Going to university (2019/20 academic year) - wave goodbye to family, say hello to fellow students and key uni staff and they're settling in (hopefully)

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread. Possibly a little precipitous but for some of our DC their university start date is only just over a fortnight away. Yikes!

@Benjispruce sainsbury have some good offers on the clip locking Tupperware.

Good idea on first aid kit. We have ear plugs etc but should get plasters/other bits

Two of each crockery and cutlery - one set of bedding - assume he’ll wash and tumble dry - two sets feels like it’d start getting bulky.

Thank you. Yes 2 sets of everything (except cutlery & glasses)

DD has lots of those card boxes under her bed but might separate first aid,

Thanks MrKlaw

I wondered about bedding and whether to get 2 sets. I think I’ll get one unless I end up getting the set of 2 from Primark that were reasonable. DD wants to choose and coordinate which is seriously slowing us down. She’s not taking into account the walls and curtains already present!

2 of everything except cutlery as it came as a set of 16. We've only put out 2 of each into the kitchen though and 4 mugs as again came as a set. He has an underbed box with his extra towels, tea towels, bedding, and kitchen bits. I took a permanent marker and a roll of fancy patterned mini duck tape and marked or wrapped tape on everything so he knows what is his. I bought a ready made first aid kit for a fiver and added in paracetamol, strepsils and condoms and extra plasters. Word to the wise, take scissors or knives out of the packaging before you go, our scissors had cable ties on them but our knives were in a blister pack. Couldn't get the knives out to free the scissors, couldn't use the scissors to open the knives....

Definitely 2 sets of sheets etc or they will NEVER wash them! My DS found it hard to get stuff properly dry in the drier as it was do expensive. Don't forget a bathmat (or two?).

DrMM - you do know that you need to travel with a child to be able to use a Friends & Family Railcard? So, suitable if you have 5-15 year olds but your adult student dd can't use it on her own.

Good tip @WaxOnFeckOff I think ill get DD to take the packaging off everything when we pack it so it's easier when it comes to unpacking.
We've gone for 2 sets of bedsheets and bath Matts and towels, one on and one in the wash. I've given them all a wash and they're in a large zip storage bag to be stored wherever they will fit. 2 sets of crockery but extra mugs/glasses and cutlery

Yes, definitely £££ for the laundry -

£3.20 for Wash
£1.70 for Dry

How did it go wax?

Went well, he was all settled in a d wanted to have an early meal with us. Ordered food then he decided he wanted to go to something at 5.30, scoffed back his meal and ran back to the halls and we've not seen or heard from him since! We are at hotel and he'll text in the morning if he wants to see us before we head off, didn't even get a hug but it's probably for the best

Harsh but probably a really good sign, Wax!

Ah wax you’re nearly there. Is a good sign he rushed off. Hope you sleep well. How was the rain in the end? Safe home.

Thanks, I hope he actually went out and didn't sit in his room. I've deliberately not messaged. Rain was torrential until last hour of journey when it gradually got better and was dry by tea time. There was flooding locally to our house but all is well.

Not flooding to our house, I mean locally to where we live, to roads and playing fields.

What’s the plan re things like WhatsApp/group texts if you have one for the family? Drop them off because they don’t care if you’re going into town or who needs to get the mince out of the freezer - or keep them on for a bit of home Background noise

Got some collapsible boxes/crates at Asda today, slowly filling them up with kitchen stuff. Thought they could double up as laundry basket. Dc has 2 sets of bed sheets but more towels as he is a keen swimmer.

Hopefully Ds will leave his pc (mostly used for gaming) at home. At least for the first term. This was his older sister’s suggestion to ensure he doesn’t stay in his room not talking to anyone...

Ds will most definitely be taking his PC! He gets twitchy by the end of a week holiday away from it

My parents have made up a wooden box (large shoe box size - my own one 30 years ago was actually a covered shoe box) for each child to take away with them, filled with all sorts. This was ds's:
All-surface markers
Batteries, AA
Batteries, AAA
Bin bags
Blu Tack
Diary
Door wedge
Duct tape
Elastoplast
Envelopes
Erasers
Foldback clips
Germolene
Highlighters
Ibuprofen
Key ring
Key ring torch, rechargeable
Key ring torch, USB cable
Leatherman multi-tool
Map pins
Memory sticks
Money bags
Nail clippers
Notebooks
Paper clips
Paracetamol
Pen pot
Pencil sharpener
Pencils
Pencils, mechanical
Pens, ballpoint
Pens, ultra fine point
Pentominoes
Plastic bags
Playing cards
Postcards
Post-it notes
Rubber bands
Ruler
Safety pins
Scissors
Sellotape
Sewing kit
Stamps
Stapler + staples
Steel tape, 5m
Sticky labels
String
Student survival guide
TCP
Teaspoons
Toothpicks
Torch
Tweezers

My girls were known amongst their housemates as the one to go to for any useful little bits and bobs, lol!

What’s the plan re things like WhatsApp/group texts if you have one for the family?

Ours have stayed on. Good for daily chit chat. Ds pretty much ignores it though - don't know whether he will check in more when he's away.

Glad your drop off went well Wax!

Who's next?

Joining in unexpectedly as DD2 applied through clearing last minute
Here’s a first aid tin if anyone has time.
Although I have also used a Captain America lunch box.

There are some brilliant lists on this thread but I would add antihistamine cream, olbas oil, blister plasters, burn cream, ulcer gel,

DD1 said her first aid kit got used by her whole flat

Just saw this on Twitter - mobile.twitter.com/Popehat/status/1167863915729960961

Is your DS going to Bath @MrKlaw - what a fabulous place to spend three/four years! A total PITA though that he doesn't yet know about accommodation.

How did the big move go Wax?