EMPTY NEST SUPPORT THREAD-Part 2

[MissMarplesBloomers]

Part one lasted seven years! Thanks RustyBear for the great idea.

I have one DD off this year and another one starting Sixth form so will be here for a few years!

So how are all the DC's getting on with the lists/packing etc?

[ISingSoprano]

Tuck box is a good idea - I was thinking of buying ds a tin of Celebrations or other such sweets to share.

[madeofkent]

I like the idea of a tin of celebrations, if I can find one at this time of year. As for the tin of luxuries, I have spent a fortune on buying dry foods and have included luxury items in that, I should have kept them to one side but it's too late, he has seen them now. So I have bought him a new cookery book, shall get him some condoms as actually I think I would be silly not to, I shall buy him a new thriller and a sci-fi novel and some chocolate. He still prefers real books to kindle. Maybe I'll get him a joke book as well, just so that he has something cheery to look at.

[mumeeee]

We are not doing any proper food shopping until we get to Bolton. DD3 has been given some tins of food from friends and. I have given her some tinned mackerel and a couple of cans of baked beans from our food cupboard as she's the one who eats most of that stuff. She has asked me where to get an academic walk planner from. She''s Dyspraxic and trying hard to get organised. So I think a trip to Staples might be a good idea unless any of you know where else she could get one.

[mumblechum1]

I didn't do any food shopping for DS. He arrived Sat at 6pm so went out for some food and drinkt hat night. Apparently he has discovered Aldi and did a shop there on sunday.

He's evangelical about it but says no one makes proper meals anyway, they just graze during the day and go to Nandos, Pizza express or wherever at some point in the evening. Apparently on Mon night they went to bed at 9am Tues.

[melodyangel]

Tins/ tubs of celebrations etc are £5 in both Tesco and Morrisons.

I got one of each and mixed them so DS can have one tin and we can have the other (DS2 will need some cheering up and chocolate is his second favourite thing after his brother)

[Marshy]

Hi all,
Haven't checked on here for a while. My dd is of on Sunday. Just been shopping for food basics. I suggested a tin of roses or something to her but she said no as she would just sit and eat them all herself! So we settled for a box instead....hope it doesn't look mean. She is taking a large bottle of vodka though so hopefully that will be popular (trusting that she will be sensible with it.....)

[MABS]

all ready for the off? just done tuck box and shop.We leave first thing Sat to drop her in Newcastle.

[ISingSoprano]

Good luck MABS and Marshy and anyone else doing the drop off this weekend.

[MissMarplesBloomers]

Evening/afternoon all!

How we all bearing up?

DD was taken shopping by her father this afternoon



He's not only agreed to bring her bike to Warwick for her but anything else I can't get in my car. He's had the bike serviced & taken her to Aldi where he bought her a new duvet , pillows & mattress toppper, loads of toiletries (she drew the line at getting him to buy sanpro, fair enough) laundry stuff and 2 packets of paracetemol!!!! My blowing my stack about his lack of supportedarlier this week has obviously hit home.

That has saved me a good £60 so now we only need a few grocery basics which we'll do next week as we're bothe working till then.

JGBMum acccomodation offers are finally out for Warwick, DD got Jack Martin which was her first choice...phew. Copious details & a handbook which she is still reading through.

Liking the idea of a goody/tuck box. Might also get the Celebrations as DD doesn't drink so needs something to offer round!

[MissMarplesBloomers]

Good luck MABS & MARSHY safe journeys, hope it isn't pissing it down raining like today.

[JGBMum]

Hi, mabs and marshy, good luck for Saturday x

MissM, we went round Jack Martin, very nice! DH needed a stiff drink when DS texted to say he's in Sherbourne accom and will need >£5k for the fees, and told us in all seriousness that its really good cos he hasn't got to move his stuff out at Christmas so there's a bonus - bless him!

[JellicleCat]

We still have to do the "dry goods" shop. No packing has been done as yet. Some of the things that have been bought are in plastic crates but all her clothes are currently on her bedroom floor or the in the basket of clean (but crumpled) washing.

