Preparing for Uni in 2015 continues...

[Chillywhippet]

New thread

Old one here with loads of info

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/2408327-Preparing-for-Uni-in-2015

Got a text fron DS last night - first night away. ' in pub with flat mates' so that's good .

This story really upset me www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/17/oscars-wine-bar-lancaster-gaby-scanlon-stomach-liquid-nitrogen - probably more than usual in my present state of worrying about what DD will get up to - this poor girl could easily have been one of mine.

Another lecture of something to avoid, to add to my list.

Christ, it's a parent's worst nightmare, isn't it?

HMF1 - Yes physics at Edinburgh! Her accommodation is by the Meadows, and she seems very happy with it. Wasn't what she chose initially, but has worked out just fine.

DD joined the physics society, feminist society and the boat club. Think it was the physics soc's pub crawl, she didn't go in the end a they are doing a mud day as a bonding thing with her boat club crew which meant leaving at 7 this morn, so she thought best not.

She's very much looking forward to actually starting now. Good luck to all going this weekend, hope it's good for the kids too!

After reading further up thread about potential missed emails that are being sent to students new uni email account I went and asked DD if she was checking hers regularly. She told me that she has already linked her uni email to her normal account so she doesn't miss any information sent, I was really impressed at her forward thinking as she has never displayed such common sense before

Just been informed that DD can arrive a day earlier than expected on the 30th instead of the 1st, suddenly feel a bit panicked.

DS moving in next Saturday which is DD's birthday. We are travelling on Friday and staying overnight, DD is meeting us at our hotel Friday evening for a birthday meal and present exchange. It will be emotional and I'm dreading returning to our empty nest on Saturday evening.

Today I am not working and DS and I will be going shopping for essential stuff. I'm better when I have something to do, but would prefer not to be spending money like water. It's going to be a busy weekend.

Good luck to everyone going this weekend, hope everyone will cope as well as they can. I remember when DD went the missing her got easier every time, but I still miss her now, 5 years on.

F* me, we're running round packing stuff and what's DS doing? Driving a remote control truck round the living room slalom in and out of all the boxes and bags.

I give up

Locate heaviest bag. Drop from a great height onto your ds's remote control truck.

Glad to hear one or two of you are still packing next week. Such a difference in starting dates. DD has a very short autumn term and then a very long second term.

I've just had a panic this morning that my DM (who is coming to look after other DC) thinks it's next weekend as I hadn't heard from her all week! Luckily she's just been busy and will be arriving this afternoon as planned - I think I am slowly losing my mind.

DS is still in bed but still has washing to do.

I don't think we're going to get everything in the car!

Have now found DS's passport after a snappy exchange between me, DH & DS as to who had it for safekeeping!

We're going tomorrow morning supposedly

Ds is still sleeping off the effects of last night's farewell party with mates. Tonight he's going out to another farewell party with mates. So we'll be off bright and early... not.

He hasn't started packing. His dirty clothes are still on his bedroom floor (and I'm not picking them up). He still has last minute shopping to do. He still needs to organise his documents. He has subject 'homework' to finish sent by his course tutor. He needs to do some boring bank account stuff in branch. Only yesterday he found out he was supposed to have booked an arrival slot. GRRRRR!

And I'm using MN as displacement activity

pack the ID and essential docs last as its the first thing you need when you reach the residences! (photocopy them too and keep them in a handy fiel at hoem.

Spent a jolly few hours (not) with DS today showing him how his uni intranet works, and how to access stuff like the library and his course material and reading lists and timetable. He hadn't realised (bless!) that he now has a uni email account

God, thank you, Lapsed! Let's just say that your DS was not the only one...

horsemad are you driving far??

haffdonga you have the male version of my DD, only she is not even home yet from last night's allegedly genteel farewell dinner with her girlfriends.

Precourse work is still undone too, and I have been telling her all week to book a dropping off slot, only for her to discover yesterday they were all full. So now we are having to wing it.

