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

@Cleebope2 that is so sad for all concerned. A sharp reminder of just how vulnerable our young adults can be, however they present themselves. Hope your dd is not too distressed and the flatmates are being well supported by the uni.

Oh how awful, feel for that poor family receiving such devastating news before Xmas and your poor daughter. This year has been so tough on these students!

My DS2 came home yesterday and is already bored. He has lectures and revision but will contact his summer jobs to see if any hours available.

He has exams about 10th jan but they will be online and not expected back til around 20th jan or so.

Ds so happy to have long hot bath after so many showers and has enjoyed taking our dog for a walk with his sister (not his usual idea of fun) DH suggested he cook his own lunch as per uni life and he was strangely reluctant "thought I ws going to get some home cooked food!" Fave food for supper and reheated fishpie (yest homecooked) for lunch then...DD still roaming around next week in and out of college so will have to rethink family meals and make them less ad-hoc and more substantial!

Yes, meals may be an issue in this house as well. DD is coeliac which we're used to now but she won't eat fish or mushrooms. DS has been pescatarian since September so trying to cater for both over the holidays may be challenging without running a canteen! Fortunately me and DH are very unfussy eaters!

Gosh, so no pasta, no fish pie, no fishcakes, prawn stirfries, pastry or floury cakes biscuits crumbles.
Leaving risotto potato indian curries, pilau, baked potatoes with side accompaniments.

Just watching Jamie Oliver keralan fish curry recipe on.tv, wonder if it would work on meat or lentils.

There are TOoo many recipes in the world it feels like we always end up eating the same food night after night though and get through a 1000'cans of tinned tomatoes

Dgd coming home today by train as I broke my knee so can't pick her up. I large suitcase and a rucksack. She has to bring printer home as there isn't another one at home. She is indunated with summatives to get in before the 15 th December but says she's nearly done. The two out of 4 she had done she achieved 2 firsts so am pleased with that! That 25% of coursework completed for 2 modules out of 4. Lol! So much work but then she has exams on 8th 11th and 15th January but wanted to go back on the 4 th but can't till 9 th cos of government staggering. Do much revision to do to for them. But all in all coping well and loving London. Can't wait to see her hence can't sleep! Safe journeys to all and Merry Xmas!

I'm really enjoying hearing about everyone's dc coming home! Ds had a curry then we did a family zoom with grandparents then he promptly went to bed at 9pm! Think he was exhausted from a final house party the night before. He's set his alarm for on line lectures today but no movement upstairs yet. He said he was missing his flat mates already. Can't help but think he'll be bored at home but he does have an awful lot of work to do. Only concern is he hasn't been allocated a personal tutor, Told him to chases this up ASAP as he should have been given one about two weeks into term.

@Cleebope2 that is awful. It is such a waste and the impact on family to friends and flatmates is unimaginable.

@Cleebope2 what utterly horrific news, completely shattering for the poor student's family & the wider impact is just horrendous. I'm so sorry for your poor dd, they are so young to experience such tragedy.

My dd was home late on Friday night, she had a fairly isolating first term (particularly after lockdown 2) which was difficult but has moved into a new flat, is loving her course & has a couple of clubs she's enjoying (when they are running!). Strange & difficult times, I very much hope next year will bring more happiness.

I'm so sorry to hear that, CleeBope. Devastating for his family, and so difficult for your DD to be there alone after that.

DS is packing this morning and coming home this afternoon. I can't wait! I have a flu jab this afternoon after work, then pretty much straight off to the station to pick him up.

Great to hear everyones news :) Sorry to hear of your knee Sostenueto . Get better soon.

DD saw her grandad. he lives on his own and vulnerable and he is our bubble so do his shopping from time to time when hes in pain. So it was lovely surprise for him :) She also watched the first episode of season 2 of his dark materials, and we kept celebrity cyclone on im a celebrity as she loves that part of the series.
She had a problem sheet that needed doing for 11m deadline, so she was up till the small hours at the kitchen table. Shes now in the front room doing her labs 2pm-5pm.
DD also been in contact with her friends, is planning to meet up with her physics friend (who also studies at lancaster) in nottingham city. Also planning for a walk with her friend from cambridge and others that have gone on to do apprenticeships and that from 6th form. Exams as well in January, and DD2 has mocks this week and next, so both are busy with work. DD more than happy us cooking too lol. And she got her latest Lab report back, 58%, shes very happy with that considering the average is around 50% for a first year on labs.

Dd is not thrilled at a possible 6 week delay in returning to campus next term. Apparently Scottish Unis will invite students back as and when. Seems particularly unfair in those who already left when term finished last week.

Yes it does Lizs. Also very unfair on those who have already bought train and plane tickets for January.

