University 2019/20 intake: vacations, vaccinations, va-va-voom restored and virtually into their third year

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simbobs yes complete pain especially when the health secretary has a complete different set of ‘rules’ for himself.
Dd1 got the jab yesterday and is now feeling rougher than we did. Not sure if this means she may have been exposed to it in the past or she has less tolerance to pain. Or maybe I have less tolerance to moaning?!

I'll be so glad when DS has his. Having cancelled it last week it has been rebooked for Thursday but he could have gone to a walk-in to get one today. Wouldn't go, because he didn't want to queue. Sigh...

Anyone on here Friends fans? I need an argument settling. Is Central Perk a play on Central Park in New York and a coffee percolator or a play on coffee perking you up?

What an exhausting weekend. Drove up yesterday to help DD and her housemates to clean the house. Five other parents were there. We all spent the enitre weekend cleaning an 8 bedroom, 4 bathroom house. One student had left early and not done the cleaning that had been allocated to them, so there was extra work there.

The landlord came round and looked through everything with a fine toothcomb - running a finger over the outside of the front door to look for dust and examining the underside of setteee cushons, mattresses etc. He was rude to everyone and all the students and parents were pretty pissed off with him.

Then, finally drove home with DD and all her stuff. I don't recommend driving while tired.

We aren't sure how much of the deposit the students will get back, but I know that if he keeps all of the deposits it will be challenged.

I hope eveyone has a lovely summer.

@RampantIvy that was very diligent of you. I know that I would be the only person doing the cleaning at DS's flat so I am going to let them forfeit the deposit if need be.

@Benjispruce3 I think the first suggestion.

Thank you @simbobs, me too.

@Benjispruce3 I think so too. But not 💯 sure

@RampantIvy, my DD has just moved into a short-term let to finish her Masters diss. The rent is £££ When she went yesterday, the previous tennant had left stuff in the cupboards and bedding on the bed! She had to clean it herself

Some landlords/lady’s are awful

While I thought DD's landlord was being pedantic and rude @bigTillyMint, I must admit that when DD moved into the house it was absolutely spotless. And he did sort out broadband, heating and other problems when they arose.

It was a lovely house in very good condition, and much better than I expected - my experience of student accommodation being rather grim.

Two of her friends who are having to defer a year because their year abroad isn't happening, now have jobs, and moved into their rather shabby flat this weekend. DD is delighted that they will be living on the same road. She will also be much nearer all of her course friends as well.

I'm sure the extremely thorough landlords are the exception to the rule, particularly with student lets. But well done for helping with the big clean-up @RampantIvy.

How disappointing for the young people who are not getting their years abroad.

I can see a tsunami of students heading off to let their hair down once they've finished their studies, can't you? Although I guess that will depend on whether the pandemic has waned by summer 2022.

I was pleasantly surprised that everyone pulled their weight with the big clean up. We were all exhausted, emotionally as well as physically. Everyone helped each other with leading cars as well.

They are such a nice bunch.

Then when we got home DD's best friend came round straight away because she had missed her.

RampantIvy did your Dd and flatmates manage to avoid covid then? Well done if so! Dd has avoided it - not sure how - only to come home then have to isolate for a day waiting for the negative pcr from her sister!

Luckily the rentals for year 2 and 3 overlap so it’s just transferring from one street to another next month. I hope this will be less painful.

Hope your DD2 tests negative @Zandathepanda. What a PITA for your DD1. Good that the house rentals have overlap and are so close.

DS still hasn't got his next year's rental sorted. They were holding out for a fifth flatmate (some of his current ones are graduating this year) but have decided to make do with the four of them.

Yes she tested negative which was a relief. I think there’s been so much uncertainty and chopping/changing for students this year - Dd managed to get her flat last minute when her internship fell through.

That's good news @Zandathepanda.

DS informs me they've got a place almost sorted now but annoyingly there will be a ten-day gap between the end of the current tenancy and the start of the new one.

