Our DC are nearly all officially students now (going to university 2019/20) - seizing the moment, spending, socialising, societies and studying!

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[Edited by MNHQ to fix the link]

When my dd was in first year, she decided not to come home at all during the first term. She did go to visit friends who were at different unis though & I went up to her one weekend. I definitely found that hard - especially when all my friends’ dcs seemed to come home one particular weekend.

Ds has already booked to come back in a few weeks for a family celebration. If he decides that after that he won’t come back until Christmas then we may go down at half term - we haven’t had a chance to look around Bath yet

Exciting first full day for DD. Wash £2.40 x 2, soap powder 90p (as only took one laundry tab), dry £1.20. She has washed and dried mattress protector, sheet, duvet cover, blanket and towel so all now vomit free.

She can’t face going into town with flat tonight which is a shame. I’m obviously relieved that she’s ok and learned something about going from flat cheese and wine to a building party and drinking cider

@Decorhate you could time it for the Christmas markets. They're always lovely.

I have thought of that @mimiasovitch. Though I have a feeling the Bath one is v popular and crowded so I may go at a less busy time.

@Northernlurker thanks for the further detailed directions. Really helpful!

ah, visiting them could be a good option - might not say no to a nice lunch/dinner

Bath is definitely train though unless hauling luggage - really no place for a car.

That's cool @Rosieposy4! Sheffield is a gorgeous city although it helped that it was blue skies and glorious sunshine when we arrived! She wanted city life too. Hope your DS enjoys it.

Ds was always up for a visit of food was involved! Well done on your dd Chillywhippet for sorting herself out. Boris bin a good idea (mine was a tupperware biscuit tin)

Just looking up coach fares for DD to come home one weekend maybe in November, seems cheap enough - might be good to try. DD2 and I are going up in 3 weeks with all the stuff she forgot, her boyfriend is visiting her every other weekend and then she is actually coming home albeit it only for 1 night, as she has a lift, at half term. She had registration today, bit odd to do it on Sunday but there you go.

I'm trying to be positive, did you notice?!!

We’ve told DS we’ll cover train fare home anytime he wants to - just to try and make it clear he can come home anytime he might feel he needs it. Otherwise I think he might resist to not ‘waste money’ (he’s sensible with money but arguably too sensible if that makes sense)

Bath Christmas market is huge and mega busy.
If travelling up for a weekend visit I suggest you either look to stay somewhere nearby eg Bradford on Avon, only 15 minutes by train into the centre of Bath, or a 15-20 min drive to the university campus if preferred.

Lol at the cost of gym memberships - DD found one in the centre of Bristol (not uni) by her halls for £10 a month, open 24 hrs when she was a fresher. I think she joined the uni one last year though as it was nearer.

DD doesn't come home during term time, and DS won't as it's too far and it's too far. We will go and visit them both this term, but probs not other terms. A nice meal/drinks our and a walk seems to go down well!

Good news from DS here. He took the bull by the horns and decided to go out by himself last night. He located the SU and joined the disco he had purchased a ticket for 😃. It didn’t end there, but on his way out he bumped into his old bestie from prep that he hadn’t seen since they all left and yelled to him (DS doesn’t talk, just grunts) they were so delighted to see each other. He also plans on more outings in the coming week🙂.

Hope everyone else’s dc is finding their feet.

We’ve just had Sunday lunch & it gave me pause when I reached for the cutlery & realised I needed one set less

It is ds's birthday in about a month so we will go up and take him out for lunch. Not sure if he will come home or not during term but Norwich is on the same train line as our nearest town so a very straightforward journey. I also have a work meeting on his campus the week after next so hoping to meet him for a quick coffee then.

I had the same thing last night @Decorhate when I got 3 plates out instead of 4

DS just found a local PureGym, had a workout and joined for £10pm, no tied in contract either which is good.

That's great news Shimy
The first steps are hard aren't they.

@nokidshere, I think thats the one DD joined.
@Shimy, that's great!

Well done to your DS shimey

Well I just dropped DD off - it feels very strange. Her hall and room are brilliant and she seems very happy, already chatting to others in her hall. They have a welcome meal and party tonight.
Her gym is only £100 for the year which seems good to me, she's going to join it.

DS joined the gym today - £209 for the year. He’ll get good value for money from that - he’ll probably go 6 times a week.
I’m surprised that there wasn’t a pay monthly option - and from what people are saying this seems to be the case at most places - all students are going to find a one off cost like that quite a lot of money.
DS knew it was coming and put aside some of the money he’d earnt over the summer, but I’m sure he’d have preferred a monthly option.

DD is a flight away so I doubt there will be any weekend trips home but we're going to go and see her and watch the college football game at least once, maybe twice this term.

I'm about to book her Thanksgiving flights home - currently $545 and rising.

DH often visits Chicago for work so they've agreed that every time he's there overnight they'll have dinner and do something vaguely cultural together.

Just spoke to ds. He has been into the city centre & done some grocery shopping. He seems to be spending time with his flatmates in the shared area rather than sitting in his room which is a relief. Hasn’t met anyone else from his course yet but they have an introductory session tomorrow

@decorhate how many in your DS’ accommodation? Ours is just 5 with a small kitchen - and just immediately off the stairs on the 4th floor - feels a bit isolated. There is a communal area in the middle ‘courtyard’ but it wasn’t open yesterday (seems strange, you’d think they’d have it open for arrivals)

We’ve told DS he can get onto a wait list if he feels like he’d prefer to be on campus but he tends to not want to bother people so may just suck it up. Or may be fine :)