Getting ready to send them off!

[Maggiethecat]

Have been doing lists of things to be done before Dd goes off but must admit there's a bit of burying head in sand going on.

What are you doing to help prepare Dc/yourself ahead of the move (practical/logistics or indeed emotional preparation )

Sociology at Durham is AAB also. Dd is state school. She loved the vibe at York (sorry) and felt very safe there (she’s had some challenges with anxiety stemming from lockdown but has made great progress so it will be interesting to see how Durham compares - it seems very spread out looking at the map.

It's so interesting reading this thread. I see the students from the uni side as a personal tutor and I feel very privileged to be able to help settle them at university.

DD was at Collingwood College which was very tight knit. Durham is very small, smaller than York . Collingwood was a 5 min walk to the Science/ Geography/Anthropology site and Bill Bryson Library.

Dd sent pics of her pesto pasta in front of Bake Off. Orientation all kicks off tomorrow. The boyfriend was there last night. I am really hoping she doesn't rely too much on him and tries to make friends on her course/block. She has school friends going to same Uni but as far as I can see many of them will commute the hour each way from home. It's a large campus based Uni with fab facilities so she wanted to be on site, so we have made that happen. She is expecting weekend sleepovers 😁

Just to update on this for the posters who kindly asked how we were getting on...

Well there's still been radio silence from the accommodation office. Emails are unanswered. On hold to the office phone for two hours then it disconnects. Absolute shambles.
Luckily we've been able to find a private rented shared house so he's moving in next week but that was only confirmed yesterday!
Honestly I've felt so bloody stressed it's really not good enough from the uni but at least he's sorted now. I'm so excited for him and hope he gets on with his housemates!

coldcoldheartt so glad you sorted something, I feel so sorry for those who are struggling to secure accommodation, I don’t think my dd would be able to deal with it (ASD).

We did another primark and dunelm run yesterday and got loads of things I didn’t know she needed 🤔, am now panicking on how it will all fit in the car.

How much clothes do you pack? Dd struggle with things like washing due to her dyspraxia (and being lazy), she’s only a hour from home so I have offered to do some of her washing when I visit but they will probably be every 2/3 weeks. She’s not really into clothes but has a lot of casual stuff which we have added too over the past few weeks. I have bought her plenty of underwear and socks but I’m now thinking she has a lot of clothes. Do you pack everything or leave some at home?

@Lovemusic33 DD1 just took things for the first term so nothing summery.

Do 18 year olds watch iplayer? I don't think my teenagers know what it is. And it's not from lack of watching TV.

All packed here and ready to leave promptly tomorrow morning for Manchester! We need to get on the road in good time as dd's moving in slot is 2-3pm, it should be fine, but just hoping no delays. Google maps says 4.5 hours, but IME that's very optimistic (especially pootling up the Welsh coast in an elderly van).
DD has taken clothes for all through as she'll be coming back on the train for holidays & so doesn't want to have to carry more than necessary.
Glad your DS is sorted @coldcoldheartt that's really not the sort of stress you need when leaving home for the first time.

@SpoonyMcFace its how to watch any BBC shows online .

Nah, DS never watches iPlayer, it isn’t a teenagery thing at all in my experience.

All packed for the long drive to Manchester tomorrow, DD’s main concern is getting a good shelf in the fridge!

Wasn’t Normal People on iplayer?

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/students-aud1
Students in halls are covered by parent tv live iId they live at home out of term time. Device must not be plugged in when watching.

Parent tv license

Ds off to Manchester tomorrow - long drive and not packed sigh - I’m sure you’ve mentioned alreadY buy which hall? Ds Beech Court in Oak House.

I have to go into work for a couple of hours early tomorrow so it’s going to be a busy day!

For those off to Manchester, DD tells me she's just had an email from the accommodation people advertising local veg boxes that you can pick up in halls. There's a student basics one but DD is thinking to get a regular small box in the thought that it'll make cooking easy by having stuff to hand

We're off early Friday morning, having only got confirmation of a place in halls on Monday lunchtime 😬

DS is mostly ready but we've had to have a logistical reshuffle as we need to get to London which is a good three hour drive at the best of times, without the Queen's body lying in state just down the road.

I'm secretly dreading it as he's my only child, and until Monday it looked like lack of accommodation would mean he had to defer for a year. I am however pulling up my big girl pants and consoling myself that he is more than ready to go <sniffs>

Good luck everyone. It's sad and brilliant at the same time isn't it?

We've just been on a last minute shop for bits and ended up with two more of those great big bags from home bargains. At least everything in the car will match

This. Exactly x

Well we’ve left ds at Oak House - all v organised with parking / keys etc

DD safely installed in Victoria park, also very smooth (though it did take us 6 hours to get here). I'm in a travelodge about to go for a beer, she's finishing unpacking & we're going out to dinner later on (she says YES mum I do want to go out for dinner together, stop checking it's OK ). Her halls are a lot nicer than my day!

Then I just have to drive back again tomorrow morning

I’m worried about staying for dinner etc. I don’t want to I inhibit early bonding with flat mates. Anyone else?

We thought we’d take DS for a late lunch/early dinner but also concerned we might be stepping on flatmate bonding toes