UEA freshers (2019 starters) part 2

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread and hope you don't mind that I set up the next thread @juicy0. Just did it to ensure that we carry on chatting seamlessly

How strange - someone derailing our friendly thread with undesirable messages.

Anyhoo, re: the buses - I told DS to get on bus no later than 4.30pm (thankfully he listened!) and he said it took 45 minutes to get to the station - train was at 5.30pm 😱 He was worried he’d miss it. Not sure if it was the fireworks or rush hour or something making the buses so awful on Friday. Shame for those who missed fireworks. ☹️

@NotSorry I'm pleased your DS made it to the station on time. I was in the city on Friday night collecting my younger DS from school and the traffic was crazy! As well as the fireworks Norwich were playing at home so the area around the station will have been really busy. The buses are also being disrupted by the closure of Earlham road at the moment so it's just as well you advised him to get on an earlier bus!

@juicy0 glad there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for your DD and just having some reassurance and things to try must already alleviate some of her stress!!

@NotSorryI missed the undesirable-pleased you saw it off.
This is such a lovely supportive thread!!
And such a relief your DS managed the train. Now that he has done it once it will be easy for the future. Now that DD has done it once I will def have her do it again and meet her part way-it's very manageable and the lovely guard let me through the barrier with DDog so we could greet her on the platform!

@juicy0 that's good your dd has a few things to try. I used to suffer with severe dizzy spells with sickness, followed by weeks of headaches when I was about 17/18. I had various tests. Then they put me on amitriptyline. I took them for a year or so. They did solve the problems, but a year or so on I watched a programme about the drug and decided as they are also anti depressants, I didn't want to take them, so I stopped. I was fine after that. But I also suffered with an almost constant headache through my pregnancies. So I think it may have been hormone related too.
But I'd definitely try other ways to manage them if they got bad again now. I had a deep tissue massage on my neck and upper back a few years ago when I'd had a headache for a week or so. It did help. So hopefully it will help you dd.

@NotSorry hope your DS is having a good weekend.

@Juicy0 pleased to hear that positive steps are now being taken to see your DD's headaches can be alleviated. Hopefully she will start to see an improvement very soon.

@juicy0 Very pleased that you can see some light at the end of the tunnel for your dd. My dd has been ill for a couple of years so I know how stressful it can be dealing with an ill dd especially when they are away from home and you just want to be able to make them better ☹️

I'm so pleased that your DD is feeling better Juicy0. This year has been very stressful and overwhelming for all of them so it's not a surprise to see some physical symptoms. Hope she continues to get better.
I have booked a nice sounding hotel in North Walsham for Dec 12 and 13th to have a mini break before we bring DS2 back on the Saturday. Does anyone know the area? I am looking forward to exploring more of Norfolk. DH has Ancestry connections there so we might pop in a few churchyards too.
Unfortunately DS1's course doesn't finish till the 23rd so we will bring his stuff back on the 14th with DS2 and he can get the train by himself on the 23rd.
It's not always convenient having them both at the same place 😁

Oh goodness @sluj that's soo late!! What course it it?

Very inconveniently (for DD1!) we are away in France the weekend term finishes. So she'll be bussing it again, unless I can suggest she cadges a lift with one of her flatmates, who lives about 12 miles from us. DS could then ferry her home.

I think we will drop her back in January and take a couple of days out to explore the area - like sluj, I'm keen to see more of Norfolk than just the A11. DB has a holiday rental not too far away that we might be able to borrow, or we'll just stay in Norwich. I'm dying to visit the Sainsbury gallery for a start.

DS1 is doing medicine so 2 more years left!
I am really looking forward to our short trip to Norfolk (after we've voted of course)
Does anyone know of any christmassy things going on in Norfolk? Markets or christmassy towns?
We have managed to get into the St Georges whisky distillery on one of our trips and a couple of days in Norwich and Wroxham but not much else really. Any suggestions appreciated.

@sluj dh has been on a trip round the distillery. He enjoyed it. It's not far from us. I only went past last week but I've never been in. Ds3 likes the pet shop next door to it. They have baby crocodiles in a small pond 😀

@Sluj what about going to Ely for the day? I went years ago with my best friend. It was close to Christmas and was magical. There's Oliver Cromwell's house to look around too (now a museum).

