Early days at uni 2017

[HSMMaCM]

How is everyone settling in?

DD starts on Wednesday.

Another great place (though not so easy to get to) is the Queen's Head at Newton. There used to be a great deli on the Mill Road which sold the most wonderful home made filled pasta long before you could buy it in supermarkets, I don't suppose it's there any more though - it was years ago.

Changing the subject, I love Menna Van Praag's books which are all set in Cambridge. They have got to be some of the best books that I've ever read.

I've just googled it - it's now called Limoncello and they still do fresh pasta. I feel a trip to Cambridge is now essential - such a shame that it's too far to drive. I think we need to set up a business whereby we buy a product which is not available elsewhere, deliver it to the person who wants it who also just happens to be near the university where our children are.

Long chat from one child actually (he rang as was having problems with Netflix although he managed to get on our account okay whilst we were chatting). He has set up his lap top at very long last this afternoon, got Office free (from the university) and it's all going fine. He loves his halls although his block at his halls has the worst rooms in terms of being very small which doesn't bother him. He's tidied his room up perfectly after a bit of a mess earlier in the week.

he says the food is very good indeed - cooked breakfast, bacon eggs sausage every day, dinners are good and he is even coping with early dinner (he usually cooks his at about 9.30pm at home!) as it means he can go out after.

He also said he couldn't understand shy anyone would ever go home during term and it is 10x better than at home at university (which I am very pleased about). He like the college bar apparently and also says his twin has joined some sports teams (his twin is sportier than he is). ALl is well. 10 minute uphill walk to the bus though into Bristol, so I said at least you're getting exercise every day.

Thanks for the local knowledge! I shall pass it on.

DC's maintenance loan still not arrived. Anyone else?

Halls have taken his rent, though.

We got our maintenance payment on Monday.

DD still hasn't organised Microsoft office. I told her not to phone me the day her first assignment is due, as I won't be able to help.

We're going to send a test piece of mail this week, to see if she gets it.

DS's loan arrived. Rent not due til 9/10.

Fairy that's an excellent idea! Limoncello is still going strong but there was also another deli called Pasta Fresca which closed down years ago.

GreenPolish that sounds grim for your DD; it's the sort of experience which would put DS very seriously off his stride, so well done to her for sticking it out. Hope she gets a new room soon.

stonecircle the rum boy situation sounds very difficult and how lovely of your DS and the older students to try and look after him. It's a rather unsettling experience for everyone else though, particularly the drunken aggression, and especially when everyone is trying to settle in. The poor lad is obviously very unhappy and out of his depth and reporting to Student Welfare sounds like the best idea.

DS has joined five societies - he's never going to keep that up! One is the student TV station which sounds fun, and another, which shall remain nameless, is a very outside interest; joining it seems to have been prompted by the fact that a very nice girl in the year above who showed him round on the Open Day belongs to it.

I don't understand why DS's loan hasn't been paid in, then, if everyone else has theirs.

Is there an actual phone number to ring? Never had these problems previously with DD. I've got surgery coming up, other issues going on, and I feel like my head's going to explode.

Liney- has he looked on his student finance page? It'll say if anything is due / paid.

DS had a problem with his Lineys. Turned out there was a code the uni had to pass to Student finance or something - and there was a mix up because he'd deferred for a year. He rang SF Wales and they were extremely helpful and helped him get it sorted very quickly.

The difference between his loan and the accommodation for the term was £2.

Thanks guys - I think you are right and it could be a code issue.

Hmmm... my Instagram spy (DC2 who still lives at home) informs me that DS was out clubbing ALL NIGHT. This was his first day at uni. I only took him there yesterday afternoon! Spy says DS got back to halls at 7.45 this morning.

Good grief.

DD's loan came through last week. Not sure if she had to do anything to sort it.

She is now wondering about "Formals" as some halls seem to be having them. She wants me to take her ballgown and heels up when I visit just in case!

Molly - wow, that's going some!

A couple of days ago DD heard that her loan would be coming through in 2 to 3 days. She has an existing account with some funds, but sees this as being her savings so reluctant to spend on everyday living costs or even on Freshers events. She said not to worry as they have lots of stuff in the cupboards and she has a whole £5 left! And did agree that she could get £20 out of her existing account if need be. I hope her loan might have come through by now, as think she will be more relaxed then.
I get the feeling Uni's have to confirm they have turned up and registered - the code thing.
But makes me think some students from poorer backgrounds (DD only has this account because of grandparents really) could do with receiving a settling in bursary of a couple of hundred quid to tide them over, maybe even to help with travel costs to get them there.
I think there are people you can ask actually, but would everyone be aware of this?
Bank of Mum and Dad and taxi driver seems pretty important to have as things stand in these first couple of weeks.

Molly, I think my DD has done the same. But she is big on clubbing

Juggling, I agree about a settling in bursary. My DS is surviving because of my dead dad, to put it bluntly.

My DD is surviving because she was in an horrific car accident as a small child and her compensation was released when she was 18. Goodness knows what we'd do otherwise.

Mine is surviving because she had a part time job and saved all of her wages. That and a small lump sum which I had saved for since she was born which paid her rent, her savings were used until her loan arrived.

She's joined the women's rugby club (contact rugby, eek!) and a martial arts club.

MINE also was in a RTA and has £1500 stashed

Dropped DS off on Sat but resisted phoning until last night. Not for long as he was going out which was good to hear. He missed Freshers Week but seems to be settling in regardless. The people on his floor are all apparently really nice. Such a relief!

BIsquitine that's good to hear.

I'm worried about DD, something isn't right. Not sure what isn't right but I have a feeling that she's not OK. Not sure what to do about it though, it could just be me being daft and reading more into this.

Morvah My dd has joined 9 societies and clubs from what I can gather
I hadn't thought to ask her if her loan has arrived. She's got a lot saved from working during 6th form and the holidays so isn't dependent on it coming in to buy drink food.