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

I watched a C4 programme on Coronavirus last night and I must say it rather freaked me out.
I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been in Canada and it’s been so low key, that coming back here with it on the news and being talked about all the time is such a shift, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.
My mothering instinct has kicked in and I just want my DC to come home.
My DH has decided to close the office in Canada, everyone is going to work from home for the next 30 days, he’s sitting in an empty flat with just a mattress, TV and one chair, so we are talking about him coming back here so that we can all be together.
Such a weird time for everyone.

Initially (I recall reading about the outbreak in China before Christmas) I was quite blase about it but not any longer.

If the herd immunity thing is going to work we need to get it (mildly, hopefully) sooner rather than later. I've just clocked that self-isolating is just going to delay the inevitable...Although that's what the authorities want us to do to ensure the NHS isn't overwhelmed...

Yes, I would think it wise to all be together @Itscoldouthere. Not nice for your DH to be kicking around in an almost empty flat and you and the DC to be over in the UK.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 yes he probably is missing the old dog. We didn't plan to get another quite so soon. But the one left seemed quite sad. She just walked along beside us on walks. She didn't enjoy herself. She spent a lot of time in her bed in her room. But she doesn't like the pup. She is ok with pup just being here, it's when she wants to play she doesn't like it. We are paying her lots of extra attention too. We did look into an older dog, but decided not to.

I'm not sure how far to go with ds. It's a bit mean telling him to stay in his room for 7 days. They said on local bbc news that 12 students were in isolation at UEA and had been put in a flat together to minimise spread. Well...the girl was not in a separate flat yesterday. As they are no longer testing we won't know if she has coronavirus or not.

I just went to my local Tesco. I arrived at 8.15am. It was like Christmas. Packed. Trolleys were filled to the top. No hand soap, no toilet rolls, no pasta or rice. What is the panic? I'm sure the shops won't shut for weeks on end. I know a household might get told to go into isolation, but only for a week or so, how much soap and toilet rolls will one need in a week? Or am I missing something? I bought the last pack of 4 incase!

Anyone else wondering where we might stand with paying next terms accommodation costs if the uni is closed after Easter?
We opted to pay in three termly instalments the last of which is yet to be paid. Obviously we signed a contract for the year but that was on the basis of it being open and her actually staying there.

@juicy0 I think it will be awful if they expect them to work virtually from home and yet don't give them a refund on accommodation. 50% would be a fair compromise if they're not prepared to go the full hog.

Yes, supermarkets seem to be running on empty at the moment. It's a bit ridiculous. I really don't know why supermarkets aren't rationing most 'everyday essential' items already.

I went out today now that I'm thinking I'd rather get the dreaded 'C' word sooner rather than later. The closest town was pretty empty. They'll be laying off half the shop and cafe staff within weeks at this rate :-(. Waterstones doing a roaring trade though (clearly everyone is stocking up on books to tide them over...). Apple Store had closed down and I've now read they've closed all shops across the world for the foreseeable future...

DS coming home today

I had major emergency surgery 2 weeks ago so can’t drive at the moment

Told him if DH doesn’t pick him up today he’ll have to wait till next Sunday - he chose today

I hope you are recovering well @NotSorry.

DS has brought forward his return home from Friday to Tuesday.

Hope you get well soon @NotSorry

I’m picking DS1 up from Bournemouth today, DS2 from UEA and hopefully DH from Heathrow on Wednesday just hoping DH flight isn’t cancelled as although cases are still low in Canada, they have suddenly gone into action, they are being much more proactive than UK, already closed schools, parliament, mass gatherings etc etc, all people entering the country have to self isolate for 14 days.
This is just the worst timing for us, I planned our move dates to coincide with the DC going back after Easter, but now I think things will be bad by then and they are unlikely to return after Easter. A perfect storm.....

Hi @Itscoldouthere, safe journeys to pick up your DC and DH. Hoping he doesn't experience any problems with his flight on Wednesday.

Have you got somewhere else you can stay if everything goes ahead with the house sale?

I would imagine there will be plenty of holiday lets that owners would be only too pleased to rent out (hopefully without profiteering) in the coming weeks.

@NewModelArmyMeyhem18 it’s all got so complicated.
We are planning to try and move out of our house in the next few weeks, obviously we have the risk of the sale falling through, but we don’t want to be the reason it happens due to not being able to physically move our stuff because of potential lockdown/ isolation.
Our buyers are coming from a small flat in London so don’t have much stuff to move, but we’ve still got quite a lot of furniture going into storage and things being sent to Canada.
Luckily we can stay in a friends house as they are in Australia but it’s 150 miles away from our home.
It all feels a bit risky, but I don’t think waiting for another 3 weeks before moving will work, it feels better to do something now.
I just hope we are doing the right thing.

I think you are doing the right thing. You never know, it may turn out for the best. There must be some silver linings to the Coronavirus pandemic cloud. At least you will be together and you have somewhere to stay.

I just hope you get all your furniture into storage/sent off before the lockdown.

Can I have your thoughts please? I have been self isolating since Friday with flu like symptoms but rapidly feeling much better. No idea if it is the coronavirus or not. I was supposed to be doing this till this Friday which is ok as DH could go out and about to get food. In reality he has stayed in with me as we have sufficient food in. DS2 is due back from UEA on the train on Saturday. Does he join us in whats left of the new 14 days self isolation period or does he start his own 14 day period and we all extend to match him? (Hope you get what I'm trying to ask).
I cant see DS2 wanting to stay at UEA by himself for another week but I suppose he will have to choose. But is it a week indoors at home or 14 days?

