University life for our soon to be Year 2 undergrads (2019 intake): social bubbles (bursting?), the new normal and hopefully no second wave

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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@SchrodingersKitty so sorry to hear your news. Sending hugs and best wishes to you and yours.

I think my DS said he gets his maintenance grant on 28th Sept which is his official start of term.

SchrodingersKitty sending you love and hugs x

I remember you being worried about your DH, Schrodinger, so sorry to read your update.

DD is staying on campus at York this year again (brilliant for her) and she's finally had an email about moving in. She can move in from the 12th Sept, which is a couple of weeks before freshers do and before term starts. She's been home for so long winding up and being wound up by her sister so she's keen to go back asap. Plus it's the best chance she gets to nab a decent cupboard in the kitchen/shelf in the fridge/actually get some space in the freezer if she moves in on the first day possible. This year she ended up with the bottom fridge shelf, which was not full depth, and no freezer space as the kitchens house 12 students, and has 2 fridges with 6 shelves each, but only 4 drawers in each of the 2 freezers.

Like many, she only got to spend 8 weeks each term due to the strikes so is keen to live the sudent life properly for as long as possible this year. Covid alowing.

They are doing a week in person (in large lecture theatres for smaller groups) and a week online. And can book their tables in the libabry online. I'm a little nervous about having her so far away in case she gets ill but she deserves to get her life back to normal again as much as is possible.

My two are also going back early - they are desperate to get back to uni life regardless of how restricted it might be. After being cooped up here for 5 months we all really need to see someone else and try to retrieve a bit of “normality”. Don’t know much about any teaching yet, but I somehow doubt there will be anything in person. Never mind, at least they will be able to be with their friends again after all this time.

DD goes back in 10 days.

I'm a little worried with the riots in Kenosha, which is only an hour north of where she'll be.

I'm a little worried about Covid - am putting together a pack for her containing digital thermometer, pulse oximeter, painkillers, throat lozenges, heartburn meds - any other suggestions?

Also encouraging her to have a 'Covid bag' packed in case she has to suddenly move into isolation. Several pairs of PJs, underwear, comfy socks, phone/laptop chargers, pen/paper, not sure what else to include there either.

For the first time I think we will do a proper healthcare power of attorney, as she'll be in another state, and I need to make sure the hospital/doctors will talk to us if she gets sick.

I think she'll be fine, and I'm not all that worried, but it seems to make sense as she'll be 1700 miles away.

@HoldMyLobster those are really good suggestions. My DD isn't as far away but having a bag packed/chargers available in case of isolation/emergency is a good call. I can understand why you might be a little worried.

My DD has heard about teaching. All lectures on line, physics labs at home (!) and a face to face workshop every 3 weeks. She says they are prioritising year 1 and final year students in the labs. Not sure how it works doing a physics experiment in a student house but they have a huge shed/garage in their garden which has a work bench at the back so she has ear marked that as the house physics lab!

DS back to UEA until Christmas tomorrow. He's looking forward to it. By some strange quirk of fate his cousin and second cousin also going there!

DS's house woes seem to be sorted. A girl who is a friend of one of the lad's gfs was going to commune from Melton Mowbray but has changed her mind so is going to take the room.

Hoorah.

Tbh, DS can't wait to go back. He feels a bit bored and repressed it seems!

Hurrah @Piggywaspushed that's a positive result. Hope it works out well.

DS is looking forward to having better Wi-Fi than at home - that's his reason for going back so soon!

@Piggywaspushed what a relief! That's great news!

was going to commune from Melton Mowbray but has changed her mind

Was that when she worked out how far it actually was??

That's brilliant news Piggy. DD has been in her student house for a month. She was bored at home. She is coming home for s few days then going back up north.

I think the reality may have hit marching!

@HoldMyLobster such a good idea about the medical bag, I think I will do that too.
@Piggywaspushed What a relief about the room being taken - so glad for you.
@Ginfordinner- how is your DD finding Newcastle? Is there a lot going on or are people staying in?

