Oxford and Cambridge current students discussion thread

[sandybayley]

Starting a new one as we filled it up!

Can't believe DS1 will be home in 2 weeks. Must remember to adjust the Ocado shop for when he's back. I suspect we may end up with a few days of his favourite meals 😊

Thanks for that, @OhYouBadBadKitten . It looks our house (near Cambridge) is just inside the amber area, and Cambridge just outside. Let's see what tomorrow brings...

True YOBBK - I think they have had a really hard version of university and what works for one isn't going to work for all.

I am not sure what materials are "essential" but DD is single handedly keeping DHL in business. I might just give them a key.

@OhYouBadBadKitten I'm really pleased to see you back and so sorry that your DD is being treated so badly. Your DD is in a similar position to mine in terms of the ensuite room, nobody else on the staircase etc. yet mine has had a different response. My DD's college is not one of the most sought after, but they do at least seem to apply common sense, thankfully. That said, she will have to isolate until Wednesday so is taking lots of supplies with her. She has online meetings from Monday so that will keep her busy. I love the Qs & As!

I saw the weather forecast and am not looking forward to the drive. I am taking wellies, flasks, packed food, thick coats and blankets. So there will probably be a heatwave! I normally take the A303 then M3 but I know the A303 can be blocked in the snow. The M4 is shut this weekend near Reading, so the only other alternative is the much longer M5, M42, M6, A14 which is my "bad weather" route. The car is fuelled, loaded and sitting in our garage and I have told DD we are leaving at 7.30 so I can return in daylight, fingers crossed. Final route decision to be taken before we leave having listened to travel bulletins. Note that DH CBA to take her. He did half-heartedly say he could put the snow tyres on his ancient Ford Ka but has done FA about it. Typical!

:)

That sounds like a good plan Malbec I think you'll probably be ok (no guarantees) to take the A303 M3 route. It looks like the transition border will probably be around the Reading area. I think my main concerns would be around Dunstable.
Im notoriously bad with snow forecasts though.

It is adding insult to injury that I cant see Cambridge in the snow and that dd won't be able to send snow pictures How mean!!!

Dd has spent her 3 years worth of book money in one go. Thats something.

I see you books and raise you the most beautiful coloured pencils.... is it bad to sneak into a child's room, bypass their beautiful angelic sleeping form and inhale the scent of new pencil?

malbec I hate driving in the snow. I carry from November - hat, winter waterproofs, walking boots, gloves, mittens, sleeping bag, book, shovel, cat litter, stove, water, dehydrated meals, spork, stove, kettle, hot water bottle, fake coffee / hot chocolate sachets, head torch, snow chains, seal skin socks, compass (that lives in the car all year to be fair) and a sense of humor. It gets removed in April. I have used most of it ... just not when it has snowed.

Malbecfan I've just been outside - it's as mild as could be five miles east. :) I'd do A303/ M3 for sure. Wave hello to DS3 if you see him....

In a moment of circularity - check the first page of this thread. We were talking drop offs & weather then too

There's some warm air feeding into cambridgeshire melting the snow before it hits the ground. It's incredibly marginal.

Can confirm: South Cambridgeshire precipitation is in the liquid state.

London is wet and soggy. I had high hopes for a snowy dog walk but sadly dashed.

On the doggy front, DD sat her Classics collection yesterday morning accompanied by rousing choruses of barking from our two doggies at regular intervals as DPD arrived, the postie arrived, our neighbour came home, the builders working in the Square bashed roof timbers in and each time a walker or cyclist went by, which was often.

(And for the purposes of reassurance no, Johnny and Conker were not cited as reasons for exemption from the rules for returning to Oxford, although to be fair they fully justify it without more. They are very, very, very, very lively).

My DC recommend earplugs for online collections etc to block out building noise/barking dogs. DD has also taken to sticking a “Do not enter” note on the kitchen door after DH walked in whilst she was doing a timed verbal reasoning test for an internship application this week.

