UEA freshers

[juicy0]

I've never done this before but hopefully I have managed to set up a new thread for UEA specific posts.
Perhaps someone can let me know if it's worked!

@Itscoldouthere we weren't impressed with en suite campus when we looked round. Compared to Barton/Hickling it was very small. They had large seating areas and a lot more storage at Hickling for only a small amount more money. Ds wasn't that happy with getting 5th choice. Is says in reviews that Paston house has the smallest kitchen compared to anywhere else.

I hope he's not too disappointed tomorrow.

I just didn’t think about the shower room and what it might need, I assumed there would be a shelf at least, anyway I’m sure it can be easily resolved.
DH isn’t that worried about his halls not being too fancy, he’s got everything he needs in his room.
I just hope he gets on ok with his flat mates, there was a bottle of champagne in the fridge and a girl had brought a bottle of gin.
Ds doesn’t drink, but he said he would try really hard to socialise which is something he doesn’t find easy.

@Itscoldouthere any suggestions as to what to get for bathroom storage? Can they hang something on the door?

I've just told DS to take his toilet bag with him to the bathroom... He's arrived, settling in (hasn't said much about his flatmates although one called Nathan) and says he's so tired he's off to bed soon!!! He has been up since 6am though...

@icanbewhatiwant I’m not sure, maybe as suggested above an over shower or over door thing.
At home we have metal units that have suction caps that stick to the tiles, but I don’t know if the bathroom is tiled or plastic!
I’ll speak to DS tomorrow and see if I can get him to order something.
We also forgot coat hangers because he only had draws at home, the wardrobe is only hanging inside with a shelf above at high level, there are 3 draws in the desk unit abut that’s it for clothes storage.

Glad that today went well for everyone - good luck to those moving in tomorrow! I feel strangely empty. Don't think it's really hit home yet...

We are just sitting having a glass of wine, with the wood burner on listening to music, contemplating how different it’s going to be now with both our boys gone, I’m not sad though, I’m extremely proud and pleased that they are out there, hopefully expanding into the grown ups they will become.
We’ve got plans to change our lives too, so hopefully we will all have a new adventure.

And best of luck for everyone moving in tomorrow and for freshers week, I shall look forward to updates.

@icanbewhatiwant someone suggested this on another thread I think. Obviously depends on whether it's a floor standing sink or not, I can't remember what was in each house.

www.argos.co.uk/product/8324197

Or maybe one of these? There is a
Wilko in Norwich so your DC could always pick one up if they find they are short of storage space.

www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-over-door-bathroom-storage-unit/p/0452662

@juicy0 yes I'll look tomorrow to see if that would be suitable. Thanks.

Someone has told ds there aren't bedside table. There must be surely?

All moved in here as well. Remarkably smooth. His room (in Willow) is very compact but fine. We took a set of Wilko plastic drawers with us not knowing if they would fit but there is space at the end of his bed, which is good. Really nice kitchen, no extra socialising space unlike B&H, but plenty of room round the table. He is a bit disappointed that there are only 2 lads out of 8 flat mates though, and he can't get any signal on his phone. Eventually worked out WiFi so has connected to that.

@GoldenRuby DD flat is a bit the same-4 girls and 2 boys.

the UEA ratio is 60-40 girls boys

I expect we will be bringing a lot of what DD has brought up back home
again

@icanbewhatiwant just looked at the photos DH took and there is no bedside table.
I like the idea of bringing a small set of draws, maybe something for a visit!

@Itscoldouthere that's a bit daft...no bedside table. Do you know if there's room for one?

Definitely no space for one in the Ziggs but there are shelves immediately behind the headboard which would do the job. Really wanting to know exactly what DS is doing but trying to resist pestering him

What was the queue like for key? Ds3 is asking if he can come tomorrow (he's 10) it says only 2 allowed in the key queue, do you think they'll mind 2 and a half?

icanbewhatiwant let him go, they're hardly going to make a 10 year old stand outside on his own

@NotSorry yes I thought that...but they could ask ds to queue on his own. I hope they won't say anything though. I think ds3 wants to make sure his brother is definitely going as they always argue 🤣 ds2 will still be asleep when we get back.

tbh - I think they say that because the world and his wife turn up otherwise. We're the sort of family that I'd say to DH and DS3 "wait outside, we'll go and queue". Unfortunately not everyone is like that - they get the whole family including aunts and uncles crowding out the area, generally getting in the way.

I think I was the only mum in the reception playground without an entourage on the first day.

There were plenty of whole family groups in the hall, just go along together. There was no queue at all if you have already sorted out your campus card (uploaded the photo, etc. online). The student goes up to the desk alone to collect paperwork, campus card and key whilst family members just stand to the side and wait - 2 minutes.
There was a big queue for people who hadn't sorted out the campus card online.
The sports park is fabulous and worth seeing. There is a cafe in reception too which looks nice and you can watch people on the climbing wall whilst you have a coffee.
They are directing all traffic to the main car park in the first instance. Its 2 minutes walk from the sports park, then some move on to other car parks or some move into designated rows in the main car park for their accommodation. We arrived about 1pm, loads of space. Lots of people everywhere to stop and ask, even sitting at the side of the roads.
I'm really impressed with how organised it was. Dont forget to go over to the LCR for your wristband and freebies.

We did it in this order which worked well -

.Park car in main car park.
Collect keys from sports park.
Over to the square for lunch.
LCR for wrist band and freebies.
Back to car and move it to the Triangle parking for Ziggs.
Take stuff to room
Leave DS to it

On reflection it would have been wrong to try and take DS from his flat for lunch after unloading the car as his flat were hovering around trying to talk to him, so this way worked for all of us.

Good luck to the Sunday movers. Hope you get glorious sunshine too.

Just had a text from DD, she's lost her ID and has had to go back to the flat when they had their first night out as a group planned. She used it to collect her key this morning but now can't find it

She found it in her room and is now back out as planned. Phew!

Bedside table - none in DD1's room, but the curved end of the desk was only about 20cm from the bed, so serves the purpose. We did buy her a faux leather storage cube to use bedside, but there literally wasn't room to squash it in, so that went into one of the cubby holes under the bed.

Bathroom storage was limited, and she has a wetroom, so we went with a wire freestanding bathroom Caddy, from Wilko. Which was heaving with students yesterday!

Anyway, she seems to have settled in, and last I heard was playing Cards Against Humanity with her flatmates.

And she worked out the WiFi! Hooray.