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

Yes, that would have gone down well!

In cities like Bristol and Manchester there is loads of accommodation, so no need to panic. A friend's DS in Bristol sorted his out in September and moved straight in. If you want stress, try St Andrews, the accommodation goes as soon as it is advertised because it is such a small place with limited accommodation. DS planning to stay in halls if he can - usually they have space for all returning students, but who knows this year?

It’s finding some people to share with, though, now. Very hard in covid times. I’m sure he’ll find somewhere but meeting new house sharers won’t be happening so it’ll be pot luck.

@MillicentMartha don't stress. Something will turn up. I remember in my second year we were nearing term and hadn't found somewhere to live. The rest of the gang were ok as they could commute from home. So I applied to stay in a hostel - and one by one my friends joined me there and one even ended up sharing a room with me for a while. Things have a habit of working out
I am sure there are loads in his position especially this year

He’ll be OK. He’s just not the most proactive of people! I’m itching to interfere and bombard him with questions and ideas, but I’m trying to sit on my hands and let him deal with it.

Hope the DC having wobbles bounce back quickly. There definitely needs to be some announcement about universities to give the students hope that the situation will improve.

@MillicentMartha not sure whether there is a WhatsApp group for your ds's subject.. Even if he's not proactive I'm sure there will be others in the same situation who may post. Dds housemates for next year are a real mix, current housemates , one from her course and one old school friend.

Dds workload is still pretty full on she spent 8 hrs doing a lab report over the weekend (no physical lab 😕). She seems to be doing well, ongoing tests running at 1st. She's only done one essay(STEM) which was a high 2:1 and apparently to achieve a 1st in an essay the work needs to be of publishable standard.

Her school friend who she has been meeting up with for walks etc has just returned back to Loughborough but thinks it's a mistake given there is no one else in the flat.

DS also not proactive. And he thought it would be "weird" to post about accommodation on his subject and sport WhatsApp groups .

@mrsbrowngargoyle. As your ds looked on websites like pads for students?

Thanks. I'll mention it.

Little bit of progress after the boris speech in the commons today. DD saying she heard people cheering in Grizedale, music started playing and they all drinking outside on their patios of the townhouses. Youngest happy shes back for her year 11 in two weeks.
I had the covid jab on Sunday (basically im of the rotund variety and thus qualified as clinically vulnerable, and had no idea; I thought id be in the group under 50's. So very shocked when i got a letter). So had the pfiezer jab at the hospital. Very well organised. Some people emotional, and everybody thanking and saying words of kindness to the nurses who was doing the jabs. Only side effect was bit achey arm, and bit tired but doing good.

@sammyjoanne lovely to hear that students were happy with Boris' news! Gives them a glimmer of hope that they may actually have some form of social life the summer term! Glad you also had your vaccine. I've also had mine, dh and I both work in healthcare so had it through work

My dd happy that labs will go ahead next term. She's heading back to uni the weekend of the 7th March..not sure whether she'll return home for Easter. I have my jab booked for tomorrow...

@speciated We supply incontinence and stoma care direct to patients, so the warehouse side is more 'frontline'. So my work colleagues in the warehouse got theirs done, where us office staff havent as we can wfh for the time being. Hopefully can get back to see them by end of may after the 2nd jab. :)

The lockdown programe layout did make me think about the townhouses. They are paid up until the 24th of July as its a longer term, and should things go to plan and nightclubs open on the 21st of June (summer term ends 25th june) they might want to stay and use the townhouse just that little bit longer lol.
@frazzled6 glad your dd is going back. light at the end of the tunnel for everyone. fingers crossed we will be done by summer. And great news about the jab for tomorrow :)

Very good news about everyone who has had vaccination, brilliant Sammy.
My ds2 has never even been to a nightclub, and he loves dancing...his 18th ws last March. Ds1 experience of uni in first terms was so much happiness dancing, very different for ds2, however I would say there has been a stronger sense of "the group" because there were no alternative leisure pursuits, so that has been better than ds1 experience strangely enough. No passing out in the company of strange new acquaintances....

My DS isn’t a clubbing sort, he doesn’t drink, so the enforced mainly sober socialising hasn’t been a bad thing.

I’m having my jab in an hour! I’m a carer for DS2 who has autism. He’s not eligible though, fairly healthy 21yo. 🤔 Not sure about the joined up thinking on that, but I’m not turning it down.

My DS isn’t a clubbing sort, he doesn’t drink, so the enforced mainly sober socialising hasn’t been a bad thing.

Likewise. My DS doesn't drink, so the one good thing about the restrictions/lockdowns was that he wasn't under pressure to go out pubbing/clubbing with his flat mates. Before going, it was something he was really anxious about, i.e. not always having to say no to his flat mates/course mates if they were going out boozing.

Interesting to hear there are other DC who don’t drink. My eldest two do, but my DS1 who is next to go to Uni won’t tough a drop at all. I have been wondering (and worrying about) what it will be like for him. My Uni experience in the 80s was quite boozy!

Ds has been clubbing once or twice and is desperate for clubs to reopen. He enjoys a few beers but just as happy doing a quiz or playing his guitar. He really wants to find other band members at uni after lockdown.

DD doesnt drink either. She doesnt like the taste of alcohol, so shes had the kopperberg alcohol free at uni. She turned 19 early September, so her first club was freshers week. 'Glow' in Lancaster a couple of times; tables of 6, lasers music, dry ice and podium dancers dressed up to entertain. She loved it and cant wait till its normal again. She also tried Kanteena in Lancaster and said it was good, but wasnt as busy and they usually do live music there which they couldnt do back then.
She also went to the study room, cornerhouse and a couple of other bars. Grizedale and Fylde bar. Then tier 3 hit and that was it for all lancaster students.
If they can drink outside to start with once this phased reopening starts, the Water Witch and the White Cross on Lancasters canal would be a good one to do as they have lots of benches outside.

I have a party animal and she's really looking forward to being able to go clubbing. She's already booked Reading tickets for August.. But it's great that they have something to look forward too.

Most definitely Frazzled6. We usually go to the firework championships once a year and its great fun with a picnic, bit of wine, some music, mini lanterns, followed by the event. I really cant wait for summer to roll around.

DS has been told that practicals and labs should start after Easter . Although he also has exams so it will be a busy term.

Their last week in halls overlaps with the first week of the second year house tenancies ( all his flatmates are moving into two neighbouring houses) so they're planning to move en masse. And a huge group have Leeds Festival tickets on August bank holiday. Then more practicals and labs catch up in week zero in September...I don't think we'll be seeing much of him!

@ShaunaTheSheep. It seems surreal that our DC look like they will be able to go to festivals in the summer but such a relief too.
Dds tenancy does not start until September - they opted for an 11 month tenancy so we will be moving everything back home early July and then back again in September. Thankfully its only 90mins away.

Dd is reporting that quality of catered food has deteriorated (they seem to have takeaways more often) and laundry has packed up (Circuit laundry app not working, nor dryers in neighbouring block). Her medic friend is still not getting f2f labs although vets are. No further forward on accommodation for 2nd year yet.

Thats not good Lizs , Circuit laundry is always one for being unpredictable. And catered food too, thats not great, wonder if theres less staff because of covid restrictions? Hope theres somewhere she can report it.