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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@Piggywaspushed sorry to hear you had the issue with your car but pleased that you got help and without being out of pocket! Oh dear re your son's house being unclean (how can letting agencies not get them deep cleaned between contracts in the current circumstances - surely that's illegal?). Also, what a pity about him getting the smallest room :-(. Will his stuff fit in okay with room to move? On a positive note, it may be easier to keep warm in winter which is always a bonus!

I'm assuming that if there is another lockdown, our Yr 2 undergraduates are likely to be staying put (i. e. in university cities or towns) this time around rather than coming home?

I am sorry to hear that your DD is anxious about returning to Durham @Witchend. I guess her experience again demonstrates that the university years are not necessarily the best of every student's life. How was she at school? I think the expectations of what the university experience will be like can be really over-hyped, as well as the pressures of having to knuckle down to some really hard and often challenging study (which I would imagine would be very true of a university like Durham). Does she have very high standards of herself academically? Is she finding it disheartening to find that there are many students equally as clever (if not cleverer) than she is? I know that not everyone thrives being a little fish in a big pond, if they've hitherto been used to being the 'big fish' in a little one. I hope she opens up to you.

Maybe the imminent birthday celebrations could be staggered across the day (as long as there are no more than six in total celebrating at any one point), but possibly in different venues? I am not sure it's entirely in the spirit of the latest 'law of six' but as I've read the details of the latter, it wouldn't be breaking the law either? A difficult one to navigate.

I think it was quite obvious all along that the R would creep up above one and that the virus would start rearing its ugly head again after a summer of rest and relaxation (and socialising for most). It feels a bit as if the government played Russian roulette with the nation's health to boost the economy. Maybe it was their cunning plan all along to allow us some freedom over the summer so we'd be less 'up in arms' about autumn increase in restrictions regarding socialising.

I think a summer of fun(ish) was definitely part of the plan. It makes sense really and Ai don’t often say that about the government of pandemic policy.

NewModel I don’t think this government have any cunning plan at all as that would imply a degree of coherent policy.

I still think its a mistake not to take any crockery and relying on finding the stored ones left over from last year. @MrKlaw, we have found discarded kitchen equipment I bought for DS last year, left in his bedroom at home looking entirely unused so that was a waste of money. He was saying that he would buy anything he needed in Norwich BUT happy to report that their kitchen is well stocked for everything (unless you are a very skilled cook who uses lots of niche items), so no additional purchases have thus far been necessary. Hope that is your DS's experience too.

Good luck for everyone taking the DC up today (and beating the 'rule of six'). Hopefully, your journeys won't be too delayed.

@Zandathepanda ha I think I'm with you on that!

Bizarrely I know someone at the ‘top’ of government. They are not the brightest. They looked ‘sad face’ at me when Dd was going to the local good comp rather than any of the private schools they were trying to get their child in.
They also parked on the double yellows outside the school gates in their tank of a 4x4. Until they got a bit higher up their career ladder and one parent took a photo. Then they suddenly developed morals and parked in the car park further away like the rest of us.

"Not the brightest" I feel like that about a lot of them. I have genuinely thought on more than one occasion that a group of Mumsnetters could make a better job of running the country currently! I think the problem is that there are lots of career politicians around at the moment (particularly Tories) who have little understanding of living in the real world (such as sending your DC to a comprehensive rather than private school!).

Sorry to hear some DC are not looking forward to going back as much as others. And some of you dreading them going.

DS is keen to go back - I think he’s dying for his complete independence and back to footy but he’s been very busy with his gf and mates here. Hopefully he’s getting a train back next weekend

I think it’s pretty inevitable that all or nearly all students will get the virus (if they haven’t had it already), hopefully v mildly. And fingers crossed that it will have swept through them all by the end of Nov so that they don’t bring it home to vulnerable families at Xmas!

