Heading towards year 2 exams (uni 2017)

[brizzlemint]

Starting uni 2017 continued.
Tales of radiators, errant boilers, tomatoes and potato mashers...oh and university students.

@SMaCM, well done to your DD - I think mine has decided the area but not the exact title yet? And having thought she might do a Masters, on further investigation is unsure again.... She might look for a job or a different Masters....

I have suggested contacting the careers dept - what are other final year students planning to do next year?

My DD would like to head straight for her doctorate next year. Unfortunately she failed to get the job she needed, so it's likely she'll be doing a Masters or work. I am suggesting the Masters alongside some work, as I never managed to do the next step and regret not doing my Masters. So I'm aware my experience is clouding my advice.

Sorry for your loss Needmoresleep. LateDecember DH's mother had a similar history in that she was born in East Prussia in 1924. Her father was a tailor who ended up being drafted into the German Army in WW2. Her older brother was too. In 1944, her brother turned up in SS uniform (claimed he borrowed it, but who knows?) and told MiL and her mother to pack a trunk and get the hell out as the Russians were rolling in. MiL worked for the local milk cooperative and they were on their last lorry out. They were re-settled in Ost-Friesland, near the Dutch border. FiL was a British soldier and after she relocated, MiL worked as a cook at the British camp. She spoke reasonable English which is how she got the job. She & Fil started a relationship then came to his home in Yorkshire to marry.

When DH and I were engaged, we went to a wedding in Germany (not family) but he and I stayed with his cousin and MiL stayed with her brother and SiL so I did get to meet them. He had been an alcoholic so didn't live much longer. MiL lasted until she was 88 and amazingly didn't revert back to speaking German, even in her last weeks. We see the cousins every couple of years. Now DD1 is adding German to her workload and wants to go and stay with them or their grown-up kids next summer.

DH had to go to Kiev for work 14 years ago. MiL flew out to join him in Moscow and they travelled together to Kaliningrad and then onto her old village. Very little had changed since she left - her old front door was still the same faded colour. DH took lots of photos and she was glad to see it again.

In uni news, DD1 is on her way back from Germany where she has been to see her bf. DD2's friend is going to the same college, so DD1 has left her a little present to welcome her to Cambridge. DD2 seems ok - we're going to FaceTime shortly. DH has gone away to visit his brother and then go to a conference so I am home alone for a week - it's very quiet!

Hello, climbing back in (if you'll have me).

Long story short. DS1 who was struggling over Easter/summer is taking a year out between years 2 and 3 to (in his own words) "get my shit together".

He failed yr 2 exams, but due to year averages only needed to resit one. Instead he decided to take a year out. Thankfully he had talked to his tutors BEFORE he sat his exams so that all the paperwork/approval etc could be set up. We'd talked a lot and the only thing I was quite forceful about what that doing nothing (either literally, or about how he was feeling) was not an option.
Leaving uni - fine.
Changing course - fine.
Time out - fine.
Doing nothing - not fine. It's to his credit that he did talk to his tutors before the exams.

Anyway, he's gone back to Southampton but has got different digs (with people who work) and a job in Amazon for the time being.

He seems much more settled.

Oh I lied...I've also been quite vocal in saying that I do think he should get his degree. Maybe drop down from the Masters to the straight BSc and maybe he won't get the grade he's capable of, but a reasonable degree from a good university is far better than 2 wasted years.

Meanwhile it's secondary school tours with DS2.

Malbecfan, that's so interesting about your MiL's family. Hearing about everyone's family history really brings it home the social change that has taken place since the start of the 20th century.

TheOrigRightsofwomen, it sounds like your son has got a plan sorted. Our elder son left uni after the 1st year and, like you, we said that was fine but he wasn't spending a year on the sofa "finding himself". He worked for nearly 3 years as a chef before finally deciding to train as an accountant which has been perfect for him.
7 years ago we were so worried about what the future held for him but he's now off the antidepressants, can drive, has a good job with prospects and is looking forward to getting married to his lovely girlfriend. Your son will get there too, sometimes they just need a breather.

