The CDE of University Life (2019/20 cohort) - assignments, flat-hunting, Halloween and the end of their first term fast approaching

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread - Obvs the end of term is looming sooner for some than for others? I guess the Oxbridge posse will finish by the end of November or just into December?

Us Durham mums have to wait until the 13th.

DD has decided to travel home on the 15th as the train ticket prices drop considerably for the Sunday. Also, hopefully, the trains will be less crowded.

What a lot on your plate SchrodingersKitty. I hope the whispy area is nothing, and completely disappears. Wishing you a peacesful and stress free Christmas

Sorry to read that, @SchrodingersKitty. That's a lot to deal with on top of all the rest that life brings.

It's been brilliant to have DD back for the last week. She's slogging hard on her assignment that's due this week, then will get back into her part time work for the holidays to boost her bank account a little.

@ShrodingersKitty sorry to hear that you are still 'up in the air' with your DH's diagnosis. Hoping the 'whispy bits' disappear too. Very frustrating and stressful if you've got to hold tight for another year to see what happens?

Probably wise that your DH has been advised not to drive but makes it difficult for family getting-around. Good luck with collecting your son this weekend. Exciting.

Will have to remember to fully stock the freezer for DS's return. He eats so much more than DD. Mind you, having lived on meagre rations all term, he may be more appreciate of what's on offer at home than previously!

Yes hurtling towards the end of term. If you’d have asked me 6 months ago I would have predicted a daughter struggling with work, being away from home and considering her options.

Instead I’ve got a girl who has had consistently high marks in her coursework, loving her flatmates and busy house hunting with them, actively involved in her hobby society which has meant that she hasn’t been able to get home at weekends (“no problem Mum”) and a busy social programme (“can you send me my dress for a Ball on Thursday”)

I’m so proud and relieved that it has (so far!) worked out for her, and can’t wait till the holidays!

Thinking of you SchrodingersKitty

Last weekend Dd managed to get a £20 first class (one way) ticket on 14th Dec from Newcastle to our nearest town. Result! Standard was £10! This is a journey of several hours so we were going to go up and collect her but she’s going to have to ‘slum’ it instead rather than us pay a lot more in petrol and a day driving!

...now fingers crossed there’s not a train strike that weekend

Wow, that's a good deal @ZandathePanda.

NewModel I know! Just looked and there’s one or two bargains remaining that weekend. I don’t think I ever went on first class until I was in my 40s but I told her I would pay the extra tenner just so I didn’t have to spend the day in the car and use a tank full of petrol. On the LNER website it shows what seat you’ve reserved so she refreshed it til she got one of those seats on its own facing forward.
Apologies to anyone who has paid rather more to have a (very likely) hungover, tired, cold-ridden student with a lot of bags, near them in 1st class! She’ll be coughing but quiet otherwise.

That's a good deal Zanda. DD said that her Sunday ticket was half the price of a Saturday ticket, which now costs £10 instead of £20.

DD paid £36 for single home from Durham last week using trainsplit. Return was £45. This was with railcard and booked last minute so a good saving.

@SchrodingersKitty
Thinking of you x
How far away from Oxford are you? (if you don't want to say that's fine)
There were always a fair number of us lugging a rucksack home for the holidays, but the station's a bit of a walk out of town.

Dd's coming home on 14th. Can't wait.

@Witchend: thanks for the thoughts.
We are about 3 hours away by car and more like 4 by train with two changes. I was a student at Oxford myself (undergrad and D.Phil) so have lots of experience of the trek to the station (in the days before suitcases had wheels!). We’ll get taxis both ends and I’m sure it will be fine.

@ZandathePanda, that's very good value!

@SchrodingersKitty, sorry to hear you are still waiting.

DS is coming home on 13th - DHs birthday. DD says she hasn't decided yet (Bristol don't finish till 20th) but she may surprise DH. Looking forward to seeing them both!

Fingers crossed, but DD has made the transition to being back at home really well. She's settled into her new, smaller room with no fuss or drama (she herself would admit that all she needs is room for her laptop and her music and PS4!) and she is getting on well with her sister 99% of the time.

I'd heard horror stories about how you miss them and want them home, but within days you can't wait to count down the days until they go back again! :)

I reckon the homecoming honeymoon period will wear off just as Christmas descends upon us all! Hope not though!

It was good to have DD back last weekend. Kind of takes the pressure off for her Christmas homecoming as we’ve asked all the questions and she’s realised the pace of life is much slower and quieter at home, so we will all have more realistic expectations. She brought no washing which I thought was a plus

Dd is back next week. I'm kind of dreading it tbh.

Mines back on the 16th - she’s going out that evening so our paths may not cross - work commitments for me on the 17th mean I may not see her until the 18th ( her social life permitting of course ! ) . Will be tidying her room and laundering the pet hair off her bed linen and putting up the Christmas tree for us to decorate when both around that weekend though .

My 2 are both coming home on the 13th, we are really looking forward to seeing them, we are waiting to get the Christmas tree as we like to do it as a family, but I know that DS1 will be really bored by about day 3!
It’s going to be a strange Christmas as we are selling our house and DH and I are moving abroad with his work, so lots of last memories will be made.
It’s exciting and daunting at the same time.

DS home the evening of the 13th. One week at home then the whole family is off to Japan to see the inlaws, and we're squeezing in a few days skiing while we're there - probably the last time we'll do a family ski, but I expect DS will always want to tag along for Japan visits as the food is always great (in-laws really spoil them)

@Itscoldouthere, gosh, exciting and daunting- are you moving to Europe or further? How do the DC feel about it?

@MrKlaw, Japan sounds really exotic for Xmas. And skiing - what's not to like?!

DS was out on a footy club social last night, so lots of soppy messages

Both my DC will be home on 20th, which is quite late, but at least it gives me more time to get the house organised. I haven't really done much about cleaning DD's room since she left. @Schrodingerskitty, hope you get more definitely positive news at the next scan. Such a worry for your family.

@bigTillyMint we are going to Canada, it feels like it’s going miles away, but it’s only a 6 hour flight, so not too bad.
The boys are excited but also a bit unsure about it all, lots of unknowns.
I intend to be back and forward a lot, but DH starts his job mid January!
I’ll go a bit later (trying to avoid the seriously cold weather) it’s a lot to get my head around 🤯 especially leaving my boys 🐣 but I know they will be ok, we have lots of family and friend support for them.

@MrKlaw Japan will be great, I managed to sneak a week when my DH was on business there last year, it was amazing.

I’d love to take my boys they are very interested in Japanese culture/food/manga etc.
You’ll have a great time I’m sure.