University 2020 :10: Empty nests warm vests and covid tests: uni parents 2020

[sammyjoanne]

Carry on from MilicentMartha's University 9 thead
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/a4025020-University-2020-9-And-theyre-off-making-hay-while-the-sun-shines?msgid=101075411#101075411

@sammyjoanne he's in County. I will need to text him later to see how they got on. I'm sure they will be making their way into Lancaster before Thursdays lockdown too. From what he has said they all get on and the last two weeks hasn't been too bad. They have been respectful of each others space etc

@Thatsnotmine Thats good to know they have been careful. In DD's flat it was too late and pretty much all the flat came down with it. for DD it was generally unwell, pressure on her sinuses, sore throat and croaky voice, but others was just a lack of the senses. DD highly recommends the Cornerhouse and the Study Room for places to eat :)

@MillicentMartha thats good he gets on with flat and DD would totally get the further maths too. for physics a lot of further maths is invoices so shes glad she stuck at it at A'level as she was going to drop it at year 12.
@Ironoaks shame his flat are not so social, but that's good he's took the initiative to get involved and meet other freshers.
@choirmumoftwo that will be nice to see DD again, :)
@ShaunaTheSheep doubt i will be able to fit our hairdressers in on time, although I will phone her to pre book in before Christmas

DD had a house meeting yesterday. They are holding their Christmas November 29th. Not sure why that date, but the cooks of the house are going to do chicken.

Well DS told me last night he wants to come home for lockdown (from Loughborough) I thought he might. He isn't unhappy I don't think (communication not his strong point!) and is doing football and goes to the gym but I don't really think he's found his 'tribe' there so I'm not sure how much fun socialising he is managing to do. He has joined the cocktail society and the DJ'ing society but they are both online so no chance to actually meet anyone from them. Is not finding his course particularly interesting either and finding it hard to get any motivation to do the online stuff. Has not made friends with anyone from his course. He is a very social person so it's hard (as it is for them all)

I suspect he's also missing his GF but he has been warned she won't be allowed to stay in our house during lockdown which won't please him. I know in his mind it should be allowed because she had it end of August and won't be able to give it to us. Also we live in the middle of nowhere so 'nobody would know' but I can't set a precedent for his 3 younger sisters who are also not allowed anyone to stay.

DS came home last Weds and went back yesterday. He was very unhappy with life when he came home and I was desperately worried about him - he was so down and despondent.

However hes perked up a bit, realised even in lockdown home is more boring than uni and at least he has some company at uni. So hes gone back slighter happier and knows he can come home anytime but has now got 4 essays and a group assignment to do for end of term, so that will occupy him now.

..note to self do not watch a program on avalanches whilst being anxious about everything - as had little sleep last night due to strange avalanche nightmares!

Just to remind people that if DC want to come home for lockdown they should do it before Wednesday midnight because there is no travel allowed during term time in lockdown.

The girlfriend could move in for a month? That is allowed, all house moves are allowed as long as you aren't going backwards and forwards. I know various parents who solved the problem by adding someone to their household.
None of mine have gfs or bfs atm, making their desire to socialise even more intense, tbh. I think installing a mate, even a platonic mate, might be better than being at home with limited outside contact.

DD who lives at home is really despairing about next few weeks and nil socialising. Luckily there is still college twice a week, but being at home means a lot of careful planning to meet her friends "safely" in twos. Or ones I should say

Sost you can travel to escape injury or harm, to move house, for a medical appt, to care for a vulnerable person.

No I don't think so nettleskins as technically girlfriend moving in is not a house move is it? Especially for a short period. In lockdown there is no staying overnight at all anywhere by other people outside yr household.

Yes nettleskins for all those reasons but not to let a girlfriend stay.

the university guidance says not to travel back and forwards - my read of that is that travel 1 way would be allowed.

Think lockdown travelling is limited to essential travel only what nettleskins said plus for work and education. And think that u are still only allowed to travel home whether be one way or two from uni at end of term. But no doubt some will always adapt rules ( not blaming anyone) to suit.💐

Girlfriend moving in for the foreseeable and then changing household in a month time...well why is that illegal? It is a house move, what happens in a month's time is neither here nor there. People do move house and they do take up lodgings temporarily in a new house for various reasons.

Last year students were moving back to their parents, then moving back to uni in the summer to take up new leases, how is that any different?? It is only in lockdown itself that the rules on travel kick in, before that and after Dec 2 anyone has the same entitlement to moving abode as they had in July and since then. And probably now..estate agents still operating??? Not sure on that detail.

For all anyone cares girlfriend could be a lodger, a relative, a live in nanny. As long as she becomes part of that household for the month, she is allowed to be there. She just cannot go to and from another household.

Fwiw, none of my kids have been home since beginning of term and not have I visited, except once to drop off groceries to fresher ds2. Ds1 was in a v fragile state with a UTI /needing groceries /disorganised and had every reason to be visited, but I still didnt. Ds2 is fine.

As far as I can make out the rules on households aren't going to change, and everyone with a bf gf they don't and cannot live with, is going to either have to accept Draconian restrictions or use the rules to fit their personal circs.

Nuff said.

The architect of the latest lockdown Niall Fergusson, himself was not able to abide by the romantic rules at the time. Which is no doubt why they changed them to single households being able to meet up.
Doesn't work for our 18 year olds though

NEIL Ferguson

There is wonderful news from Imperial about T CELLS!!! New way of testing for immunity/number of people who have already had it! First good news for ages.

@Nettleskeins

There is wonderful news from Imperial about T CELLS!!! New way of testing for immunity/number of people who have already had it! First good news for ages.

Can you link please?

I think a g/f is called an established relationship www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae
it says ''You do not need to socially distance from anyone in your household, meaning the people you live with. You also do not need to socially distance from anyone in your legally-permitted support bubble if you are in one, or someone you’re in an established relationship with. If in the early stages of a relationship, you should take particular care to follow the guidance on social distancing''

Not sure how this will change on lockdown but thats the current status

@Sostenueto

Just to remind people that if DC want to come home for lockdown they should do it before Wednesday midnight because there is no travel allowed during term time in lockdown.

Ive heard this on the news as well. Parliament has said they can definitely come home from christmas, but for the next 4 weeks they must either be at home, or at uni and cannot travel to either/or in those 4 weeks.

It's in Telegraph and Guardian, and it is actually not Imperial but Birmingham Uni, but Bangham from Imperial refers to it as an "excellent study"( quoted in admittedly the Torygraph.) Cannot do links cos both behind paywall/register wall.

Sammy, that is a really helpful clarification of the relationship issue. Don't think it will prob change in lockdown except to ask to reduce travel between partners, but not actually forbidden if "established".

I will collect ds on weds before lockdown starts and he knows he has to stay at home until it ends. Unfortunately his gf can't move in as she's only 17 in year 13.

He will see her though. I've no doubt. Seems ridiculous his 3 sisters are all at school seeing hundreds of other kids and teachers yet he's not 'allowed' to see his gf who had COVID in august.

Probably not legal but I'm not sure how I can stop it

Article on bbc news app - very limited sample though and study yet to be peer reviewed. Hope something definitive comes along soon.