Another path - now we have a map

[chopc]

Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Natural Sciences
@Majaso12 -Imperial - don't know subject
@bendmeoverbackwards -Bristol- History
@Pumpkintopf -Imperial/Cambridge -Natural Sciences
@ChimneyPot -Brown (US) - ? Subject
@Stillcrikey -Bristol -MML
@Tenpastseven - Bristol -also modern languages?
@Longtimenewsee - Durham - Chemistry?
@MidLifeCrisis007 - Durham -History
@BigWoollyJumpers - Exeter- History
@SeasonFinale -Bristol- History

Virtual hugs @Pumpkintopf. Yes can reconcile later but you are allowed to feel upset for a while

@Majaso12 good luck to your DD with the driving test.

Thanks @chopc , appreciated.

Hope so. First time it was in rush hour and she got stuck behind a refuse lorry and cars were coming the other way so she waited until she felt it was safe and kept trying to pull out, but then a car behind overtook her so was an immediate fail. The last one it sounded like the examiner regretted giving her a major and said it was too late to take it back. Her instructor wasn’t happy about it. Feels like she’s never going to pass!

Oh that sounds tough @Majaso12. fingers crossed for this time.

DS has his test tomorrow! I’m not confident. He’s had so little practice what with lockdown and then his instructor slipped a disk! Hey ho, it’ll be whatever it is.

Am curious why someone overtaking whirl one was assessing the safety of getting around a stationary vehicle would be an immediate fail. I mean, the fact that white van man was up for the gap doesn’t mean I was necessarily safe.

Good luck to your DS still.

@Pumpkintopf I understand your reaction to the disappointment of the uni accommodation for your DS. I'm sure when he gets there he will be fine but after the upheaval over the last 18 months for our year 13's as a Mum you just want them to catch a break and have some good news.

Good luck to everyone who is managing to squeeze their driving tests in before uni another milestone for our young adults.

My DD is off on Saturday. I'm really not ready for her to go but I will plaster a smile of my face, be bright and breezy and crossing my fingers she settles in quickly. As she is an only child I won't have any distractions, other than work, to keep myself busy!

@Dobbyismyabsolutefav that's it precisely. Thank you.

Have you got anything nice planned as a distraction/reward for you once you successfully see DD off? It's not something I'm looking forward to at all but I know we have to let go. Hugs.

I’m not sure exactly. Think maybe because she missed a chance to go, but she didn’t think it was safe to go. The car that overtook her did when a car was coming the other way. The examiner was horrible and got her to pull over 4 times to adjust her mask and said he didn’t want to catch Covid. In the end she had her mask right to to her eyes.

@Pumpkintopf All we can do as parents is trust that everything will turn out for the best.

I am happily filling in my diary with lots of catch ups with friends over coffee or lunch so will have some fun things to do. I also dream of a overseas holiday but we will see on that one!

We have a midweek break booked in Ludlow for early November to take my mind off missing ds. I’ve got a rugby club fancy lunch the weekend after he leaves too.

We’ve also booked a one night stay in Bristol at the end of October to go and take ds out for dinner / and he can show us the sights. I figured if he was feeling homesick by then it would be better for us to go to him rather than him to come home.
Having said that, he’s told me today he’s already booked a flight from Bristol to Glasgow for a weekend in mid October to visit his girlfriend who is leaving for Glasgow Uni this Sunday! Flight so much cheaper than train! Nothing like forward planning is there? 🤣

dobby and still your plans sound ace.

One benefit of the Acton accommodation is there is apparently a travelodge right behind it. And DH has found a Fullers pub right next door. His favourite beer and we don't often get it on draught up here 😁. So, we can visit the wonders of Acton and sit in the pub drinking London Pride...

I think I need to plan some fun stuff. Had a good cry this evening. DS is saying he's not devastated and DH is doing a good job of selling the benefits- although DS's response to that was 'if it's so great why didn't we apply there'. Fair point!

Good luck with your ds’ test tomorrow @Stillcrikey. Dd has decided she’s bound to fail on something and not in a good mood.

Another who successfully used the art of distraction here. DS set off last week for his 10 months abroad and so DH and I left out youngest with his Grandparents and jetted off for a week in the sun. It really did stop me getting too upset. It kind of slowed down the transition of him being there to not being there rather than it being a big shock to the system if that makes sense?

I totally understand why you feel that way @Pumpkintopf. It feels like they are due some good luck doesn’t it?

