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Original poster

St Andrews into 2021 (new thread)

944 replies

Newgirls · 11/12/2020 15:16

Ok can’t think of a catchier title! If anyone can send the other thread over here pls do!

Prospective and existing parents etc all welcome here. Transport, accom, cloaks, choirs, beaches and more to be discussed. Next year will be better surely!

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Thread gallery
11
EachandEveryone · 01/11/2022 16:46

I was having lottery dreams looking on rightmove I cannot believe how much the property is there, London prices easily and just for student flats which have obviously been lived in by students. I feel sorry for the families there really god knows how you'd move up the ladder. My niece is forever broke and needs to start looking for a bar job. I think shes worried this will cut into her socialising time🙂

Stockpot · 24/11/2022 20:08

Anybody worried about getting their DC home for Xmas with the rail strikes?

DD happened to buy a ticket with assigned seat on the 15th, but even though that is not a strike day, I am not so sure the trains will be running.

If she has trouble, she’ll just have to wait around and get home when she can. Luckily, DRA won’t kick her out.

Monkey2001 · 24/11/2022 20:34

@Stockpot I think trains will run on the 15th, but might be very crowded and the reservation system probably won't work. I think we are lucky that most of us are in the south, so the trains start in Edinburgh, where they should not be too busy. I think my DS might catch it from Dundee for that reason.

Stockpot · 24/11/2022 20:45

Sounds like a cunning plan.

Original poster
Newgirls · 25/11/2022 08:28

Is that a Thursday? That’s a good plan as more options than a weekend just in case any issues.

dd tried a Sunday once and won’t be repeating that I’m sure

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Valleyofthedollymix · 25/11/2022 14:47

Oh god totally, my son was booked onto a train on the 14th and it was only thanks to MN that I realised he wouldn't be going anywhere that day. I was very relieved to be able to change the ticket to the 12th and only pay £10 more. I do think there's a reasonable chance that the strikes will be called off though.

DS however thinks I'm in league with Mick Lynch to get him home two days earlier. I do miss him.

Monkey2001 · 25/11/2022 18:55

@Valleyofthedollymix I don't think you have to pay more to use a different train if yours is on a strike day, you could just get on a different one. But at least he has a seat now!

Eightytwenty · 25/11/2022 19:23

Can’t believe they’re nearly 1/8 of the way through already @Valleyofthedollymix @Stockpot.

train strike also impacting us as DS has booked a ticket to the rest is politics podcast in London. He goes down for 1 night before he goes back home for 1 night social, then back to to St A and then at sometime he will come home. Glad halls close as suspect if people were staying up he would too.

Stockpot · 25/11/2022 21:23

I love a politics podcast! I’ll check it out. I hope he can get down and back without too much drama.

Eightytwenty · 26/11/2022 00:34

@Stockpot me too. RIP is my favourite. Newsagents also good. Any others you recommend?

Stockpot · 26/11/2022 08:24

Snap on the Newsagents!

EachandEveryone · 01/12/2022 20:28

Anyone else in caterered complaining bitterly about the food. I thought it was a blip but my vegetarian niece is now really upset about the quality and selection compared to how they made it all look. She said it’s a complete waste of money. She’s had a good Thanksgiving though. She only lives with Americans 😀

Monkey2001 · 01/12/2022 20:56

My DS said the food was great in 2020/21, but less good in 2021/22 and was one of the main reasons he did not want to stay in halls for third year. He still found it OK, but he is not veggie.

EachandEveryone · 01/12/2022 21:36

average food for all that money isn’t fair though. Especially as she wanted self catered halls.

Stockpot · 01/12/2022 21:43

My DD desperately wanted catered halls but got un-catered en-suite! The allocation of halls is far from “Pareto efficient.”

I suppose the tightness of the housing market in St Andrew’s coupled with the last minute nature of the acceptances for the 1/3 who have taken a-levels makes it difficult to manage.

It’s a shame the food is a disappointment. A tasty meal after a windy is s small joy.

Original poster
Newgirls · 02/12/2022 08:02

My veggie dd seems happy with it but also goes out a lot or round to friends so probably tops up with other foods she likes

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ACJane · 02/12/2022 09:57

Are they allowed to swap accommodation - seems like that would be a great solution if allowed to over-ride the allocation 'errors'.

Stockpot · 02/12/2022 19:26

DD tried. The housing office wouldn’t allow it. They did move the girl who wanted her en-suite, self catered to another en-suite, self-catered room because the girl cited health reasons after an initial refusal. But DD had to stay put.

Stockpot · 08/12/2022 23:16

DD sent some pictures from today. St Andrew’s looks gorgeous with a powdered sugar dusting of snow.

Original poster
Newgirls · 09/12/2022 08:22

So lovely! We got a pic of the beach - beautiful blue sky, snow on the dunes.

I did suggest it would be great to get a pic in the snow with the cloak on - we shall see!

polar express ball looked great - organised by the drama dept I believe

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Monkey2001 · 09/12/2022 08:53

We got a photo too - even DS's road with 90"s houses looked pretty. He had 2 big exams this week (2.5 hours each) but just a practical exam left for next week, so he can enjoy the snow too. Final St Andrews year for him.

Original poster
Newgirls · 09/12/2022 17:43

Nooo monkey you’ve been part of this whole thing for me! Hasn’t it flown by. I am sure he will make the most of every last moment

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Monkey2001 · 09/12/2022 17:45

Yes @Newgirls it really has whizzed by!

EachandEveryone · 29/12/2022 15:52

I’ve just met my niece for the first time since she started. She tells me some of the halls have free bars, is that right?😮

Monkey2001 · 29/12/2022 21:20

Yes, they have free bar nights, the hall committees have pretty big social budgets. 😁