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.

Anyone heard anything about them returning after Easter? Ds doesn't think they will. Though as I said on an earlier post, the anglia news mentioned the UEA and that they were preparing for all pupils to return after Easter.

Ds isn't enjoying watching all the practicals online and writing up as if he's actually done them himself.

I am hoping my DS comes home for Easter, I hadn't thought about him not returning! He seems to be looking forward to the summer term as they didn't get that last year but I'm not sure if there will be any lab work or face to face.
DS1 is preparing to graduate this year (fingers crossed) and I am hoping they are able to have some sort of ceremony 😀

@sluj I know mine won't want to come home for Easter. But we are commuting distance. So we will go meet him for a walk.

Graduation without a ceremony isn't good. Hopefully they'll be able to have one.

DS2 getting his LFT today and then being picked up tomorrow unless his LFT is positive in which case he will stay where he is. He’s coming home for the full 4 weeks

I don't think it's crossed DS2s mind to get any test!! We are driving over tomorrow to bring him home. Hopefully having a socially distanced coffee with DS1, who is in the middle of exams, somewhere on campus before we come back. Looking forward to seeing them both

Hope all the DCs made it home ok for Easter or for a catch up if staying in Norwich.. DS2 heading back to Norwich this weekend.

Despite his best endeavours in selling both UEA and Norwich it looks like DS3 will not be choosing UEA as either his firm or insurance choice. So heading in two different directions come end of the Summer

I was a bit surprised when I looked at the UEA hall costs for 21/22 which seem to have gone up quite a lot as compared with when our DCs were Freshers.

I was a bit surprised when I looked at the UEA hall costs for 21/22 which seem to have gone up quite a lot as compared with when our DCs were Freshers.

Ah, not just me, then - no current UEA student here, but DS2 intends to firm UEA (when he gets round to it), so I had been looking at accommodation and it struck me that his favourite did look rather more expensive than when I last looked and certainly a lot more than when DD looked two years ago.

I seem to remember UEA being quite reasonable compared to others a couple of years ago so maybe they are just coming into line. I suppose they are financially strapped now.

DS2 chose the cheapest Ziggurats and enjoyed every second of it. As he said, it was extra beer money or an ensuite !!

DS2 went from being inclined towards en suite accommodation to acknowledging that sharing washing facilities was okay, really, as soon as he clapped eyes on the Ziggurats when he came with DD and myself to her offer holder day. At the time, he was intending to apply for Architecture, so to be in Norwich (with which he also fell in love), would have meant NUA, not UEA. However, upon mature reflection (and lots of chats with a member of school staff on the subject), he decided that History of Art was more his thing and fortunately, the course at UEA really suits his interests.

The Sussex offer holder day threw a bit of a spanner in the works (as well as a grade lower if he firmed their offer), but he seems to be keeping faith with his first love.

I didn't think ds would come home for Easter. But the others in his house all went home. So he came home good Friday. As the other ds's are at school I ordered lateral flow tests for us, so I sent 2 out to ds to do before coming home.
I think he's bored here, but says he has less distractions, so can work better. He will go back early next week. He said no news on and f2f starting up again. He's getting so fed up with watching the lecturers do the practicals.

Cost wise I thin UEA halls are still slightly at the more reasonable end. I only noticed as we noted self catered hall costs for all of DS3’s options a few months back.

We’d looked again yesterday as the final decision is looming. So for UEA the weekly cost went from:

Zigs 118.09 to 121.66

Barton Hickling 170.08 to 177.66
DS2 was there in y1, I’m sure it was £6200 for the year (well 39wks if I remember correctly).

Campus en suite 158.83 to 165.02

Village en suite plus 143.29 to 147.63

Village en suite 121.38 to 121.38; so no change and now marginally cheaper than the Zigs

UEA still good value as compared to Nottingham, about the same as Loughborough although that does have some cheaper non en-suite options (between £500 and £900 less); but positively exorbitant compared with Aberystwyth where the premium en suite, Barton Hickling with bells on, comes in at around 5600.

I think the government should ditch CPI, CPIx, RPI etc and just use the annual uni hall accommodation increase as its primary inflation measure.

