Early days at uni 2017

[HSMMaCM]

How is everyone settling in?

DD starts on Wednesday.

DH has a friend visiting. I could go and visit DD if she'd have me, but DH hasn't been there yet and I think he'd be upset if I went before our planned visit next weekend. Trying to decide whether to check DD's movements or not.

Very best of luck to all today's starters and their parents.

DD has gone down with some bug that's doing the rounds. She told me one of the lecturers was glowering at all the coughing and spluttering in his audience.

But she now has a room of her own! And a really good one, far nicer than the one she has left to the party animal roommate. She sounded so happy and relieved on the phone.

I could turn cartwheels (except I'd break something - probably me).

GreenPolish brilliant! So pleased for your DD.

Good luck to all who are off this weekend.

DS is going to a murder mystery evening later. This apparently includes a three course meal so that will be a change from pasta, which seems to be the staple diet so far.

Green that's great.

Good luck to everyone moving in today.

dd goes tomorrow. She has started packing!

So glad your DD has her own room now, Greenpolish

Dd is home later for a family party too lol HURRAH for family 😉

So glad everyone else seems to be settling.
Still so quiet here

Yay, green!

from today's Guardian - important life lessons in managing money:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/30/my-daughter-blew-through-1200-in-two-weeks-at-university

Thanks everyone. Car packed ...just. Good job I don't have a Mini. Setting off soon. Move in date tomorrow but too far/too much there and back in one day. Thinking of all those in a similar situation this weekend.

Fairy - Have you been intouch with your daughter again. Does she seem any better.

2 weeks today since i dropped off my daughter. Its getting easier although i have the odd pang that everything has changed etc etc.
Dd seems to be loving uni life. I was blessed with ...a 2 hour phonecall yesterday. Yes 2 hours! . Its the first proper chat ive had with her since she left. She is so happy. Said Uni wad thw best decision she ever made. Dhe loves her flatmates. A flat of 12 and they have all clicked. They help each other out some are very good cooks others dont know how to use a toaster but they all muck in and help out where they can she said. One girl tried to cook a pie but switched the grill on and nit the oven. The result was a smoke filled kitchen, black top to the pie and raw meat in the middle. They all had a laugh about it, helped clear up and cooked her scrambled eggs on toast. They sound such a lovrly bunch. I just hope it continues.
Her lectures are quite full on with one day being 9am to 7pm. Finding one of her subjects very hard but not stressing yet.
Last night her whole flat were off to super hero party in the SU on campus.She has no plans to come home anytime soon because she is simply loving life!
I on the otherhand have been batch cooking so i can fill her freezer up when i go and visit - perhaps the end of October.

I had a brief call from DD yesterday, just needed her vacc. dates before going to register at the GP. Meanwhile, DH has delivered the bike etc but is milling around in the town centre as there's some sort of thing for parents this afternoon which he wanted to go to.

DS phoned - emergency call to ask how to do his washing! How many tablets to use ?

Thanks for that tip on taking tablets!

He's been to a sports fair this morning and signed up for Gaelic football - he's 1/2 Irish so thought he would be good at it!!

His grandparents live 20 or so miles away so they are going to see him this afternoon and no doubt bring food for him.

llama I spoke to her this morning, she says she has chosen the right course and the right uni and is fine. She's seeing her boyfriend tomorrow and I think she's coming for the weekend in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for asking.

Idiotic woman on that Guardian article.

Where in earth do they find the people who write those articles?

The Guardian article is pretty much pants isn't it?!
Kind of OK as far as it goes, but so over-simplified.
It depends so much on the child, on the relationship, and on how it's all done doesn't it?
Even here she didn't really cut her daughter off from all material support, actually they came up with a plan together.
And couldn't she have done anything to stop her DD blowing over a grand of her loan in 2 weeks in the first place?
I've got a better idea for a column - should we encourage our children to come home before Christmas?
Can compare communication then and now, talk about visiting them or them coming home for a weekend.
Or just come on this thread, you'll get so much better advice, support, and company!

It was rather ridiculous wasn't it. I know we can't control them and their spending but I do wonder what financial example has been set to her daughter as she was growing up.

This thread is far better.

"I've got a better idea for a column - should we encourage our children to come home before Christmas?
Can compare communication then and now, talk about visiting them or them coming home for a weekend."

I am getting communication on WhatsApp from DS, much of it not directed to me but we are both part of some family group chats so I see him post. We had already booked for DS to come home next weekend so we can go and watch a local event (Robots Live). I asked him if he wanted to come home again before Christmas and he said he's like to come home for a weekend in November so he will be coming back for a weekend late November.

I have no idea if this is a good idea or not, I guess we will see when the time comes. He doesn't seem at all homesick so hopefully he will enjoy coming home but will also enjoy going back.

I don't think I put my column suggestion particularly well there OddBoots but you seem to have understood anyway!

It's been on my mind a bit as do feel it would be great to meet up with DD one weekend before Christmas. Seems such a long time otherwise.
And I feel I wasn't really encouraged to do this. I suspect my Father may have felt if I came home I might not have wanted to go back again - not the case at all I'm sure, and just him being over cautious.

Anyway, anyone else hoping to meet up with DC at some point this term? I said to DD it would be lovely to see her maybe at half-term, or of course anytime, and she said she might fancy a little trip home one weekend.

I just thought of something REALLY important.

What about their advent calendars?

HSMMaCM I sent my DD one via Amazon every year when she was in Uni.

I just spoke to one - he was at a bus stop waiting for the free bus back to halls which is very slow at the weekends he says so good chance to return my call. All well. His twin has shown him how to work the washing machines and a friend is giong to lend him his clothes drier every time he needs it. Food is amazing that hall. Had first formal dinner in gown last night which was wonderful. Halls group photo will be taken soon which I sent him the money for yesterday.

He felt the work is fine and lectures. he might come up for a family lunch we have a end of November which is nice - I offered to pay their train fares but I am happy they can decide at the time. It has to be then as their sister is then going abroad for a month so I could not fit it in university holidays.

I am leaving it to them if they come home other than that. I don't think they will but I am happy either way. I had their brother round this afternoon.

I will send advent colander.

We have snap chatted. All is good.

Calendar even

The Guardian woman! Fancy grinning away in a national newspaper and admitting that her entitled silly dd blew £1200 in two weeks. If ds did that I'd have his guts for garters and I certainly wouldn't be laughing about it. Maybe I would if £1200 were the peanuts it appears to be to Guardian Woman and her circle of friends.