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!

@sluj I think the Tesco express is about 15 min walk. My ds is probably too lazy to walk that far...I hope he does walk it though.

That's good you've heard from your ds. I'm not hearing much from mine. He proudly sent me a photo of the bolognese he'd cooked. So he is eating well...he likes his food. He got back from the ball at 4am. I asked if he's out tonight. He said yes. I asked where to, but no reply. I think the freshers event is at the waterfront which is in the city.

That all sounds good @sluj. Ds tells me has cooked most nights though I have no idea what - not sure his will involve any veg either!

DS went to the freshers' ball for three hours yesterday evening. Said he left when the 'Grime' acts came on. He has just texted to say he's loving it except for cooking in the communal kitchen - says it's way too busy and there's not enough room.

Feels as if the UEA freshers' week is quite full on with induction lectures/seminars too. Not much time to get bored and/or lonely.

@MrsBartlet DS's veg likes are green beans and baked beans (lettuce and tomatoes are passable too). He is slightly better on the fruit front (but not much). When he was a toddler his diet was totally beige. He's got better as he's got older but I would still regard him as a challenge to cook for. Loves his meat though!

My ds son eats most things and loves his food. Ds2 and ds3 aren't so good. Number 3 is the fussiest. If he was old enough to cook he'd eat chicken nuggets, plain pasta and cucumber every meal.

The Ball looks to have been quite a success, Ds2's flat seemed to have gone en masse. They all appear to get on - although early days of course - which is good, and apparently a group outing to see the Joker when it is released end of next week is being planned.

Oreo (the local cat) is a big hit - not sure how far said feline wanders, but appears in several pics that DS2 has deigned to share.

All in all a positive first week, not quite so confident on the fruit and veg front though. :)

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 Ds is another meat lover. I fear he will live on bacon alone 😀 We have been trying to reduce our meat consumption at home for environmental reasons and it has got much easier without ds here!

@MrsBartlet snap! I have been looking forward to a more plant-based diet (DD has vegetarian leanings) and now it is easier (and potentially cheaper) to cook without DS here, although hoping that doesn't sound mean?

Same here, not so much less meat as more salad. We are actually having halloumi salad for dinner today which DS would have turned his nose up at.

It's weird reading the other thread of mumsnetters still dropping off. Not sure it feels like a week ago I was at the UEA dropping ds off. I've not spoken to him much but hearing of alcohol, very lates nights etc. I am hoping by the end of freshers he will settle down and start communicating again. I said to him last night (via message) that his life is very different and ours just continues as normal...his older brothers spending the eves in their rooms, me off on the evening dog walk, then watching the same on tv etc. etc. He didn't comment, I don't suppose he's not missing us at all, or not yet anyway. They might do once freshers parties end.

I think it will all settle down next week once the parties have died down a bit and the timetable begins in earnest. It does seem to have been very full on this week so it will be good to get some purpose and structure to their days (other than partying).

DS is home. He lasted a week - not even that as he'd been home during the week too. We are local and he can bus in so the temptation to come home was always going to be there but I'm a bit sad that he didn't try a bit harder. He knew he could cancel the contract within seven days without any penalty so that's what he did. He said he hated how noisy it was. I tried to explain the parties and late nights wouldn't go on forever and his flatmates would settle down as the term got going. He's a bit of an introvert and I hoped he would be forced out of his comfort zone and might actually find he enjoyed living away from home but sadly, no.

On the plus side he said he's finding his course really interesting and says the people on it are great so I know that's the most important thing really. I have a friend whose son is loving his university experience but is already finding his course a struggle and would like to swap but doesn't have the right A'levels for the course he'd like to swap too so that's not good either.

I face-timed with DS tonight. He's doing ok, keen to get into a regular routine rather than just partying and lots of time on his hands in the day. Says he flat mates are ok. He cooked a roast for the flat with one of the girls tonight, and said that cooking and all eating together was nice. It's the first time they've done that, although they have been going out as a group. We've arranged to go for a visit at the end of the month which will be good.

@CharliesMouse sorry to hear that your DS didn't like living in but at least he sounds very positive about his course. I think parental home close to one's university is always going to be too tempting a prospect for some. Maybe he will feel ready to move into a house with like-minded friends next year? As I've said elsewhere, it is a helluva lot for young people to come to terms with all at once.

@CharliesMouse Sorry to hear about your son moving home but at least he is happy with the course. As @NewModelArmyMayhem18 says hopefully once he settles he will then feel happy to find a house with some friends for next year.

I have a meeting at the Sainsbury's Centre this afternoon so I am going to meet ds for a cup of tea after (his halls are directly opposite it!) I think he might need a hug as he didn't manage to get into the basketball team He got through Saturday night's trial where the initial 80 boys got cut to 40 then last night he made it through the first cut when they reduced the 40 to 30 but he didn't make the final cut down to 20 to get in the actual squad. He hasn't had much experience playing in a team recently and although he loves it he has spent a lot of time practising by himself. I think there are still opportunities to play if you are not in the team so he can get some practise in and try again.