Yes lots of cutlery, plates, bowls etc. in ds's student house left from previous people. Also everything else they need...kettle, toaster, sandwich toaster, iron/board etc. The only thing missing is half of his bedroom furniture. He was told a new wardrobe, bedside table and chest of drawers would be there by this weekend. But it wasn't there when he arrived yesterday. So he will be living out of his suitcase for a while. At least there's a bed!

ican that’s annoying to not have the furniture. Hope it arrives soon.
DD’s house had all new mattresses whi was a treat.
One of the lads brought a quesadilla machine. That was a first for me. It’s a sort of round wavy toaster.

@Canklesforankles, I’ve never heard of one / off to google 😂

@icanbewhatiwant you should get him to advise the letting agency that he will be withholding a % of his rent until the missing furniture is replaced (that will galvanise them or the landlord to action). It's not on and as far as I can recall there is a set standard for what is in a student room (including desk and chair!). I know he probably doesn't want to make a fuss, but it's money down the drain for a 'service' he's paying for that he hasn't got at the moment!

Good advice @NewModelArmyMayhem18

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 yes maybe I'll suggest that.

Thanks 😊

@NewModelArmyMayhem18
Dd has very high standards for herself academically, and always had done, so she gets very upset with herself if she can't understand things. It doesn't help that the maths students she has been friendly with are the sort that get it immediately so she does feel very much at a disadvantage.
I don't think it's big fish little pond though, as she was at a comp with 10 form entries and a sixth form with about 2k students a year, so not much chance of being a big fish, and she wasn't the top at either, although always near the top.

I think a lot of it is social confidence and also she is very happy just being at home and not doing a lot. She likes to go and do the shopping for us, fetch the younger ones from school, do a bit of cooking. She'd have been very content to stay at home to be "mother's companion" in the Victorian times.
Whereas dd2 is much more push the boat out. Her main criteria for uni is that it's as far away as possible. Apparently St Andrews is high on her list. DD1 discounted St As because of the distance.
Interestingly me and my big sister were the same. She struggled with leaving home and I couldn't wait! I don't know if it's a #1/#2 thing there.

Ds used to tell me he wouldn't leave home ever until he's 28yo. However that was now about 9 years ago, so maybe I should ask what his 13yo self thinks of that! I think he's between the two.

@Witchend ds1 is at our nearest university. He didn't want to go far, he does live there, but could commute as it's about 45 min drive. A few local people drive to the park and ride then bus for the last part.

Ds2 however (year 12) says he's going to a university as far away as possibly.

Well DS is away from us but his girlfriend within half an hour of home, suspect they will be flitting there at weekends. They are such a lovely family I am pleased for him. Girlfriend is so lovely I hope we see them back here at times.

It feels a bit as if the government played Russian roulette with the nation's health to boost the economy.

No comment on the Russian roulette bit, but I wonder whether the special version of non-fraternisation the residents of Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull get to enjoy from Tuesday was the result of lobbying ny the childcare industry. Going to childminder's house / having your nanny carry on coming into your house allowed, same care provided for free by grandparent / family friend: illegal.

@MarchingFrogs, that’s ridiculous

@bigTillyMint, the populus has commented thus, I believe...

@Witchend yes possibly it is the oldest child thing. I think eldest children who are girls are indeed 'little mothers' and their mum's 'right-hand woman'.

Loving the sound of the quesadilla maker!

That's outrageous @MarchingFrogs! So anything that helps boost the economy and keep people in jobs is okay but otherwise increasingly not!

Oh, it might be time for a new thread by tomorrow!

I agree with @bigTillyMint that it would be good if they all got it and got over it in time for Xmas. Obviously, I don't include vulnerable DC in this. I hope that universities are guiding students on how to respond if their flatmates become unwell. I have spoken to DS about this but it would be good to have official back up. I'm not sure young men are necessarily good at nurturing their flatmates.

Ds has just texted pissed off because the fridge is too small. Given it's a HMO there seems to be a small fridge which isn't on really for 4 people sharing. It sees there are 3 shelves and he has lost out.