Exactly @Tenpastseven . When feeling sorry for myself earlier it was just 'why can't this one thing just be what we want and plain sailing- why is it yet another hurdle to overcome'. I know I'm being pathetic. Thanks all for the understanding though- haven't bothered expressing this to friends IRL but I knew you lot would 'get it'.

It’s so it pathetic @Pumpkintopf. They deserve a break after all they’ve endured recently.

But as my wise old mother used to say ‘it’s a long road that doesn’t turn’.
I truly believe that what happens for us all is usually the right thing and if it isn’t, there’ll be another thing. X

Ffs. It’s NOT pathetic 😳

I don’t think it’s pathetic either (I think that’s what @Stillcrikey was trying to say there?). I think it’s a normal and healthy response in the moment and we’ve all felt it. It does feel like you've had a prolonged shitter of a time though with the adjustment and then this. Sending hugs.

I spent too long posting and missed @Stillcrikey’s clarification there

Thanks @Tenpastseven. That’s exactly what I meant.
It does seem that you and yours have had more than your fair share of shit breaks @Pumpkintopf.
Your ds will work it out and be just grand, he’s clearly one of the good ones. Plus there’s the bonus of Fullers on draught.
Have a hug from me too.

@Pumpkintopf

Exactly *@Tenpastseven* . When feeling sorry for myself earlier it was just 'why can't this one thing just be what we want and plain sailing- why is it yet another hurdle to overcome'. I know I'm being pathetic. Thanks all for the understanding though- haven't bothered expressing this to friends IRL but I knew you lot would 'get it'.

I'm not on this thread much though follow from time to time to see how you're all getting on. Just to say that this sounds totally understandable - but also that dd's best friend got this accommodation today too (and had wanted more central accommodation in Kensington though I'm not sure exactly what). Apparently she knows other people that have been there before and really loved it there so hopefully your ds will as well. She's getting excited about the extra money she will have each month apparently! X

@Pumpkintopf I hope that accommodation works out for your DS and he ends up delighted he went there.

DD tested positive for Covid on her weekly test in Brown at the weekend so has been quarantining in a hotel since.
I was quite worried and stressed at first about her being alone and unwell but she doesn’t seem sick and a few of her new friends also tested positive the next day so they are in the quarantine hotel too. They are allowed to go for walks together in the grounds.
All the quarantining students are in a group chat and check in on each other.
She is catching up on all the sleep she missed by partying last week and the professors of the classes she was shopping have sent her the online version of the classes.

I thought her sprained ankle last week was an eventful start, I wasn’t expecting this.
All of the students are fully vaccinated but the university was prepared for break through cases and had the quarantine hotel ready.

Still and Ten - you're so very kind, thank you, really appreciated.

@Chilldonaldchill that's really helpful, thank you - and have mentioned to DS he will have more spare cash!

Some poor soul on TSR was allocated Chapter Islington which wasn't an option available to choose, apparently it's a shared hall Imperial have bought space in (80 beds) to honour their 'first year accommodation guarantee'. At least DS will be going into an Imperial hall of 600 imperial students, with another 600 three minutes walk away - I'd be even more unhappy if he'd got somewhere like this. Apparently, like most places this year, the university is oversubscribed. 🙄

@ChimneyPot oh gosh that puts my whinging into perspective, your poor DD and poor you worrying about her from so far away. So does Brown operate a separate quarantine hotel for all students who test positive? That sounds very proactive, unlike the poor students this last year who were struggling to get food etc delivered. With some friends there too hopefully it'll be a straightforward quarantine and she won't feel too poorly.

@Pumpkintopf I’m sorry your ds didn’t get the hall he wanted. I know what you mean about wanting them to have something easy that goes their way after such a crap year. I feel confident that your ds will move in, make friends and live it

@ChimneyPot.. sorry to hear your Dd tested positive ! You must have been really worried and wondering how ill she might be. So glad she has been ok . I am impressed that Brown has its own quarantine hotel!!

Still waiting waiting waiting on Durham accommodation here. Dd received email yesterday saying her college are using another random accommodation block on a different side of Durham for 51 self catered students. I am impressed that dd is remaining positive atm. Shes gone into proactive mode and has emailed her dept about modules. Good move I think to focus on the one definite thing she knows is going ahead as normal.

Thanks @Longtimenewsee - I can't believe you're still waiting to hear. Hope it's sorted very soon.