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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Early days at uni 2017

974 replies

HSMMaCM · 18/09/2017 19:38

How is everyone settling in?

DD starts on Wednesday.

OP posts:
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LineysRun · 22/09/2017 13:57

I miss the banter, too.

BestIsWest · 22/09/2017 14:02

I just miss him terribly ( and I saw him for coffee on Tuesday)

He's had his student loan through this morning.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 22/09/2017 14:04

Thanks for all of us

Such a beautiful human being...

HSMMaCM · 22/09/2017 14:52

I was collecting washing and looked on DD's bedroom floor, but there was nothing on her floordrobe Sad

OP posts:
Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 22/09/2017 14:53

Same here HSMM

I miss his floordrobe

I bloody hope he doesn't have one at uni!!

rogueantimatter · 22/09/2017 15:09

Good grief Horsemad As if this wasn't going to be quite memorable enough....

Latest worry is that D's lifestyle is inherently unhealthy even though he doesn't drink to excess (too stingy) as he seems to be getting no exercise or fresh air what with his halls being so close to the conservatoire and the student union. He doesn't do any regular structured exercise normally although he sometimes runs, plays badminton and jumps about on a borrowed bike with friends. Any suggestions for safe running routes near the Barbican?

rightsofwomen · 22/09/2017 15:10

Oh stop it. Mine is packing.
Hoping he wants to stop here this evening rather than go to his Dad's.
He won't stay at this Dad's but I want him here all evening goddamnit.

Bittersweet when his little bro gave him a cuddle goodbye (he's 8 and with his Dad tonight). They had a lovely hug and then DS2 said it smelt in his room and left. Kind of represents their relationship!

The HUGE SHOES will be gone.

dingit · 22/09/2017 15:25

Rightofwomen, I need to check none of my shoes have gone ( we are the same size).
Quite sweetly she's packed a teddy, not quite so sweetly a bottle of vodka (mine)

rightsofwomen · 22/09/2017 15:39

Ah...I should check he hasn't snaffled my earphones!

Ocies · 22/09/2017 15:39

Hello all - I haven't posted in a while but have been lurking here. We dropped dd off last Sunday and I think week one has gone quite well although she has said she has felt very anxious at times. She suffered bad,y with anxiety during sixth form and took a gap year during which she successfully got herself off all medication. She is now on her way home for the weekend as one of her close friends is getting married (friend is a few years older than her!)

Good luck to everyone who is dropping off this weekend

stonecircle · 22/09/2017 15:41

Anyone's offspring going to Southampton? Just wondering if their loans have come in yet. I seem to remember they come in for start of term rather than start of freshers'. So I will need to give ds some extra for next week, but don't want to be overly generous Wink.

Ocies · 22/09/2017 15:43

The loan usually arrives once they have done their official enrolment in the first day or two of freshers week.

rightsofwomen · 22/09/2017 15:46

stone Mine is going to Southampton and no loan yet.

HSMMaCM · 22/09/2017 15:58

Speaking of keeping fit and the same size feet Grin. DH offered to pack DD's walking boots. He got a look. He also offered her my boots, as they're a bit less girly.

Having rejected all plans to walk around the beautiful countryside near her campus, she has now joined the gym.

I'm not convinced she's eaten any fruit or vegetables yet and she refused to take the multi vitamins I offered.

OP posts:
Oldie2017 · 22/09/2017 16:07

I hope Horse made it after the breakdown.
I called one of mine - second time since I dropped him on Saturday and he was at a university fair (where you can join up to club) interestingly with his twin (who is in different halls) which I quite like , that they are there for each other when they want to be. They are not identical and have different interests but I am glad they picked the same in the end - one almost went to Durham, they both chose between Bristol and Durham to firm up on. I didn't get a ot of information just all well, good. I asked the usual are you happy, settling in or depressed, suicidal upset but no, he said, all fine. He is not eating a lot between the two meals provided as he's so busy but he's always been like that, His twin didn't want to speak but I said as I'd spoken to him yesterday and we'd agreed once a week for a call as I had with parents when I had to go to the halls coin box phone for my weekly call, is fine.

Everyone thinks I will be lonely. I have waited all my life to get to have even a few days alone. I adore it. It's heaven on earth but every few minutes all day someone (clients usually) want something. I've ignored 5 voicemails from my neighbour and had to block the phone all week. i am certainly not alone with nothing to do. I just mowed half an acre of grass. Let us hope this week end can be peaceful although older son (who moved out on Monday) says he might come round on Sunday to pick up a few more things which is fine with me - the house is full of stuff - he reckons he bought some poached egg metal things with his own money which he probably did and he's the only person who uses them.