Yes, really interesting famly history there. I have looked into all branches of the family back in most cases to the last 1700s and everyone is from England, Scotland (some from Orkney) or Ireland. It is hard to go much further back as most of them had no money so there are not many records other than the occasional church baptism and marriage.

the orign, I am glad he has sorted something out. It sounds like a good plan if he can go back in September and carry on to finish his degree.

One of mine has had to noegitiate a rent discount as the building will be covered in sheets (no light) for 8 weeks due to building works. He sounds fine and is working on his dissertation. he called me when he was doing his law school application just to check one point. He has submitted it now (for Sept 2020). He is very central this year in Bristol and likes it although ithe street is noisier outside. He can walk to the gym in 8 minutes.

He said he and his friends had met some freshers in a pub who started talking to them and how much younger they seemed. I suppose to be expected - you grow up a lot over the first two years.

His twin sounds happy too so all is going well with them as far as I know.

We saw DD yesterday. They got a new washing machine two weeks ago and haven't been able to work it, because it's supposed to work via their phones and the Wi-fi. I showed them how to press the buttons to make it work 🤣. They all stood there as if I'd done some kind of magic. These are supposed to be clever people 🙄.

She's loving her course and is happy she's picked the correct optional modules this year. Lectures are down to 6 hours a week. Bargain!

That sounds good and I am glad the washing machine is now working.One of mine had a good time at the races and he sent me a picture on request as I knew he was in his suit with a tie (rare) and they all looked very good. It did not look wet either so may be the weather held for them. i spoke to his twin who sounded fine but their building witll be swathed in sheets until 2020 so just as well they got their slight discount on the rent as that is pretty awful for a lovely newly done out flat - no view from the windows basically for 50% of the tenancy time - they weren't in for the first 3 months over the summer but paying full rent when the work should have been done and now this until 2020. He seemed fine about it. I suppose they can switch lights on and go to the library etc. and when you're asleep it doesn't matter.

Just back from a holiday in Crete (lots of archaeology etc, fab) - so it seems like it's an age since DH took DD back. But she only started term on Thursday and has had just one day of lectures so far! Options all chosen, but waiting to see if she gets her preferred choice of projects for the summer term. Room is good, lots of natural light and recently refurbished to include an abundance of electrical sockets.

It feels as if DD has been back forever. Probably 6 weeks. We have seen quite a lot of her as she came back for a match, then joined us the weekend my mother dies and will be there for the funeral. On another level she has grown up a lot. She was very unhappy in her first year, and had not fully found her feet in her second. This year is completely different. She seems to be confidently tackling course issues (the main learning seems to be in how the suceed against NHS bureaucracy) and flat issues, and seems to be doing a lot of outdoorsy things at weekends.

Its good. Her independence is my independence. Having spent a decade supporting both parents and children I can now see wider horizons.

(Or at least once probate is done. There is a lawyer rant brewing...)

That made me LOL @SMaCM!!

Crete is amazing Errol, I loved it when I went, many moons ago. Such an interesting place.

Did your DS go racing at Newmarket Xenia? I was watching it on tv on Sat; it was a bit dull & misty but DRY! It wasn't yesterday though - tipped it down apparently!

My DS is ok, he said he had a craving for chocolate Angel Delight and couldn't get it anywhere - only strawberry or butterscotch available. 😲 Disaster!!!

NeedMoreSleep it looks like you'll be able to start putting yourself first soon. Make the most of it.

Lots of plans

Butterscotch Angel Delight is far superior...or it was when I was a child. A sudden realisation that we never bought it for the children. Another reason for them to claim neglect?

Yeah, personally I prefer butterscotch!

Another vote for butterscotch here - just tell him he's picked the wrong flavour .

Needmore, I took on winding up my father's estate as we (siblings) felt happier it was in our hands. We did it fairly quickly compared with some estates but I still spent 100 hours on it (I kept a record). One thing that is useful to get is to buy 10 not justo ne copies of the grnat of probate as you or the solicitor often has to send the original to lots of different banks and organisations all at once and it saves time to have lots of originals. My parents did in their 70s which is fairly young these days.

Horsemad, my son didn't say where he had gone racing at so I just assumed somewhere near Bristol. I tried to call him today but he's in the library so I wll probably find out later this week.

