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!).

Online shopping @Piggywaspushed? Morrisons do 'boxes' which presumably would provide basics to tide him over?

@Piggywaspushed could you encourage him to get a stock of pasta/pesto/tuna etc etc and/or stock up the freezer just in case? Or set up an account with a supermarket for delivery (or use your own account if you have one.) I’m making sure our stocks are up to scratch at home for exactly the same reason, and have booked grocery deliveries for the next 4 weeks!

The Morrisons boxes are always in short supply and actually (we had one once) aren't very useful. They really assume you can rustle up actual meals!

My Ocado account won't deliver to his address but I could try Asda, I guess!

I will mention tins and stuff to him but it is also about carting it back to his house. It's a bit of a nightmare! All he eats is pizza, the odd chicken in sauce crap and sandwiches. Bread and sandwich meat etc. will be the problem.

I assume even in HMOs , if one of the house falls ill the rest have to SI.

@Piggywaspushed oh sorry didn't know the Morrisons' boxes aren't very useful.

All housemates could muck in together with an online order but that is presupposing that they can easily get delivery slots? I can imagine people already getting into panic slot booking mode at the whiff of a mention of a second lockdown.

I think HMOs would count as bubbles surely? They share facilities don't they?

It's a total PITA though and potentially even more so if flatmates don't actually fraternise together (but assuming that in most cases, with students, this isn't the case?).

Dd got an Asda delivery the other day. I am going to encourage her to get on the system of Tesco and Sainsbury’s after looking at this thread.
We were really stuck in lockdown as we were semi-shielding and no one was accepting new households until I remember I had used an online supermarket years ago at our previous house. I managed to change the address. Maybe you could change the delivery address it you have one set up too?

@Piggywaspushed if he has a freezer (or a shelf in one!!) then all those things can be stocked up, but I agree with pp that all the housemates will hopefully gang together to get themselves orgsnised

@Piggywaspushed, I agree with others, try Asda and Tesco delivery. I have done them a few times for my DD and will do for DS if he wants. DD used to also get them with her housemates. However slots may be harder to come by in lockdowns

DS and his gf have bought a hamster - it is currently in DSs bedroom but will have to move to gfs when he goes. He’s saying he might come and get it if lift from mate, but then he’ll have to also bring it back at Xmas. If it’s still alive

bigTillyMint you know what your Christmas present is then! Luckily hamsters only live a couple of years. Unluckily ours have always been nocturnal and very noisy.

Checking in .... DS packing (meant to be ) to go back to NTU on Sunday ... he had a mentor type job lined up to help with new students but just had a call to say he hadnt done his 5 hours on line training .... sometimes I despair . I am sorting out a few kitchen bits for him from the box he bought back in March, no way I am sending as much as I did last Sept .... I am much more relaxed about it now. Have insisted he takes a box of masks and sanitizer.

DS has finally booked his train tickets for next Wed - hope it’s not too awful being back under a lockdown.

@Piggywaspushed

I have just been pondering the fact that if DS needs to SI, I have no idea how he will get food... don't know why but this hadn't occurred to me...

DD is taken an emergency bag of rice, a jar of sweet and sour sauce, some UHT milk and porridge as reserve for if they have a complete lockdown. She's taking enough of it so it should do her and flat mates about a week if they had nothing else.

So doesn't anyone know what happens about starting at university, moving in , etc in a lockdown area?
DD supposed to move next weekend but its in lockdown from Tuesday.

She's a first year but lost her first choice (and accommodation) due to the mess up with grades. So she loved her insurance which is fine - but now no uni halls, so moving into a flat with 3 strangers - of different ages, different year groups and different subjects.

Now idea how she's now expected to form an exclusive bubble with a household who she has never met before!

But most freshers moving into halls won't have met their flat / corridor mates before they move in with them, either?

But most freshers will be with other freshers rather than people from other years

@Aragog, back in the dark ages when I went to uni, I was in a similar situation - put in a house with 3 second years and a fourth year. The second years were lovely and I became great friends with them and ended up living with them for the following 3 years

Do it might not be as bad as she thinks.

@bigTillyMint glad to hear you had a fab time with your 'older' flatmates. I was going to say something along the same lines to you @Aragog - it could be a blessing in disguise for your DD (I always try to find the good in situations).

Hi Rags My DS is back at NTU on Wednesday. He has also got a job as a student mentor and is enjoying the online sessions. He has done 6 hours so far, which has been easy money for him. He can't wait to get back but I am worried about a lockdown.

DD in Newcastle has covid! Just found out. Only loss of taste and smell, but a positive test. She is a massive introvert and the last person you would expect to get it. Hope DS gets it soon so that we will be immune for Xmas...

Oh no. I hope she is OK @simbobs. Is she living in Jesmond?

Oh no @simbobs - how strange her getting it. Good that she's only got it very mildly but I guess she and her flatmates will now be self-isolating for a fortnight? Good in a way if your DS has got it too (as long as he has mild symptoms) but is there evidence yet to suggest that having COVID-19 once gives you long-term immunity?

@ ginfordinner, in Sandford so not far away. She said she knows who she caught it from but declined to elaborate.

Aragog my best friend went to uni through clearing and ended up in a house share with older students. Us freshers thought the house share was really cool and spending time there made a change from campus. She also stayed close friends with one of them.

@simbobsHope she's okay. Well done her for recognising it and getting tested too.

Unfortunately all the signs seem to be immunity wears off, but she might still be fine at Christmas.

Sorry to hear that @simbobs. DD just back from France with her housemates and quarantined. She had a great time and although I was anxious about her going , I’m now pleased they went and had fun as it’s all got grim since she returned.