I'm now wondering how much stuff DD is going to need to bring home, if she's potentially going to be home for eleven weeks rather than the five we were anticipating. And her uni has a mid semester break nine weeks into term, so how does that work? She might go back for three weeks and then have to leave again!

Ds2'working.all day.since he came home, there seems.to be no let up. Exam.question x.2'to hand in. Something to do with Govt.by Consent..meal.time.arguments ensue, dh a Remainer and insists he has not.consented, but ds2'says he has, merely by using local facilities which are Council organised...
A relief to turn to the relatively."cool"topic of.Justinian (about.which we know nothing)

Alrhough then there wss the ishoo.of.BMuseum stealing roman artefacts. I mean, really??

Roman.Britain artefacts.

Wonder when Edinburgh will tell students when they can return. DD works part-time and doesn't want to loose the job so I suspect she will have to stay put if allocated a late return date. One of her international flatmates can't go home so she won't be on her own. She was planning coming home after her last exam on the 19th but popping back for work shifts (we live less than 35 miles away) and to keep her flatmate company.

They should be telling them today in Edinburgh - you can see the letters sent to students on their website and they were sent a holding letter yesterday. My dd has been doing (well) paid work in the testing centre so I'm hoping she might get back early and help with tests then if they do them.

Thanks for that. I see the holding letter from Edinburgh. I hope they allow those with jobs priority return. DD has had

Hello everyone, just catching up. What a mixture of emotions here, so much joy and the stark constrast of that terribly sad news from Bournemouth. I am thanking all the gods that DS is well and happy, it could so easily be different.

He got the train back from Lancaster on Monday. I made carrot cake to welcome him and he has been bouncing around this week full of stories about his new world. DS 2 (16) was very excited to have him back and it's been great to see them re-connect.

Lots of nipping out to catch up on coffee walks with his old London friends who are also trickling home, and he's keeping up with lectures. One of his great friends from National Youth Choir who lives in Bath is studying in London and is in halls just around the corner from our family home. He is still in London for a while and so DS has been able to catch up with him too. I've press ganged them both to come of community choir with me on Friday where we are having distanced carolling.

The best thing is he has been unstintingly cheery. It's been a real boost for the whole house, like a big shower of good will. Am very very happy!

@nettleskeins, DS has shown me the app on his phone that has a link in the first page for things that need fixing, your DS can use this for his blind. Mine used his for a broken oven and a broken freezer in their kitchen. Both were replaced within 24 hours. Maybe your DS can get it done will be is away? My DS's bedroom also looks onto the oak, they must be neighbours. Mine has ADHD and hypermobility and has had good support from the disability team, I hope your DS can get in the system next term, they seem very good once they engage.

I wish you all lots of happiness with your returnees and a peaceful and joyful Christmas. Xxxxx

I spoke to DS last night and he's finally coming home on Saturday. Can't wait now. Hope everyone has a good journey there and back when making the trips to collect their ds/dd

WellWoman, that is lovely to hear how much your son has been enjoying Lancaster.
I'm having problems persuading Ds to discuss the blind or the disability service...he keeps saying he is busy with "work" and cannot think about those things "now".
He and DH went to the first proper football match in the new Brentford Stadium. DH said it was like being in a CGI experience, though play "terrible" (nil nil draw)
Lancaster has obv been freezing, as for first time Ds volunteered for thermals for the London match, normally we have to press extra layers on him as he takes "no thought for the morrow" and sits there blue with cold.
We have also had a few musings about how restrictions have affected his uni exp, he said he thought "things" might have been better in a city uni with more to see and visit. The travel and non household mixing has really hit him hard in terms of exploring the area his fellow students were not v keen to pay a fiver for a bus trip to Morecambe bay for example. There has been for him at any rate a "muffling" of the curiosity you might naturally feel in a new territory and the chance to go out and "do stuff".
But perhaps this would have been the case even in the "bright light" unis.

Great to have DD home from Lancaster and agree with others that it's like a breath of fresh air in the house. She's had such a good term in spite of everything and is so much more mature somehow. Wishing you all a very merry Christmas x

Dd has been told teaching for her main subject will be online until Feb 5th and advised not to return until 8th, not sure about optional modules yet.

I think ds had an email saying his face to face lectures start 25 jan but they should have two negative Covid tests three days apart in the week before that at uni so presume he'll go back week of 18 jan. That's only 10 days later than expected so not too bad

Aww thats nice to hear from you all and enjoying DC being back. DD doesnt have any face to face lectures, and labs now are not until 3rd term. It wont stop her moving back to uni though as she got exams on the 13th of Jan, so she wants to be back by the 9th and settled in.