She is apparently going to the top party Hall in Britain

In contrast DS1, who is third year, has just chucked his stuff in his car and gone with the minimum of drama.

I keep asking if dd has had any emails this week or if she has a shiny new university email account, flat denial so far. I'm going for the thumb screws later, when she gets back from saying goodbye to the new ( 2days!!) boyfriend. They've been school friends for seven years and just realised they're in love. Give me strength, Yorkshire to London isn't going to be cheap.

I've just bought her some fresh food to cover the uncatered weekend so she can eat and claim some fridge and freezer space. I would recommend labelling to avoid anyone else assuming its just free food.

Chilly your 23:07 just set the tears off. Today I am sobbing,having been middy tearful for past two weeks. Sobbing started when the Beatles She's Leaving Home song came into my head; the Bye Bye Baby, Baby Bye Bye song has also been playing in my mind.
Last night I woke up thinking about how hard he found the transition from Y2 to Y3 (small playground to big playground); today I have reminded myself that he coped fine with moves to secondary school and VI college.
DS goes tomorrow and we are supposed to be packing today. I think I may be in a bit of a state tomorrow.

Bagpuss, thanks! Four hour journey here, staying over tonight as he booked an early arrival slot and DH is not a morning person

Just been packing all the clutter into Ikea bags ready for tomorrow's departure. DS is working tonight and DH & I are out drinking a little and DS & DH will be leaving at 09.00 inthe morning - they have a 2 hour drive followed by 1hr 40 ferry crossing then further 2 hour drive. Not quite sure how all the stuff is going to fit in DHs small hatchback - they may have to leave food behind and go shopping when they get there which means I will be left with a load of junk food that I don't want

I am staying at home as I have to look after DD so may need some words of support from you good folk tomorrow and Sunday. DH is staying overnight and travellng back on SUnday. Counted the weeks until Christmas holidays this morning - 13 weeks - and DS has never been away for more than 4 nights without us before . He is not planning on coming home before the XMas break.

Eeeeek long drive then horsemad good idea staying overnight wish we did that.

Mrs H young love, bless them. I'm a Yorkshire lass. Loved my life in Yorkshire. It will be a culture shock, London life. They eat fast, talk fast and walk fast that's DH analogy . They have a fast pace of life, I think thats what he's trying to say.
anne I know how you feel. It's that gap, hole you are feeling. I'm forever worried dd not eating properly as in having proper meals, she inclined to snack on sausage rolls and crisps then make dinner.

big just seen your post stay strong for tommorow. It's going to hard especially since your not able to go. Same hear in that dd not comming back till Xmas but we do plan to go and see her on my b day in October.

Annie you sound like me.

I asked DS if he had a uni email or intranet account and it turns out that he does. He can't complete pre-registration as he doesn't yet have a term time address. I keep asking him what documents / info he needs to take, and does he need a photo, but he doesn't know.

BigBlueBus -- DS has similarly never been away for more than a night without either a parent or a support worker.

i would love to remind myself that he'd coped well with previous transitions... but actually it tended to mean several weeks of hell followed by intervention from CAMHS.

I'm sure it'll be fine this time

Finding it difficult to pin DD down to see if anything printed is needed.
Has several forms of ID plus arrival info and spare passport photos. Enrolment seems to have been done electronically and ID card ordered before deadline.
Bank accounts sorted
Just have this disturbing feeling that we have missed something important.

Guess as long as she has enough to get her acommodation and ID card, anything else can be printed when she is there.

Don't know how, but just about got car loaded, ready for an early start tomorrow.
DD currently output saying goodbye to some friends, but not out tonight.

bagpuss dd is from Yorkshire and remaining in Yorkshire. The new boyfriend is going down to LSE. She was supposed to be home at lunchtime to help pack the final things. DH keeps walking past the ever growing pile and muttering about consolidation. I suspect they're having a lingering goodbye somewhere.

Some very long journeys planned for this weekend, hope they go smoothly for everyone.