University life for 'freshers' (2019/20) - first year campus life suspended, sitting out/surviving the pandemic and staying on top of studying [Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

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What was the verdict on driving to uni to pick up DC's stuff? Mine has left his computer there as well as other things. It is hard to comprehend how rapidly the situation has changed in the last 2 weeks. Obviously I would have made sure we brought it all home if my crystal ball had been working properly.

We are not going to get his stuff . However, mine doesn't have a computer there just 22 loo rolls

What does your uni say @simbobs? Durham says not to, they will store it.

I think Bath would move their belongings into storage if necessary but as ds left a rather expensive piece of technology there I’d rather go & get it!

I agree that the maintenance loan for next term will be useful if there are less summer jobs around.

Ooh tempting @Piggywaspushed 😂

Hi we have a DD recently returned from pollock halls at Edinburgh Uni. About a week ago, the uni gave students the option to give a months notice, which we signed up for, but they also said that contents would need to be removed within that timeframe. We were planning to do this during the first week of April, but all of a sudden a 500 mile round trip feels like a very different undertaking to how it looked two weeks ago when she came home on the train. I'm curious if anybody else has had any additional guidance from Edinburgh. There's a bit of a conflict of interest between saving a quite significant amount of money but on the other hand not taking undue risks, which has to be the priority at the end of the day.

@benjispruce, no guidance from uni. DS is in private halls, though booked through uni. They want to be paid for summer term. I am conflicted about driving there to pick up things, but feel it should be done, as it would give us more reason to push for not paying. It is also an expensive item to lose if there should be a problem.

Pretty poor show from the university @simbobs have you actually emailed them about your specific situation?

Dd said Newcastle are telling students who are still there that the advice has changed and they are now not allowed to travel home.

I have asked DS to email uni but honestly don't think there is anyone there @Benjispruce. Mind you, he is not very proactive. But if students are no longer allowed to return home that would mean that we can't go there either.
DS even has food in his freezer, and a friend in a different flat who has been forced to stay by paranoid parents, and who has no money left. I asked DS to try and get the housing management to let friend into the flat to get the food. I don't think he got through to anyone, though.

From looking on our social media it seems that it's a bit of a mess with DMU. Half the halls (they're a mix of providers) are waiving contracts but some are holding firm and understandably people are outraged.

Uni owned ones are waiving - even for those students still stuck there... But some of the others are being very unhelpful.

@Kuponut that is so frustrating. I think it has to be one rule for all.

UEA have basically now said that those who've not cleared their rooms but now can't return for the summer term will have their licences and fees waived too. DS has been told to await further instructions next week (they've been advised to hold onto their keys for the time-being, presumably because at some stage they will need to return to remove their kit.

I hope unis use common sense & don’t insist that students return to clear out their rooms while there is still a lockdown advised.

@Decorhate UEA have now backtracked on doing so.

It would be really irresponsible for universities to be enforcing the room emptying edict in current lockdown.

Bath initially said they had to be cleared out by the end of the Easter break. Which is in just under a month. But I’ll ask ds to look out for further emails.

I think it's worth encouraging DC to challenge policies that seem unreasonable!

A more frivolous topic now ; does anyone else have DC that have changed what they eat, or the amount? DD became vegan, which I find a bit challenging as I have only had to cater for her for 2 weeks at a time, the extent of my repertoire (she does fend for herself much of the time). DS on the other hand is literally eating us out of house and home! I always insisted on DC having breakfast before school, but in 6th form DS was always running late so was often bundled into the car with a cereal bar and a banana. Now he cooks himself a full breakfast most mornings and is perusing the fridge again a couple of hours later. And so on throughout the day. There is no way I can manage to shop just once a week as they empty an impressively full fruit bowl between them in little more than a day. DH and I had taken to just shopping for a couple of days ahead. I filled the fridge completely yesterday and will still have to go out again tomorrow, I think.

@simbobs my DD’s friend lives abroad - she got packers in who then store her stuff. Quite expensive I think but offset against fees saved, is still worth it.

DD1 (uni) has been vegetarian since she was 16 so I’m used to catering for her which means we eat a lot of meat free meals when she’s home as I can’t be doing with cooking separate meals often. I’ve had to tell everyone to be mindful of what they’re eating as I tried to get my normal shop yesterday and couldn’t face the car park trolley queue situation so made do with a few things from the extortionate Co-Op near home. Rations from now on and I’m only partly joking.

@Simbobs DS seems to have become more particular about what he eats and keeps moaning that there's nothing for him in the house. We have a freezer fully filled and loads of stuff in but it's just not what he feels like, apparently. I have intimated that in these challenging times everyone should just be eaten what's in the cupboards.

I am so looking forward to going out for a meal when the lockdown is relaxed a bit. There will be queues to get into restaurants (if indeed any of them do actually re-open for business).

We manage quite a few vegan meals, sometimes with meat on the side, but I estimate that DS eats about twice as much as before, so I go to get something from the fridge for dinner to find it gone or partially consumed. Shopping is a nightmare, but many of our local restaurants are offering a takeaway or delivery service. Haven't tried it yet but may do so in the coming days. Our local Indian restaurant was quoting an hour for takeaways!

@simbobs you need to have ‘the chat’ about these being tricky times. Failing that, hide the food!

I’ve just dug out my pasta machine and have ‘some’ flour left after DD2 decided it was bake week! Just seen on Saturday Kitchen that you can make fresh pasta without eggs and indeed without a pasta machine. Get him busy making his own!

I've had to have a talk with DS about the food !!! DD braved a big Sainsbury's shop for us all yesterday ... he does powerlifting and is huge ... but I've had to tell him to calm down the eating and milk consumption!!! We had an incident the other day where he scoffed down an entire pack of jammie dodgers !!! Biscuits, eggs, etc now to be eaten in normal portions .... I'm getting very good at not wasting food !! Prioritising dates and veg that need using up first

I’ve got 4 teens at home. We’re going to the supermarket 2-3 times a week. I’d rather not but not really many other options, so we go when they’re very quiet.