We are off on Saturday morning to Glasgow, so hope to go shopping tomorrow to leave Friday for packing. If not it will be a case of here's £20, go do it yourself on arrival.

If we do make it to the supermarket I like the idea of a box of Celebrations and one for us.

[MABS]

plastic crates and dirty washing everywhere..

[Doilooklikeatourist]

So glad it's not just my house with the clothes everywhere !
I asked DS to sort his clothes into piles ,
take with him ,
keep here ,
and charity shop .
They were all left on the floor , and now the " take " pile all needs washing because it's been on the floor ...

Doesn't explain why I washed the 6th form jumper though ...

Doesn't explain why I did any of the washing come to think of it ...

[mumeeee]

jellicat I thought DD3 was leaving things to the last minute. She did start packing 3 weeks ago but after the initial enthusiasm she slowed down, However she has now finished most of the packing and just has some bits and pieces to put in. Her room is a tip at the moment. The floor seems to be covered with clothes and stuff she''s not taking I don't know how she has got anything left judging by the ever growing mound of stuff in the spare room that some how we've got to get in the car. We are food shopping when we get to Bolton.

[RustyBear]

I have known DD to start packing to go back to uni at 2am, when we were leaving for Exeter at 8 next morning....

[mumeeee]

Rustybear that sounds very much like DD2.

[MissMarplesBloomers]

I used to have a nice empty spare room.....the cats are not happy.

[Bearcat]

Good luck to all students and parents about to embark on the uni road.
We have just completed 7 years (21 trips there and back) of London to Nottingham trips. Both DS's went to Nottingham Uni.
It only seems like yesterday since that first journey in September 2006 when I had tears in my eyes a couple of times on the journey, but held it all together so as not to embarrass DS1.
I'm glad it's over to be honest, not least because of the expense, but also both DS's were happy to finish too, especially DS1 who did a 4 year masters degree.
You'll be surprised how quickly the holidays come round and maybe a weekend at home once a term.
DS2 is back at home for the time being, the house once again looks like a bomb has hit it and I try hard to bite my tongue to say 'You're not living in your student house now you know!' Still he starts work in 4 weeks so he'll have less time to make his weekday mess!

[noddyholder]

My ds is off Monday I am starting to feel a bit sick at the thought as he seems to be quite disinterested and I can see trouble ahead.

[melodyangel]

noddy - Oh dear. Hope he gets there and falls in love with it. Where is he off to?

Bearcat - My normally quite tidy DS seems to have decided to get in to the habit of messy student life early and has stopped tidying up over the last few months. Can't wait to get into his room and give it a really good clean.

MABS - That's a long drive! Sorry to miss the meet up btw hope you all had a fab time.

[noddyholder]

He is going to Bournemouth so not far! Him and his mates are distraught at leaving each other and he has shown zero interest in the course although loves the look of the student life. I can see a very expensive mistake ahead. Him and his mates spend their time talking about when they come home!

[noddyholder]

He has packed nothing and is asleep most days until 2

[melodyangel]

I would have thought they would be excited to leave home and looking forward visiting each other for long wild weekends. Plus lots of new friends and girls!

What course is he doing? Hopefully it will capture his imagination. I will keeep my fingers crossed.

DS1 is up half the night and then up late too. Next week is going to be a shock to the system.

[mrsrhodgilbert]

My dd is off on Sunday but walking around as if she's going to the gallows! She is incredibly nervous and I can foresee lots of tears when we leave her. She is not a drinker really and is concerned about all that, staggering around in the middle of the night in a city centre would be her nightmare. Hope she finds some like minded people.

Also it looks like we will have to park miles away from halls and its due to pour down.

Her younger sister has just realised its about to happen too. They went out together for tea last night and dd2 ended up in the toilets crying as it hit her. I now have to worry about leaving her alone on the doorstep in tears as we drive away.