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

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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!

Happy New-ish Year to you all!

DD has been on a school placement the last two weeks which she could do in her home town - so she did - but goes back to uni tomorrow. It's been so nice being able to see her for 5 weeks instead of 3 and cook her fave meals whilst on placement.

@ZittiEBuoni I think a phone call to the landlord to say the housemates aren't putting heating on would help. DD's landlord is very strict on heating as doesn't want mould and damp so turned it in for them in October - we were so relieved.
It may even be in the contract they all signed to say heating must go on to prevent mould.

Such lovely news @stilldumdedumming and @Downsidesupside

Hope the travel back and forth isn't too onerous @tribpot and the exams go well.

DD got her mark back this week on an assignment she submitted early Nov and got a first so she was delighted. Has a few more marks to get back on all the others she completed in Dec and won't know til end of Jan.
Things are going well with her lovely boyfriend she met last Aug so after this long Christmas break it'll be hard saying goodbye. He's going to be v busy with Law exams so they won't see each other til reading week in Feb which coincides with Valentine's Day and their 6mth anniversary.

After all the excitement of the snow flurries a couple of weeks back it's now gone quite mild but murky. I like to dry washing outside (v old house prone to damp) but it won't do anything today as no wind and damp outside. Got lots of stuff to wash and dry before DD goes back so the dehumidifier is going lots.

@Downsidesupside My DD has had a similar experience - awful 1st year, basically had a nervous breakdown due to the combination of struggling to settle in, not really sure she chose the right course then being dumped by boyfriend. I honestly thought she was going to drop out, but she finally seemed to move on from the ex-boyfriend during the summer, and she had a great first term. She's even secured a placement year job - did really well in the interview, which would not have happened if she'd been in the same state of mind as she was this time last year.

She's currently very stressed about exams though, hates them, and always assumes she's going to fail. Not 100% sure uni was ever the right life path for her, but it's what she wanted to do at the time.

No new boyfriend on the scene either, but don't think that's a bad thing.

Fingers crossed your DS gets his abroad placement soon so he can start to plan and get excited about that particular country 😃

That last message was to @MirandaWest

@Lyxou my dd is the same. Convinced she is going to fail. She's been like that all through school, so in some ways covid was a blessing. No exams.

I'm in awe of your dd, @stilldumdedumming , negotiating a degree with a tiny baby. More power to her! And your ds with his dodgy personal organisation does remind me of dd1 who is Au/DHD, but to such an extent that she couldn't cope at all with a physical uni. Is doing OU at the moment and really enjoying it.

That's an idea about calling the landlord @tribpot - pretty sure he doesn't want mould or burst pipes to deal with.

Dd is also a soprano @MirandaWest - so they will have been in the same quarter-ish of the group!

Sorry the comment about the landlord was to @AnneOfCleavage. I hate not being able to dry washing outside too, even though dh and dd1 always complain about it not being dry enough and having to put it in the airing cupboard. It's as if they want to pay a massive bill for running the tumble dryer .

@Downsidesupside brilliant! I think normally the 2nd year is the hardest (not new and interesting, and now begins to count!) so they've done well to pull out of a hard start.

Dd's been back. I have to try and not compare but the difference between dd1's house (3 girls, one of whom loved cleaning) to dd2's (5 mixed, none of whom seem to know anything about cleaning) is stark. However it wasn't dreadful... just a little bit untidy, and although the bins were overflowing, they're in the situation that no one has put them out for the binmen because they haven't been there, but they've all had times back for a few days so the rubbish has increased.
She should have an easier time this half, because they have to do something like 4 option subjects and she had 3 last half and 1 this half. One of her friends is the other way round, so it's just on what they want to do. I' was surprised they weren't having to choose 2 and 2.
I'm hoping that means she can enjoy this term, although I hope she doesn't then get upset about not staying in the house as she's in halls next year (but 3/5 are staying).

Took DD back today. The fridge in her room the door had been left open by whoever had used the room in the vacation and was full of ice and she couldn’t get any of her dad’s batch cooked food in. Maintenance are not about until Monday so when we left food was in a bag outside her window and she was defrosting.

She has a fair bit on this term with extra-curriculars and is doing an extra paper for her course which seems to be creating a lot of pressure. Will see her in four weeks for her birthday when we head back for a short overnight visit.

Well done to @Lyxou & @MirandaWest DCs securing placements! It’s tough out there. Annoyingly DDs exam clashed with her fave company’s assessment day and neither could/would change. She’s applied to around 30 but it’s very time consuming especially in exam season.

My DD not back till beginning of Feb but has now handed in all assessments so can relax for a bit. She'll have the stress of finding accommodation for next year when she gets back as all her housemates are doing placement's next year and so moving on. Hopefully it's not too stressful.
I find this break too long, it's going to be tough taking her back for both of us.

