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

@BCBG

DD has mentioned theres more security and police on certain nights. Weekends and Wednesdays seem to be more prevalent.

Thanks all. @MillicentMartha I didn't read it as criticism dw, just a different perspective. I don't think anyone would expect to change the uni approach - just that a a clear explanation of current policy would help some students, including DD. She finds the idea that people can enter her flat without knocking (as has happened to her friend this week) very unsettling. Being DD she has gone through the accommodation contract with a toothcomb and is ready to challenge, but I'd rather she didn't get herself into a position where she lets rip as it probably won't end well

I really don’t like the idea of security entering flats without knocking. That seems very draconian!

@Nettleskeins

thetab.com/uk/lancaster/2016/05/26/life-campus-cop-lancaster-7002

An interesting article from more innocent times

lol very interesting :) When DD had kareoke night and another party night, the security will scope out the place by looking through the windows of the townhouse. Because it was just them, they didnt bother challenging it. Probably because they could see the place was packed to the rafters. They have had a knock on the door once and thats because they was playing loud music after the curfew.

corrected they could see it wasnt pack to the rafters.

DD (Edinburgh) has also mentioned increased security checks in the past couple of weeks. This weekend she worked two late shifts returning to halls around 1am. Both times security have been on her case (they did knock though). First time she was a bit scared (not a timid girl). Second time not so much. She's says she's going to flash the letter her employer provides to the CCTV camera each time she returns in future.

Hi All,

@thatsnotmine - my DS has been back in County at Lancaster since second week of January. His flat has 11 of 13 back. Flat next door has just one - his flat asked this individual to bubble with them so they didn't get lonely, so they have 12 there most evenings, as the next door person comes over to eat supper and hang out. DS says quite a few are back - he reckons maybe as many as half of the undergrad numbers from last term but that sounds a bit exaggerated to me.

The window of his room faces into the quad with the oak tree....and the kitchen/living room big windows look out onto other areas of uni including that road that runs around inside the campus so he gets a fairly good opportunity to see how many people are around.

@BCBG Re police - DS did say there was a heightened presence of both police and site security. And that only students who were going to great lengths to break the rules were being approached or visited in their residences.

He's a bit disappointed they haven't had more snow so far but maybe this week they'll get a good snow storm. We even have a little bit here in central London, almost unheard of.

Hope, hope, hope they get face to face classes back on track after Easter.

Hugs to all - WW

Thats nice they buddied up with the flat of one @wellwoman :)

@sammyjoanne - yes, they have formed a really lovely group in his flat. They really look out for each other and are developing a nice sense of familial responsibility. I thought it was so nice that they brought the next door person in to bubble with them on their own initiative.

@Thatsnotmine - did your DS go back to the campus? Hope all is going ok.

Had a (no) snow update just now. DS is rather disappointed there isn't a proper fall there.

Good to hear everyone thinking about Easter and the break. I hope by the some of our restrictions have been lifted and we can do a little more. It'll be amazing just to be able to meet a couple of friends properly and maybe have an outdoor drink or some food. And I really want to see my brother and his family - haven't been with them since late last summer.

Onwards and upwards.

@WellWoman we decided with the bad weather due we would wait till this Sunday to go through. I'm glad as we woke up to snow today and the travel news advised there was abandoned wagons over night on the route we take. They close the snow gates when there is bad weather and these were closed at 4pm today.

Oh, thank goodness you didn't try to drive it. Hope you all keep cosy and warm until conditions are safer @Thatsnotmine.

@WellWoman it is nice having him home. He's no bother, he's also wants to help with the cooking I think he wants to get a few signature makes perfected to impress his girlfriend

@Thatsnotmine - he sounds lovely! DS2 is getting quite competitive in delivering "wow" meals back at home too...he's doing lomo saltado tonight (Peruvian dish he first had on a family trip there with all of us) which is his slam dunk for an impressive meal. It's basically a fancy stir fry with steak and some great flavours - your son might like to give it a go - there are some good videos on youtube demonstrating it.

@WellWoman that dish sounds lovely what time do you want us round for tea?

lomo saltado does sound lovely. Dd is cooking all the evening meals whilst she is home (I'm enjoying being a Guineapig), so I've added it to ideas for her to try. We have Pad Thai tonight.

@frazzled6 - I did a pad thai last night! Followed a more authentic recipe than I usually use and was really pleased with it. Food is our big distraction here at the moment....unfortunately I'm feeling the impact on my waistline, but we've been enjoying cooking with more attention and precision and trying to stretch ourselves a bit. DS2 (16) is getting a good few dishes under his belt, some simple ones and some really quite complicated. (He still adores a sneaky Pot Noodle though).

Im on the old diet.... sort of lol. There's still moments where Ill have a cheeky takeaway, but need to do it because christmas I was pretty bad.
It was all that netflix bingewatching and snacking in the evenings lol. When the lighter nights come ill get back to walking every night :)

St Andrews have announced that the rest of the year will now be on line and students are not allowed back unless they are on the very small list of courses for which some F2F is necessary (mostly medicine).

Most of their UK students have now been home since Christmas and will be grateful if they are allowed to go back to their accommodation even if it is just to collect their stuff. English universities seem to have been more relaxed and I think there are a few Edinburgh students on here who have returned.

It’s such a shame for them, @Monkey2001. DS hasn’t had a F2F anything ever but at least he’s using his accommodation and seems happy enough living with his flatmates.

Its not been an ideal first year but decisions made in Scotland may be very different to students in England given the difference in start and end dates of terms.. I fully expect dd to be back at university at the end of April. We are 10 weeks away from start of term.

@MillicentMartha I think the problem St Andrews has is that it is so tucked away that all the covid there has been (only around 115 cases among students since the beginning of September and a few staff) has been linked to the university. It is like a NZ bubble all by itself so they are very conscious of contaminating it!

@Frazzled6, that’s of little comfort to parents of students at St Andrews, though.

Agree but in fairness @MillicentMartha the Scottish students returned earlier. My dd has been at uni just 2 months last term because she followed government advice.

True, it hasn’t been a great year all round. I also feel for the second years who lost a fair chunk of their first year as well. Cross fingers things will get better, and if not after Easter, at least after the summer. Sorry about NC failure!

Its just sad for all educational settings, no graduations, working online, no A level exams, no GCSEs, no looking around universities etc. Some students have lost family or family have lost their jobs. I'm hoping that those students that can get back in the summer are allowed, ideally all but at least those that need to do lab work for accreditation. Online learning is not ideal but really difficult in terms of practical work... Dd was advised to go and buy a kidney to dissect today and film the dissection at home.