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Original poster

The ABC of university life (2019/20 cohort) - settling in we hope

999 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 26/09/2019 12:16

Previous thread - sorry about the lame thread title but done in a hurry!

OP posts:
Jano69 · 29/09/2019 08:39

Been following your weekend posts all. It seems to be a mix of emotions. @Witchend - thinking of you...

We left London at 8 this morning and hope to be at Durham early afternoon. College drop off is 3pm to 6pm for us so I guess we're the latest slot.

We're on the M1 now, just passing Luton, haven't seen any other Uni cars yet - perhaps you're all sensible and travelled yesterday. We're staying in Durham tonight and coming back tomorrow.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 29/09/2019 08:55

Safe journeys for everyone today - the rain is awful, almost monsoon like.

OP posts:
RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 29/09/2019 09:12

Awful weather for moving in Sad such a change from last weekend!

I spoke to DD last night as she was making tea.... apparently one of her flatmates has gone home to recuperate (hopefully only briefly) as he broke his foot on a night out. I hope he doesn't miss too much while he's gone. They do seem a lovely bunch in her flat (a mix of party people and not so much party people). DD has already been borrowing clothes and make-up and has also found out that she likes pink gin Grin

Alicatz66 · 29/09/2019 09:19

Good luck for today everyone x

JennyWreny · 29/09/2019 09:22

@Dunlurking @Northernlurker There's a John Lewis in York?! I told DD that there wasn't one.

We arrived on Friday and spent the day dodging the rain looking around. We managed to see the Minster, City Walls, Clifford's Tower and The Shambles and (I think) thanks to the rain there was hardly any queue at Betty's so had lunch there.

Drop off yesterday went very smoothly dumped her things in her room 10ish (first ones there) and then took her for a big Tesco shop. When we got back more people had arrived but others being a bit shy and no one really talking very much. DD amused at one point that others were still chatting on the group chat on FB from their rooms rather than meeting each other. Had a text last night saying she was just going to bed and had met everyone and they seemed really nice.

Room is nice and spacious with loads of storage and it's a corner room so has two windows which I think is lovely but she's not so impressed about that because it means one less shelf compared to the middle rooms. Kitchen looks good and has Juliet balcony which I'm jealous of!

Wondered if any other MN Vanbrugh parents were in the 1pm parent meeting - was looking around to see if I could tell but still not sure how to spot a MNetter! @DrMadelineMaxwell I think you went to the later one? How about @FrameyMcFrame?

Didn't see any traffic from the Balloon Fiesta - seems all of the launches so far have been cancelled due to the weather so I guess that's why the traffic wasn't bad - such a shame for the organisers (and I wanted to see them).

Good luck to everyone moving in today.

blametheparents · 29/09/2019 09:26

@Alicatz66 - My DS will be one of those bumbling around without a clue! Grin
He and some flat mates went to the launderette yesterday - I’ve not heard how that went yet.
Then they’re planning a Tesco shop today - all very domestic!

Northernlurker · 29/09/2019 09:42

Yes we have a John Lewis Grin
It's not one of the massive ones but you can get anything ordered In. There's a big m and s and next on the same site too.

Glad drop offs went well, I though traffic looked fine. Weather v wet here today so suspect the balloons will struggle again.

Alicatz66 · 29/09/2019 09:54

@blametheparents .. my DS is also a bumbler ! He's had to have his key card re set multiple times as he leaves it in his pocket next to his phone !!! The other day apparently there was a girl at reception asking how to buy an umbrella!!! ... My DS has managed laundry .. it's done by app ..

Witchend · 29/09/2019 09:58

Laundry by app sounds like one of those running a shop games dd2 used to play on my phone. 🤣

bigTillyMint · 29/09/2019 10:22

We are at Collingwood. Massive queue to drop off!

Jano69 · 29/09/2019 10:24

@bigTillyMint Great to hear you've arrived, shame about the queue!

Mustbetimeforachange · 29/09/2019 10:27

I love the live updates! It's a bit like a live birth thread. Hope all goes well today for the movers.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 29/09/2019 10:39

We did go to the later one. Also wondered who the other mnet peeps could be.
Dds kitchen had a fabulous chocolate cake and some fizz brought by one kind flatmate.

After dinner we dropped her back and you could see floor after floor of the central kitchens lit up with new flat mates sitting around chatting.

She sat with hers for a while then declined when they went out for a drink.

