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

Not a RL garden flat ifyswim
He is depressed by lack of pub reopening it has to be said, and returning to Tier 2 rather earlier than he might have invisaged..loads of essay writing in progress he said and to be continued after.his return on 5th by train

Not.depressed at returning to Tier 2 of course!

We're in tier 3 so no change for DD!

Tier three for us too!

Tier 3 to Tier 3 (lancs to nottm) Nottingham was doing so well too. Dont think theres anything stopping us going to a tier 3 seafront for a nice walk and having a takeaway chippy tea during the festive season maybe lol

All this christmas dinners they are doing makes me want one. I just got to make do with a quiche and salad for my tea lol.

On our walk yesterday (to the Factory Shop to look for frames for some prints I have bought as Christmas presents, with some 'essential' shampoo and food - well, a packet of shortbread fingers and a jar of mulberry jam - chucked into the basket to justify the visit), DH and I noticed that our friendly local bagel bar was advertising 'Christmas bagels'. Complete with pigs in blankets, which I find rather odd, but hey ho, this isn't Brick Lane. So that's lunch sorted.

Sounds nice MarchingFrogs . Wouldnt mind trying thay myself :)

This is DD's flat effort for cooking Christmas dinner. they did a pretty good job :)

Haha @sammyjoanne, yes, I'm sure it would have been nice, but when DH sauntered back this morning (early, but within their advertised opening hours), the place was closed. It may be a question of just 'pouncing' should one of us happen to find them open again when we are passing and just rearrange the day's existing meal plan...

Your DD's Christmas dinner looks very nice. DS2's school running a very differently organised timetable this year, he said Yes Please (for the first time since year 10, I think) to being signed up for their Christmas lunch, before either of us worked out that he isn't in at all on that Monday. I am in his school in a Parents Association rôle every Monday lunchtime, though, so he can come in with me and eat while I sit in my converted stationery cupboard and wait for a deluge of customers for secondhand uniform.

Biology teacher for past couple of weeks for DD2 for her mocks. We have 2 more topics to cover thank goodness.

DD had thought she had given her details to the uni so they could pay her scholarship. Turns out she has not filled in the correct part and is on a different system. No email reminders from the uni of course, or emails instructions on how to do this. Shes filled them in now and getting into contact with the uni finance dept tomorrow to let them know.

Hopefully just needs a bit of admin sorted, SammyJoanne.

DS had his first test today. After the uni telling them results would be up to 48 hours it was the quick tests, negative result in half an hour. He’s already booked his train home for next Monday, so will be a couple of days after his second test! Oh well, can’t be helped. At least he’s negative.

@MillicentMartha thats good to know :) DD had confirmation to say they will pay her, but next schlorship payment run is February. Which means she gets the november and february payment in one. Luckily we had some money put to one side and some from her grandad, should she ever need it (and shes not dipped into yet, but might now for her deposit on house) but little bit annoyed they wont back dated the November one for now. Got some pics of her flat. She had confirmation its theirs and they doing all the paperwork side of things now before they go home.
Next Monday he comes home Millicent, that will be really nice , exciting times :)

@Nettleskeins thats will be nice for your son, and returning tier 2 as well. I would imagine he will be taking full advantage of a nice pub meal and a drink with the family

Flat looks lovely!

Thanks they chose a great place :)

Yes agree the flat looks lovely. Ds has a house sorted for next year. I don't have the details yet hopefully when he's home for Christmas I might get a bit more information. I do know there's 7 of them from the townhouse who are moving in together 4 lads and 3 girls.

@Thatsnotmine Thats great news :) And not long now before they come home, exciting times :)
Good news that one of the vaccines has been approved by the MHRA. Hopefully things will get back to normal within the next coming months :)

Just found this thread and reading with interest, especially all the posts from parents with kids at Lancaster. I live there and work at the uni, and do a lot of student support work as part of my role.

Those of you complaining that you don't hear about what's going on, can you access this webpage? portal.lancaster.ac.uk/intranet/cms/coronavirus/student-faq

If you scroll down to 'Student News and Messages' there's an archive of every uni-wide email that's been sent.

Also interesting to hear about their experiences on campus this year - I have barely set foot on it since March!

OooglyBoogly welcome. I have been able to access that page and found it helpful. I hope you'd agree that the vast majority of our Lancaster children seem to have had a positive experience on the whole. As a parent I've had no grounds for complaint and appreciate the difficulties staff have also faced. Thank you for all you do.

@OooglyBoogly Welcome :) I agree with choir mum, daughters not run into issues either.

I have to say, having the Lancaster freshers groups on facebook in the easter really has been so beneficial to my daughter this year. Since she joined, those groups developed into subject group chats on whats app, accommodation group chats, college group chats. Every week her physics group chat took it in turns to host a quiz on zoom, and even did an escape room on line. And all of this stemmed from the freshers facebook page on Lancaster uni :)
She is fortunate to love her housemates, and gets the added bonus of meeting her physics group chat friends for walks outside (individually of course).

@choirmumoftwo and @sammyjoanne thank you, so glad to hear about the positive experiences your kids have had! I don't have any experience of other unis (did my degree at Lancaster a long time ago and never really left!) but I think we do a really good job of student support here. It's not just a few specialist staff in the centre, it's embedded into everyone's jobs (academic, professional services, security, etc).

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have, and I'll answer anything I can without being too outing. :-)

Just saw on WIWIKAU a post about gradual/staggering of returns in the new year to university.
Government guidance for now.

Inevitable I guess, not sure what devolved countries will do.

Looking like the kids will be home a long time.
Possibly till end January. DD will be bored shitless in our rural home.

I'll probably lose the plot!!

www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/12/02/universities-told-to-stagger-return-of-students-over-five-weeks-post-christmas/

@thesunwillout Hi looking at it its possible. Thats not good. theres going to be a lot of complaints asking for accommodation refunds, having to pay for rooms they cannot have access to. To be honest, its not going to really work if its 5 weeks.
Say if it takes place and the 5 week move goes ahead. Half the flat moves in from week 1 to week 3. Then someone from week 4 comes in whos got covid. Thus passing it on to students that arrived in weeks 1-3. So all of that staggered moving is just a waste of time, it doesnt work.When my daughters flat had a positive case, most of the flat came down with it.

I think whats best and safe way for everyone is to have the move like normal, stagger the times of the day so parents dont clash. Then after that the students self isolate for around 7 days, just incase symptoms start to show. Its January, its exams, and students will be revising anyway, so might as well get them there so they can study.

That’s a lovely flat @sammyjoanne

Urgh ds will not be impressed if he has to stay at home any longer than necessary. All seems a bit disruptive and even less opportunities to meet others through outdoor sports etc that can now take place. And so many students have actually had Covid already....