to buy new running shoes instead. So here we are,.. still needs towels and extension lead and no packing done. She promises me she'll do it today (I'm working away) before last athletics trainjng tonight.. I know we will get very little sleep tonight!! But it will happen.

I think you just have to let it go @GreatWorldAtlas! There'll be plenty of shops in the vicinity of most Universities and sometimes our young people need to learn from experience if they don't plan ahead.
I had a call from DS yesterday bemoaning the fact that he hasn't taken enough underwear - now he doesn't have the laundry pixies do his bidding anymore he's figured out that he actually doesn't want to be washing clothes every few days. Well he knows where M&S is....😂

All has been busy here - glad to hear @Penguinsa is doing well and my condolences to @sammyjoanne. DC doing ok, 4 weeks in now. Liking the course, loving the tutors and making lots and lots of friends. One major issue was solved satisfactorily last week (can’t go into details but DC and others were the victims and it led to several sleepless nights) and actually proved to DC how much they’re enjoying themselves. I miss them enormously but it is getting easier. How long till Christmas?

@Penguinsa glad to hear you're doing well :)

DD sent me some lovely photos from her birthday where she had a party in the flat kitchen with some flat mates and various other people she's met in different places. She thinks there were around 15 of them and she looked very happy (and possibly a little refreshed with alcohol in them 😃)

@Rollergirl11 have been thinking about you - how's your DD doing?

Thanks @PumpkinKnitter @Neveragainisaid and @Penguinsa glad everything went well with the op.
Glad things are going well @SooperOuting @MirandaWest glad she had a fab birthday. @QueenMabby Im sure everything will go really well. You will get a Lancaster hearty welcome and you must honk your horn at the mini island on the way in lol. If your staying in Lancaster for a bit, we love a Sultans on campus, or water witch in the city.
Neveragain it does feel like a lifetime too. She moved out 6th of September with her boyfriend, had freshers just last week and they have budgeted well with yellow ticket items at tesco lol. Shes really got stuck in and made some great friends and she says shes got some good news tonight. She mentioned they was thinking of making her course rep so I think its that.

@Rollergirl11 Hope your daughter is getting on ok. I remember last year when daughter (at reading uni, not NTU) wanted her boyfriend to visit and she didnt want him to leave either. Another story for another time, but it did work out in the end.

@MrsAvocet ah you misunderstand. It's the lack of packing that is the issue, not the lack of stuff or fear of forgetting things. As a consequence we will undoubtedly be up vv late tonight and there will be frayed tempers. There is nothing for me to let go. I just have to try to sooth and calm... I'd rather just be able to go to bed at a decent time.

We had exactly this @GreatWorldAtlas. Packing started at 4pm. It got done!

We are getting there. Kitchen/laundry/bedding stuff packed, most clothes (vacuum packed). tempers are surviving. More tea needed now I think. Oh and we did a bolognese lesson with some in a tub for tomorrow's dinner. I may be able to leave her to last bits soon now she's going.

This week is a week of favourite dinners and I'm also batch cooking a couple of family faves so I can send ds off with a few portions for the freezer. He can cook them all but it'll be nice to have some stashed away for emergencies.

Clothing etc will be packed tomorrow. Everything else is pretty much done. We have an early start on Sunday so will aim to get the car Tetris tackled on Saturday afternoon!

Just been in ds's room (sob!) and there's so many clothes left I can't think what he took! I've already sent 2 mercy packages of chargers (they never have enough, do they?)