Today's text was to say that when she opened her curtains this morning there were bunnies..."this accommodation is amazing

Alicatz66 · 29/09/2019 10:48

@Witchend .. ha ha !! With bonus points for not shrinking things or dying your T-shirt's red !!

bigTillyMint · 29/09/2019 12:12

Just dropped him - managed not to blub, but had to swallow hard. Everyone seemed very friendly.

Clankboing · 29/09/2019 12:14

Nearly at Lancaster. God the rain!!! Ds has brought carrier bags of books x2 and they'll be drenched!

Benjispruce · 29/09/2019 12:48

All done, heavy traffic in the rain on the way out of Durham. Arrived at about 10.30 and left after 12. Was a great atmosphere on arrival, friendly helpful freps. Room clean and nice view. Got her all settled and mostly unpacked. She met about 4 others on her floor and all friendly. Not impressed with one unfinished bathroom/shower. Hopefully that will be sorted quickly. Anyway there were a few tears but DH started it so I had no chance! Must have seen you Tilly!!!

ZandathePanda · 29/09/2019 13:01

Mustbe I love your ‘live birth thread’ comment!Grin
It’s a live ‘letting go’ thread. I found the ‘what to do take’ list in my pocket on the way back. I felt like adding ‘raise daughter’ then ticking that off as well. Was a bit of a ‘gulp’ moment. Apart from that I have been fine except:

  1. Absently mindedly putting diet cokes in the trolley
  1. Some sadistic DJ putting THAT bastard ABBA song on Radio 2 on Friday. Had a little sweary shout at the radio, which was a bit embarrassing as the windows were open (rain steaming the car up) and I was in town.
simbobs · 29/09/2019 13:18

Have asked mine to call me when free as we will be away all next week and want a catch-up before we go. This is our gift to ourselves for having managed to support he-who-only-works-when absolutely-necessary long enough to get him to the next phase of his life. I didn't say to DH when we booked this that I might need it to help with the empty nest thing. And the house really does feel empty. Roll on xmas!

Witchend · 29/09/2019 13:23

Definitely a "live letting go" thread Grin Someone's going to appear and post something like "I cant beleive u r getting upset. There 18 years old." Wink

Dh has messaged to say they've done a food shop and she's in the flat with a couple of others-one of whom has the same name as her.
Her name isn't common in her age group, so a bit surprised. There have always been a few around, but never in the same groups-bit like my name.
Hope she finds it funny rather than being horrified like my dsis was, although dsis had a very uncommon name and had only come across it once or twice before, so a but different though.

Ds has my phone by his side as I'm trying to tidy up, and I don't want her trying to phone and not get through. So far I've hoovered the kitchen ceiling (yes, really) Grin

MissConductUS · 29/09/2019 13:29

It's another lovely early fall day in Massachusetts. DS stayed over in the pull out bed in our hotel suite last night after we all went to a party last night on campus. We're off to an early brunch in a bit, then possibly a drive up to Cape Ann later.

We visited the witch trials memorial in Salem last night . There's a stone in a garden for each man and woman who was hanged, it's very moving.

The ABC of university life (2019/20 cohort) - settling in we hope
The ABC of university life (2019/20 cohort) - settling in we hope
bigTillyMint · 29/09/2019 13:41

@Witchend, I am realising how much I will miss DS - last 2 years have just been the 3 of us.
@Benjispruce I wonder if/when they will bump into each other!

Witchend · 29/09/2019 14:04

@bigTillyMint

I only realised that last night really. I've never been a crier at moving on events. Much more excited for the next level. And I was really until Friday.
Last night after she'd gone I kept thinking of carrying her home from the hospital, and all the little firsts like that. Where has the time gone?

I know she'll come back changed and now we won't have all our dc at home full time. (or at any rate I hope not, as it would mean something had gone wrong, dd2 will go before dd1 finishes) Very much the end of an era.

I remember taking her into church aged about a week old, we'd only just moved to the area so knew no one.
A couple came up to us and the dad said they'd just dropped their eldest dd at uni and wanted to tell us to make the most of every moment because it just goes, and seeing us with the new baby made him feel so emotional.
At the time each day seemed like 1000 years just getting through, so I just smiled. I nearly said the same to about 3 new parents I met yesterday. Grin

bigTillyMint · 29/09/2019 14:09

@Witchend, I said more or less the same to a guy I met the other day with young children!

Benjispruce · 29/09/2019 14:14

That’s exactly how I feel and said the same to a parent at my school this week who was struggling with her or am and 2 little girls. I kept looking at our little wooden playhouse in the garden(now she’d for quite a long while) and seeing her making mud cakes on the play cookerSad.