Durham University

[KingscoteStaff]

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

January 2022 finds our DC packing their big coats, checking the forecast for snow and wondering when Michaelmas actally is...?

Assemble!
@LostToucan @tinkywinkyshandbag @OnTheBenchOfDoom @TheSilveryPussycat @MargaretThursday @MrsTabithaTwitchit @CeliaCanth @Ingles2 @OlivePenderghast @Tinseltrauma @alterego2 @nipersvest @999caz @jan069 @Beetlesand @par05 @chopc @LeiatheSchnauzer @janinlondon @Baytreemum @MidLifeCrisis007 @SpringSparrow @Revengeofthepangolins @Greyhair59 @oppie1234 @Braveheart35 @Meery @Vargas @libbytrois @WentworthMillerMad @allonenow2 @Suki2 @TerfTerf @bigTillyMint @whoatethelastbiscuit @cluelessly @GoTrevs @Peaseblossum22 @WinterRobin @PhoebeFriends @Longtimenewsee @321zyx @clan17 @wewereliars @sub453 @Bluebellwoods1 @Peasepuddingplease @SpamhappyTootsie @fruitygal @clan17 @instanthistory @Motherknowsbest100 @OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea

@doubleshotcappuccino - glad your DD is looking forward to it now! Feel free to ask any other questions!

@Baytreemum Thank you so much,really appreciate that and this wonderful kind support xx

Is anyone planning next year's graduation yet?? I'm not usually so organized, but DS tells me that accommodation gets booked up a long time in advance. The problem is we don't know the exact date; he says the graduation ceremonies will take place between Monday 26th June - Friday 30th June so I can't book yet.
Does anyone know when the firm dates are released and also are there any recommendations as to where to stay?

We booked a little hotel for graduation less than a week before. It was about 10 minutes drive out of Durham.
so if you're happy to be a little outside then no need to hurry!

Can I ask please how many are allowed to go to the Graduation? TIA.

If you wait long enough for it to be released you can stay in Uni accommodation which is very h

handy

Hi all . Can I ask if anyones dc stays in Durham over the summer to work? Are there many jobs about ? Ie retail or restaurent / café jobs? (Anything really!) during the summer holidays?
Or does it go a bit quieter job wise once all the students disappear for the summer? . Dc is paying for accommodation all next summer and wondering whether the job situation there is better than our quiet (read dead) town.
I would think the restaurants / cafes are still just as busy but with more tourists?

2 of DD’s housemates have stayed up for most of the summer - both working in hospitality and (according to him) earning well. Apparently, the trick is to work evenings somewhere where they feed their staff - you save money on food and don’t spend!

Brill tip . Thanks so much

Congratulations all new Durham people!

Lots of super helpful people on here to share info / support / recommendations for nice restaurants!

For those asking about numbers at graduations (although I don't know Durham) we have never at three different universities including there Bristol graduations had a problem with more than 2 people even though you get 2 tickets. Often you can pick up tickets on the day as there are spares. We have never had as few as 2 people attending. At Bristol recently we had three of us plus a baby - my daughter with baby was allocated a spare gallery seat although we found on the ground a groundloor hall seat as we walked in so she went in with 2 tickets and was on the ground floor (easier with the buggy) and could even sit at the edge by a door to leave when the baby was noisy. We had three at a Nottingham gradution too without any problems. In other words even if you jsut get two tickets and cannot order in advance any more I would just go with the extra people and get spare tickets once there and be early. If there is no space at all you can have those relatives with you utnil the ceremony, can probably watch it online elsewhere anyway near by for those not getting in and see the relatives and have a meal etc after.

@KingscoteStaff not sure if anyone on here can help with a laptop question? DD got her place at Durham yesterday for Biological science.

She currently has my old Apple MacBook Air and as she has DSA she can have a new standard laptop (DELL or HP) or we can contribute to another MacBook Air.

Question is ...in bioscience is there any software they need to be able to run on their laptops for course stuff that won't be compatible with a MacBook. She would prefer a MacBook Air as it talks to the phone etc and so is easier.

Need to start the order for equipment this weekend and didn't want to get the wrong thing.

@Suzi69 also wondering the same thing and also not quite believing DD is about to enter into her third year!!

I know… gone in a flash!

@Fruitygal DS is Arts so not up on STEM software requirements. The department should be open on Monday, though. Has she found the BioScience WhatsApp group yet? They might have a suggestion.

@KingscoteStaff no she hasn’t - She’s a little shy (not in real life) just because it’s all new but asked her to look on socials for groups - any help gratefully received. She’s sent back preferences for types of sharing groups for rooms. Fingers crossed her Snow place stays the same x

I think @Longtimenewsee dd is doing a science subject , although I may be wrong.

ds didn't join any groups before he went , or at least not until the day before. He had a fabulous first year and it didn't matter at all

Book via booking.com but as separate bookings for each night but with the ability to cancel. When you know which actual night lr nights you need if going the day before and staying the night after then cancel the others as soon as you do know.

Oooh good idea thanks

@Fruitygal
dd is stem ( not bio) .She has a dell laptop but lots of her peers have MacBooks. Day to day, Dd mostly uses an iPad and pencil to write notes / add notes to lecture slides.

Also.. Dd did not want to join any social media groups before she went ( despite my trying her to encourage her to do so ). It didn’t stop her meeting a lovely group of friends

@Longtimenewsee thanks - super helpful x

Thanks @KingscoteStaff DS will be starting next month.

@Fruitygal "She’s sent back preferences for types of sharing groups for rooms." I looked over DS shoulder and the only question seemed to be do you want to be with people who drink alcohol or not? I was expecting single sex or mixed as well for example.

@EwwSprouts DD had nut free, veggie, girls only, guys only, noisy, quiet etc options …. Had to choose three types then there was also hobbies section ….. in a free text box … didn’t see all of it …. Got it waved at me yesterday