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

@LetUsPrey a 👋 from Lonsdale here!

👋 back. The only person he’s reliably communicated with so far here is DS2, although he’ll text back eventually if I’ve asked him something. Trying not to fuss.

Those TV licensing rules are so ridiculous aren't they. Everyone these days recharges their devices from the mains with a charger!
The whole system needs a big rethink but they could start by including students in halls with their parents home licence I think.
Then when they're in a flat share in second year they could get a licence for a communal TV plus their devices.
Or else let the halls have one super licence to cover everyone.

In fact making a change on student TV licences could be a nice little thing to bring in to give a bit of company and support to quarantined students during this crazy coronavirus year.

Ds actually phoned me!! Even if it was just to ask how to pay rent! He's happy, not really left his flat of 12 for much apart from to buy a projector in Lancaster. He's been partying in his flat. Tonight they are all getting dressed up in their suits for a smart night! Their flat got a warning for trying to mix with neighbouring flat apparently.

@JugglingFromHereToThere

In fact making a change on student TV licences could be a nice little thing to bring in to give a bit of company and support to quarantined students during this crazy coronavirus year.

I would love to see that. what a great idea :)

@specialted Glad hes getting on :) daughter said she was going to pay accommodation yesterday, but didn't ask her if she had. I don't want to sound like i'm nagging her lol. Shea off to Kanteena in town with her house mates tonight. had to look it up what it is and is a restaurant/bar. Like Glow, where they are in 2 tables of 6. Apparently they do great hot dogs. she had a night in last night watching soaps on catch up. I think shes burned the candle at both ends and needed the night off . They have been going out to the city, all of the house, and booking 2 tables of 6 next to each other. No sugarhouse booked yet. Face time session today so she can tell us more about the week :)

Re TV licences, I agree with interpretation of current rules here, but it will be some time before there is any chance of being caught if they break the rules as knocking on doors to come and inspect is just not going to happen for a while.

DS’s flat at Manchester Uni has had to go into self isolation sadly, due to one of the boys getting a positive test result after losing his sense of taste and smell. They have 2 shared bathrooms in the flat so have split them between Covid and non Covid. They are avoiding each other as much as possible in their rooms. Bit of a shame as online lectures and some face to face tutorials are due to start this week. He’d just done a food shop so should be ok for a while, but Sainsbury’s have free slots, apparently.

That was quick @MillicentMartha, he only seems to have been there 5 minutes! Hope the flat enjoy each others company.

I am starting to get an isolation box ready to send to DS when the inevitable call comes. So far I have bought him a game of "Cards Against Humanity" and will be getting a selection of Pringles and other favourite snacks. On the St Andrews FB thread people have suggested model making kits, jigsaw puzzles, painting by numbers. I would have loved that lot, swell as some adult colouring with nice pens, but I suspect DS will just isolate with reddit! I think a jigsaw to leave out in a communal area can be a nice gentle way of everyone doing something together, might get some for DS's GF who is getting the test today.

Ds has popped home from the weekend a for the first time since he went two weeks ago

He’s been home a couple of hours and already had Dh help fit his new car battery

He needed to get a few bits from home he said ....
So far he’s taking back with him
Some memory foam from the loft
A pizza baking tray
Bacardi that we no longer drink
Sellotape
A bath mat
Scrap paper
More pillows

In exchange I have approx 4 loads of washing and a very reluctant hug

Still so pleased just to having him back briefly . Home and uni are in the south east so no local lockdown or restrictions bar the rule of six

@MillicentMartha oh no thats not good. But great idea of having a covid and noncovid bathroom. I will have to mention that idea to my daughter as although she has a house of 12, her floor of 4 share 2 bathrooms. Hopefully your son will avoid it, fingers crossed x

@Eve he’s been climbing once and planning to go again today.

He’s really upset that the other lads had a party of 30 in the halls last night and he was the only one who didn’t go (cos of pandemic rules) and didn’t wanna get kicked out.

He was crying a lot on Thursday night and made himself sick. 😫😫 I think he’s just really overwhelmed and a bit lonely.

@specialted spoken with daughter via facebook messenger today. Aww was nice to see her face again. she spoke with my parents via video call too. She saw corrie last night and caught up and we had a chat about the latest plot twist. She was also showing us some videos on her phone of places shes been to during the week.Lectures start monday 9am, 10am and 11am, then 2pm-5am she has labs in person, so shes happy just to be learning again. I suggested to her if she gets cabin fever from online lectures in her room, to go to some of the cafes on campus and city and do them there. The hub in the management school and hub at infolab looks pretty nice place for a drink and to listen to a lecture on headphones :)

@Monkey2001 thats a great idea for a isolation box. might just have to do that :)

I spoke with DS on video chat as well. Made me feel a lot better. He seems fine, he’s got himself a Sainsbury’s delivery within a hour on their app, only available in selected areas but only £2.50 delivery for the first use. The flat mates are still sharing the kitchen etc but everyone seems quite cheerful and resigned to it. The lad who tested positive is wearing a mask when he ventures out of his room.

Your poor DS, Collision. Could he comes home and work from there?

@sammyjoanne glad you had a good catch up! Your dd has a lot of lectures! Ds has about 6 all week!

@MillicentMartha

I think he needs to try and crack on with everything really.

He’s only been there since Tuesday and his lectures haven’t started yet.
I’m hoping he will settle down soon.

@specialted
We watched a you tuber called Alice loves physics, and she studied at Lancaster and did a week in the life of first year. Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays were always busy where Wednesday and Fridays were lighter days. Its the labs that are lengthy. 3 hour sessions, but I think they are just mondays from what I remember.

@Collision hope he finds his "tribe" soon. x

@Collision I'm sure once Lectures start things will get better, then they will have more of a sense of purpose and meet fellow course mates even if it is virtually

@Collision Specialted is right. Once lectures start things will calm down with the other boys and he should start to make friends more. And fair play to him not joining in with that party and sticking to the rules :)

Agree that hopefully once lectures start, things will get into a routine for them.

Love the idea of the isolation box!

Had a FaceTime with DS1 earlier which we’d pre-arranged. Would have be nicer if he actually paid attention to the conversation rather than carrying on with whatever he was doing on his computer and being distracted but 🤷🏻‍♀️ he’s not going to have changed his habits overnight.

His first lecture (computer science) is Monday at 9.

We also had a good chat with our fresher today!

He has a household of 18 on his staircase, all of whom he says are v. nice. Lots of Fresher events but the thing he says is best is that post 10pm lots of them hang out in a big marquee in their courtyard with tables around patio heaters!

His only moan is that they can only book one session a week at the uni gym, so I've told him I'll pay for a couple of months at the nearest city gym. He's used to training most days, so he feels a bit odd if he doesn't get any exercise.

He's spend this afternoon working out his fortnightly timetable. I told him to start with Monday, then anything more is a bonus...

@KingscoteStaff that marquee sounds like a fantastic idea!

Apparently someone's trying to set up a firepit this evening - anyone for rain-soaked marshmallows?