Durham University

[KingscoteStaff]

The continuation thread for those with DC at Durham, or applying to Durham, or alumni, or staff!

September 2021 finds us packing, unpacking, meeting old friends and new, and all with our fingers firmly crossed for a positive year!

Dd hasn’t even finished packing yet and I am at the amount of stuff she’s accumulated . I’m going to go through all the clothes tomorrow and try to pare it down a little.

Getting stressful here too - have 6 more loads of washing to do and piles stuff to pack everywhere to get both DS and DD off to Durham this weekend! They are both counting down the days to go. DD has been busy buying stuff for freshers week and also her matriculation outfit. We're planning to stay over in Harrogate on Sunday night but haven't actually booked anything yet, can't believe we're so disorganised but sure it will all come together....

Loving WhereIsMumHiding3's enthusiasm - adds to the build up of excitement!

Yes, also enjoyed @WhereIsMumHiding3's post!
We are going up today and staying over tonight ready for drop off tomorrow morning.
Haven't started packing the car yet but there is a LOT. No cricket kit but a guitar, cushions, lamps, clothes rack etc!

@321zyx - omnishambles is the perfect word.

Being a control freak parent I have pretty much organised all ds' stuff apart from his clothes/shoes which I am leaving him to do today. We are leaving first thing tomorrow so he needs to get cracking.

My younger dd was very tearful this morning, I think the constant talk about people going away is getting to her, she is very sensitive. I keep telling her that he will be back before we know it....

Now getting mildly worried re the fuel situation! We live 275 miles from Durham, my car has a range of circa 300 miles. I was at our local Shell petrol station at 7am (on the way to walk the dog) and there were queues and half the pumps weren't operating. I have visions of making it to Durham on Sunday but not home again on Monday - I'm guessing motorway service areas might get priority so shall have to top up at premium prices.

Aww @Vargas. Sounds like your ds has a v sweet sister there
We have so much to sort today and will be leaving at silly o’clock tomorrow morning.. I’m already exhausted!. She registered for the gp up there last night and sorted a declaration form for an (elective) language module. Slowly getting there..

Ahhh now I'm envious of you lot getting up at silly o'clock Saturday when we have to wait until silly o'clock Sunday 🤪

I am getting nervous about the fuel situation too. Today's headlines will no doubt create further panic and I guess we'll have to add extra time to the itinerary for petrol station queueing.

@321zyx I echo your concern , we are 260 miles away , it’s something else to worry about !

Similar, we are 267! Full tank now, will hopefully refuel on motorway.

I managed to fill the car up - however tyre pressure light not going off despite checking pressures. Apparently it could be because we haven't driven it for long distances enough 🙈

274 here , now worrying that we should have gone for the Sunday slot if they are not feeding them or anything . Ds has found someone else from school who is Saturday so says if nothing going on he will
Meet up ,

On the fuel I have just filled up my car , petrol seemed to be ok but no diesel at all and several people saying the his was their second or third stop ( this was on A14)

I thought I would be like 600miles away 🙈 but it's 252 - so you guys beat us. The local shell garage was out of everything

Dh filled the car yesterday just as the news was breaking about shortages. We have less than 100 miles to drive, it is a day trip for us thank goodness.

@libbytrois and anyone else asking about the GP surgery, you can register online www.durham.ac.uk/colleges-and-student-experience/welcome-and-orientation/essential-medical-information/ and you will need their red books as it asks dates for vaccinations. We discussed this on another thread and a GP said that in a university town where a large proportion of patients are students they rely heavily on those new students registering as they obviously lose a lot of students after graduation. They need the registrations to stay afloat financially. I am just repeating what she/he said.

If when at home a student requires treatment that goes over a number of days then they have to register as a temporary patient with their local surgery, so basically if they need repeat prescriptions etc make sure they are topped up before returning home. Some GP surgeries at home are great some not so much. If any of that is incorrect I am happy to be corrected but that is my memory recall of it.

To everyone heading to Durham this weekend, safe travelling!

There is plenty of petrol around, it's more the queues to panic buy it are causing the problem according to Sainsbury's. I've just been there and there's a huge queue. I suggested I spent the next hour or so filling a can up from the pump and selling it to the people at the back for double the price. They laughed, said "no" and went and fetched my click and collect I'd accidentally turned up an hour early for.

Just be aware that the procedure for registering as a temporary patient has changed . I ‘m not sure what to do , ds1 was quite seriously ill at university, of course as soon as they are ill you fetch them, we then had the most enormous problems because all his notes were stuck in the system , we couldn’t get back into our home surgery easily ( our GP did see him anyway ) couldn’t get referred to the consultant here unless the GP in Leeds did it , he was just a name to them so they wouldn’t without seeing him. But he was 300 miles away . I think if ds3 needs a doctors appointment I will suggest online or phone with our GP here , if it’s an emergency he can be seen anyway . They are only there 27 weeks a year .

160 miles from here.. not actually far but an awkward journey and usually with heavy traffic . Takes 3.5-4 hours when we’ve done it previously . Perhaps our silly oclock move in slot tomorrow will mean we’ll zoom there in less than 3 hours.. who knows.

I ummed and aahed about Dd moving gp to Durham but tbh most appointments here are telephone or virtual (or impossible to get!) so I figure she could probably have a telephone appt here during holidays (with her gp in Durham) if needed.

I have been unsuccessful getting diesel , DH has now taken over the baton while I look at train times 😟

Diesel is nearly out round here partially because a local station got water in it a few weeks ago and hasn't got it working again, but I don't think there's an issue further out.

Dd has toothache.
And dental phobia.
And none of the Durham dentists will give her an appointment before 1st November. Apparently that's an emergency one
111 says ask your local dentists.

I think she may be coming home sooner than expected

I've contacted her lovely home dentist and posted (guaranteed next day delivery) a prescription for antibiotics, and we're trying to work out when she can get home without causing too much to be missed. Hurrah for on-line learning at least!

@Bluebellwoods1 oh dear. Local petrol station was back up and running with queues causing traffic

To the Durham alumni here - does most social events happen in the colleges / Uni itself or do people venture to clubs in Durham and Newcastle often?

London was my playground at Uni so complete different experience

DH has just paid a ridiculous amount per litre at a local petrol station as the cheaper supermarket one has queues for miles. When I passed it first thing this morning it was 15p cheaper than it was at lunchtime, the profiteering bastards.
Would have been happy to let the panic buying pass us by on any other weekend, but can’t risk it!

@chopc we did both, also societies have their social events and Balls for example the Law Society and the English Society have good balls, also you can go to other colleges balls. People go to clubs in town and we used to sometimes go to Newcastle clubbing or shopping etc .

We arrived in Durham this afternoon for drop-off. It's so beautiful and there's already a buzz from the students who have arrived.

Here's praying they all have an amazing time here - make good friends and good choices!

Safe travels to everyone coming up this weekend.

Managed to get petrol this morning after short queue. Just walked past same petrol station, massive queue, traffic jam etc...

it's 275 miles for us, just wondering how difficult it might be to get back, .