Early days at uni 2017

[HSMMaCM]

How is everyone settling in?

DD starts on Wednesday.

I agree with you, oldie. I've loved having teenagers around, and all the friends of my two I've met have been charming. Even when we've had (carefully monitored) parties here at the house, they've been polite and friendly - some even helping clear away glasses and plates to the kitchen. And yes, very supportive to each other.

DS1 went this morning. Apparently he is unpacking having "chilled" for a bit around town. Presumably with his father.

I am both sad that he's gone and happy for him :)

Agree about teenagers. I like having them around.

Love to those who have just dropped off. It's funny how they all start at such different times, I guess it balances out over the year with different break up times.

The drinking thing is weird. We definitely didn’t drink to that excess at uni (early 90s). But I think that’s because spirits were much more expensive or less available. I’m not sure. I think it’s quite divisive, those that do and those that don’t so much. You can’t really effectively enjoy a night out together. You can’t communicate with each other. And it seems to have to be every night! Both dd and ds don’t drink much (a lot less than I did). Disclaimer:- so far with ds. He’s the kind to have one or two beers of an evening and then help the drunks home as they puke everywhere.

This is just an observation btw not a moral comment.

Also, I think it’s probably tailing off a bit now. Not quite so in to be a drinker or out to be sober.

tobee, we did in the mid 80's Loads of drinking, partying, clubbing... Don't know where DD gets it from

Same here BTM.

In fact I still love a night drinking and dancing!

I dropped DS2 off last week for his second year. Much less of a wrench for me this time as last year we had an empty nest for the first time.
It's freshers this week but as he is a second year his lectures start and he says he's not interested in any of the fresher events.
He's in a mixed shared rented house this time with five others and they are all enjoying playing "house" I think.
He did overdo it at freshers last year and then got "freshers flu" which dragged on for weeks.
Neither of mine drank much before uni, and still don't drink very often. In some ways it's more worrying that they may only drink occasionally but then it's rather a lot. I prefer not to know whether he's having a night out or not.

Yeah we did drink, a lot, but not every night ending up vomiting and passing out. It feels a bit more dangerous. But then freshers didn’t last a week. Also, we didn’t pre-drink. As an aside, it always makes me think of Euan Blair!

We've been empty nesters for a week now and so far we're surviving although the house seems oddly empty at times.

DS2 isn't really into alcohol, says he doesn't like the taste. He's found a society called the Sober Socials Society. So far they've had board game evenings and he says they're a nice bunch and is probably going to join officially. He's at Birmingham, but no doubt similar groups exist at other unis, they just might not be as visible as other activities.

DD just rang DH to ask if the money he has put in her account is the last all year.

No, he says, it's for this term.

Right, she says, I'm just trying to work out if I can afford something.

What? He asks.

Yogurts.

Carl, reminds me of a friend's DD who rang and asked how much money she'd be wasting if she didn't bother eating the jacket spud she'd started to cook, as they'd all decided to eat out...!

Sparkling, the cats were cute but sleepy (was very warm here yesterday).

Carl . At least she's being careful with her money! We popped into a Sainsbury's local yesterday with ds to pick up some bits and pieces before we left. He told me he might nip back later and get a bottle of Jack Daniel's .....

Am missing him terribly - he's my youngest, so none left to focus my attentions on! I did a miserable grocery shop this afternoon bypassing all the things he likes that I'd normally put in my trolley. I know from experience that I will overshop for a while until I get used to the sudden drop in food consumption!

Stonecircle, I found myself reaching for a box of Krave when shopping on Friday before realising I didn't need it. Spent a lot less on the weekly shop in general.

I made too much rice one evening so I saved it for a rice salad for lunch the following day. We'll all adjust, probably just in time for them to return for Christmas!😁

Dh came back from a supermarket shop yesterday, gleeful that he'd only spent £45! (I didn't have the heart to tell him that I'd spent more than that each on the kids as a start-up shop for them, not to mention the hundreds I spent in Dunelm/Ikea).

We just did a weekly shop, £54 instead of £80...might go some way to minimising the debt now the tax credits have dropped so much.

I just dropped a pukey Dd and a snotty dd’s boyfriend back off - sigh. They destroyed my spotless house in 10 mins and she’d shoes and glasses everywhere haha
Made me laugh when I saw a student walking back to halls with his bag of value potatoes.
He’s either living on spuds all week or it’s the final accompaniment to a full roast. Who knows

Very proud of dd. She's been to Tesco, to buy frozen veg

Just had our first skype chat with ds. He is looking rough the way you would look if you had been out every night for a week (which he has) and sounding like a sixty a day smoker (which he isn't I hope ). He had just been to try outs for the uni football team and not selected so was feeling a bit sorry for himself and was practically dropping to sleep while talking but he needs to hit the shops and the laundry room before a full day of proper lectures start tomorrow. He feels ill and exhausted. I want to go and mother him a bit.

Apparently his breakfast today was last night's cold spaghetti bolognaise.

QOD - or maybe he has to do dinner for everyone and can only manage baked potatoes?!

Who knows indeed.

Where is still left to go? I know Oxford is Mon 2nd, DS is feeling quite left behind now as absolutely all his friends have gone.

Loughborough is this coming week, I think. Nephew and dd's friend still knocking around.

DS, messaged asking what his address is.

I keep cooking to much food. For too much pasta!

You wouldn’t have thought I’ve just been through 4 years of this with dd would you?

Ds messaged earlier.

Ds:- hello

M:- hi

(Me thinking, “this is ominously early. He’s been unwell, he lost his keys, his wallet, mugged. What? What?”

Ds:- my banana milkshake tasted gross. I wasted my money.

Ffs!