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!

@AtiaoftheJulii that box full of essentials made up by grandparents sounds a fabulous idea. Think I mentioned in a previous thread that one set of grandparents have been collecting stuff for DS - only problem is that it's yet to materialise. No mention of sending it. I think they thought they would be handing it over in person if he'd got into Durham. Hmmm.

I picked up the start of a First Aid box when I was doing a quick shop in Aldi. No container though. Loving the extra suggestions. DS had mouth ulcers over his A Level exams, so Bonjela definitely a must.

I have told DS to gather all the kit we've got him so far in the middle of his bedroom, so we can evaluate what he's got, if it can be carried by two people and what we're still missing. Thinking we will need to do another IKEA trip.

Good to hear that the drop-off went as smoothly as can be expected @WaxOnFeckOff.

Bear in mind that they will be able to get things from shops themselves so anything that's been forgotten wont be a disaster! Just watching dd1 pack her final bits before we set off for her 3rd uni year.

Have you all got absolutely enormous cars???

Piggy Our car is so tiny that I'm thinking of putting the back seats down and DD and DH will drive up and I'll get the train!!!

Glad your drop off went well Wax and that you weren't too hampered by the weather. Hope you have a safe trip home today.

It's still nearly 4 weeks until move in day for DD . . . .

Any DCs moving in next weekend?

We have an old Octavia estate. 4 of us plus all of ds2s stuff including a large gaming pc and 28 inch screen, a bass guitar and normal guitar plus stands and a crate of irn bru plus our stuff for an overnight stay. the duffle bag of clothes went in between the boys at the back but rest went in the boot no bother. :)

No not enormous car but a family car. It can’t be more full than when off on a family holiday can it? Plus we have a roof box we can put on. Do you k ow anyone with a similar car and a roof box you can borrow?

@AtiaoftheJulii ok that’s just killed me on a Sunday morning. Especially the replies with ‘father and son’ and ‘cats in the cradle’ songs

A good list back there. DD will be taking all of the stationery from her A level studies so no need to buy extra pen pots and staplers, hole punch etc. I’ve bought a couple of A4 ruled pads . She’ll take all her ring binders and wallets- she’s got quite a few.
She’s at work today and off to Germany on Wednesday so I don’t think her mind will be focussed on uni until she gets back.

Yes, the Twitter post was very sweet.

I am looking forward to rediscovering my inner letter writer (used to love penning very long ones in my younger days), so that DS gets some proper post!

I was thinking our car should be ok as it's a 7 seater and we have a roof box. We've got everything piled up in the conservatory and it looks possible. But then I realised ... his clothes are not there yet (and ds loves his clothes) and his books are not there yet (only just persuaded him to take no more than 10 of his favourite) and he does want to take his full length electric piano too!

That’s a nice idea New. I read a bit of that Twitter link and had to stop. Trying not to go there... yet. I had a bit of practice as she didn’t join us for our summer holiday this year and it was strange driving away without her. It felt like the start of the separation, first family holiday without all of us. I did need my sunglasses but was actually ok once we’d got going.
Will keep our What’sApp group going and I’ve taken out Snapchat as I notice she is often more likely to communicate via photo than text.

Dd has a talent for car boot selling. I am sitting in the car watching her chat.
Not going to make a huge profit but will buy a few bits for uni.

Lots of her childhood going.

Need to Woman up.

Thank you for the replies yesterday about the computer. We are seeing a consultant re her hand. Not great timing.

I hope she gets it sorted Zanda. DD bought her SU Freshers wristband yesterday. Still no notification of time slots for her accommodation..

@Ginfordinner maybe your DD's university doesn't do specific timeslots? UEA doesn't seem to.

Gin Apparently there’s a 30 min time slot and then you park your car elsewhere and can walk back. We have no indication of when the time slot is either.

Zanda Hope your daughter's hand improves soon. Is she wearing a splint?

UEA freshers armbands are already sold out. Being new to this we didn't realise they'd sell out so quickly. Tickets for individual events go on sale tomorrow. We needed the student number on the registration forms. I know some haven't received their registration email yet. My ds only completed his registration yesterday.

4 years ago, when DD moved in, I was given some great advice by MN to take photos of any damage to the room/furnishings on moving in day. It was the last thing that I would have thought of doing on such a bittersweet day but I did and it proved so very helpful to us when both uni and her 3rd year landlord tried to claim for damages at the end of her tenancy.
Damages that we had photographic evidence to prove she did not cause.
Be warned!!!

Good tip serin

@icanbewhatiwant my DD bought hers before she received the registration email as she found her student number on a previous communication from the UEA (maybe her offer letter on track?) she hasn't bought week 2 as she thinks she will prefer to pick and choose that week depending on how exhausted she is and how much she spent in week 1 😂
Did your DC want to go to every event? If not it may work out cheaper to only buy tickets for the events of interest.

Thank you @Serin for the tip

Serin thanks. It’s either a ganglion cyst irritating a nerve or a bit of bone has started growing in the wrong place (!) so it doesn’t bother her unless she’s writing. Need an ultrasound. She was in agony during the exams, poor thing. Battery about to go as still at car boot....

This thread is an absolute life line. DD is off to Reading on 21st Sept. We have a 30 min slot to unload and then need to move the car. DH and DD2 want to come, but will realistically need to be in a second car, do you think they will allow them to park on campus if they are away from the halls?