I have been getting my ducks in a row for a battle with the council who probably won't believe I live alone and get the single person discount. Yesterday local electoral people wanted my son to confirm he's registered elsewhere so that's now done. I don't think my son has registered for the 25% discount (he is also living alone in his new house) so I've told him to fix that too.

Bristol goes back earlier than a lot of universities and seems to have quite long terms which is okay with me although I had thought we could book some family holidays more cheaply out of season but the university dates are simialr until the summer to school so no change there.

HS, I think mine will join the gym too. It is probably a good way to meet people too (and they tend to go to ours every day all summer with friends but who knows? It can be your chance to be totally different at university if you want to be....)

bigTillyMint · 22/09/2017 16:10

HSM, I gave DD 3 bottles of multivitamins but no idea if shes taking them! She was planning to join a gym, but I reckon thats taken a back seat to partying.

I am LOVING no floordrobe in DDs room I keep peeping in to marvel at it Grin

ErrolTheDragon · 22/09/2017 16:11

DD will have a reasonable length bike ride or walk. She was able to spin this to herself as a positive of not getting into the college she'd applied to which was near the engineering dept, as it meant she wouldn't have to bother with gym as such. She's appropriated my goretex trail shoes to serve for both trainers and muddy walks. Darn, I won't be able to go out running on a wet morning....Grin

user327854831 · 22/09/2017 16:11

Horsemad, how did today go?

Rightsofwomen, I felt like that as well; a meal with the father did happen but they were only out an hour thank goodness. He came when we drove down there but didn't hang around more than an hour Confused I hope that your DS is there all night.

I miss the adult company as I'm now the only adult in the house Sad

rightsofwomen · 22/09/2017 16:18

I'll be the only adult as well. And I work from home. And it's going to be even harder because he's just had the long, long summer albeit he was working at KFC or sleeping or partying or at the gym

I am trying to look at the positives. I will be able to give DS2 lots more one to one time and when he's at his Dad's I will be able to make us some work hours binge watch box sets

user327854831 · 22/09/2017 16:28

rights I'm doing the same. Nearly 1 week in and we've found some positives (in no particular order) - less washing up, less hot water being used, no trying to encourage a teenager out of their room to spend time together and my youngest and I having more 1:1 time and the focus being on them now and having more time to concentrate on activities - they have been at their sports club every night this week which wasn't possible before. It's somehow calmer at home as well, I can't quite explain though.

LaughingLlama · 22/09/2017 17:28

I spoke to my daughter earlier. She is still partying and has been ever since I dropped her off last Saturday. She seems happy and to like all the other 12/13 flatmates she is sharing with.
She didn't give a lot away. She was out shopping for some "stuff for tonight" - I guessing more booze!!! She did mention she has started with a sore throat today!! Fingers crossed its not the start of anything too nasty.
There has been a mix up with her time table - it says she has to be in 3 places at once several times a week so it will be next week until she knows it all but a few days have been put straight already and she was quite shocked to see one day a week she is in class/lectures from 9am to 7pm!!

I was very weepy at the start of the week but then seemed to have pulled myself together but this afternoon I feel very weepy again. I just feel that everything has changed for ever. I am so so happy for her. She is on such a high at the moment. I just hope she likes uni life as much after Freshers dies down and the work starts. I went into her bedroom this afternoon - its so tidy except for one pair of abandoned converse on the floor, which I havnt moved yet because they are the nearest thing to normality in there. I cant usually see the carpet.

HorseMad - Hope you got going ok again and to uni . Let us know how it went!

bigbluebus · 22/09/2017 18:03

DS said he has joined the gym with his flat mates. I hope they have more luck at getting him there than I ever did thinks about all the money wasted on gym membership. At least he's paying for it himself this time!

bigTillyMint · 22/09/2017 18:18

LaughingLama Shock at gruelling timetable - is she doing medicine?

Oldie2017 · 22/09/2017 18:24

My boys are about 20 minutes from Bristol but I think take the (free) bus. I am not worried about exercise a s they tend to do a lot,
On the Barbican - I have fairly fit off spring there - loads of running is possible. In fact I think it's easier than out where I live where we just have lots of clogged up roads and petrol fumes. It's also lovely and peaceful at the weekends. I also used to work just there. i used to swim at lunch time too - public pool, very cheap.

I ave my sons all the alcohol in the house (I don't drink) and they hid it in bag in case it wasn't allowed. Thankfully the one on a field trip last weekend did not take his bottle of vodka. I think they are fairly sensible but we shall see.

user327854831 · 22/09/2017 18:28

My boys are about 20 minutes from Bristol but I think take the (free) bus. I am not worried about exercise a s they tend to do a lot,

Are they at UWE?

Plenty of hills in Bristol according to my friend who lives there and rides a bike, I'm sure they'll get plenty of chance to exercise!

Exercise for mine usually involves running or swimming, they might join the gym though as it's next door to their hall.

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