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!

@QueenMabby we used to see DD1 once or twice a term (2 and a half hours by car). At first we visited and stayed at the premier inn near junction 34 off the m6, then by second year, she used to catch the train to us. Theres not really a right or wrong way to go about it. You do what works best for both of you. Sorry to hear about DD. DD2 was the same. They shared the same bedroom as we live in a 2 up 2 down. DD will come round Im sure.
@Penguinsa glad to hear you are doing well.

Its lovely to hear everyones settling in.

Had a incident with DD2. Fell down a couple of stairs in her accommodation block, sprained her ankle but I took her and had it checked out to be sure. Shes feeling a bit better now and can walk, abeit a bit slow. Determined to make it to uni for Friday and work on Saturday. Shes loving uni so much, she really doesnt want to miss it. And wants to do her shift at work to make up for her coldplay ticket that were all going to next August. So tomorrow ive said shes got to do nothing in her studio flat apart from rest, and more rest. But, shes smiling and happy still when I facetimed her tonight, and shes got boyfriend (she lives with) and friends all rallying round which is nice. Did offer to see her Sunday to check up on her but she says shes fine, so no need for mum😅

I got a "Muuum...I've got a cold and I feel rotten" call last night.
I always thought Fresher's Flu was a myth as neither of my others caught anything. But then DS2 has probably socialised with more people in his first 2 weeks than his big brother has in 2 years, and DD went to a small institution and had a fairly self contained existence, so it perhaps isn't surprising!
Hope your DD is better soon sammyjoanne.

Thanks Sammy. Sorry your DD injured herself but great she's enjoying university.

Sorry about the cold MrsAvocet

DD has had colds for a record month at the moment including what she calls Bristol Freshers Flu from her boyfriend. Am hoping this gives immunity when she starts and she is nearly better now.

Don't go until 7th Oct here and will be just DH taking due to my surgery and the fact DD is packing everything apart from the kitchen sink. She has found this last bit a bit impatient like as everyone else has gone, boyfriend was about a month before her and then her other friends have left a week or do ago now. So she had to resort to taking DH out for pizza yesterday night and an Indian meal with him whilst I was in hospital. She's packed and moved stuff downstairs but there's lots of it. She did discover an extra person at her college on her course last night and that she is the only one from state school but she'll be OK with that as she already knows people from private and boarding schools. She's in touch with the one boy a lot and they all seem to share the same hobby. She has the timetable though said they've had to issue a second version as first had lots of clashes on it. Has gown etc. I have put her a birthday hamper in the car as will be her birthday shortly after starting though she on being told this and said she needed to know now the full contents and could not wait for her birthday. 😂 Her boyfriend will come and visit her second weekend. She seems to have lots of things she wants to join and social things and said they have sent some link to work but not sure it's really needed. Hopefully she will do some work inbetween socialising. Recovery still going well but quite bored with no activities allowed until after 6 weeks. But this week is DD ready for uni week and week after is reclaim the house after all DDs stuff is gone week. 😎

Thanks Mrs avocet, DD2 is much better and shes gone to the shop ok, so thats a good sign. Sorry to hear DS2 has the freshers flu. Its so hard when they want to socialise but they have to rest. DD1 was a fresher in 202 and it was covid they all got in the flat. Once they had finished isolating, at the turn of midnight they all went to the local village, for no other reason but that they were allowed out and needed a proper walk and exercise. This resulted in a flat party once they got back and they consumed all the potato waffles and chips in the freezer.

Glad things are going well Penguisa. DD2 had a link with NTU, and had to get 100% on the lab test and how to be safe, use equipment correctly etc. Also had to watch a library video and how to use the animal unit correctly. Shes doing Zoo biology, and its a working campus with animals on site. She was in a zoo biology group chat prior to freshers week and theres was about 10 there, but all have been added to it now and theres 25 in her class. Im sure your DD will have a super time at uni, and its great shes got in contact with her course group. Am I right in saying its at Oxbridge with it being a later start?

