Study in the time of COVID-19 (2019/20 intake): online learning, the rule of six and who knows what's next? Anything could happen!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Following on from the previous thread as our young adults start their second year at universities up and down the land (and some overseas too!).

I'm thinking ahead, but what are your thoughts on visits (home and to uni town) this term and about Christmas? Are you just going to visit/have visits as normal?

Made trickier by ds being in Manchester (he went back at the beginning of August) so at the moment I think he could come and stay in a hotel near us, but not come and stay at home. I'm already starting to worry that he won't be allowed home for Christmas. Although I'm going to visit him on Friday - not in the house, but figured we could walk round Sainsbury's in a mask together!

Dd2 is going off in a couple of days to do a masters as well. And dd1 has started a TA job, has already come down with what is hopefully only a cold but also has a hacking cough, got tested yesterday, so we're all isolating while we wait.

Feels like it's going to be a complicated term.

Sounds fabulous Zanda.

I think if I visit DD I won’t go into her house but take her out for lunch/ shopping instead. As for coming home we are spending Xmas with grandparents so I have already asked that she be especially cautious in the run up to the end of term as they don’t finish till mid December. She’s OK with that (as are the olds)

Mines moved into her accommodation / house share in Durham . Enjoying herself so far - was out for cocktails last night I gather . I’ve no plans to go up this term unless specifically asked . Think she’s planning on avoiding the Christmas holiday public transport crush home at the end of term and staying on for a few days .

...and we have the first Covid case at school. Not the same ‘bubble’ so still good to go. So glad Uni Dd got back before it starts getting silly.

Ds has been very cautious about COVID right from the start & said he was uncomfortable about travelling home via his usual route through London. Do we have discussed an alternative route. I’m hoping he will be back mid October for a family birthday.

I really hope Christmas won’t be restricted in terms of them returning home.

@AtiaoftheJulii

I feel the same way. She knows she can't come back from Durham during the term, but there is a real risk that she won't get back for Christmas which will be a real struggle for her.
We do have family in Yorkshire and Lancashire, so if up north is fine she can go somewhere though.

Dd2 has just messaged me to say "she's coughing all the time". Knowing dd2 this could well be translated as "did one cough once when I inhaled a biscuit crumb." However... making me nervous. I shall see when I pick her up and give her her inhaler what she's like.
If she needs a test, then I don't think we can get one for love 'n money round here, so that'll be a fun 14 days. She'll be ds' favourite sister (genuinely!)

Checking in, thanks for the new thread.
DD is back at pre season sports training this week but is commuting and plans to move into her house this weekend with three housemates. No timetable as yet so no idea of whether there will be any face to face teaching this term/year. No new of any events for welcome week, societies fair online etc etc so I really feel
For this years Freshers.
DS (y11) has enjoyed being back at school but is really feeling the pressure to constantly perform well in case exam results next year are teacher assessed as they were this year. He typically works hard for exams and pulls good results out of the bag when it counts but has a tendency to take his foot off the pedal in between.

I am trying not to think beyond a month or so into the future. It would be hideous if they can't come home for Christmas but hopefully, they wouldn't have to celebrate alone, or could visit nearby family members, should they be lucky enough to have some close to hand!

What a complete shambles this country is with the scarcity of tests/testing. You really couldn't make up the incompetence. You'd have thought they would have plentiful stocks in at what clearly would be a 'high demand' time of the year, as children return to school and people come back from their holidays. I am embarrassed that I'm British at the moment.

What I can’t get over is the sheer number of coughs and colds and the amount of schools with positive results already. I would have thought with social distancing etc there would be much less disease in general circulation.

Picked her up nearly an hour ago and no coughing yet, except when I said she hadn't coughed when she managed one small one. I think we're okay. Phew!
Ds is disappointed.

HoldMyLobster I have a vision of you and your family in a lovely large house surrounded by plenty of land. As I imagine the American Dream! I am sure you must have lots of fun but do you not get lots of strops too with four teens? Or do they all get on very well?

My two, whilst now my two are very much more 'in tune' than when they were younger, tend to be a bit madcap when we're all together. They have a very loud and full-on energy/dynamic that they don't have individually!

Mine are a lot like that too! Sometimes it's exhausting and I have to sneak off to my room for some peace.

There have been a few strops - there was a notable one last night where DD1 stormed off to her room after an argument with her brother.

We thought about it a bit and realized she's having a crappy time this week. College classes start tomorrow, which is really bringing it home to her that she's not in Chicago with all her friends. She's getting all the hard work of college, without the fun socialising and activities.

We chatted to her, and we're going to take some time off work today so we can go for a walk and out for dinner (in our favourite British pub) to try to make her feel a bit better.

