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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

UEA (2019) Surely 2021 (and getting on for halfway through our DC's degrees) things have got to get better????

764 replies

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 26/12/2020 17:35

New thread following on from the previous one.

Lots of Star and Glitterball into 2021.

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Thread gallery
15
NotSorry · 26/12/2020 20:55

Thanks @NewModelArmyMayhem18 - good title

I can’t believe we’re on our 3rd thread!

Anyone got any info on what the uni is saying about them going back?

Itscoldouthere · 26/12/2020 21:06

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 thank you for the new thread, hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.
I've been watching the flooding news, where I used to live in Bedfordshire has been very affected, I'm hoping my old house doesn't flood (it never did when we lived there) but I know they have all been given warnings by the police to prepare to evacuate 😳
We had rain yesterday, then snow this morning, the main outcome being the ground is frozen ice making for rather dangerous walking conditions, but we are having a lazy boxing day, DH watching football and I'm reading.
I believe my DS is planning to return to Norwich in a few days time, my friend will drive him there, I'm not sure if this is strictly allowed, but he's not moving from a different level so I hope it's ok to do it.

juicy0 · 26/12/2020 21:09

Posted on the old thread by accident 🙄

icanbewhatiwant · 26/12/2020 22:30

@juicy0 I saw long Stratton on the news and I know diss has been very wet, plus villages in between.

Yes @Itscoldouthere I saw Bedfordshire on the news too. I'm sure moving back to Norwich will be fine.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 thanks for the new thread.

sluj · 27/12/2020 09:38

Thank you for the new thread Smile
Both DS's are talking about going back next weekend. DS1 has no choice as his hospital placement starts again on the 4th and DS2 is just keen to be back with friends. We should have just about finished the Christmas food by then Grin
After last night's wind and rain we have a lovely looking day here so far but expecting the temperatures to drop and some light snow tomorrow.

icanbewhatiwant · 27/12/2020 11:53

@sluj yes same here. The calm after the storm. It's lovely and sunny. We saw a few fallen trees on our morning dog walk.

Ds doesn't know when to go back yet. I don't think he's in a hurry. I think he's enjoying all the food he hasn't paid for 🤣

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 27/12/2020 11:57

Same here in terms of it being a nice, sunny day. I always sleep with the window open at night so it was a very noisy night!

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icanbewhatiwant · 27/12/2020 12:10

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 my husband always wants the window open no matter what the weather does. When we lived on the farm no way was I ever allowed to close it as he wanted to listen out for loose cows or burglars. But now he's not so bad. I shut it last night.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 27/12/2020 12:25

I have been doing it for so many years now that I feel suffocated if I have all the windows closed. I'm not listening out for stray cows and burglars though!

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Itscoldouthere · 27/12/2020 15:25

We've had to adapt some of our habits with the move to Canada, one of them sleeping with the window open, it's just too cold outside.
We also have a lot more noise living in the city, we have a train line about 300m away from our apartment block and freight trains come through in the middle of the night, we've timed them, some are 8 mins long! We hear them with the windows closed, I'm sure they must sound very loud with windows open.
I'm also really not liking the electronic heating here, it is so drying, we wake up feeling parched and my live Christmas decorations are now just crispy !

icanbewhatiwant · 27/12/2020 16:20

@Itscoldouthere are you used to quiet at night? We moved from a farm where nights were very quiet, there was a country Lane going past but cars didn't go past very often. Now we are on a slightly busier road, but a long way back from the road. The main road through the village is half a mile away but it annoys me at night as I can just hear it.
Yes I can imagine it's too cold with windows open.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 27/12/2020 16:39

It must be almost Urals Doctor Zhivago winter weather at -25C @Itscoldouthere? You'd need a helluva high togged duvet on the bed to survive that type of temperature with the window open.

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Itscoldouthere · 27/12/2020 16:48

Haha... We turn the heating down at night but honestly it's been so cold out no way would I currently leave a window open.
In the UK we lived on the high street of a small village so did have the odd car passing at night, but mainly woke up to very loud birdsong, prior to that a residential street in North London which was quiet surprisingly at nigth.
There's more traffic on the road near us here and the freight trains, so not sure how noisy it will be in the summer!

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 30/12/2020 13:41

DS has gone back to his house share today. Safely on the train with no issues reported.

