Annnddd they're off! Uni Starters 2023 Thread.

[Titsywoo]

Hi all,

I thought I'd start a different thread as the Alevels and beyond one is more geared to remarks and clearing at this point so didn't want to start derailing that with chat off packing and freshers week.

How is everyone getting on with helping their DC prepare and the idea that soon they will be moving away?

My DD is off to Cardiff to read psychology so will be about 3.5 hours drive away. I'm both nervous and excited for her right now! Packing is going well - pretty much all stuff has been bought and the induction pan set should arrive today. There is a large pile on the landing which keeps growing as we think of extra bits.

Due to a very lucky spot by me when scrolling Tiktok DD has found and been added to the Cardiff Psychology year 1 snapchat group. From that she got chatting to some others who aren't massively into drinking or clubbing and they have another chat for people who want to do other things than clubbing. They are organising meeting for some of the SU 'Give it a go' events such as an escape room and Ikea trip! Dd has also persuaded a couple of people to join the Hookers society with her (for crocheting! 😄).

Dd had a terrible time with bullying and social isolation from year 5 till the end of sixth form so I am praying this is the new start where she finally finds her tribe 🤞🙏

Looking forward to hearing how everyone's DC is getting on and how the first few weeks are for them. Not long to go now! DD leaves in 20 days 😬

Another coming to York on Sunday. Me and DH are Covid positive so praying DS doesn't get it too!

Waiting at a train station to join ds on a train for a few stops then leaving him to it. I am also collecting washing from him as his dad's has packed up. I know right? So soon!!!

Oh no @cptartapp are you feeling very ill? Maybe send your DS with even more cold & flu remedies than usual. How do you know it’s covid? Is testing still available?
DD also heading up to York tomorrow. Fingers crossed that traffic isn’t too hideous as Sat nav saying 5 hours with no stopping. I do hope not! DD3 coming with us and the pair of us will stay overnight; maybe have a mooch around the city, depending what DD is up to and if others are arriving in her flat. She’s not been able to find anyone online in her college or block as yet.
Im not feeling sad but definitely weird. DD1 moved out in May, and now DD2 so it does feel like we’ve gone from 3 to 1 super fast!

Oh, the very best of luck to all of us with dc heading off this weekend.

We're just back from France - dd has unpacked and put all her washing in the machine ready to be repacked immediately... The week away was a lovely displacement technique and we barely thought about uni at all.

But tomorrow we finish packing, have a final meal out with relatives then off on Sunday. I can't work out how I feel about it tbh, will probably take a while to sink in.

Just back at the hotel after a long day getting here and unpacking. We had a moment of terrible doubt that we'd packed too much but it all fits, pending a discussion with all flatmates about how the spare cupboards are shared fairly, so the saucepans are under the bed.

Useful things we did on a Dunelm run this evening - those hanging drawers you hang from the wardrobe rail, matching fabric storage box, loo brush. I wish I had brought curtain hooks - the student has to put up the new shower curtain themselves and the uni don't supply as many hooks as there are things in the shower rail to attach them.

Hoping to wake up early enough to have a shot at getting on one of the two working EV chargers before supermarket shopping and heading home.

This time last week we were packing the car so we could set off early in the morning. Time has gone fast.

We’re off Sunday morning early doors. It’s only about an hour and a half up the motorway so doing it in a day.

Hoping everything fits in our small family car otherwise I may be staying home while her dad drives her up.

Dd has found all her flat mates, she’s in with 4 other girls, her main concern is they are not scruffy, ironic as her room usually looks like a tip. Luckily she has her own en-suite so it’s only communal areas to share.

I dropped dd today. Some of her housemates had been there for a few days so we're settled in.

They were all watching a film this evening.

DS safely dispatched to Newcastle. Feels a bit odd being back at home without him.

DD has been in Newcastle since Monday for rugby. That's been a mixed experience for her , but she was so excited to move into halls. I drove up today with all her stuff & my aunty for company. No tears & I feel so excited for her. It is strange though.

Leaving as soon as dd has grabbed her last minute bits.
Less than 2hr drive and her window for moving in is 8-11 so it is no rush.

Not looking forward to driving away and leaving her there but I know she is v excited for it all!

We are en route to the West Country!

Off the ferry at 7.30 and now stopped for a McMuffin 😀

Dd's been sent photos of her accommodation by flatmate who moved in yesterday - must say it looks pretty snazzy (should think so for the price!).

Off to The Range for the last few items on the list. Our last full day together and our last Saturday morning coffee (a ritual).

(Incidentally I have a bunch of spam emails this morning informing me that it's '100 days till Christmas' - there's a thought for those already missing their dc...)

Well we had our’traditional’ Chinese takeaway and Father Ted fest last night.

DS has a 1 hour time slot. Does this mean we have 1 hour to unload everything then we have to go? Or is it his slot to get his key etc.

Good q! We are just getting there at 11. I didn’t even think about a ‘slot’.

We are off to Cardiff on Thurs and have a 45min slot. As far as I can make out we need to be unloaded and the car moved in that 45mins. The slot seems to be for free parking, I assume we can hang around longer. We are going to get unloaded and sorted and dd for lunch.

*and take dd for lunch

My DS had to book a ten minute slot but this was just to get the key - we were on time but did wonder what happened if you got delayed by traffic. Once we got the key we could stay as long as we wanted but we were parked on the street with exorbitant parking charges so only paid for an hour (we waited in the car and paid once ds appeared with the key). On the plus side the exorbitant parking charge (with 15 minute intervals) probably went a long way to ensuring parking spaces were available. They were giving access to campus for unloading at some other halls and we were told this would be strictly for unloading and you would then have to move to the nearby multi-storey.

We did find an hour was enough time though. We unloaded then went to ikea with him. Spent ten minutes dropping him back with his bits then left him to settle in. If we were staying overnight we would have moved to park elsewhere and had a look round the campus ourselves as DH hadn’t seen it before (I went to the open day).

I've just had the same thought this morning, single parent here too and DS is my youngest to leave.

Did a bit of a garden tidy up this morning and found an old ball of DS's at the back of the garden - tore at my heart strings a lot.

I definitely red to keep busy though otherwise I can't stop thinking about him.

Just waved off DS2 who is going with the ex to Birmingham. I will go and see him in a few weeks when he knows what he's forgotten - although judging by the car it won't be much! DS1 not back at Uni for a couple of weeks but he has a job in his Uni town - not far away so he's still coming and going a bit. Empty house though this weekend. I have a few things planned to keep me busy but it feels weird and a bit sad 😭.

I dropped DS off with my ex yesterday, to be honest I wish I'd let him do the drop off and then me visiting DS myself so I had a bit more time with him.

What have you got planned @RainBow725? I was going to pop out to buy a new water bottle as I dropped mine yesterday and it cracked. Then a long walk I think if the weather holds up.

Zero parking and all double yellow lines outside dds accom block. A few security people standing round telling people to unload quickly onto the pavement then use the multi storey car park when then bringing stuff in.

Its nice. Not much floor space due to the small double bed and smaller than dda accom in york was. But a nice en suite and dd likes the white and grey decor with wood floor. 😀