@Neversaygoodbye snap! DD also returning this week with all assessments submitted. But all her friends have accommodation for next year as she’s still hoping for a placement.

DS happened to mention last weekend that his rugby match had been moved from Wednesday to Saturday (yesterday)

That was us straight onto the Easyjet website to book a flying visit - first time we'd seen him play since school, and something we really miss.

Lots of other parents also taking advantage of this rare weekend feature.

For a change, the weather gods also shone on Exeter this weekend.

Hard to believe they're a year and a half in.

@NotDonna goodluck to your DD going back and on finding a placement.
Looks like we might not be dropping DD back today as planned, she started vomiting late last night, not want you want at the start of the new semester.

Oh no @Neversaygoodbye fingers crossed she makes a speedy recovery!

Oh no, rotten luck for your dd @Neversaygoodbye , all best wishes to her.

Looks like DD dodged a bullet by not taking her insurance choice of Cardiff - they are closing down the department . It looked so lovely too, she was seriously interested.

I'm so sorry @Neversaygoodbye Hope it passes quickly

A very late happy new year!
DD went back last week after a long Christmas break but having 4 assignments to complete. In between her work and boyfriend we did not see her that much. She is now on meds for her anxiety which also made her quite sleepy. I have just been making sure she has eaten well and completed assignments on time. She has already found accommodation for 3rd year and I think she will be happy with her new flatmates. Already booked a number of holidays for end of May when uni finishes. The academic year seems so short. At least year she has had the confidence to join a couple of societies which she is enjoying.
Good to hear all your news and wishing all DC the best for this year.

Just popping by to say hi and to wish you all a happy Easter break. DD is home but has had assignments due and now placement planning for next Tuesday onwards until mid June. One more term and then onto the last year.

How is your DD doing @Lowther? Hope the meds are still continuing to help.
Did your DD secure a placement for 3rd year @NotDonna?

Happy Easter to you all too.
DD is back home for a three week break after going to France as part of her course and bringing back cold/virus and passing it on to us so I have been in bed for a few days, it has been to good though to have her back home. It does seem however that she has more assignments to do during the holidays than when she is actually at uni
She is still enjoying her course, lectures and good friendshipshave been made.
@AnneOfCleavage she is doing quite well. Not sure her tablet taking is often on time or if she is even taking it! She has a gp appointment tomorrow but she seems to be in a better place and certainly more positive about life in general. She still has anxiety moments and often calls to share her thoughts
I must admit that sometimes I want to say don't be so utterly ridiculous but I instead have learnt to talk her through her thoughts which then allows her to rationalise them herself step by step. At times it can be exhausting for me let alone her
Uni have been really good at offering support and she is in contact with her tutor. They had a catch up yesterday.
Her holidays are booked. Poland, Budapest and Victoria falls. She has also applied for some internships but not heard much back as yet
Hope you DC are still enjoying their uni journeys. Enjoy the holidays

@LowtherThis was me last year when DD was in first year: lots of phone calls, panicked moments and talking through scenarios. She saw someone on campus a few times (well being officer or similar for pastoral help) but hasn’t needed it this year as seems to have found her stride despite having difficult housemates. She’s more confident doing assignments and knowing a bit more what they expect but is not afraid to clarify with Academic Advisers / tutors and have a zoom call or meeting. She’s too busy for societies as her school placements are looooong days - she leaves at 6:45am and isn’t home till 6pm but often later as transport delays etc. She’s counting down the days til she leaves although has made good friends which get her through. Comes home for weekends when she can as her boyf is in our town which gives her a boost although it’s 3 trains to get home so not an easy journey.
So glad your DD is doing well and her booked holidays sound fab.

Happy Easter from me too. At least your dd didn't come home with scabies, @Lowther.... Seems to be on the way out now though and nobody else itching so far...

Other than that, DD has had a pretty vintage term with two amazing shows (an opera and a panto, sublime to ridiculous ) and the course seems to be going great guns too. Some boyfriend palaver but she seems to be taking it in her stride, spending lots of time with friends and getting on with assignments for next month.

Good luck to your DD with her placement @AnneOfCleavage , teacher training is so intense.

Happy Easter all!

@Lowther so good to hear your DD doing well!
@AnneOfCleavage yes DD has a placement year starting early July. It’s a good one so she’s thrilled. Hopefully she loves them and they her and is offered a grad job. I think there’s a lot of students who were unsuccessful as there’s a definite lack of opportunities. Huge good luck to your DD

That’s great. Which course is your dd doing @NotDonna?

Is anyone’s dc doing an engineering placement?