University 2020 :9: And they're off, making hay while the sun shines.

[MillicentMartha]

New thread, trying to be upbeat!

Old thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3996883-University-2020-8-Use-the-CAGs-don-t-use-the-CAGs?pg=40

Hello

Thank you for the new thread. DD off to Lancaster next week and booked her moving in slot this morning. She's in a self catered townhouse of 12 so quite a big bubble and hopefully a good opportunity to socialise.
DS goes back to Cardiff for final year on Saturday. We'll be proper empty nesters then!

Checking in.

Still 2 and a half weeks before DS1 heads off but we're going on holiday for a week on Saturday to the Lake District. Just DH, DS1, Ddog and me. It will be a bit of an 'end of an era' holiday. Maybe he'll come away with us again but it won't be the same....

On the plus side our cottage has a hot tub!

12 sounds like a good size, choirmum.

I'll still have one at home, my DS2 who has ASD and is 20. I will be trying to find him a job once DS3 is off.

Thanks for the new thread (and the positive note!). I'm sorry some are finding it hard - I'm sure they will find their mates and ways to socialise in time. I hope they can be patient and give it time. And I remember some of the horror stories of freshers on MN so it wasn't all roses then either!

DS has had his deferral confirmed on track so I'm following to see how everyone is getting on and learn lessons for this time next year :)

Good luck all

Hello!
DD has already left and seems quite settled at St.Andrews. I was a blubbering mess when we left her though!

Hello and thanks MillicentMartha

Oratory , we are waiting for ds to have his confirmed .

I also hope everyone settles in well, I am sure they will find their tribe it might just take a little longer

PMK. Morning to all x

That's exciting, idsisatwat. I'm glad she's happy so far.

It's bloody hot in Devon, very glad as the 50th band t shirt goes on the line.

Thanks for new thread

DD is off tomorrow to Kent, she's in a flat of 5 but sharing a kitchen with another flat of 5, so a bubble of 10 (we think, they haven't been especially forthcoming about how that's going to work in practice). Arrivals have been since 5th September, so hopefully tomorrow won't be too busy . Although when we dropped DD2 at Birmingham, the car was emptied before we'd turned round from unlocking the door . I'm assuming fewer student helpers this time round though.

We have a slightly complicated situation in that the majority of DDs stuff is at her dad's, who is driving to meet us there; we're going by train with "just the essentials mum" which looks so far to be two big suitcases, two rucksacks and a duffle bag. And another bag of plants. And some boxes of homemade cookies (how to make friends 101 ). Am not looking forward to crossing London with all that lot.

On my way home, I'm to be taking an empty rucksack and two empty suitcases, which will be slightly easier I think.

This time round (DD is no 3) we're doing click and collect for her Big Shop rather than going actually round the supermarket, which might be slightly easier. DD has also requested a dump and run, so no meal out either. DD1 has made me promise not to start crying on the train home

dd is off to Southampton next Wednesday - in a SC flat of four but sharing bathrooms with the flat next door so as far as we can figure out their household will be eight of them.

It isn't bubbled by course, there's a complete mix. A few have got their timetables - dd is lab based so was hoping (& up until now, promised) face to face teaching but tbh who knows!

She's the first to move into her block from the UK (they have a handful of students isolating from abroad already) ... so I'm hoping dh (only one parent allowed so I can't go) will be allowed to stick around long enough to help set up her computer etc.

They have a student testing programme down there - trialling the saliva test which dd has signed up for. Neither she nor we are remotely worried about her getting it but I guess it might help avoid unnecessary household isolation when the inevitable non-covid colds & bugs start.

Her flat/block chat is lively - they all seem to be going in with the attitude of salvaging as much normality as they possibly can from this - which is a encouraging.

We're planning to do a big non perishable shop before she goes & take that down with the rest of her stuff.

found you! MN seems particularly glitch for me this am.

DD goes Sunday and is in a flat of 3 with 2 bathrooms. In Kings Cross.

Ds due to go 26th. We had a shopping trip planned today, my only day off, but he went out last night and isn't feeling very well atm (not envy!)

Thanks for new thread - yes to being positive! Most of its out of our control and my motto is it I can't change it, don't worry about it.

DS moves in to Durham on the 27th - self catered en-suite - and we're shopping for kitchen things on Monday. He wants to take my old school trunk until I pointed out the impracticality of storage and carrying it on the train!

Just checking in. DD at St Andrews, done Freshers and lectures underway. A few ups and downs but overall doing well at facing a big new phase.

DS is taking a gap year, but still interested to see how everyone's DC are getting on...

I'm ready to throttle DD... ok,not really, but I have to let go.
Has she paid for her student accommodation? No, because she "doesn't have a student account" to put her student loan into, except she does have a bank account already.

Can we book a moving in slot -- no, she already did that to go view her digs & she won't go onto the portal to book again (so I have found paid parking 400m away for £8).

Can we discuss things she still needs or anything really: No, she's "busy" -- especially in evenings with social life.

When she wants to discuss anything of course I will be expected to drop everything else I'm doing to get the answers/info she needs.

I will give up 9 hours of my Sunday to move her out.
At least I can say I am looking forward to her absence.

Seriously thinking about suggesting DS reduces what he is taking , due to the general doom-mongering around Covid and lockdowns. I want him to be able to get himself home on the train, if necessary, with his most precious worldly goods in his rucksack. Not bothered if bedding and saucepans get left behind, but stuff like favourite clothes, laptop etc.

His self catering flat is for 13, and I believe about 8 or 9 have a good WhatsApp group going on. They haven’t been told what their bubble/household is yet.

@yeOldeTrout - DS was able to convert his bank account into a student account, relatively hassle-free.

The headline is a bit hysterical and overblown but Trjnity Cambridge have asked students to arrive with as little as possible so that moving is easy . I imagine it’s do that they can create isolation areas.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/education/2020/sep/16/cambridge-college-threatens-to-evict-students-if-a-covid-19-outbreak-occurs

Although this bit does sound a bit over the top considering they are in catered accommodation . What could you store with no cooking facilities which would last you three days ?

“‘store in your room three days’ supply of non-perishable food for use in the event of a lockdown”.