Zoo biology sounds really interesting Sammy Yes DD is off to Oxford on Monday to start there. They've just sent through timetables and Freshers week events and it's very full, even by DDs I will sleep when I am dead standards and initially included some clashes of lectures/tutorials which are pretty essential but that has been sorted now and amended version sent out. They have put them in two groups and the person she knows best from chatting is in the other group and new person is in her group but think he's just someone who got offer year before. I half realise she is going and half will wonder where she is. But very short terms so she will be back before long. She is finally doing the reading they sent. Before she was like there's 4 parties and these are the themes, what shall I wear and how shall I get the gown and what will I wear here once I have packed my suitcases. She is working tomorrow and at least her cold seems to be finally ending after about 5 weeks. She is very excited. Think she knows quite a few at the university already which helps and she is very sociable and the staff have been lovely and kind. It will just be DH taking her down as not enough space in the car for me, him, her and her 10 million items of luggage and I am still recovering and bandaged. Then Tues have a second hospital check which should be fine and next Saturday one off cleaners in which is good as I am banned from cleaning for at least 6 weeks and Floof is fluffing at an incredible rate. Hope everyone has a good weekend and all the new starters are enjoying it.

Bit frantic for Oxford tomorrow now. Thought we would have a walk at Sandringham, free on our Historic Houses cards, but DH 20 mins in got a puncture and also had lost wheel key. So had to call his recovery firm which was fine for us, walked round our garden and there were our silkies, robins, pigeons, flowers and berries on trees and had sandwiches and tea out there then roast for dinner. Saw DS had a long floral bath whilst we were out and has set himself up with DDs pale blue silk pillowcase and my Robin and blossom pale blue bedspread! But no working car and supposed to be taking DD to Oxford tomorrow including luggage of which she has masses and have hospital check on Tuesday. So will be busy trying to sort that tomorrow morning. May need to hire a car. Train is 4 hours 30 but she has so much stuff and wants a car. All fine with recovery so suspect hospital could be put back for me. She is so excited, discovered an extra person and they all row, she us only state school one but she's fine with that.

Four plus hours on the train wouldn't be fun with so much luggage, particularly as that direct trainline twixt Oxford and Cambridge hasn't yet been completed, has it? Hope you sort out a car for getting your DD to Oxford today @Penguinsa . Just the type of issue you don't need...

DD still hasn't heard a peep from any of her five choices on this year's UCAS application. I guess there will only have been a trickle of applications in until we approach the 15th October deadline for early applicants.

She's having a bit of a 'low' at the moment. She hasn't really got enough friends still around to be enjoying her downtime locally. She's not regretting taking a gap year but the 'pain' (working full-time) to fund the gain (the travel abroad) isn't proving to be entirely fun. On a positive note though, she has been promoted to something more interesting in her job.

Hoping all the young people recover from freshers' flu quickly. It reminds me of the children starting at primary school many moons ago.

Thanks Louis Hope your DD gets an offer soon, they do seem to give offers out in batches so would imagine could well be waiting for Oxbridge first deadline. DDs first offer didn't come in until start of January but then 3 came in within a week or so including first choice uni and first choice insurance, a bit like buses. Depends on subject and university and when applied as well, DD applied in stages, adding 2 in January, last one 5 minutes before 31st January cut off then realising she had done the wrong subject. 🙄 Thankfully she didn't need a 5th choice. Might be worth your DD having a look round for other jobs though a boring job does motivate you to study at university but with Christmas looming there may be seasonal things. In my day temp agencies had things but don't know if that still goes on. DD had two jobs, the punting tours one and one at the university but quite an easy area for jobs here with tourists.

Hopefully have a solution to car issue with garage coming out at 10.30am. Only have to be in Oxford by 5pm, well maybe 4pm as need to drop off 10 million items DD has packed, all apparently essential. Think she has a formal dinner tonight then a week of Freshers things but it's very full on but DD is very full on so suits her. She's the only state one on her course at her college which was a surprise but they all do same sport and there's one she's talked to lots already and she met at least one of the others. Completely over excited. Wishes she could take the cat though. I will be staying here, would love to go but only 2 weeks post surgery and not allowed to carry anything and lack of space in car plus I think DD just wants to meet other students as soon as possible which is for the best anyway. Think she will come home one weekend in the middle then early December. Yes rail is via London.

Hope you manage to get your DD safely to Oxford @Penguinsa

We dropped DS at his Cambridge college on Saturday and I was doing fine until he got upset. I think he found it all quite overwhelming. Heard from him yesterday and he seemed a bit more positive. He is quite busy over the next few days and lectures start on Thursday so hopefully he will settle. We are not far away so hopefully he will find that reassuring.

