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

Congrats to dd2 shaunthesheep! Dgd coming home on 7 th now also booked train as I broke my knee on Thursday and cannot pick her up.

DD is home this week for a family funeral, and told me yesterday that she is missing her flatmates and wants to go back to uni. Part of me is happy she is enjoying it and making friends and part of me is sad.

@Sostenueto, ouch that sounds painful, hope you are not suffering too much.
I’m pleased he’s had an early offer to calm the nerves and boost confidence. It’s a standard offer but with a one grade reduction with an A in the EPQ, and, I think, a further grade if firmed, both welcome and unexpected.

@JufusMum, sorry for your loss.

ShaunaTheSheep congrats to dd2 :) . Sostenueto ouch painful, hope you get better soon. It good you both have the day planned, DD doesnt know anything yet, she hasnt got an email from the uni with further information.

JufusMum sorry for your loss. Sounds like your DD is enjoying uni life, wanting to be back with her friends.

Our DD we had to break the news to her yesterday her grandads springer spaniel passed away. She did love that dog bless him :)

She has managed to go out for a walk with her physics friend today. Turns out hes only about 20 mins drive away from us, so thats a bonus during the holidays so she has someone to meet up with thats not far away. Her housemates she says live a bit of a distance. Ones in scotland, couple of others Merseyside, one Gloucestershire, and another in Jersey, so nice for a friend to be not so far away. Shes had problems connecting her laptop to eduroam for the wifi at the moment. Shes got resnet through her ethernet cable, but eduroam isnt working since her laptop has done an update. Hopefully she can get it talked through by IT dept. Its not like she can just turn up in person and have them do it for her. They have a tree now, so just got to get the decorations for it.

@JufusMum sorry for your loss

Lancasters sent them a letter today.
thetab.com/uk/lancaster/2020/11/19/lancaster-university-announces-plans-for-students-returning-home-for-christmas-22327 We plan to go on the Saturday, stay for a sultans and then come back home.

Saturday the 5th *

DS wasn't elected for the position he was standing for. He is mildly disappointed as the role is related to issues he has been interested in for some time, but he is a pragmatic sort of person, and I'm sure he'll be fine.

@sammyjoanne I think we will also be collecting DS that weekend. His last lectures are on Wednesday 2nd, and he thinks he is officially allowed to leave anytime from Friday 4th onwards.

@sammyjoanne - what’s a sultans?

Sorry to hear about the election - it’s hard when they work for something and it doesn’t come off - often something better comes along

Sorry about election ironoaks☹️

3 of dgds flatmates gone back home this week ( internationals).

Posted a pic of sultans @HostessTrolley. Its does everything, pizza, kebabs, chicken wraps, burgers,. popular choice with the students, but its also the staff there that are lovely. Tommy and Tyson fury like to eat there too. And there are picnic tables all outside as well :)
@Ironoaks, oh no thats a shame, im sure something else will come along :)
@Sostenueto can understand that leaving early, they want to make sure they are home with their families.

It might be a bit cold for the outside tables @sammyjoanne

I’ve now got daughter coming home around the 10th Dec. She decided against placement when she realised that a positive Covid test around 18/12 would mean no boyfriend until after new year - and apparently despite the neutral tone of the email giving them the choice about placement, in the q&a this week it was pretty clear that the uni advice was to do the online work, enjoy Christmas, and the placement time will be made up later. So she’s got timetabled classes up to the 4th but is planning to stay in London to get the holiday work done so she can come home and chill.

I’ve been reading about the current year 13s who are applying for medicine and feel so bad for them. Presumably because the unis are honouring offers for the previous year group pending exams etc, there seems to be fewer places for this years ‘new’ applicants. The thresholds to get an interview invitation are a lot higher in what was already a competitive field :(

DD has booked a train for the 10th from Cardiff as everything selling out.
To Devon.

Aww not too cold for a cheeky sultans. We know somewhere we can go under for cover, should it rain :)

It has been hard for the year 13's and in Medicine. Lancaster are not offering unconditionals like last year, so thats going to be hard for students this year.
@thesunwillout your DD sounds very organised :) glad shes managed to get a booking.

Was just thinking if DS comes home on sat 5th which we vaguely discussed that's two weeks tomorrow! Am suddenly v excited and planning favourite meals etc. He's asked for a belt for xmas so I'm guessing he's lost weight...

@specialted with us having to do the M1, A50 and M6 we are expecting there to be a lot of traffic that weekend, so were debating on whether to go early, or later on in the evening. Its exciting times; both my DD share a bedroom and since DD1 left, DD2 has taken over DD1 side of the room lol. So we had a clear out yesterday of drawers and that, ready for DD1 to put her books and clothes in.

DD2 got awarded senior student status yesterday (shes in year 11). They get that award for services to the school and that goes towards her application for sixth for for her A'levels in Biology, Psychology and Geography. So she took pictures of her tie she got, and sent those to DD1.

DD1, I asked her about the home front. If it was left up to her she would get a house, but some of the group have been that laid back about it, they are waiting until January and not even looking right now. Shes said she will wait until then, but said if she hasnt got any joy until her exams have finished in January, she and a few others that are more serious are going are just going to and get somewhere regardless. She is also open to private halls like the ones on Luneside and Penny street, Chancellors wharf and private apartment devlopments.

@sammyjoanne well done to your DD2.

DS hasn't received official confirmation from his college about when he is supposed to leave (or maybe he has but hasn't read the emails) but it's likely to be some point during the weekend 4-6 December.

@Ironoaks thanks, and it will be likely it will be in that window period he will be able to come back :)

So we are definitely collecting ds on sun 6th. Apparently the flat want to have their last celebrations on the sat night. Ds has requested a curry for his first meal at home. Apparently sultans can't cater for nut allergies and he's craving something spicy!

@specialted aww thats nice. They are doing their final celebrations on Saturday since one of them (from Jersey) has a plane to catch. Some are leaving after DD, some before. As DH works nights, at weekends its harder to sleep, so he wakes up on a Saturday morning at about 5am, so we will be up with the birds, and should be there between 8 and 9am.
Wow im surprised at sultans. You would think that because of their popularity and the vast amount of students that go, they would do something to cater for nut allegies.

Another good news about the Oxford vaccine. Hopefully they should get us all done by easter/may time. Fingers crossed ''Gritopia'' is on (the theme for the Grizedales extrav next June is angels and devils). DD says if not, hopefully should be on line.

Just had a lovely chat with DS catching up slooowwwly on all his news, and trying to find out his plans for the Christmas break

• and now that we're getting some hints from Boris about what the guidelines might be.

DS has been having a blast really - in Greenwich, at Trinity Laban playing trumpet. He has lots of new friends and a new girlfriend from India. So a few weeks ago he asked can she come and stay too. So most likely they'll both be with us for a long Christmas break from around the 8th to possibly go back to London just before New Year (in case London has better fireworks, and probably student parties) Whereas DD (21, fourth year) says she's staying in her student flat in Swansea - haven't met up now since January which feels so crazy! Ah well, I guess us + student son + his new girlfriend, kind of = 3 households mixing for Christmas Also wondering whether to visit elderly parents. Possibly may be wiser not to, but DS mentions it's a balance because they might die anyway (just being mid eighties) and miss out on all the fun of seeing us (this is kind of DS view from phone call just now!) But with a vaccine on the horizon early in the new year for the most vulnerable age groups part of me is inclined towards caution

• especially with safety so nearly within reach

On the other hand we could try to see them as safely as possible. There will be a lot of tricky decisions for many families this Christmas.

@JugglingFromHereToThere I'm glad your ds has had a good term. And fab that he is bringing gf home for Xmas!