So many off at my school. Colds mainly but just shows that even with doors open,not sharing equipment and constant hand washing, we are not safe!

Hi. Just caught up on the last few pages! Gosh what a change in a couple of weeks! Glad all the returners are settling in well. @Witchend my DD is a bit nervous about returning too. She’s excited but it’s going to take a couple of weeks to settle into a new routine. She’s always been like this at start of terms. She’s a bit worried about no societies to go to and being a bit bored in the house.

DD2 was probably the only 16 year old enrolled in 2 6th form colleges. She had a major wobble after the induction day of the first one so enrolled in her second choice. The first one is a specialist college and we were a bit sad about her giving up a place she’d worked hard to get so sort of spelled it out to her. “Give the place up and there’s no going back”. So she then started back at it! Shes now negotiating trains to a nearby city with rapidly rising cases.

DS has started year 10 and was glad to ditch the subjects he hated. He has a fantastic set of teachers so I’m really happy. He just has to get his head down and stop chatting He’s also one that doesn’t do off timetable days well!

DD has spent the day at the seaside. I'm so glad they are making the most of the fine weather.

@Ginfordinner that sounds like a fabulous day. I’m quite envious

So am I. They are so close to the sea where they are - just a metro ride away. They took a picnic and went for a paddle. The North Sea is very cold apparently.

Newcastle is so well connected - sea, coast and gorgeous countryside. Love it up there.

@Zandathepanda a day by the seaside how lovely

Hi all. Placemarking. Still wobbly with 1 week to go. Going to shortlist universities with my DD to take my mind of things

My twins (just started post grad, one at home and one in Bristol) are doing fine so far and been careful over covid 19. The one who is away was still able to go to a friend's house in the country outside last weekend - I think it was a lunch with tables outside so probably pretty safe. Next weekend he has a graduation dinner or lunch again at someone's country place which I am not sure will now happen whch is a pity as not that many were going and it was sit down and eat and then the weekend after was someone's 21st in London again sit down not that many people but more than 6 so his next 2 weekends might be ruined by the rule of 6 but we shall see. he has been looking forward to those two things all summer.

Meanwhile this if the first full week of law school but on line (last week was loads of work and exercises but not normal timetable). They both have 2 long days each week but the course is about 40 hours a week of study, exercises etc - so far so good and my son's girl friend is staying here and she is doing the same course elsewhere so they have been doing work all day in our dining room today. It's quite a nice house to work in whereas my son in Bristol does not even have a desk in his bedroom.

Yes, Newcastle (and Durham) are lovely. I from Newcastle and my father and uncle went to Durham.

@Ginfordinner I am wondering how the cyber attack will affect DS1’s start on the 26th. Hopefully it’ll be sorted by then, but not banking on it!

DC not to be allowed home for Christmas? Allowed by whom? I can't contemplate spending the festive season apart, taking sensible precautions. DD could in theory get to other family if rule of 6 lifted, otherwise potentially spend it alone. DS would be alone or with 1 or 2 flatmates who may be obliged to stay due to family circumstances. No, no, no! This is not what will be happening in my household.

Having worked in health products I can confidently say that 3 weeks into a term is when coughs and colds always, and I mean always, take hold. This is not Covid, this is normal when groups of people meet or come together again. Whilst Covid 19 is undoubtedly a serious illness, especially for some, do we not perhaps need to try and get seasonal sniffles into perspective? Should we not be looking for something that we have not felt before, rather than another cold or throat infection? Just a thought...

For those at university in Birmingham, the current local regulations - no mixing of households at all in private homes or gardens - apply to the residents, whetever they are, not just 'within the boundary of Birmingham City Council (and Sandwell and Solihull). So there is a real possibility that they would not be able to travel back to stay in the parental (or any other) home, if the rules are not relaxed.

@simbobs I just read your most recent post and bang on cue DD comes downstairs saying "I think I've got a cold" (she is sneezing). You are right about it being that time of the year. Surely DC shouldn't really be off school with just a cold @Benjispruce2, or do you think parents are just being super cautious? Maybe the number getting colds already suggests that social distancing and new hygiene protocols in school are not working as anticipated? Or the DC are getting them not from their school bubble but their home one?

I agree about Newcastle @bengalcat. We were disappointed that DS didn't want to go there. Sounds as if your DD had a lovely day @Zandathepanda.

@HoldMyLobster hope you had a nice meal out at your favourite English pub? Is the weather more clement where you live than Chicago - that's possibly one bonus of still being at home, although I guess if your DD is going back next term, that will be when the full depths of a Chicago winter will have taken grip?