I'm no expert but thought the 14 day rule would only work if the whole household had self-isolated together, once the first person had come down with a persistent cough and/or high fever (i.e. started showing symptoms). That would then allow everyone a fortnight to get the virus and recover. Introduce someone else into the equation and that would alter things...But that might only need to be enforced if subsequent people in the house have developed symptoms during their enforced fortnight of isolation? If person A (you in this scenario, @sluj) recovers by this Friday, you and DH should still remain in isolation (even if he as person B doesn't show symptoms) for another week. If he is showing symptoms when DS comes home then presumably DS would potentially need to stay in isolation for a fortnight (a week to be exposed to it and then a week to get and recover from the virus). Not sure what happens if your DH doesn't show symptoms next week and/or your DS arrives home and immediately shows symptoms.

Any doctors in the house????

Hmmm any doctors in the house?

Sorry didn't realise I'd typed that twice .

@newmodelarmymayhem Thanks for your thoughts, I see what you are saying. One more year and we would have a doctor in the house! DS1's 4th year medicine term hasn't officially ended yet but face to face contact and placements have been cancelled. 5th years are being fast tracked into the foundation year programmes despite not being able to complete all the practical exams. Graduation plans are also up in the air.
DS1 is also wondering whether or not he will be allowed to go on the 4 week placement in South America he has been planning for months. Everything seems up in the air.
In the meantime I have been watching "Anne with an E" and "Outlander" but will soon get fed up of tv. Not enough energy yet to do anything useful 😒
Is everyone else ok?

Gosh in all sorts of ways there are going to be 'short-changed' young people, medics chief amongst them.

I have been working from home and watching back to back episodes of various favourite shows (currently working my way through Inspector Morse). It suddenly struck me that I could very well run out of shows to watch....

Just as well I've got a huge pack of books to read.

You poor thing. Hoping you feel better very soon. How is your DH?

All okay here although DD did have a nasty cold at the beginning of last week. DS coming home tomorrow with six loo rolls in tow (just as well as I've not managed to get any for the past fortnight!).

DH is fine for now, he is on his own sofa and sleeping in another bedroom but its impossible not to touch door handles etc. I am not confining myself to one room.

DH is in the "special" category and not looking forward to being confined to home for several months after this. If only Ocado was playing nicely, it wouldn't be so stressful.
On a nicer note, a kind neighbour has just left a bag on the doorstep with grapes, crisps and snacks in it which is a lovely thing to do.

Oh @sluj that is so sweet of your neighbour. I reckon this pandemic will bring out the best and worst in (different) people. Suspect a community spirit will kick in quite soon, once people do realise that we are indeed all in it together!

I have to say that self-isolating for a matter of weeks is one thing but for months on end will be a big challenge.

Hope your DH remains well.

Thank you x

@sluj I hope you feel better soon. It's so annoying people aren't being tested for this virus. It would save people staying home unnecessarily. Also people are going to think they have it, self isolate when they haven't got it. Then actually get it, think they've had it already so don't think it's it this time...then go around spreading it about.

Ds has sort of been in his room. He's been down for food and snacks. I keep wiping the fridge etc. down. But so far no cough or anything. He doesn't keep contact with the flatmate that was coughing. So we don't know she is.

Our pup is still doing lots of 💩💩 Back to the vets this eve. He's given antibiotics to try. The nights are exhausting, we have to set alarms through the night and keep putting her out. I'm doing most of the night trips as I want dh to get sleep as I'm worried he will get run down and pick up this virus. But he's tired too. He's been getting up 5.30-6am to let her out. Fingers crossed antibiotics work.

@Itscoldouthere I hope everything goes to plan with the move. Hopefully you'll get back to Canada. But at least you have somewhere to go if not.

@icanbewhatiwant sorry to hear the pups still having some problems, poor thing.
I picked DS1 up today, so lovely to see him, I’ll be going to UEA tomorrow.
We were driving back when Bojo made the latest announcement, it’s just stressed me out again, I can’t imagine I’m going to get removal people here next week.
I’m trying to be positive but I’m actually completely frazzled by everything, the move the new county, the uncertainty.
I just hope DH flight goes ok tomorrow, it’s the last one of the day, so if it’s cancelled he has to wait another day, rumour is Canada is about to close the boarder.
Just hoping DH gets out in time.
If it does close I won’t get back in as I’m not a citizen.

Well they have closed the boarders, so I’ve no idea when I can go back to Canada, or if DH will get back to UK tomorrow 😬

Yikes @Itscoldothere, your DH's trip is essential really though, so hopefully he will get out.

How long are your friends in Australia for - hoping your access to their home will see you through the worst of it.

I was feeling quite pleased about the announcement that Europe was closing all borders, until I realised that doesn't mean us anymore .

@Itscoldouthere gosh...hope your dh gets back. I hope you can stay in your friends house for a while too. Sounds stressful. Surely the move will go ahead though. The people will still want to move. But I guess it just needs someone in the chain to be in isolation. But you have to hope that doesn't happen.

Thank you for your support, I’ve no idea what will happen now, the issue may be getting our furniture moved, if the company who is taking our stuff to Canada stop working we will have to decide if we put everything in storage and move out with the risk it still might not go ahead. We haven’t even exchanged yet.
We would then be paying for an empty house, storage and everything in Canada too.
My friends house is available for as long as we like which is good.
Hopefully after some phone calls today I’ll know more.
If we aren’t moving I can just relax and deal with new normal (and hope that we can manage the financial implications).