University life for freshers (2019/20) - we're hopping towards Easter with a pandemic to avoid **Title edited by MNHQ**

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread

@MrKlaw I would bite the bullet now! I was at Bath yesterday collecting DS (Quads) & many students leaving, with what looked like all their belongings.

@samyy thanks - will let DS know to start packing!

He wanted to stay a couple days probably to spend a bit of time with his friends, but I wonder if they've buggered off already!

Fully moving out DD2 (Liverpool) - everything online now. Likewise not sure she fully gets what social isolation means....but a bit like Boris, we are drip feeding the implications! She too aggrieved at losing end of first year, had settled so well, great friends, new boyf...... trivial in a global context but so sad for them all and unsure how to keep them “amused” at home?

@sergeantmajormum .. loads of ways I will be keeping DS amused !!! Cleaning, doing laundry, doing his uni work ! There are loads of retail jobs going ... or they can go shopping for old folk and leave the groceries on their doorsteps !

NewModelArmyMayhem18 what a turn this thread took! I look back at your title and you could probably take the ‘then’ out now!

What do we do for the next title, ‘How to keep sane with bored overgrown children in the house using too much loo roll?’

I fear the chances of mine doing uni work is slim to nothing.

Plus, all this online stuff is well and good but my household hub is simply not up to it.

DS coming home on train. When he gets here, he will be going in the shower, his clothes in the washing machine. OH says I should clean everything he brings home aaiiigghh.....

I love this thread !!! .. Looking forward to seeing the name of the new one ... We can keep each other sane (ish) over the coming weeks/ months !

DS brought a lot of stuff home but not all. Someone will need to clean that kitchen before they fully move out and there were still a couple of them there. I want to wait until there has been a definitive decision about what happens next.

My worry is if we leave too much stuff behind - thinking 'oh we'll get it during April' - they may close the buildings down or restrict access completely. If we do leave antyhing it'll be basics that we can afford to lose just in case - bring back the important stuff.

My concern is that we might soon be under lockdown, which is why DD has cleared her room. Currently sat in Durham services seeing loads of laden cars with a parent and a student.

Not helping @ginfordinner. Some of us can’t get there until the weekend!

About DC with heads in sand: DS very grumpy since he got back from Oxford on Friday. He has found it very hard to get his head round the new reality. They were very much in a bubble there even with 6 diagnosed students cases. I’ve been isolating since he got back - on what I think is day 8 or 9 if it is the virus and feeling pretty grim today after feeling a bit better.

He was pretty depressed to get email saying they expect third term to be entirely online. He’s finding it understandably hard to get down to all the vacation work he should be doing. So sad for him in between all the other worries.

I suppose they’ll be rather like the generation whose uni studies were interrupted by the second world war - a different experience but certainly an historical one.

Meanwhile, my primary school still hasn’t heard who the key workers are whose children we are continuing to teach on Monday!

DD just rang. Her block have been having rounders and netball and cricket matches to keep morale up. Just been told they can’t and to go inside!! Surely better to be out in the fresh air than in a room together. They’ve moved to a park.

@ZandathePanda I've just asked for the title to be updated but they didn't do so the last time I requested similar (with the last thread). We'll see.

Right, I've been trying to work this morning but have been trying to be the peacemaker between the 'children' who have been fighting over prime territory in the house. I am hoping things will settle but dont have high hopes for my sanity if today is anything to go by.

We are on the way to get DD and friend from Bristol. Roads are mad busy. We aren’t clearing her room as she is in rented and will be moving house in June/July, so no doubt we will need to go back then. Everything may be mildewed by then of course

Not helping @ginfordinner. Some of us can’t get there until the weekend!

Sorry Benji. I would have thought that employers would be more understanding about why their staff need a day or two off to collect their student offspring.

I’m a HLTA in a primary school. DH works for a small business and they’re snowed under as 2 staff self isolating.

Oh. It can't be helped then.

Don’t see how they can restrict travel by the weekend when cafes, gyms and bars are still open and pensioners are gadding about as though nothing happened.

Oh I don't know what to do. DS in Falmouth and we'd booked this weekend off to visit him pre all this, now don't know if shld get him to come back with us. He won't want to, but one of his tutors told him if there's a lockdown he'll get stuck there

Not so much in London @Benjispruce!

I don't think they will. I spoke to another parent today, who was from London. She said that the atmosphere in London right now is horrible. Everyone is so hostile, and shops are allowing one in and one out.

Not all gyms are open. The university one is closed, and so are our local ones. Round here cafes and other eating places are switching to take out sales and deliveries.

Bouncing boy is back. The uni phoned him to tell him to leave as he is in a vulnerable group but we were picking him up anyway. One of his jobs has been cancelled and I'm suggesting that he doesn't go to the other one as small children. We will have to apply for maintenance grant now as he won't be able to earn enough now to cover himself.

He has had a happy day vegging but is wondering how they are going to teach acting virtually.