University 2020-2021 Part 11: Final Furlong For First year Freshers..........Then Freedom Follows

[sammyjoanne]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4058013-University-2020-10-Empty-nests-warm-vests-and-covid-tests-uni-parents-2020?pg=20

This is a follow on from the previous part 10 thread.
Named because its heading into the summer term.
''Freedom follows'' as in end of year for summer break, (hopefully end of covid restrictions too)

@ShaunaTheSheep that's very annoying about the tack and trace. I've heard of several cases amongst uni students lately so is def on the rise, such a shame when they can finally celebrate after exams.
Ds is continuing to have a fabulous time, had his first vaccine today. Has signed up for the warriors weekend sports event against pendle college, apart from tennis and football he's signed up for men's netball which made me smile. I guess at 6,5 he'll be a bit useful!

@ShaunaTheSheep my DD has loved Orchard Heights. Right in centre of city, v sociable and walkable to campus. Friend at Courtrooms been v happy too.

@SusannahSophia Omg I dread to think what the kitchen is going to be like. According to DD they are going to do a deep clean in the next week or so, and then just trying to keep it clean after that. I know when I went early June it was awful. empty champagne bottles on the table, bottle tops on the floor, crumbs everywhere and it had a hum of curry smell. Microwave was evil. I dare not even look in the fridges.
@Daisysway that's terrible they had a leaky roof. And too right, Id be the same writing to the VP.

Fat balls for DH father day turned up the day after on the Monday, and is now in the back garden. Birds seem to like them :)

Thanks @mumsneedwine , we'll have a look.

@ShaunaTheSheep @specialted Shauna that's awful he's had isolate, right near the end too. Hopefully he gets some more fun afterwards :) DD2 doing a couple of open days hopefully in September October if they are in person. She starts in 2023, but wants to check a couple out this year and rule them in or out.
Specialted hope your DS is ok. DD has hers yesterday and shes reported back today shes a bit colded up, but says its not a patch compared to the covid in October. Taking cold and flu capsules and watching the match. And will be cheering on from home for Grizedale against Pendle in Warriors. DD will be cheering on some of her friends.

They are installing large inflatables etc at Warwick for next week... I think they may be wasting their time because Covid seems to be spreading fast through the accommodation with lots of houses currently isolating.. So sad if all the fun at the end of term doesn't go ahead...

Sorry to hear that the efforts universities have made to bring a bit of normality back to the end of the year are being scuppered. My DS at St Andrews came back at the end of April, when teaching ended, as there was not much going on socially and at least he could have his GF to stay at home and get £1k of rent back. Now both his festivals cancelled, so it could be a summer of gaming, although they are planning some camping.

@Daisysway fingers cross they get to use them. would be a waste if they put them up and uni then says no.

@Monkey2001 hope he has a nice time camping. thats one thing people can do in a safe enough way. and glad to hear he got some money back from the rent too :)

I'm pleased to report ds has finally made the 150 metre trek to the porters lodge to pick up the parcel of expensive multivitamins I sent him in March! He only went because they sent him an email saying if you don't collect it by tomorrow it'll be disposed of or something! Needless to say I haven't sent him anything else! We collect him next Saturday, he's decided to come home for the summer (yay!) Rather than stay in Lancaster, think he's missing home comforts and home friends too, although he's having a marvellous time this term thank goodness . He's off to the lakes tomorrow with his house which sounds fun.Hope everyone's exams went ok x

Hey @specialted aww thats really nice hes coming home next Saturday.
DD finished her last exams today. She could have until 1pm tomorrow, but decided to get both done today and she text ''exams are done mum and dobby is a free elf''' . She celebrated with a dominos tonight. The first housemate leaves on the Monday 5th, so they are having a house meeting very soon to discuss room allocation of the new house for September. Other plans include pub golf, and a final party. She also is going to put her name down for wine and nibbles at a physics get together in the department, and couple of other meet ups over the next two weeks. She had planned for the 17th as pick up day, but as most of her course mates have early contracts, she plans to leave a week earlier on the 10th.

Good that DC all appear to have finished their exams... Dd got an email this week stating results are out on the 1st.

She's had her first jab last Monday... Hoping that it's a 4 week interval before her second jab (pfizer).

Message from DS: 'I seem to remembering you offering (ho ho) to come up and help me move to our house and take me and some stuff home, so could you come up next Saturday and then do you think we'll be able to get back home early enough on Sunday for me to work a shift that day?'

I think he's suddenly realised how much money he needs to earn over the summer to fund his second year lifestyle!

