They settle in and we miss them. Uni Starters 2023 - Thread 2

[spamm]

I wanted to get a news thread ready for everyone as you wake up in the Uk.

We are settling into a routine of talking to DS on FaceTime on Sunday mornings after our breakfast, which is early pm his time. It is so nice to see his smile and catch up on how he is doing. I know at some point he will have a bad day, but so far he seems to be doing so well, I am ridiculously proud.

Hope you all have a good week!

Ds got back to his dads around 11 last night. I'm going over in a bit - he wants me to take him Christmas shopping and seems surprised I'm not overjoyed with this! He's at uni in London. They have shops!

@stilldumdedumming , noooo . Good luck with that. I'm glad you have your boy back anyway. (DD1 is out at the shops as I type, DH is fixing the festive broken washing machine, DD2 is moping about the ex-boyfriend...again...)

Wishing everyone peace and joy.

@stilldumdedumming - I hope you survive the late shopping. Poor you! I had to take DS to my favorite spa place today, cause he apparently left my gift on his desk back in the UK. Lol!

Finally finished all my food shopping and about to start some prep for tomorrow. We also are having a big English Traditional Boxing Day bash for friends, as Dec 26 is just a normal day here, so I had to shop for two feasts. Looking forward to it, but will be exhausting.

@ZittiEBuoni - hope you get your washing machine back soon, I would struggle to survive without it.

Merry Christmas to all, hope you have a wonderful time! We have DS home til 7 Jan, so I am determined to make the most of it.

It was not too bad. And it was good to see him chatting with his sister as they haven't always got on. And it was even ok to see their dad, my ex - and I found myself thinking what if we'd stayed together! But then I left to come home!!! Phew! I will see them all tomorrow

Ahh @stilldumdedumming im pleased you enjoyed your day with DS, DD and ex. I was thinking he’d asked you to go Xmas shopping with him so that you’d buy the gifts! Kind of thing my DD would attempt (and get away with).

@spamm I’m not sure I know what a ‘traditional English Boxing Day’ is. I think (but don’t quote me) it was originally the day that presents were swapped; hence the ‘boxes’ and Boxing Day. That’s obviously shifted to Xmas day now. Not an awful lot happens on Boxing Day. Growing up it was board games, meeting mates and playing with our new toys and eating leftovers or ham. There was always ham or tongue!! Crikey tongue! Now it’s the above but includes a long dog walk and often a Raclette (so still a bit of ham going on).

Hello, someone kindly pointed me to this thread. My DD first year at uni, 400 miles away, happy,proud,bereft, sad, awed in equal measure. A teeny bit jealous if I'm honest, lucky girl.(she worked so bloody hard though).

Hello @ThesecondLEM and Welcome.
It's awful, the feelings in this term. I remember when ds1 went to uni, I cried all the way home. We had two tubes and a train, and every change took me further away from him.

The feelings didn't go away for a long time, I missed him like crazy and would think about him all the time. It did get easier though as time went on. He wasn't big on messaging or phoning, but would arrange for surprise visits home occasionally and was clearly living his best life which is what I wanted for him. It still hurt like hell though.

Dd has gone away to university this year but is closer so we see more of her. We are having to change our evening routines to try to fill the gap her leaving has left.

Just want to wish you all a very Happy New Year. Thank you for helping me through this year of massive change from unexpected results and new uni choices. From heartbreak, settling in and making new friends. DD has made it through and the advice from here and just knowing she was not alone has helped enormously.
Wishing health and happiness for 2024!

I'm wishing you both a much more settled 2024 too

DSs 2024 not starting well - has had a flare of his Ulcerative Colitis since just before Christmas and has been in hospital since last Wednesday. He doesn’t go back to uni for a couple more weeks so should be OK but it’s all a bit rubbish

@MirandaWest really sorry to hear that about your DS. He's had it tough this academic year.

What a tough time he's having @MirandaWest, hope he's out of hospital soon.

Your poor ds @MirandaWest , I hope his health will settle and stop getting in the way of his life soon.

How many are back at uni now? DD's term doesn't start officially until 22nd (!) but she's considering going back a week early to use the library and take advantage of peace and quiet.

