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.

Easiest way is to take a screen shot on your phone, then crop it as needed and save it to your phone. Then it's easy to upload.

Glad to hear that some will be living the grotty life this year. Back in the 80s a foul student house was a badge of honour . One would nod appreciatively at gas pipes hanging off the wall, slugs roaming the sitting room, and, the piece de resistance, the household with no bathroom door .

I was quite surprised reading HE threads in recent times with parents fretting about the decor and contacting landlords etc. It’s sucking all the fun out of things!

Oh I've got a squirrel pic somewhere that D1 sent last year, they were told not to open the windows as the squirrels would come in. I'll see if I can find it. Unfortunately, her house this year does have slugs in the kitchen which she's finding very upsetting.

Squirrel

Lovely squirrel! Looks anxious though.

I've just seen that my old WhatsApp messages haven't carried through to my new phone. So, work in progress to retrieve!

@goodbyestranger

Best of luck to all those trying to source fuel. The further south you go the madder it gets. Once you get towards Manchester travelling in a northerly direction, peace/ sense seem to prevail.

I will get some before we set off tomorrow.

I can confirm that there's no shortage of fuel north of the border

@JulesJules

Squirrel

looks ready todon boxing gloves!

Avoid the M6 Toll services Unescorted.

On closer inspection, that squirrel's pupils are dilated.

Good news is that DD4 has managed to negotiate a path between boxes into her bed. She reports that she spent all day yesterday throwing up into her bin, from her bed, thanks to rice food poisoning from a sushi place, apparently.

(I held back from asking the obvious question).

DH is applying for domestic sainthood status - I got up this morning to procure fuel to find he had already been out to the 24hr garage before going to bed last night. I have enough to get there and back.

Now just waiting for DD to get her arse home from one last night out with her mates in Manchester.

(I held back from asking the obvious question).

It might be obvious to everyone else, but is the obvious question:
"how do you know it was the rice?"
or "too much alcohol?"
or "are you pregnant?"

(I think I've at least narrowed it down to one of those).

#2 DadDadDad is bang on the money.

It's a good job she cleared the path to the door Goodbye!
Poor lass though.

Safe travels Unescorted, especially in the rain and wind.

dh has ventured off with dd. The big questions are though - will he be able to score buns from Fitzbillies and will he find fuel on the way home? A supplementary question is - how much fridge and freezer space will she have this year? (very important question actually!)

just read your update. I'm such a gullible softy.

I have a child.... she will be sobering up on the drive down. Currently packing on adrenaline.

Dad3 I had narrowed it down to the same mental list.

We are swinging by a supermarket once we see how much space / cooking facilities are there. Last year her cooking things didn't even get unpacked.

Happy travels unescorted
dd has proper kitchen facilities this year. that's a nice surprise. Room is decent too. Looks freshly decorated. Not much storage, but she's a student, she'll be fine. I remember throwing sheets over cardboard boxes and optimistically turning them into bookshelves as a student.

DS just phoned from O. He went to a JCR-organised trip to a nightclub last night, but didn't enjoy it (he likes to drink but is not keen on dancing or the inability to have a conversation).

Small aside: his college is so small that the J in JCR stands for joint not junior.

DD has moved in. She has an ensuite bedroom with comfy chairs and a coffee table and a separate study area. She has a long lease and lots of sport commitments, so the kitchenette next door shared between 4 and a proper kitchen downstairs will definitely get used.

DadDadDad DD has volunteered to be the sober JCR rescuer for a couple of club nights. I suppose their year group has had limited chance to get into clubbing.

Yes, this was a catch-up from not being able to have events like this last year. I believe it was DS's first time inside a night-club.

OYBBK.. Fitzbillies had run out of Chelsea buns last Sunday. the horror. I always get some for DD for her breakfast after going back. In fairness it was late in the afternoon after a museum and Heffers trip. Her JCR is open this year , first bop next week. Formal hall too.Lots of sport, lots of come and eat our canapés and sign away your soul offers, lots of stuff generally. I think she’s helping guide freshers this weekend.

dd advises any Cambridge people to pack pasta with them before they return. There is none in sainsburys apart from some lentil pasta. Also advises no extra mature cheddar and a shortage of interesting juice.

hobemma that is very sad! Happily they have been procured today. Life seems pretty normal at dds college too. There are some covid restrictions and mitigation's, but so much better than last year.

Jules, I LOVE the squirrel photo! Thanks.

It's great hearing about people's experiences being back. My two are now safely delivered at O and C. I'm so so happy for them both as each has a much better room this year, with the greatest contrast for DS1 (C). Although he doesn't have an en suite this year, his room is in a much nicer part of his college, much bigger, quieter and the whole building is lovely.

DS2 (O) - still in college too this year - also has an upgrade, which in his case means having an en suite this time, although his room last year was lovely too. Both have views of trees/ greenery/ college grounds and I think both will also be quieter.

My own experience of dropping them off was massively better this year than when they arrived as Freshers last year. There was no scurrying in quickly, feeling the colleges' disapproval that any parent at all was going inside and only one parent per student allowed in for a very limited time slot.

This time, DS1 (C) came with us to O and helped settle DS2 in his room and then DS2 went off and brought us back a coffee each from the college refectory and we sat around chatting. DS2 has a huge desk and lots of bookcases in his room and a very large cork board, so is really happy about that.

Today, I dropped off DS1 (C) - obviously without DS2 able to come - but spent well over an hour settling him in and chatting. It all felt very relaxed and easy.

At O, I met lots of DS2's friends who were so welcoming and lovely. DS2 is running lots of Freshers events and 'babysitting' their clubbing nights (despite never yet having been to a club himself) but there are also lots of great Re-Fresher events for second years. He spent his first night out with friends for dinner and the pub and is really happy.

At C, I also met a couple of DS1's friends who were lovely too. He'll probably do something with friends tonight and has his belated Matric. ceremony and Formal Hall (his first) and belated Matric. photo shortly. It all seems so much better than last year and I do hope the Covid restrictions continue not to blight their lives.

No petrol at all at any petrol station I passed en route to O and C but thankfully, I had a full tank. Hope that gets sorted soon too.