His time at home went all too quickly. And with studying away in his room for quite a bit of the time, it didn't seem as if we saw that much of him.

How are all your student DC doing?

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sluj · 30/12/2020 16:10

Both of mine are going back on Saturday, one has a placement starting in Monday and the other has some coursework to do. Both have had a good rest but they are keen to get back and I am keen to eat less frequently and watch things like Midsomer Murders !

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 30/12/2020 18:00

Ha @NewModelArmyMayhem18

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Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 30/12/2020 18:01

Er not sure why it autocorrected @sluj to my own user name?

Sounds about right @sluj.

I am 'repeats' sick now though. I love rewatching Morse, Lewis and Endeavour but have finally had too much of a good thing.

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GoldenRuby · 30/12/2020 18:36

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 thanks for the new thread. DS not sure when he is going back. He is supposed to have two full days of practicals in early Jan - as all practical sessions were cancelled last term - but he is waiting to see if they will go ahead. Apparently all of his lectures have moved online until Feb. Some rumours of sports fixtures (not BUCS) taking place, but can't see this happening in Tier 4. So none the wiser on whether he will be going back early Jan or a bit later. He is going stir crazy here, but at least he has company and the dog. If he goes back he would probably be on his own, as most of the others in his house are more local and have said they will stay away. He also needs to find new housemates for next year - things haven't worked out particularly well with one of the others in the house, and that person has basically organised a new house with the rest of them plus his girlfriend, but no DS. He isn't that bothered, but most of his other close friends are staying on in their current houses or graduating with the same groups, so I feel sorry for him.

icanbewhatiwant · 30/12/2020 20:34

Mine has no idea when he's going back yet. He just shrugs when I ask. No one else in his house has returned yet.

juicy0 · 30/12/2020 20:46

DD has no plans to return as yet. Her housemates are all from Essex and London who have extremely high rates at the moment so even though they're in the same tier it still feels risky. They have also not decided when to head back to norwich so it's a very uncertain situation at the moment. DD is working hard but anticipates 100% virtual for next term as it was for her last term (BA Geog) which makes motivation a bit of an issue.

Itscoldouthere · 31/12/2020 04:31

My DS is planning to go back on the 2nd January as he feels like he's been at my friend's house longer than he intended. I'm just hoping he can get there, she did say she'd take him if necessary.
My friend works in the NHS, she got the vaccine today (so glad for her) but she thinks some areas may go into Tier 5 soon, like maybe tomorrow!
I don't know if that will mean DS won't be able to travel back to Norwich, I don't know what to think, if he goes back he will be alone in the house as his flatmates aren't going back yet, which isn't great.

Poppiesway1 · 31/12/2020 05:01

Sorry for jumping in, I can’t sleep and just saw your thread pop up! (my ds is yr 1 UEA after deferring a year - was meant to start in 2019)
We live locally so not staying in halls etc but he’s not been to a single on campus lecture during last term. All lectures have been online. He’s been told his course is delaying starting back so students not to go back yet. I assumed it was same for everyone? Or are they staggering? The lectures are all online for this term anyway for his group (physics). Ds has Aspergers and has loved the online learning from UEA and lack of classroom and people.

NotSorry · 31/12/2020 06:53

@Poppiesway1My DS is going back Sunday - most of us on here have year 2s so they’re all in their own houses - my DS hasn’t had any f2f either but he’s paying for a house so he wants to use. His housemates are returning the following weekend. We’ve not been out since 13th December as we were all isolating until Christmas Eve so by the time he goes back it will be 3 weeks that’s he’s been in.

Original poster
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 31/12/2020 10:50

DN has gone back (she's Yr 1 in halls) but she may be the exception not the rule.

DS went back early to focus on his studies. His choice. I quite understand that home with everyone in it 24/7 (and relegated to the smallest bedroom) isn't ideal. I think he may be the first one back in his house but think his house share mates will be returning over the weekend.

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icanbewhatiwant · 31/12/2020 11:14

@Poppiesway1 hello. We are sort of local too. About 45 mins drive. But ds wanted to live on campus, but the option has always been there to commute if necessary. Second year he's renting with a group of 6. I've been grateful that he's been so close with covid and the travelling. He took his car in sept. something he probably wouldn't have done if he were further away. I expect we will stay in the same tiers too as we are Suffolk.

Let's hope 2021 turns out a be a better year than this one.