Or heading up towards the more northern coastline - Wells-Next-the-Sea is lovely. Burnham Market has a character all of its own and nice pubs/hotels for a warming hot toddy/afternoon tea/lunch.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out/christmas-in-the-east-of-england

www.tripsavvy.com/east-of-england-suggested-itinerary-1661371

Walsingham is worth a visit and may have Christmas carols going on.

Disclaimer - I dont' live there but spent many summer holidays there as a child/teenager.

They sound like good ideas.
I go to Ely a few times every month for work so I'll give that a miss but the others sound nice.
I remember hearing about a town somewhere in Norfolk which is meant to be a foodie heaven. Is that Burnham Market?
Good idea to check out the NT, we went to a great 70s themed Christmas at one in Worcestershire last year and a "Night before Christmas "one in Wiltshire too.
Thanks for the tips.

@sluj - oh yes, if you're in Ely a lot for work you won't necessarily find it magical but mundane!

Not sure about Burnham Market being a foodie haven but it could very well be. It has that kind of vibe. Perhaps one of the more local to East Anglia MNetters could offer their insights?

@sluj we love the beach at Holkham, you walk through woods to a glorious stretch of sand, it’s so beautiful, we have a dog and he just loves it. There are some shops, opposite the road you park on, including an Adnams brewery shop and you can visit Holkham Hall which is very impressive.
Burnham Market is nice if a bit posh/busy in the summer (I believe it’s known as Chelsea on Sea) but I’ve only stopped for a pub lunch so don’t really know it.
Holt was interesting too, but I can’t say I know Norfolk well.

@Itscoldouthere, I see from the other thread that your DS has sorted out his accommodation. Is this the UEA based one or the other one (is he at Bournemouth or am I confused?). Just getting a bit anxious that there is so much talk about next year's rentals generally on the HE board. I am right in thinking that there was a post about a related UEA SU/Accommodation Office event soonish (in December?)?

Actually I think I might be totally confused it's been a very long day

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 it’s DS1 at Bournemouth that has already paid a deposit on a house for next year.
It’s confusing having 2 of them on the same timeline!
DS2 at UEA has been having discussions about who he’s going to live with and I think they have been looking at houses on-line but as far as I know that’s as far as he’s got, but we haven’t spoken for a week, so I feel like I need an update.
I think you are right someone did post a link about not needing to worry yet and an accommodation thing that was being held on campus.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 I think someone on here posted something about an accommodation meeting. Ds told me no one has mentioned anything about next years accommodation. He has no idea who he'd like to share with either.

DS has a flat meeting last night as they’ve found a place they would like to move into, 7 bedrooms but 8 of them as 2 are a couple, it looks ok, close to UEA.
I think 8 is quite a lot to share with, but DS says he likes them all.
The tenancy agreement would start in July so they would have to pay for the house all over summer (but actually that works for us) it’s about £85 a week (if 8 of them) but all bills on top (no idea how much bills will be when divided by 8).
Personally I feel it’s a bit soon to commit to this, but DS is keen and I’m happy that he’s making his own plans.
I think it now rests on if the landlord will let the couple share or not.
£400 deposit each 😳 these landlords are making a lot of money (I know they don’t keep the deposits but the overall rent is over £2500 a month) !!!

@Itscoldouthere that's good ds is looking into accommodation. £85 weekly doesn't sound much until you realise it's for 50 weeks plus bills. So it'll work out more than some of the student accommodation on campus. When step dd was at university there were different sized rooms in her house, people paid more for a double room than a single, a girl bought along her boyfriend, they shared and paid the double room price between them (Though I think she split up with the boyfriend in the end)
I know price depends where the property is too. I hope ds finds a group to share with, at the moment he's no idea and nothing has been said about finding places yet.

Dh has just read online that beef products for sale have been banned at UEA. (Meat not milk) Due to the contribution cattle make to global warming. It didn't go down well with dh as he's been a cattle farmer for many years. He retired from farming 2017. Ds does seem to mostly make bolognese and chilli. I think a lot of meat eating students will cook minced beef.

@icanbewhatiwant
I'm surprised at UEA has banned beef in the middle of the faming heartland of England.
What exactly does that mean? just not for sale in shop/"restaurants" on campus?
Or sniffer dogs in the corridors sniffing for contraband cheeseburgers?

The shops and cafes on campus aren't going to sell beef products. Obviously students can buy it elsewhere. I think ds has bought beef mince in the shop on campus before.

I think it's just the SU (LCR) bar and shop that wont sell it. It's still on sale in the Campus Kitchen and other cafes