@Daisysway thats great DD getting jab. And results out the first, thats very quick. I think lancasters provisional results for year 1 is 20th july and official 26th July.
@KingscoteStaff that's an enterprising mind from DS, get straight to making money.
Will be nice when our DC are home again :) Cleaned up our storage cupboard ready for when she's brought her things back, and cleaned her wardrobe and drawers today. Its amazing that even when there's nothing in it, how much dust still gathers when they are away.

@KingscoteStaff it's good that ds is keen to work during summer.

I'm feeling guilty parent because not sure when dd is coming home.. She has her car with her and I think she would squeeze everything in but I also think that either her dad or I should probably go along and help her pack up everything... Its 4 flights of horrible stairs to her room.. so thinking dad would be more help than me.

Kingscote, because you couldn't possibly have had plans of your own!

It's DS's birthday on Wednesday and jab on Thursday so it's all go! I've been rewashing his clothes bit by bit, they all smell like he put them away damp.

Ds went to lake Windermere today with the whole flat. They went swimming and jumping off the jetty etc and had a lovely day. Ds has football social tomorrow which involves tubing down the river lune with lots of beers followed by grizedale extrav in the evening. Sounds messy. And cold .

Sounds like your Ds is making the most of the end of term fun... @speacialted.

Dd awaiting results of Pcr test.. All Lfts have been negative but one of her housemates tested positive yesterday having returned home at the weekend. The friendship group are avoiding parties etc. and are going off campus... They have just done.. come dine with me over several nights... Food looked amazing.

I know it's only the first year but dd just had results back and she's achieved a 1st this year... So pleased for her given how strange this year has been...

Congratulations to your dd @Daisysway ! Great result after the whole difficult year!

@Daisysway congrats to your DD on her first thats amazing :)
Pre summer exams for DD, the January ones shes currently on a 73%. She thinks she will get a 2:1 (as couple of exams in the summer she said was a bit dodgy). She would like a first as shes determine to try again for Oxbridge for her PHD (she got to interview stage on application for undergrad).
DD went to a physics cheese wine and nibbles social session on Tuesday. shes met up with new people thats shes never seen in person thats in her year, and also the staff came along too so that was nice for her. 1 flatmate is going on the 5th, another on the 8th and DD is the 10th. They have started to deep clean the flat now, and keep it clean going forward, so when the last person does go, they are not left with loads to do.

@specialted that sounds like a dream. lake windermere looks so nice, a perfect place to unwind and enjoy nature at its finest.
@SusannahSophia hope your DS has a good birthday yesterday :)

@sammyjoanne... Sounds like they are well organised... Only 5 of them left in dds house now..fortunately one of them is a bleach queen and they also have someone come in to clean kitchen from uni... I think dd has only hoovered her room once... (takes after her mum...a bit of dust does not harm anyone).

I'm popping up tomorrow to bring some of her things back (hopefully providing negative pcr). Dds results were very contrasting high 80s in some modules and 55 in one (but she knew she'd done badly in one module).. I think she probably needs the results to help her get the research work next summer... She's on a 4yr course and has indicated she would like to stay at Warwick for PhD too.

DS got sent photos from his flat of the now clean kitchen. That must have taken them some hours!

Well done Daisyway's DD. Still waiting on results here. DS isn't sure when they'll come out. First year just has to be passed but a good result is great for confidence and hopefully a predictor of future success. He'll need a 2:1 for teaching eventually and he's been happy that the course has been difficult but interesting so far.

Just trying to get a response out of Warwick re Dds accommodation. During the year she's had 2 instances where they were without hot water (5 days and 2 days)... She's had constant issues with shower... Slow drainage (had to buy drain unblocker) and the rooms at the top of the townhouse have had a ceiling leak and a toilet leak. They have had workmen in who have to drill into the walls (to get access to the pipes), they even did this during exams! I think they ALL should be getting a partial refund.. £174 a week self catering is not cheap and this was supposed to include having their ensuite bathrooms cleaned each week which hasn't happened due to covid.... Am I wrong in thinking a refund should be made? Dd gave permission for me to deal with this and Accommodation Manager clearly annoyed that I am dealing with this now... (she told dd last time the water went off that there was no need for me to be involved).... But given they did not even apologise last time I think I do need to be involved.

COVID spreading fast on Lancaster campus now which is so sad. DD had to pull out of extrav as some of the people on the table she was joining have to isolate. Really feel for her as she's only stayed up for that, the first proper social event. But not worth the risk now. God I hope that next year is better for them.