Should have told ds to use the ear plugs I bought at Christmas - he sat his collections yesterday and complained that the cat was snoring loudly under his bed. I did point out that at college he complains of paper thin walls and could have had many more distractions!

Yes unfortunately noise cancelling headphones were out of charge and collection had to be done at a specific time. Loud snoring cat in close proximity probably worse than barking dogs outside!

Do not enter very sensible. I've wrecked one of those times internship tests before now but then I wasn't told it was happening....

*timed

I have made dd Very Cross on occasion by blundering in to tell her something without thinking. I need to be much more disciplined,

OhYouBadBadKitten, it's good to have you back on the thread.

HuaShan, we too have a loudly snoring cat but everyone was banned from the room whilst DS2 did his college collections the other day. DS1 and I had to go out of the house and round the back - in pouring rain - to then access the kitchen, whilst the exam was going on as we didn't want to disturb him. Not sure how things will work when both of them start regular tutorials and supervisions! Luckily I have a home office away from everyone but I might need to book in advance to access the kitchen for a cuppa if either DC is working in the room adjoining this!

DS2 thought his collections went OK but no feedback yet.

I'm still fretting about DS1 (C) not yet having his essays marked from last term but I think DS1 has now given up and doesn't seem bothered.
I'm trying to step back and not get involved of course. His new supervisor has given them the reading for this term but not yet the essay/s and they also have new supervision partners too. Term (C) doesn't start properly until Tuesday though.

Good luck to those who've gone back to O or C and safe travelling.

goodbye, DD sat her collections this week in a 24 hour window which is a very sensible strategy given everyone's different circumstances.

Collections are quite informal at DD's college, for her subject anyway. She says there is much clambering over benches (they sit at long trestle tables) and shuffling up for late comers and then the reverse as people get up for paper, water and to leave.

I'm back safely. Thanks for all the tips - @Unescorted you are so organised! @goodbyestranger, I felt a fraud typing up the snow stuff last night as it was so mild here. When we set off it was 9 degrees. It was 2 when we arrived.

There was a dusting of the white stuff but it only rained all the way there. The M25 (not my favourite road at the best of times) has awful spray. On the way back it was much better and there was even sunshine on the M3.

DD was given a "self-isolation pack" by the college with various bin bags, details on how to order meals and useful phone numbers. Knowing she would have to self-isolate, she took lots of food with her so probably won't need many meals. She has a test booked for Wednesday and if that is negative, she can go & collect a laptop with modelling software from the department so she can at least crack on. She did say "see you in March" as I left but maybe she is being optimistic as she asked earlier in the month if we minded her staying there until the summer. So now it's just DH, me and DDad, until dad has had his 2nd dose of the vaccine. I reckon he'll have stayed here for 12 months by the time he gets it. Ok, need to boot DH to get the fish & chips from the afore-mentioned award winning takeaway. I'm famished!

Haha, we too have a snoring cat!

We tend to gravitate to the kitchen because the wifi elsewhere is a bit rubbish. DH has tried to optimize our setup as much as possible and we are braced, as ready as we can be for the inevitable Zoom call clashes and tech related meltdowns.

Good luck to all your DC wherever they are accessing this term.

Malbec not organised - just terrified of driving in the snow and living in an area that is prone to snow when it is least expected.

No collections here... or snoring dogs / barking cats. The dining room is being turned onto a white cube for crits at the end of the month.

Last night when you suggested that your DH was slow on the draw with doing the drive I was going to type that at least he'll owe you f&c on your return Malbec! Our own order is placed for 8pm :)

DD had to do a 9.30am start for her collection, hence prime DPD time, postie time, walker time etc etc.

Two essays submitted and collections yesterday, Hilary timetable sorted for D1. She reports that she does not know anyone who has gone back to Oxford. Grumbling on college group chat about huge variations between colleges. I think she's resigned to being at home until at least mid Feb, possibly the whole term. Happy to be in close proximity to the cat (she's his favourite, so he's happy too).