She had a wobble and was considering re-applying to her back up choice because she's so stressed about finding 2nd year accommodation. Hasn't mentioned it for a week or so though so perhaps her nerves have steadied.

@ZittiEBuoni Exams at Exeter this week, so DS and cohort went back last Sunday (7th).

He's a little annoyed that he only got 3 weeks break, when home friends all appear to get 4/5 weeks.

My positive spin is that he's getting better value for his tuition fees and hall fees lol

My ds came home on 23 December and went back on the 28th. In time for new years. He did pop back this week because his sister (my dd) had a baby.

He was greeted by 3 fire engines when he got back. His flat mate had a chip pan fire! He ended up taking him to A and E. They were to be moved to emergency accommodation but uni has now decided they just have to cook elsewhere for now. (Tbf he and the lad that did it pool meals with an upstairs flat so they'll probably go there).

They are kind of laughing about it and the lad who was burned actually has his family nearby - sounds scary to me . I think the laughing is a bit of covering up. It properly went up.

They still haven't started sorting 2nd year accommodation and they're in London. They are adults so I'm trying to step back.

Oh no @MirandaWest your son has had such a tough time. I hope he starts to feel better soon.

Dd is going back on Sunday. She has exams she's also been invited to apply for two more moot competitions on the back of her winning the last one. She doesn't want to do both but is applying to both as there is no guarantee she will get a place. She also has two mini pupiledges coming up so from an academic side all is going well.

I'm not going to lie though it has been challenging having her home after her living away from home. She's been quite selfish and lots of clattering round late at night after coming home after nights out.
It's been nice to see her but next time she comes home we need some ground rules in place about respecting our and her siblings space.

@stilldumdedumming omg that sounds really scary!! Hope his friend is ok

@MirandaWest sorry to hear ds being poorly. Hope he is out of hospital very soon.
@stilldumdedumming hope all is well with friend. I set a chip pan fire alight at home when early teens. Still have the scars on feet and remember brother trying to clean walls and ceiling before parents came back home! We can smile about it now.
DD passed her driving test today. Thank goodness. One less expense. We are looking for cars but she really doesn't think it necessary whilst at university. Going out with friends to celebrate but an assignment is due in tomorrow so I hope she gets back early.
She is due back in couple weeks but may go back a bit earlier to look for accommodation for next year.
Hope the new year has been good to all so far

DS is back at home - got released this afternoon after the new meds arrived and he took the first dose.

He'd been in since last Wednesday which at least is a few days less than his last stay there.

He's applied for an assessment extension for one that was due yesterday - he has become quite proficient at this…

@MirandaWest good news. Hope he continues to make a speedy recovery and uni are supportive

Oh wow @stilldumdedumming that sounds scary - were they even allowed a chip pan in uni accommodation? DD isn't even allowed a sandwich toaster.
Congratulations on the new baby - has this lil one made you become a grandmother for the 1st time?

Congratulations on the driving test pass @Lowther - DD passed last week and like you I'm glad the expense is over!!

So glad DS is home from hospital @MirandaWest and fingers crossed he gets his extension on the essay assignment.

Heavy snow is due on the south coast next week I read so glad DD is back to uni this weekend and not next.

@MirandaWest glad to hear your ds is out of hospital. It's also heartening that he's able to manage his uni admin while he's been so sick.

No! They are not allowed chip pans , and actually he was deep frying - also banned. The uni appear to be pretty good about it but we don't yet know how much he will be charged.

I've absolutely made sure ds is checking in with him a lot as it must have been quite frightening. I don't think he's told his family yet though.

Oh and yes. First time grandmother. She's a bit young but she's doing so well. He's gorgeous of course!

@MirandaWest Hope he has a hospital free term!

Dd's managed to sort next year's accommodation. A little bit of a stress as one of them dropped out at the last minute because she felt they were going in too quickly without considering more, but the others wanted to go ahead as they liked it, apparently the landlord is good, and accommodation is going quickly now.
The landlord let them reserve the house on the basis they'll get one more person, which was good on them, but they don't think that'll be an issue at all. Cross fingers they find someone they all get on with. They've all been messaging friends to see.