The ABC of university life (2019/20 cohort) - Will NewModelArmyMayhem18 forgive me?

[MrKlaw]

previous thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3701968-The-ABC-of-university-life-2019-20-cohort-settling-in-we-hope

Hope you don't mind - people have pent up comments about cheese graters and traffic cones to get out of their system!

@Ginfordinner, my auntie who lives near Newcastle says the weather has been truly terrible - fingers crossed it improves!

@Benjispruce, I am so looking forward to seeing him. Just hope he is not hungover and grumpy! He says there is a formal tomorrow night....

Yes DD said formal tomorrow and she’s borrowing a dress. She’ll need to buy more if they’re regular. She had thought they were mostly informal at Collingwood.

I think some are maybe fancy dress? DS went to a Halloween one last year at St Mary's which was. Boys are lucky as they can keep wearing the same suit! Could she try second hand shops - surely must have loads as all girls in the same position?

You can`t fix stupid. DS did not go to dentist. He had some antibiotics so took those said pain is nearly gone . I could strangle him.

To be fair justasking the dentist would probably have started with antibiotics anyway so now that the infection has cleared up, then it's perfect time to get to the dentist and find out the cause.

She has a couple of dressy dresses but only had two events in the past, both proms, that required it.

Had a lovely day with dd. She couldn't be happier, looks really healthy and well, loving her course and already thinking about a masters! Didn't see the annoying flatmate but she's determined not to cook for him this week.

@Trewser, that's great! Did you find out anything about him that explains? Is he trying it on?

@Benjispruce, I know DSs ex just wore little going out dresses.... TBF, she could wear anything and look great as she is very very petite!

Apparently two of the other boys in the flat have noticed and have started trying to get him to cook with them instead (7 boys 2 girls in the flat!)

Did anyone see the students from Bristol on eat well for less? £300 a week on food for the 4 of them.
Bless em

I've just watched it - I think i'll get DS to watch it too. Part of the problem is that they are buying from an express store too which has less choice and is more expensive. Good on them for giving everything a decent go.

@Trewser, that's good - they sound like nice bunch to be helping him

@Serin, I'll have to find it on catch up!

They are a lovely bunch. Honestly it couldn't be better for her. She had a long hard road of A levels and retakes and miserable times to get here and its been so worth it . Not often you can say that as a parent so I'm quietly delighted for her.

@Trewser,

Trewser Really pleased to hear everything's going so well.

Talking of cooking DD is enjoying cooking so far. She is an excellent and adventurous cook, and vegetarian. She made a butternut squash and stilton risotto tonight (and sent me a picture of it). She says her flatmates are mesmerised by her cooking. One of them said that she eats a lot of exotic stuff, while she was making the risotto

My DS seems to be doing well, interspersed with visits to 'Spoons, but he has been complaining about his things disappearing from the kitchen, like crockery and cutlery!

Trewser that’s really good to hear. It is really great when things come together like that.

My other DD shared a student house with a lad that used to repeatedly cadge food from the others by suggesting something like pasta bake, asking what people could contribute and then not contributing himself. He was probably the best off financially, a close relative of a famous wealthy person.

My DD came home for the weekend. I dropped her back at the station and asked if she would be home again before Christmas. “I shouldn’t think so,” she said cheerfully.

Looks like everyone is getting positive vibes now, well done these students!

Finally got a bit of information about actual study from DS2. Things seem to be going well, he's done a few tests and assignments and seems to be scoring well. He's going to contact the disability services tomorrow as it's now dawned that he'll need agreement to type in his exams...

Just been text chatting with DD this evening. We (DS and I) are going to see her at the weekend which should be fun. She and her flatmates are looking at houses for next year already. She thinks the deposit will be around £600. Unsurprisingly they cant find a house for 12 (her current townhouse) - a couple do want to move in with other friends - so its sounds like it might be quite tricky to work out who she will be moving in with. Though I think she has some very good friends in the house, it is early to decide at this stage.

We were discussing the fact that the area they are looking in is further way from the college - like a 20 minute walk away! Shock horror! She said some of her friends were planning to bring up their cars - I said how expensive it is to run a car and that it costs me £50 to fill my car with petrol. We had a jokey conversation about alternative means of transport. I asked her about getting a bus pass and she said its expensive - £200 a year! I pointed out thats about £3.60 a week. Funny girl.

Isn't that usually the hint for you to fund the bus pass? I did ask my DS whether he knew when he would have to find somewhere for next year but he hasn't responded.

Hope it’s ok to butt in with a question for ZandathePanda, Ginfordinner and anyone else whose DCs are at Newcastle. DS, who has applied for 2020, has now had places offered at 4 out of 5 of his list and is set to confirm Newcastle. He’s found out he can apply for accommodation early and is interested in Marris House and Windsor Terrace. Do your DCs have any inside info about either of these? He wants the cheaper end and isn’t bothered about having an en-suite - much more interested in whether the accommodation is friendly and well set up.
TIA

I think walking is a good habit for young people to get into. Good for their well-being (as long as it's not through some grim area), health and totally free of charge!

£200 a year for a bus pass does seem quite expensive, but looking at it on a weekly rate basis, that's cheap as chips.

Good for your DD @Trewser. I have to say that him being well-off had crossed my mind. Often there is a reason why people are wealthy. In this day and age, there is no reason to be cadging food off other people. It's not as if there aren't other options. I hope the boys in the flat manage to get him sorted, in terms of contributing food and participating in cooking.

LaBelle Hello! Obviously if he can go and see them that would be best. ‘Gin’’s and my daughter are in Park View, next to Marris House so can’t speak directly about the two.

Here are some observations:
Windsor Terrace is right next to the library and a stones throw from the campus. It is a bit tired compared to Marris House and they have single beds. There is a variety of prices because there is a variety of accommodation (some en-suite). The big thing Dd noticed was the noise from the fly-over at the back.

Marris House has just been done up. They all should be the same price. Check the price for next year - it may be slightly cheaper this year due to construction noise which will finish soon. Each flat has its own washing machines in the kitchen/lounge area. They all have a sink unit in the room. It’s next to a Londis but a 10-15 min (easy) walk to main campus buildings. It’s next to Park View so there’s a couple of thousand students around.

My Dd would now definitely chose Marris House as she likes the newness and position of where she is.

The only place she’s heard people trying to get out of is Castle Leazes.

Hope that helps.