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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

New thread following on from the previous one.

Lots of and into 2021.

My DS’s house mates are due back this weekend - 2 of them went home during lockdown 2.0 even though they were told not to, so I’m sure they’ll turn up at the weekend 🙄

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 yes. Ds wants to return. But if the others aren't going to then obviously he doesn't want to be on his own.

DS still hasn't had his timetable confirmed for this semester yet, which is making his decision on returning harder. He is going to watch the briefing at 8pm and then decide whether to pack his car up and make the 3 hour trip to Norwich tonight, or stick out a lockdown with us. He is supposed to have practical exams in a couple of weeks that have already been postponed twice, but I can't see these going ahead, or his school placement (which is only part time but he is struggling to finalise with the school as his tutors have said to wait for his timetable).

Happy New Year all! Dh took ds back today. Ds would definitely rather be locked down with his friends than at home and I really want him to have some sort of university experience as they seem to be missing out on so much. We live in Essex so have ridiculously high rates here but we are in a village and are not seeing anyone or even going in shops due to dd having a long - term illness. He has been for his first covid test with his housemates and they are all negative. They will isolate now until Friday when they have their second text so they can be as sure as they can be that they are not bringing covid to Norwich.

@icanbewhatiwant can totally understand that. Maybe the imminent announcement of the impending lockdown will galvanise your DS1's house-mates to action (re returning).

Ds has some exams this month. But nothing else on his timetable. They've said that schools are to remain closed. So I'm that will mean universities too. I can't see why students can't travel sensibly to their houses though. It would be different if the university was in tier 1 and people were travelling from a tier 4. But we will all be tier 4 or total lockdown later anyway.

DS is expecting one housemate back today, I hope it happens as I reckon you guys may go into full lockdown later today. I just hope he doesn't end up completely on his own.
I got him to subscribe to one of those delivery meal boxes, that have all the ingredients for a meal, he's done 4 days a week, I'm hoping it will help as my friend who he stayed with over Christmas said his eating is really bad (ie lack of eating). She gets this food box scheme as she's rushed off her feet with the Covid situation, so he cooked with her a few times over Christmas, I'm hoping it works, it's reasonably expensive but he doesn't spend money on much especially at the moment.
I shall watch the 8pm announcement, thinking of you all.

I think that as long as the people settle wherever they choose to stay when the restrictions come into play it's okay. It's the issues with them moving around that's the problem, I would have thought.

Restrictions from midnight. I take it they are stuck home now.

Happy New Year all - on the basis epecially that surely there is no way that 2021 can be any worse, once we get through the next few months, than 2020.

DS2 tells me that UEA will be issuing an email tomorrow to all students.

The latest general gov guidance is here assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/949536/NationalLockdownGuidance.pdf unis referenced pp13-14

Luckily the housemate arrived and DS said one other is driving back this evening, as he'd been planning to go back on 10th January and would rather do lockdown in Norwich, so there will be 3 or 4 of them in the house, hopefully it will be fine and they will all manage ok, it's a big house with a garden so I'm sure they will be fine.

@Itscoldouthere that's good your ds has other company. It must be worrying being so far away.

They are all missing out on so much. My year 12 has missed out on so much too (GCSEs cancelled, driving lessons cancelled, theory test cancelled, fun stuff like school prom. cancelled, looks like AS levels now cancelled too) My year 7 will be fine, though he missed out on lots of year 6 stuff, I guess they don't matter...and this will all be forgotten by the time he's exam age. But at least we are all healthy and alive, hopefully an end is in sight.

Good to know your DS2 had his flatmates back for support @Itscholdouthere. Not sure if the 'missing two' from DS's flat will show up though.

No, I agree with you @boys3 that this year can't be so bad - if only because we are all more accustomed to the new normal.

I reckon it may be autumn before things start to slowly return to normal though. It seems a very tall order to get 12-14 million people vaccinated in the next six to eight weeks, don't you think?

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 and @icanbewhatiwant thank you, yes I'm really relived that he's not on his own, that would have been so worrying.

Must say I'm feeling the distance at the moment "you can just fly home" is not the reality anymore and I didn't think things would get so bad in the UK again, its very sobering.