I find myself feeling discombobulated today as he is not around. I have just done an online supermarket order and I'm very confused - how do I cater for three people instead of four?! What do the rest of us actually like to eat?? It feels very strange.

Thanks Ithink I think its easier when lectures start to feel settled and hopefully he will prefer it from then. We have quite complicated meals here anyway as DD is veggie and DS loves meat, DH eats everything and I am more fussy though I do love veggie stuff but DD actually is a veggie who is very pizza and pasta dominated and not too keen on veg. Luckily DH loves cooking. I still haven't really thought DD is leaving, in my head she's going to Oxford but will also still be here. But she's out and about so much and so happy for her.

Hope today goes smoothly @Penguinsa It's certainly been a trying time for you - hope your recovery is going well.
I'm still cooking too much at more or less every meal @IThinkIMadeItWorse and am finding it quite annoying how difficult it is to just make the quantities needed for 2 people without eating too much or having loads of food waste. I'm trying to get into the habit of freezing leftovers - well, more to the point, unfreezing them and actually eating them rather than just filling the freezer! Though I must confess that I am enjoying not having to work around DS's multiple allergies and am reviving old favourite recipes that have been off limits for the last 18 years. We're eating a lot less meat now (DS is allergic to many non meat sources of protein) so I suspect our diet is healthier and it's certainly cheaper. Also enjoying how little laundry I seem to have to do these days now I don't have smelly sports kit to wash multiple times a week. There are some positives though the house still feels bizarrely quiet!

Thanks MrsAvocet The recovery is going perfectly and am so happy with the results, have feeling all over my body again as nerves have reconnected, flat stomach again and everything looks and feels so much better. Healing really well. Just a bit bored with almost no activities allowed but I don't want to risk wound reopening or an infection though looks all healed to me. Things are going really well this year. I have my new job starting hopefully very start of December and getting sorted for that.

Car repair has been pushed back to 12.30pm and really hope it is 12.30pm as DD has a slot until 5pm and a dinner at 5pm there and it's 2.5 hours plus unloading from here. Boot is being packed now, they were waiting to do tyres first but as tight on time doing it now. In theory guy is on his way. We will likely now have a quick lunch so hopefully ready to leave at 1pm ish. I so want to be swimming again but they've said no to 12 weeks to anything but walking really but hopefully some leeway on that, they mentioned that mine was as good as it gets now in recovery and appearance but said they've had people overdo things and end up with wound opening or infection at week 4 or week 5. Hoping to negotiate from week 6 but they are very strict there and most I am getting is week 10 at the moment.

Take it easy Penguinsa!
I can relate to wanting to push things forward as I have had a lot of orthopaedic surgery in recent years and find the enforced immobility extremely frustrating and hard to comply with. But I've learned (or maybe not...) the hard way that it is often a case of more haste less speed. I'm dealing with a wound dehiscence right now actually. Just a small one, from a recent minor procedure but it's still really annoying having a hole in my leg that I'll need to redress every day for weeks... honestly, don't risk it, be a better patient than me!

Hope car is being repaired as I type @Penguinsa and the journey to Oxford goes well. One of DD's friends is off to Oxford as well - think she must be the last of the friendship group to start uni. DD has been at Bristol for 4 weeks now...

Thanks MrsAvocet Sorry you have a wound again, hope it settles soon. Yes other 2 operations was told nothing until 6 weeks but was swimming at 3 weeks and had no issues, did invent a whole new swimming stroke of being on your back and swimming like a flapping chicken which could do surprisingly fast and one lady asked me what the stroke was. 😂 But this one was a much longer operation, got in for 7am and it finished at 7.30pm though think they started around 10am as had no heated theatre to start with so had to play hunt and move the operating theatre for a couple of hours. I was told by 2 doctors I was too active in hospital, and the physio said I reminded her of a baby kangaroo so ended up staying there 7 days as lots in the drains. Though since then at home I have been better but we have 50cmish floor beams as a very old house and also could stand up straight away and very little pain and Floof is 1.2 metres and leaps around. I keep trying to reclassify things like they said no cleaning and no washing so I am like I am not cleaning I am removing germs and I am not washing clothes I am just soaking them. I only slept an hour a night at hospital and a lot of time was pacing around, the room also had an excellent view of the air ambulance and over the town and countryside, had own room and bathroom plus they had it like 50C and so I was drinking all the time as I am hopeless in heat. But week and nearly second week since it has healed perfectly and surgeon was very happy and also very happy I spoke to her after the operation whilst still heavily medicated as if she was Floof. Probably as he likes to poke me with his big fluffy white paw.