@CharliesMouse that's a shame your son didn't try for a bit longer. But it's great he likes his course and can commute.

I have asked my ds if he likes his course but he doesn't reply. He has been sending me photos of the meals he's cooked. They look huge. 2 pieces of salmon last night. An avacado. 12 new potatoes, tomatoes and sweetcorn. I did say well done but also that there was enough for 2 people. No reply to that comment.

He did tell me he has more hours on his timetable than anyone else in his flat. 20 hours a week. He said one girl only has 5 hours. I expect the lab time for science makes up the hours.

I have a hospital appointment right near UEA mid Oct. I will visit him that day. I don't think I'm going to really find out how he is till then.

@MrsBartlet how frustrating for your DS. I'm surprised if there were that many try outs that they haven't set up a second team, even if it is just playing friendlies. Is there an opportunity for him to join in training anyway? I think there are various sports competitions between the halls and depts, so maybe he will get a chance then if basketball is one of the sports.

@MrsBartlet that is disappointing! My dd was really looking forward to playing netball but it seems there was only a serious team and not more casual ones-seems like UEA are missing a trick with the sport-would be nice to have a chance to do it for the exercise and camaraderie. Good for mental health etc.
DD whats apps me casually most every days. Don't think she has been to supermarket yet and is living off what we sent. She said she was struggling to get veg in her diet. DH said the supermarket on campus was well stocked with alcohol and tins but not much fresh We are going up in 2 weeks as it is her birthday so will go up sunday am and spend the day with her and take her out for a good meal. We ar bringing DDog as DD has made clear she is who she misses the most!

@mumsiedarlingrevolta we are taking the dog when we go up to, as DS really wants to see her. I asked him if there was a way of bringing the dog to the hockey pitches so we could watch his match, but as you have to go through the sports centre that looks like a no-no. The better news though is that his flat mates immediately offered to look after to dog while the match is on and walk her round the park, so they are now looking forward to our visit as well.

Some of the sports clubs have loads of teams, with some being more social than serious. Eg hockey has 4 mens and 5 women's teams. Hopefully everyone will find something to be involved in, even if it is not what they initially expected to join.

Had a nice chat with DS today, he’s had a cold all weekend so spent Sunday in bed and didn’t go to the society he’d hoped to join.
He seems to have made a group of friends in Biology, so far they are a group of 4 2, girls and 2 boys which I’m really pleased about as he didn’t seem to make friends with girls at his 6th form.
He not in the same lab group with any of them, so he’s not sure if he will get on with his lab partner or not. He had a maths test which forms part of the group setting, they also had to say the result of the last maths exam, he’s not sure how that will go as he had to say E at AS rather than his A* at GCSE.
He not been to many freshers things, but he doesn’t drink or dance so many of them weren’t his thing. The outdoor cinema was cancelled due to rain.
His main problem is food, he’s not a great cook and hasn’t managed to think about what he might eat in the evenings, so isn’t well prepared, lots of toasted sandwiches and pot noodles!
He’s missing my home cooked food and the dog!

I saw ds this afternoon and he was in good spirits despite his basketball set back! I think the squad of 20 is for 2 teams. He seemed pleased with himself for getting to the final 30 as he hasn't played in a team for 2 years and some of the others had played against one another in the nationals (guessing that is some sort of league??) He has not been discouraged and will be attending the open sessions which are held once or twice a week and open to everyone so that he can up his game!

I can't believe how much he has fitted in in a week. He has had 3 basketball sessions; 2 ultimate frisbee sessions; been to the gym 6 times as well as all the introductory lectures and freshers events. He seemed very relaxed and happy and has made good friends with a good few of his flatmates as well as people in the flat next door. He has been cooking properly for himself every night (that month of crash cooking lessons after his a level results has obviously worked) and he has eaten vegetables and actually made himself a salad Now if only he will actually do some work, then I will be very happy!

@Itscoldouthere I just asked my ds if he'd done a maths test today. He doesn't tell me anything. He said yes, it started off easy but got progressively harder. He said lots of stuff he hadn't done as he only did the foundation paper for GCSE maths. He did do an AS level equivalent in maths alongside A levels too. I think it was called mathematical studies. He only got a C in that. He's no mathematician so I hope that doesn't hold him back. Some universities wanted him to have A level maths to take biology.

@MrsBartlet that's good your ds has been so busy and is happy. I don't think I'm going to hear how my son is till I speak to him in person.

@icanbewhatiwant it is difficult if they are not very chatty by text. I certainly felt happier after seeing ds in person.

@MrsBartlet yes I bet you did feel happier.
Ds might come home in 2 weekends time. He likes clay pigeon shooting. It's the last shoot of the season, so he may come back to join in. Hopefully we will get a bit more out of him then.