I love butterscotch Angel Delight and used to make it for my DC!

DS is also going to the races on Sunday

DDs house situation is ongoing, they are trying to negotiate a fair rebate of rent for wjat will be a whole term of no sitting/dining room.

I was the first and only one of my family to go to uni, it's not common for Romany.
My eldest went and the youngest will go.
They manage their lives themselves though so I can't comment on uni as mine grew up at 18.
I would like some input with dd 15, but she has it all planned and knows what she's doing, so butt out mum

This afternoon I posted a sachet of chocolate Angel Delight that I had here but had a quick look in two nearby supermarkets first and yes, only butterscotch or strawberry available... 🤔

Is it to do with Brexit? 😆😆😆

Sorry to hear that the housing woes are still ongoing for some DC. Good for them for persuing rebates as I'm sure their landlords will be quick enough to deduct from deposits if they find the slightest thing wrong at the end of the tenancy. I don't have a problem with that, as landlords must have some nightmare tenants at times, but it should work both ways.

The chat about Angel Delight has taken me back to my student house days. 🙂 I'm going to get a packet later to post out to DS2. It'll be cheaper than the box of Krave I sent him in August.

Pursuing

Drabani, that's a wonderful achievement for you and two of your children to get to university. My 2 are pretty independent although I have just had to forward on yet another replacement bank card sent to our home (the bank's machine swallowed his this time).

I checked on the races as he called me a long chat yesterday - it was Chepstow ad he did win on one but overall lost and I did my usual warning about the addictiveness of gambling (one of the richest man on our parents' street when I was a child owned a string of betting shops in Newcastle) but I don't think h e's particularly into it. There has been an explosion in on line gambling althuogh my son seemed to think most people are those going to betting shops and they are old but I am not sure that is true with the latest statistics. I bet a lot of women who would not dream of going into a betting shop bet on line.

Anyway we had a good chat and I then sent them both their 21st birthday money for next week - he got me to go into my diary for 2005 when I was on the phone to look at what his oldest siblinng got in that year for the 21st then to be fair. I've applied inflation since then

From family history to Angel Delight. I do enjoy this thread

Very little news from ds. He's revising for OSCEs at the beginning of November (practical tests where the students have to examine about 20 patients.) There are literally hundreds of different patient examinations they have to learn - what to wiggle or palpate and what questions to ask depending on what the patients says to them. Needmoresleep when does your dd do hers?

It's a bit bad timing as his older brother is leaving that week for Australia for the next year or three to join his girlfriend there, so there will be no overlap between the boys for a family farewell get together. I'm feeling the whole empty nest feeling looming again. But this time it's for good rather than until Christmas. Gulp. Latedecember what's your ds doing for Christmas? You're going over at some point aren't you?

Good luck to all the medics revising for exams. Our neice is a GP and I'm amazed at her ability to diagnose patients' ailments. My job has its stressful moments but I'm not going to kill a child if I forget to give it a sticker!

Haffdonga, DS2 hasn't got plans for Christmas yet. His semester finishes around the 23rd November and he has already paid for his uni accomodation for over the holiday and into semester 2 so that he has a base.
He's looking into doing a bit of travelling.
His cousin lives in Brisbane but had a baby earlier in the year so he doesn't want to impose on her unless she invites him.

We are planning on visiting him for the first 3 weeks in February. It will be lovely to see him. We always go to the Christmas Eve concert at the Bridgewater Hall and it seemed odd when DH was ordering 1 fewer ticket recently.
Will you go to visit your DS and his girlfriend?

Brilliant, isn't it Haffdonga?!

Talking of Angel Delight, DS still hasn't received the packet I sent. I haven't actually told him what was inside the package, so he's unaware that he's missing his treat!! Where can it be? Is there a Phantom Chocolate Angel Delight Scoffer on the loose...??? The mind boggles.

Are the patients real patients or people pretending to be patients Haffdonga?
When DS broke his arm, I was impressed with the detective skills applied by Triage before they sent him for X-Ray. It didn't look broken at all, so I was amazed when it showed a definite fracture.