Hi everyone, sorry I've been absent for the past couple of months but we sold our house, moved into a holiday let for 6 weeks and have now finally moved into our new home. I don't recommend moving twice in such a short space of time, it's exhausting!
DD has been home with us since November but is planning to return to her house next Sunday. She's noticed that a few of her lectures on next terms timetable have been allocated rooms so she's hopeful they may be f2f. Her netball training resumes next week and she's been told her SU bar work will resume at the end of the month as UEA are creating an outdoor beer garden until the SU bar and LCR can reopen so for her things feel like they're returning to normal. She thinks she's will stay for a few weeks after the end of term to make the most of it with mates before coming home for the summer.
Thinking ahead to the end of her course she wants to take a year out before then doing a PGCE and is keen to teach overseas as part of an organised scheme. Does anyone have any experience of good companies who she can contact? She'd be happy in Europe or further afield, would she need TEFL do you think?
Any suggestions gratefully received! Thanks.

Just read this article following a government decision on Friday. So disappointing that our DC can't have a more normal final term given that pubs, restaurants, theme parks etc are opening. Many students I know have already returned to their uni houses in preparation for next term but f2f still looks off the agenda until mid May.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/f23a7839-92df-491a-9c36-d8dc1fb8a2e3

Also just popping in to say hello to UEA people.
I’m in the UK, currently in quarantine.
DS is still in Norwich, he is still enrolled although not been doing anything. He’s been on his own for a few weeks as his flat mates went home for Easter although his brother did manage to go to see him for 2 days.
He’s been very up and down, he’s having a meeting with the wellness team today.
I’m hoping he will come to stay with me in the next few days but he’ll have to get the bus so it will be up to him to arrange.
We still don’t know what will happen long term, but now I’m here I’m hoping I can find a solution.
Hope you are all well and had a nice Easter, I hear the pubs and shops open today 😊

@juicy0 I hadn't heard that. That is frustrating. By mid May they've almost finished anyway. Yes...house move twice does sound exhausting.

Welcome back to England @Itscoldouthere I hope your quarantine goes well. Hopefully ds will come to stay with you and you find a solution for him. I'm sure you are glad to be back.

Ds1 has been home since good Friday. He's going back to Norwich tomorrow. He makes so much mess in the kitchen and bathroom here, but dh laughs as I don't tell him off. I feel if I tell him off he won't come to stay. He likes to cook breakfast and lunch. He doesn't wash the worktops, occasionally he washes his pans. So it'll be nice to not have mess. The younger 2 returned to school today. I haven't been to work since mid November. I start back tomorrow. So things are returning to normal. I had my covid vaccine on Saturday too. Didn't think I'd get one as I'm under 50. It seems to depend in different areas.

Hi everyone. I seemed to lose this thread for a while. Good to hear everyone's updates including prospective new students to UEA.

DS paid a flying visit home and has now gone back to Norwich. He seems to be enjoying his course. Hasn't got a student house sorted out for next year yet - they're still looking for one student to join them as two of this year's flatemates will be graduating shortly.

Possible sign of better times ahead........... SU outside bar fully open.

There's lots of rejoicing from my boys over that development

Yay that's good news as long as the weather stays decent.

So pleased the bar is reopening, trying to get a table in norwich for food or drink is pretty impossible at the moment so it's great they will have an alternative. DD works there and her first shift is on Saturday night, she's hoping it doesn't rain!

We went to visit Ds in Norwich today. It's his birthday tomorrow but I'm working, so we went today instead. We walked round the lake, through the university and the square. There were lots of people walking round the lake and golf course. But it was very quiet around the university. Though there were some cafes open. Ds said he'd never seen it that quiet.

He seems happy enough, he was pleased with the cakes I'd made him, he has spilt up with his gf though, they've been together since the start of university. He said it was his idea to split.

He's got a few friends coming tomorrow eve to sit in the garden for his birthday. Then has quite a few coming on 20th May for a bbq. including friends from home. They thought they'd have it later in the month so they can do indoors, assuming we are allowed after 17th.

It was sad Ds pointing out where he "used to do practicals" I hope they can get back there sept. for their final year. It doesn't seem that long ago since they first started as freshers and they will soon be starting their third year.

Happy Birthday to your DS1 @icanbewhatiwant. If the weather was windy and wet like it was here, perhaps not surprising the campus was deserted.

Good that your DS is planning for a BBQ once the rules are relaxed some more. Sorry to hear about him and his G/F though.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 thanks...weather was ok in the morning, cloudy...but no rain.

Yesterday was a Bank Holiday, of course.

Lovely you got to see your boy