Anyway I hope all your DC are fine with were they have ended up in lockdown and you are all feeling ok about things. Stay safe and sane everyone xxx

Ds has gone ☹️ he packed up this afternoon and went. One other has moved back today. The others are staying home. I just hope those staying home don't expect the ones living there to pay all the bills. But also his gf has also moved in with him which probably isn't fair. Why should she use electric etc and not pay towards it. She's paying bills and rent for the place she is meant to be living in. It's up to them to sort out I guess.
It's wasn't nice watching him drive away though. I know I won't see him until at least Easter.

@icanbewhatiwant oh that's tricky, it is so horrible when they leave, but maybe he would have driven you mad at home, missing his GF and not having the independence some of them now crave.
The housemate that came back to DS house brought her boyfriend to stay, but she stayed at his in the last semi lockdown (was that November) so I think it is a bit swings and roundabouts regarding bills.
Another 3 turned up in DS house yesterday, so they are now 6 so I expect they will all be fine.

@Itscoldouthere yes his gf stayed last lockdown. But really she's not meant to be there. As long as the others don't mind I guess.

The food bill will be less here anyway!

Could be seeing a few more years of heading to Norwich as DS3 has an offer in today from UEA. Same course as DS2 who is in part really pleased for his brother whilst also being slightly horrified at the thought of his younger brother being there at the same time he is. I’m not convinced it will necessarily be DS3’s first choice though, but great to have the offer and the option.

@boys3 that would be easier to take them to the same place....for us the year ds1 finishes university Ds2 will start. There's 2.5 years between them. Could be expensive 2 at university at once!

Ds3 is only 11 so it seems weird that the older ones should be settled into full time jobs and moved out by the times he goes off to university (if indeed he goes)

My 2 are both at UEA and it has been extremely convenient in many ways though they rarely see each other during term time, just a wave across campus.
I didn't think DS2 would choose UEA but I think he felt comfortable there having been a few times for DS1. The trip to the LCR with big brother also helped....those were the days.

Having 2 at university at the same time certainly is expensive, we didn't think DS1 was going to go at all and then did a last minute application, I think he'd got so inspired by DS2 talking about it for a whole year.
It makes me a bit sad that this past year has been such pants for them, especially DS1 hrs 23 and feeling like he's just wasting time as he's really not learning what he thought he would, he's just been set the latest project which is going to have to be yet another card model, he's so dissapointed. It feels so far from the massive enthusiasm he went off the uni with.

Latest development here in Montreal is we are getting a nightime cerfew, starting Saturday for at least a month. No going out after 8pm, we are going to have to change up the dogs routine, could be interesting 😬

@Itscoldouthere covid has had an impact on all the youngsters. Obviously Ds2 is doing the same course as yours. They've not had the usual university experience...especially lack of lab sessions. It's been a year without any now as they had strikes this time last year. They did manage a few in Oct.

Ds2 has had GCSEs cancelled, now AS levels cancelled. Driving lessons cancelled, theory test cancelled. Fun stuff like the prom cancelled. Even ds3 who is much younger missed out his year 6 end of primary things last school year. That's not the end of the world and it won't affect his education. It's the older ones having a tougher time.

@icanbewhatiwant it sucks doesn't it, I do so feel for them all, I suppose because the uni years were so important to me, they honestly changed my life in so many ways, that I probably held/hold rather unrealistic expectations in the first place.
Its a difficult time for so many young people, our education system being so linear doesn't help, theres no chance to stop and pause built in to the system, so some will now always feel they have gaps caused by this pandemic.
I hope in the long run it might give us greater insight into lots of things, how easy it is to live a simpler life, take things day by day, slow down a bit, appreciate what you have, consume less, be kind etc, etc but I know that things change quickly, so who knows what the legacy of Covid will be and obviously I have the advantage of having lived a large part of my life, so if I don't achieve much more, it's not that important.
I just hope our young people get through it without becoming too deflated, or resentful, it's hard to imagine many students think they are getting their money's worth at the moment.

could be expensive two at university at once

It will be the Zigs for DS3 if he does end up at UEA

As he and DS2 are three school years apart it was not originally anticipated having 2 there at once. Both his brothers had a gap year, so I was rather hoping he would do likewise

@boys3 you have 3 school years gap same as my older 2. Yes...would have been better to have had one away at a time. You obviously have 3 boys too...like me. I used to have a different mumsnet name it had 3boys in the name too. But I couldn't remember exactly what it was so had to re sign in.