Great news Piggy!

Gin, DS made the same decision as your DD - he went back to Durham a couple of weeks ago and has been living in his student house. He reckons about 10% of students are back in Durham and has enjoyed a few house gatherings and a night out in Newcastle. He's actually coming home this weekend for a family party and having a few days at home before heading back.

NewModel - your story resonates - DS is at uni with his cousin and his sister hopes to join them this time next year!

@HoldMyLobster, wow! You are so well organised to have thought of all that!

@Piggywaspushed, that’s great! Phew!

@Ginfordinner and @Jano69, that’s interesting. DD went back to Bristol for a couple of months but came back here as she has no money and can’t find a job. DS was just saying last night how much he is looking forwards to going back to Durham. He picked his modules yesterday but it’s footy he’s dying to get back to Maybe in about 3 weeks

DD has been paying rent on her flat since July. Luckily against the odds of lockdown she found a job, so has had money coming in while awaiting the grant. Many of her friends are back at uni, but as she can work until the last minute, she's making the most of it. She's still in touch with her friends from secondary and sixth form, but really wants to get back to uni.

HoldmyLobster if her diet isn't that good, they were thoughts initially that Vitamin D might help.

SchrodingersKitty sorry to hear your update

We’re just back from a week in Devon and DD1 decided to come. Turned out really well, despite my concerns we’d all throttle each other. DD picked her modules yesterday too @bigTillyMint and she returns a week tomorrow when her other housemates move in properly. I bought a first aid bag last year with thermometer and every conceivable medicine and it came home untouched despite tonsillitis and conjunctivitis and S&D! She’d forgotten it was in a drawer!. She’s not planning on returning before Christmas as she’s missed so much time she doesn’t want to miss anymore.

Oh and DD2 did really well in her GCSE teacher awarded grades after all that stress in the lead up thanks to the pantomime cast we have in charge at no 10! So it’s A levels for her.

Well done to your DD2 @Benjispruce2 - awful time for those Y11s and Y13s.

I know DS is looking forward to getting back, but he’s been spending a lot of time with his old mates as well as his gf. I imagine she’ll want to see him pretty often again this term!

Well done to your DD2 Benji - what a fiasco for the Y11s and Y13s! DD starts Y13 next week and we have no idea how summer exams and 2021 uni applications will go.

@Baytreemum I will find out tomorrow when she comes home for a short visit. I know she has been out for meals and drinks. She isn't a fan of nightclubs so she isn't missing them.

@bigTillyMint DD had loads of money left from her loan. When at home she hardly spent anything as she wasn't going out, paying rent or buying food. She was shielding, so I didn't encourage her to get a job.

Congratulations to your DD2 @Benjispruce2

DD had to pick her modules several weeks ago. I guess, with science subjects, they would need to know how many students to buy PPE for for each topic for lab work.

Hello
Little Dd did well in her unsat GCSEs too.9999888877 But she was very miffed when she saw lots of names online with full decks of 9s because she knew she was always above them in tests. Her best subject (8) in particular she had 100% in coursework. Grr. However she’d only been to a handful of lessons since her brain injury in Dec and slept most of May/June. Still having seizures. I am presuming those grades won’t be a problem for her for any university. Piggy please reassure me! I think the others benefitted from being ranked higher than her having actually been at school! I dread to think what would have happened if she had had to sit them. We still don’t know if the virus was Covid. School should be ‘interesting’!
Dd2 is negotiating bills for her flatmates to share. Internet and water seem easy. Gas and electric (combined) is the sticking point as the bill will be so big each month. How are others doing it?

Dd2 should be older Dd1 - confusing them due to the order of writing.

Older Dd will most likely not be coming down home in case she brings germs with her! We’ll send her up with a thermometer, oximeter etc. Her flatmates are all from different departments and are the outgoing types so little social distancing.