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 that's very fortunate your Ds is in a flat that is ok :)
@Ironoaks that's pretty organised. At least by doing that he can see he has a balance of work and play and time off :)
@Sarbarce welcome :) if he had covid before, there is no evidence that he might or might not catch it again, so if someone in his flat gets it, then he has to isolate again with all the others.

I think do too Sarbarcel.

@instanthistory which college is your DS in?

My DS has another week of household isolation but they're allowed outside for half an hour every day to walk around the college (Stephenson). They got an Ocado delivery so have loads of food, and getting post and parcels is very easy.

He's been really fascinated to find out so much about the different parts of England that his flat mates are from - S.Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cornwall and Cambridge, he says even discussing supermarkets is an education - who knew that there are places that don't have Waitrose??! Two of them are veggies and he and the other are meat eaters but it's not caused any rows yet. He says he's trying to eat healthily and really misses being able to take long walks; I hope he appreciates the parcel of sweets and choc I sent him yesterday!

It's lovely reading about everyone's child on here, even though some of them are having a miserable time. I feel I am seeing the bigger picture about uni during pandemic and it's helpful to be able keep a sensible and informed perspective. It also means I can impress upon DS how fortunate he is! His friend at Bath Uni has just been home to Cambridge for a weekend, and another friend at Manchester is of course completely locked down.

Hi all. Quick update on what I have heard for other Lancaster mums: DS' s flat in County had free pizzas from Papa John's this evening. Courtesy of the business apparently. They were very pleased as some can go out now and some can't as they are not through their self isolation periods, so they are all staying in for the evening in solidarity. The pizzas cheered them up - and he sent a photo, they looked pretty decent.

DS says very few campus bars are open because some are too small to do a full meal offering. Someone mentioned Fylde bar, which he says IS open, but it's not his vibe.

Courage and fortitude to all those DC still isolating at uni. I suspect we will be relieved they have had the virus relatively early , and can get back to studying and enjoying themselves and growing up.

I'm jealous of those who are able to get to see their DC, will see what might work for us within the tier 3 constraints.

Good wishes to all x

@WellWoman that's brilliant that papa johns gave free pizzas. nice some can go out now, they can do at least some washing or shopping.

DS made himself bolognese and sent me a picture! 😍 One for tonight and 3 for the freezer.

@MillicentMartha - love the photos. It’s great that he’ll have some healthy meals in the freezer.

@TerfTerfTerf he’s in John Snow. He is pleased with where he is and gets on with his flat mates so far. Hopefully he’ll be able to get involved in some activities and attend the very little face to face teaching that he is scheduled to have in a week’s time when out of isolation (fingers crossed).

He is enjoying the online work though which is good. I think he definitely is glad to have started his university studies and be living away from home despite everything.

I’ve posted a parcel of biscuits and sweets to him too. I suppose it makes me feel that I’m doing something to make it a bit better as there’s not much else I can do.

DS in Bristol also got free pizza from Papa John's. Gave them all a nice lift and brought them together in the kitchen. What a nice thing to do.

@MillicentMartha - that Bolognese looks very good. Really impressed with your DS batch cooking, you obviously trained him well.

Yeah, I was impressed with Papa John, told DS that they should shout it out on social media - if the company thinks it's successful in creating positive profile for them others may follow suit. It was clearly a really big freebie!

On we go...

Did they get the free Dominos pizza as well? DS did back in September and I can remember DS1 getting some as well. I think that’s standard Freshers deal though, rather than for coronavirus.

For the batch cooking, I think he’s realised 500g of mince is cheaper than 250g. I’d suggested making enough for 2 meals and having the rest the next day. And also doing ‘proper’ cooking at the weekends and saving the nuggets and oven chips for week days!

So DD out of isolation at Lancaster to find that all sports clubs and socs are cancelled due to Tier 3. I'm really struggling to see how she is benefitting from uni right now, however lovely (and they are!) her seven flat mates are. ASD conflicts with ADHD at the best of times so trying not to envisiage a scenario where she just lies on her bed all day and fails to prioritise on line learning!

DD also has ASD at Lancaster and possibly undiagnosed inattentive ADHD, certainly needs physical activity to keep him sane and focussed. Also just come out of isolation. I notice he is talking a lot about bicycling, doesn't have one at Lan yet. Also of day trips, even solo. I've sent him maps and suggested nearby places to go by bus, I consider this still an essential or even educational journey. There is also a walking route into Lancadter, if she is anything like my two he will only walk for a specific goal, like a social one (meet housemates in an eatery for example) or to prove an intellectual point. He hates wandering aimlessly a la Wordsworth!! So far not joined any team games but loves to get out. Seems fine at mo, and online learning, well it was something to do when he was thoroughly bored in isolation, and he found his concentration skills honed by necessity.
So maybe all is going better than you might think? Still lovely weather, and ds has made a Wii pact with flatmates trying out some old games etc.

DD struggle with fitted sheets continue, Amazon deliveries too difficult to collect, so I am prodding him to go back and search tk maxx in lancaster, that will get him out I hope.

DD struggle I mean!

DS DS DS keeps changing to DD!!!!

Have you got a daughter or a son, Nettleskeins? I can’t quite work it out?

Ha ha! In this instance a son... But I do have a daughter elsewhere, it is autocorrect that is to blame

Ds test came back positive. He's feeling much better now and almost relieved it was positive rather than freshers flu

That’s a good result @specialted - so when did he first notice the symptoms - because it’s 10 days isolation from then.

Well whole house is isolating for another 8 days as that is 14 days from when first person had symptoms , which will also be 11 days from when ds had test so they will all come out at same time? I think??? All a bit complicated !

Yeah the sports center turned into a testing center from what I've heard. A lot of people use the road round campus as a jogging circuit. DD plans to do that, or go round the woodland walk. when Lock-down happened in April we ended up using a website called footpath map, and found so many walkways in our village we didn't even know about. I believe the canal path in Lancaster runs south and ends up parallel to the campus, and a reservoir nearby. Asked DD yesterday how shes doing in isolation. Shes joined astronomy society and disney soc. I think disneysoc shes hoping they put a few movies online or something. In the townhouse shes in, 8 people out of 12 now do not have any taste and the house is positive.Although DD did not have the major symptoms, she had sniffles for a week quite heady, and croaky voice. Totally fine now. She has 7 days left of isolation. They did indoor mini golf, cha cha slide, and turned each room into a themed bar. DD was the 'chill vibe room' as all her fairy lights were blue. The made biscoff fairy cakes today, and watching a movie.

@specialted glad he is feeling ok - and yes they should all emerge at the same time. DD was so happy just to be outside this morning she cried!

@specialted awww at least he knows now. Glad hes feeling much better :) Back to Monday again tomorrow, so everyone isolating will be busy again back to online lecturers and seminars etc.

@BCBG oh my thats touched me. 2 weeks inside is hard going.

Specialted, ds was given an exact time when his isolation ended, when the test result message came. Ds is v lawabiding so it was good they spelled it out.
Sammy, townhouse sounds an ideal place to self isolate, stairs to run up and down at least and cheerful flatmates.
Millicent and Terf, I am envying the exercise fresh air that man and dur so sensibly included to those self isolating.

DD has tested positive, not a huge surprise. She's already been isolating for a week and symptoms started for her on Tuesday so 5 days to go. She's feeling a bit rough but started some new migraine medication on Friday which probably isn't helping.
Thankfully they had an Asda delivery yesterday!