Thanks Miranda DDs boyfriend is also at Bristol and it's odd how much later it is, she went to see him and he will see her soon. Hope your DD is happy there. DD says its nice and her boyfriend seems happy.

They are off in repaired car now using spare tyre, should time fine unless further car issues. She has been on the phone with 1 of the other boys on her course who apparently has a huge room overlooking a quad but ground floor and he has lots of expensive equipment. DD has a car rammed full of stuff but think it's 90% clothes. Will be happy when DH returns and tells me her and her stuff are there fine. Have just eaten a whole packet of jammy dodgers which shouldn't do but been a bit nerve wracking waiting for car and DD getting very I want to go now.

@Penguinsa - hope the car is fixed and the journey can commence.

@IThinkIMadeItWorse - I'm struggling with the supermarket shop too. I'm realising how much extra food I was buying to fill up DS's hollow legs - we'll certainly be making a saving there!

DS has started lectures today. We're getting the odd text but not much else and he's had no time for a FaceTime yet apparently.

@Penguinsa sounds like it’s all going swimmingly 😊

I am loving not catering for the DC. DH and I are taking it as an opportunity to eat a lot more simply and healthily. Very little meat and any cooking is bung it in the oven eg a piece of salmon if we are feeling fancy but a lot of omelettes and salad 😂

I find myself much more relaxed and not clock watching all the time. I am missing DD a lot, but we had a lovely long family FaceTime on Sunday and listened and laughed at all the shenanigans her and DS have been getting up to. Both seem very happy.

Thanks Sooper Glad your two are very happy and you are fine.

Thanks QueenMabby Hopefully the lack of communication is a good sign.

DH sent me a picture of DD and her things in her room at uni at 4pm which is great as the formal dinner is at 5pm. She looks very happy. No further details yet but very relieved they are there in good time.

Glad to hear the last goers are settling! And excellent healing from @Penguinsa. Lot of omelettes here too, just us 2 now- do we need deliveries anymore? Do we need a cleaner? So strange!

We've found it strange shopping and cooking for two. We're rediscovering old recipes that ds wouldn't normally like.

We too are struggling to get used to the new volume of food required - so many leftovers 🤦‍♀️

I've done it again tonight - chopping veggies on autopilot and made way too much. Guess that's DH's lunch tomorrow sorted!
My food bill has plummeted just by not having to buy DS's "free from" stuff so that offsets the costs of having two at University a little bit. Heating costs also down as we are basically only using half the house now.

Thanks Aramox. We are having a one off cleaner next weekend as I am currently banned from cleaning and will be great. DH has arrived back looking rather shattered, Floof was very relieved to see him return and purring away and snuggled up to him, he was asleep whilst DH was away and suspect is going to be asking DH for games all night. DS has made himself what seemed like about 50 hot chocolates as well as lots of food. DD is in a room in the old part of college and has a huge room with an ensuite bathroom which is probably just as well for everyone else as she can be slow in there. She has a formal dinner tonight and seemed very happy but keen to kick DH out so she could socialise.

Glad your DD got there safely and is happy @Penguinsa

DD is a bit ill -said she had a coughing fit in a lecture today and hasn’t gone to choir this evening. Also said she had a lot of work to do. Am hoping she isn’t getting too stressed. Feel a bit of a long way away from her.

DS was here over the weekend although we didn’t see him too much as he was out quite a bit. We too are finding the difference between having 4 of us here and 2 of us here makes quite a difference in terms of food.

@Penguinsa glad your daughter got to Oxford ok :) and you are doing much better. The eldest she went to UNIQ summer school at Balliol and loved her time there. @MirandaWest hope your DD gets better soon. @MrsAvocet that is one bonus the shopping bill goes down, although were left with leftover bread so will have to buy a smaller loaf.
DD2 is feeling much better with her ankle but she still hurts a bit if she faces her foot inwards. She had amazing day. She handled the budgies today, chickens and weighed those, and also handled a duck. Apparently budgies can really bite so have to be held in a certain way. Shes loving uni and loving handling the animals. A lot of zoology/animal behaviour unis dont have animals on campus, so Notts trent has been the perfect place for her. She even said she might even handle the tarantula now, and she hates spiders.