Current Oxford/Cambridge students support/chat continued

[Panicmode1]

New thread.....!

DD4 and DS4 both had a resident squirrel in their rooms in 2021/22. DD4's squirrel moved into her new room with her in 2022/2023. Hopped in through the open window, ate whatever was to hand but preferably organic chocolate, then settled down for a snooze. Squirrel did absolutely no harm whatsoever. DS4's squirrel ate significant quantities of porridge oats (messy eater - lots on the floor) almost every day for a whole academic year. Seemed to have an effect on his waistline judging by the photos DS4 sent.

Still lurking on this thread even though DD1 has now graduated! She sat her finals in her room at Oxford, in the middle of a heatwave, with a radiator stuck on full blast throughout - several emails to her college admin team to try to address this were met with a virtual shrug - there was no solution, apparently

Reading about the half marathon in O next Sunday reminds me that it happens in C,too. Roads in the centre may be closed from 8am to 12 noon: Victoria Avenue will close at 5:30am.

The Just Stop Oil muppets have been busy in Cambridge today...!

Oh God. It just looks like resentment of beauty and the ancient. Can't they attack somewhere modern and air-conditioned or a petrol station or something?

I know ..what IS the point? It is hardly endearing people to their cause....

Ffs.
A few years ago their protests at Cambridge included digging up one of the college lawns and blocking students trying to get into their departments. Unsuccessfully, I'm glad to say, in the case of those who happened to be heading to a lecture on Sustainable Engineering.

Why does no one try to stop them. How can our society just let this happen. Where is the Porter and security.

Fortunately the RadCam was back to normal after special hoses were brought in promptly. Whereabouts is that in Cambridge?

Kings college. They've been at it elsewhere too.

thetab.com/uk/cambridge/2023/10/12/kings-college-covered-in-orange-paint-by-just-stop-oil-protest-171667

Well, to do them justice it clearly IS removable.

To me one of the pleasures of small old cities is being able to walk around normally and be close to ancient things built on a human scale. I don't want these buildings locked away behind a ring of steel or to be rugby tackled to the floor if I attempt to approach. The risk of that becoming the norm is part of what I resent about these actions.

DS has been allocated his first choice of Part III project. The field combines his strongest interests, the group is doing exciting work (several publications this year) and there is potential for it to lead into a PhD project. I'm really happy for him.

Congrats @CinnamonJellyBeans
I had a scathing report about the vandalism at Kings and RadCam, what fools they are, clearly they lack the intelligence to actually study at Oxbridge or they'd know it won't help their cause.

Great news @Ironoaks . That's how DD got her PhD project - she worked on her Masters in the same research group.

In non-Oxbridge news, Masters-studying DD2 has announced that she is applying for a PhD. Apparently there are funded places in Canada and Japan which follow on well from her Masters research, and her current supervisor has links to the Canadian one. She spent 4 months at a university in Tokyo and speaks enough Japanese to be able to get her hair dyed pink and navigate round Tokyo and Kyoto alone. Looks like my plans to exit teaching will have to be shelved for another couple of years😥

That is fantastic news @Ironoaks . Sounds like great phd opportunities in Canada & Japan @Malbecfan .

That sounds really exciting for her @Malbecfan

Despite the diluvian rain yesterday evening and partially flooded campsite I had a lovely day in Oxford today. Afternoon tea with friends then choral evensong. If any of your offspring were singing in the Consort of Voices at Magdalen this evening, they were very good indeed.

None of mine are gifted musically Ironoaks but when DD3 was at Magdalen I was lucky enough to be invited to the carol services etc which were wonderful. Very glad to hear your DS has his first choice for this coming year. Excellent news.

I may have heard the practice session. Beautiful. Accidentally here on matriculation day. Huge queues for punts, lots of drinking, everyone in sub fusc. Has been quite the day for the grandparents who haven’t been before.

Lovely yesterday to receive photos of DC2 at matriculation wearing her Grandpa's gown. He's 90 and very ill with cancer and we thought he wouldn't make it to this day so lovely he's made it to see the photos...

DD1 has just competed in her first 10k run. For some random reason she was persuaded to enter a half marathon in March so has been training doing Park Run. She was aiming for 55 minutes, but smashed it at just over 50, beating all her housemates and coming in the top 200 women. DH ran the London Marathon sometime in the last century so she must get it from him.

@juja that must have been very special

@Malbecfan good for her!
DH got his best 2023 parkrun time so far at University Parks yesterday and met Paul Sinton-Hewitt, so he is happy.

How lovely @Juja . No such memories in our family as I was the first to university and a rather modest one at that. It does sound lovely though being able to pass down a gown, very special.

Thank you @Ironoaks ,
@PettsWoodParadise - we all create our own memories - different in every family and being the first in your family to go to university is pretty special - were your family delighted?
I'm a v part time Professor in Practice in a 'low ranking' uni and am constantly blown away by the professionalism, passion and commitment of our students so be proud.