Cambridge and Oxford - ongoing chat for those with a student currently studying there

[DadDadDad]

Some of us have found these threads helpful, so I'm starting a new one to take us through

...end-of-year exams (and parties)

...homecoming for the vacation (and hibernation aestivation for this thread?)

...return in the autumn (and more normal college life?)

Posters old and new welcome to join the discussion. Any tips for finding a summer job?

Oh, and for reference, I have a DS just completing his first year in a small humanity in a tiny college.

My DS is also claiming that he's not heard of any covid cases at his O college. I'm wondering if he's just not reading the emails! We are supposed to be getting him tomorrow, so hopefully all will be well!
Well done to everyone who made unplanned dashes!

I picked up DD1 today. Horrid end to the term for her as many many people have tested positive. None of them were her close contacts so she hasn’t been asked to isolate but there was a big (official, organised) social event last night so… a possible superspreader thing. She is isolating at home for a few days to await developments.

DD is hating every minute of being trapped in her room before being released next Sunday to come straight home. She's lost her sense of taste & smell today. I'm secretly hoping that the weather will stay dull & gloomy too, as her room heats up like a sauna in hot weather.

@Hoghgyni - it's such a shame for her to have this happen now.

Sympathies for those DC stuck in isolation. DD came home from C on Saturday, many of her peers still in college were put in isolation that evening /yesterday. Her relief somewhat tempered by the track and trace she got last night…..( and I wonder what we’d have done if, as planned, we were boarding a plane for Greece!). She’s double jabbed. And cross. Trying to see the positives “you can make a dent in your course work, darling” .. Very pleased to have her home and not yet annoyed by the mountain of stuff . Fingers crossed they all get to do some of things they’d hoped this summer.

I thought DD told me she "carried a watermelon" yesterday, using the immortal line from Dirty Dancing. It turned out that she carved a watermelon for an online challenge. That was the highlight of her iso day.

Much sympathy to those stuck in SI. A very grim end to a tough academic year.

A nice bit of good news from DS who has passed his first year with a "could-have-been-worse" grade. He's now enjoying some end of term events including a black tie dinner and a matriculation photo (I think involving photoshop...).

That's good news @pantjog

I'm absolutely chuffed to bits for your DS after all his struggles pantjog.

Good news, @Pantjog

That’s great news @pantjog! What a relief. Anxiously waiting here to find out if DS needs to resit a module to pass first year ( a mess up entirely of his own making). DT2 back to Uni for clinical catch up; she’s not going to finish til August ; she’s not thrilled , esp as DT1 now home

I'm thrilled for your DS and you, pant. My DS was told by a second year that the objective of first year was to get as close to 45% as possible without failing. The unspoken assumption was that the time not spent studying should be spent having fun and of course that hasn't been so easy this year. Glad your DS is having fun now though. Hopefully face to face teaching will make things much, much easier from now on.

My DS doesn't have his results, although his course did exams relatively early. Or at least, he hasn't told me his results..

Aren’t you all lovely! Thank you!

Well done, @pantjog DS! I think anyone who was able to keep their spirits (and their studies) up this year should be very proud of themselves. If they also managed to make friends and do a little exercise or extra-curricular, then fabulous!
My DD is hopefully coming home from C tomorrow! Worried as she's been to a few parties and may be alerted to SI. Fingers crossed we get her home before that happens.
Re grades, I'm not sure if she's got them yet. I think she has done ok, but she said she could have done better on a couple of essays.
The good news is, this year has reaffirmed her love of her course and subject, and she has even changed her mind on her favourite aspects of the course. One element she was worried about has become her favourite. So I think that is good news.

Well done to Pantjog's son

Congrats pantjog after such a difficult year. You and he must be mighty chuffed!

Well done @pantjog's DS.

Spoke to DD after the football. Her graduation is going ahead (cross fingers please) on Friday afternoon. We are allowed to watch it from her college who have put up a big screen in the dining marquee but obviously can't go to the Senate House. There will be drinks & nibbles afterwards. DD has planned to get lots of photos beforehand, formal ones and snaps. There is a parental dress code - DD might work hard and get good results but didn't think to communicate it to us until I asked!

I booked a Premier Inn pretty cheaply so it's not a massive issue if things change, but I really hope we can soldier on that far. Cases of Covid in my school are going up with 4 teachers being sent home to SI today. Thank goodness I haven't been near them. Just planning to keep my distance from everyone now.

Hurray to pantjog and her son.

Malbecfan, wishing you and your DD a wonderful day on Friday.

Oh phew, so glad to hear that pantjog.

I'm glad she's hanging in there creatively Hog. Another day ticked off.

That's excellent news Pantjog.

I hope you can have a wonderful day Malbec. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Glad your DDs college is able to go ahead, Malbec. We've cancelled our hotel booking - the weather forecast is iffy and with cases rising rather sharply in Cambridge, it just didn't make sense.

@ErrolTheDragon I'm sorry to read that. I think Friday looks better in terms of weather there. Hopefully we can pack and not get too wet on Saturday but will most likely be driving 230 miles home through the rain - joy! I'm still convinced a spanner will be thrown into the works for us too; sorted the puncture, new tyres and brake pads so I just need fuel now, and to get through 2 afternoons of school.

Well done to pantjog's DS! That is good news.

Have a wonderful day Malbec. Hope it all goes well.

Really sorry that your plans aren't going ahead Errol.

DS (C) has been home since late Sunday. We have tickets for Wimbledon tomorrow so DS took a LFT this morning to comply with the ticket conditions and to our complete dismay it was positive. As was the second one. I booked a PCR test for him this morning and now our household is in SI. DS has had to postpone his first COVID vaccination. Fortunately, his first internship which starts on Monday is online.

oh no Often :( that's rubbish!
I'm sorry Errol too. It's all totally and utterly pants. Stupid bollocksy covid.

Well said OTBBK