Oxford and Cambridge current students - discussion thread for anyone with daughters, sons etc there for Michaelmas 2020 (and not just freshers!)

[DadDadDad]

A continuation thread for those attending Oxbridge for the first time this term, but it makes sense to throw it open to anyone with a DC there (or other family member, or maybe you're a student yourself or teach / work there - all welcome!) Share your thoughts and questions on college life, courses, etc. A certain virus has made it a bit different for everyone this year...

I have a DS who is a fresher at a small Oxford college in a small subject. We will be taking him there in just over a week.

Happy birthday little kitten! Hope you can enjoy belated celebrations!!

Thank you for sponge cake company tip! Just looked. Need to send a lockdown 21 and 18. And will use them.

So unis to remain open??!!! My DD is considering private, rented accom next year to avoid all this isolation.
Best wishes to all.

I don't want DD to come home from a tier 2 to a tier 1. We need to support DFiL who is very frail and should be shielded.

Sorry for raising fears.
Phew!

Hi guys. First world problems I know, but do you think rowing will continue? It doesn’t really lend itself to Zoom...

Really hard to know. It'd be very hard for the rowers if it's not.

Yes BadBadKitten it would. I have an awful feeling though that training will stop. Trying to focus on the positives - our DC are so lucky to be studying where they are, and restrictions won’t last forever.

I think rowing is out. The government guidance says professional sport only.

www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

Sorry, sport rules not it that guidance but Sky News is reporting 'Professional sports allowed but amateur sports are not.'

Thanks sandybayley - not good news but not unexpected. And lockdown lasts til when, December 2nd? Term finishes on the 4th! Ah well, let’s hope for more freedom next term.

Well it's good education is open! So hard for young folk.some normality is important. Agree busy workload will be a plus at Oxbridge right now.

I'm a teacher and feel I've got to be really careful going back. Got to keep distance while infection rate goes down.

Still considering the options for golf and tennis apparently. Probably shooting as well!

At least running with a buddy will be allowed.

Another singer here. Thankfully we have a long-standing tradition of carols round the piano at Christmas. Usually with friends or wider family, but this year will be just us.

Golf is definitely off @Hoghgyni - golf courses and ranges specified as needing to close.

•	indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, leisure centres and gyms, sports facilities including swimming pools, golf courses and driving ranges, dance studios, stables and riding centres, soft play facilities, climbing walls and climbing centres, archery and shooting ranges, water and theme parks,

There’s not a lot of sport left. Fencing? Polo?

@Flyonawalk

There’s not a lot of sport left. Fencing? Polo?

Computer gaming ... I believe they have a Varsity match.

Errol, I never thought if that. Perfect for these restricted times.

Morning.... I am soo excited. Late yesterday we decided to take a drive down to Oxf to have Sunday lunch with the small fluffy one.

Sorry to hear of Covid cases in your broods - I hope they all make a speedy and full recovery. One of DD's friends caught it, but so far no sign of DD having it.

Thanks for the tip about the cake shop.....

Enjoy, Unescorted. From my home overseas I confess to feeling pretty jealous of everyone who is on the same landmass as their DC at the moment!

wrt closing unis, the HE academic unions have requested that all teaching go online rather than that unis close down. That seems sensible and also not far off what is already happening. DS2 is fully online and DS1 is anyway due to isolation. They are now used to online teaching and I'm sure they'd all prefer that to being stuck at home again for several months.

I think that's a reasonable stance Dolphinpose dd is getting a huge amount out of being at uni and she is much happier there than at home.

It's perfectly sensible and should be achievable for a lot of teaching but I don't see how all the practical aspects of some STEM and clinical subjects could be adequately delivered online.

No mention of tennis yet...
Decided on a last minute trip to Cambridge yesterday to see DS who is reassuringly happy and settled. Now on route to Oxford to deliver a few 21st birthday lockdown treats to DD.

The latest from the LTA:
UPDATE: The Prime Minister has announced new national restrictions for England to be implemented from Thursday 5 November - Wednesday 2 December. The measures will have implications for recreational tennis activity - we will update our coronavirus guidance on this page once we have received confirmed details from Government.

The new restrictions mean that indoor tennis activity will need to cease during this period.Given tennis is a socially distanced sport with the net acting as a natural barrier, we are making the case to Government for outdoor tennis activity for two individuals from different households to continue, in line with Government restrictions on exercise that have been announced, and are awaiting clarification.

There is an exemption in place for professional sport to allow elite training and competition to continue in line with established strict protocols,

DD4 has messaged to say that Colin Firth is filming today at the RadCam. I'm really regretting not having planned a visit.