I've been following but not posted for a while.

DD has been at home since she returned in November. Got her lockdown job back and has been doing 34 pw and uni work. Had her first vaccine. Meant to the doing a year abroad next year, personally I doubt that'll happen - either way she can't book accommodation until she knows in August.

My needle phobic DS had his 1st jab today - yay! It was touch and go as to whether he would be able to go through with it for a while, but we are both glad that he did. Not even a sore arm so far, either.

He is moving some things into the new flat tomorrow and handing in his keys to the current one. He spent less than 3 weeks there in the final term yet paid full rent, but doesn't think he will get any of the deposit back due to the indifferent habits of those who did stay there. Such a pain as he is really short of money. He is only planning on staying the weekend but may reconsider if he thinks he could get work there. Some of his friends are doing so but are having to work nights, which he really doesn't fancy.

What course is your DD doing that she has time to work 34 hours a week in a job @ifonly4?

DD's biomed course is pretty full on, and even if she didn't have health issues she still wouldn't have time to work. She had hours and hours of online lectures and seminars, plus lab practicals when they could be arranged.

Sorry, I never answered your queation @Zandathepanda. As far as I know yes, although they did have several scares. Thank goodness your DD tested negative.

The last weeks of term which should have been a time for fun has been clouded by this horrible pandemic. The planned day trips never went ahead, but DD and her household managed to have a barbecue and get to the coast.

She has just had her exam results in and, happily, she achieved a first. I understand that these results go towards her degree. I'm dreading her third year. Her second year was stressful enough with the workload. I hope DD can keep on top of her work.

I hope everyone has a lovely and healthy summer.

RampantIvy fantastic news about the 1st. I know another biomed student who certainly doesn’t put as much effort in so nice to hear hard work paying off. Yes it’s been a horrible end to horrible year. Dd has a couple of things she’s going back too - the theory is there must be a certain degree of herd immunity now at least!

DD is supposed to be going back for a summer ball in a few weeks time, but I can't see that going ahead the way things are going now. You just can't make plans these days

Off to collect DD today, exams finally over! Can’t wait to have her home for a few weeks (restarts first week September), hopefully they can all enjoy some downtime over summer as the situation allows. Trying to be positive and on that note, I’m so proud of the resilience she has shown in unprecedented times, as I’m sure you all are of yours. Fingers crossed for a good summer “see” you all for 3rd year soon!

Hello - found you all. So good to hear that vaccines are available for them all now.

We've been planning today for DD's return to uni in Chicago. Booking flights, hotels etc. The uni is going to be fully in person from Sept onwards which will be great. DD really needs to have a normal year.

She was going to try to get a flat with friends but it was too complicated so she's going to live in the same sorority house as last year but in a single room. She's a bit sad about that as she adored her roommate last year but also happy to have privacy again. It's a great location in a quad right on campus.

DD2 will be starting her freshman year at university nearer us, in Massachusetts. It'll be nice that we can drive there. I've yet to actually be allowed inside any of the buildings so I'm really excited about dropping her off. They're also going to be fully in-person.

DD's boyfriend will also be heading back to uni early August so by the end of August we'll have gone from 6 at home to 3. I'm quite looking forward to it.

DD is supposed to be going back for a summer ball in a few weeks time, I hope she does get to go. Well done to her with her first too.

Hope you are enjoying quality family time with your DD safely home @sergeantmajormum.

@ZZTopGuitarSolo good to hear that your DDs are galvanising to return/go to university. You will be lost with only three at home after having six for so long! Staying in the sorority house sounds a sensible way to go for your DD1.

DS has now sorted out his student house for next year. Otherwise, he seems to be enjoying some downtime with his housemates and wider friendship group at the moment.

Everyone else's DC seem to be homeward bound, whereas my DS is heading in the other direction. His failure to find work close to home mean that he is moving to his new student house just so that he can earn the money to pay the rent on it. I'm pretty sure that the shine will have worn off by the time term starts, and am going to miss him.