Another path ....... the journey begins

[chopc]

Hello @321zyx @AvocadoPlant @bendmeoverbackwards @BigWoollyJumpers @Braveheart35 @calculatorqueen @ChimneyPot @Dobbyisahouseelf @Eastisup @jano69 @Majaso12 @MidLifeCrisis007 @NCTDN @Notagardener @OnTheBenchOfDoom @Parsonage63 @Pumpkintopf @Peaseblossum22 @quest1on @Peaseblossum22 @SATSmadness @SeasonFinale @Tenpastseven @Vargas @Xenia

Apologies for anyone I omitted to tag

Well @Pumpkintopf it sounds as if your DS has had an 'adventure' of late. Your comment on the mittens on a piece of string made me chuckle.

My DD was very worried about the talk of people being injected in clubs as apparently there was a case in Exeter this week. I actually joined the Facebook group to see what was being said. My stress levels certainly went up a notch as I'm not sure how our teenagers can protect themselves.

My DD is saying lots of sports clubs socials are cancelled and no clubbing on Monday at Exeter as a way of protesting.

On a happier note My DD is coming home on Friday for a long weekend and I can't wait to see her. She has a three day field trip next week so no lectures and apparently all the first year Geographers are going home.

Talking of growing up, I congratulated DD on "adulting" today. She has been ill again the last couple of days, but again, just a random not feeling well virus, which seems to have cleared through. She messaged tutors, missed a seminar, but got the notes, and caught up with the lecture on-line. She had to cancel her pre-booked flu vaccine, which was a bit of a shame, and somewhat ironic.

Today she got up early, her first day of feeling better, accompanied her BF to hospital for a scan (long story), which turned out well. She then went back to uni to attend a lecture. She will then make lunch at her flat, and this afternoon she is going to see some flats with the flatmates. I didn't even know they were looking yet!

I spoke to DS last night as he had a deadline today for his first piece of written work and was getting confused about referencing! Sounds like there are some students who really haven't got up to speed yet. DS was talking to one lad about the essay deadline and asking how much he'd done etc and it turns out this lad haden't even done the relevant reading and was out clubbing last night! He thought he had until the end of today to submit it, but apparently it was actually 10 am this morning! Oops!

DS is coming back for reading week on Saturday - getting a lift back with a school friend who's also there.

Well, have taken a screenshot about all this spiking and injecting stuff and sent it to dd.

Hi @SeasonFinale sorry that might have been misleading- his replacement Oyster and Citizen cards were both chargeable, I think his replacement monzo card was free.

Actually- no, apparently it was £5!

@Pumpkintopf
What is a citizen card?Oyster card comes through fairly quickly(we applied Sept 19-took 3days)

@Engley - just another form of ID, widely accepted and cheaper to replace than a drivers license or (God forbid!) a passport-

www.citizencard.com/

@Dobbyismyabsolutefav yes I had heard of a case in Exeter, very worrying indeed. Hope you have a lovely weekend with your dd, what have you got planned? Or does she just want to chill at home and have some nice home cooked food?

Had a chat with dd about the spiking/injecting. She's well informed and knew about it all before me. She's not a big clubber but goes occasionally. She's got a nice group of friends on her corridor and they all look out for each other. Doesn't stop us parents worrying though.

Some exciting (but potentially expensive!) news from dd - she has been looking at a term/semester abroad for next year. The deadline for application is looming and there is quite a bit of work involved to apply - along the lines of a personal statement I think. The opportunities look fantastic - students can go to the US, Australia and Japan among others. Dd likes the look of Rutgers in New Jersey especially as we have family over there. We have discussed the financial implications but dh and I think if we can afford it, she should do it.

I think Rutgers would be fabulous. It is one of the old colonial colleges.
I think the semester abroad experience is great. I did Erasmus years ago and think everyone should get the opportunity to study abroad.

Thanks @ChimneyPot I just hope she gets it, it’s quite competitive I think.

Ooh that does sound exciting! Hope she gets it!

Would she not at least get a bit of reduction in student fees (seems to remember from DC1, although a week after his application it got cancelled due to Covid)

Good luck to your Dd @bendmeoverbackwards
DS also looking to do a year abroad ,I think he has to do well in his first year and it’s competitive.
Copenhagen,UC Berkeley,Po sciences.
I think he will need to find out more esp cost etc.
@Notagardener-where was your DC1 planning to go?Was it straight forward applying?

Engley, he applied for Seattle. There were several forms to filll in but I think he got some help from his (London uni) tutor.

How is your DC enjoying LSE? DC2 seems to be busy, lots of activities, some sport things but also events related to her course.

@bendmeoverbackwards How exciting for your DD and what a wonder opportunity to study abroad fingers crossed she gets excepted.

We are out for dinner with extended family on Saturday which I am really looking forward to. Other than that I think my DD just wants to enjoy home comforts of being fed and sleeping in her own bed.

Any other Bristol parents struggling to pay the accommodation fees? Don’t know if it’s me but it seems very complicated. The accommodation office sent me instructions, I have DD’s log in to the portal to see the invoice - but ‘fees and funding’ isn’t there!

@Notagardener DS seems happy and very busy.He can’t believe it’s been just over a month since he started uni-feels like a lot longer for all of us.

He’s becoming selective over night outs as he feels he wants to be on top of work.I still think he’s trying to work out balance between nights out/activities and university work.

@bendmeoverbackwards, I haven’t tried to pay accommodation yet. I was going to leave it to ds to be honest. He did say it wasn’t due till 23rd which seems odd as that’s Saturday. I’ll message him to check tomorrow and report back.

It’s due on the 24th @Stillcrikey either an instalment or the full amount.

Ta. I have asked him to check but I suspect he thinks they’ll just take it out of his bank. I’m not sure and even if they do, I want to make bloody sure they only try to take the instalment cos sure as hell not paying full analyst in one go (and he doesn’t have the funds to cover that anyway).
We are going down on Saturday so if I don’t get sense out of him tomorrow, I’ll push him to check / sort on Saturday.

I don’t think they just take it @Stillcrikey he has to find his invoice (from student portal) then decide how much he’s paying.

Cheers. I’ve messaged and asked him to him to check and sort (and report back) tomorrow.