Parents of Durham freshers 2025

[MillicentFaucet]

We've chatted on a different threads over the past few months so do any anxious/excited/slightly overwhelmed parents want to congregate here for Durham chat?
My DS will be starting an MEng next month and has been allocated to Cuths 🐯(but no confirmation of what type of accommodation he has yet).
He's slowly working his way through registration etc and fretting about the important things like what to wear for matriculation <sigh>
How's everyone else getting on?

DS is the same, no complaints and enjoys the weekend brunches.

DD is catered in Grey. She is coeliac and they’ve been great at managing that although says sometimes there are random substitutions eg instead of pizza, she got chicken with a pizza type sauce! But on the whole she says the food is fine and she loves the weekend brunch!

Seems to have done. Even relieved she didn’t get her first choice college - apparently their bar is awful :)

Oh and DD is catered and the vegan options she seems to like.

Unless they are at Chads and Johns they all have the same menu which is on the mouthful of Mary’s Instagram.

dd is 3rd year at chads (and a good cook). Shes living in this year for ease and whilst she will moan about the food sometimes says it’s great overall.

Ok. Good to know. Maybe he just misses my cooking 😊 His last dinner looked particularly grim. Are paper plates common?

Apparently the paper plates this weekend were to help the staff clear everything away quickly before the panto people needed to be in & to set up.

Is anyone else stupidly excited to have their DC home at the weekend? We’re going through to pick DS up on Saturday and I can’t wait.

Yes! Though I may not be as excited as my youngest child, who’s really been missing his sibling. It’s been very sweet seeing him realise how much he is looking forward to seeing her.

Definitely I am!

She’s flying back on Saturday and we have delayed the Christmas tree buying and decorating just for her! It does mean I’m having to restock with gluten free food again though!

My daughter is having a long train journey on Saturday.

I think DS is coming home in stages, communication has been a bit sporadic this week. Looks like he's moving out with the bare essentials on Saturday then going back early next week to show his hovel room to DS1 and pick up his other bits.
Christmas prep has felt a bit meh so far this year, in our empty nest. I'm really looking forward to having all of my favourite people back together again.

Has anyone else had a fresher in Collingwood who has pretty much failed to communicate ALL term? I've called her a few times but get met with monosyllables. She never calls. No photos, no nothing. I was at Collingwood too - way back when - and I AM SURE I communicated with my parents! And we did NOT have computers nor mobiles!

i think I’d be climbing the walls in that situation! Bet you’re excited to see them! I don’t think mine has called me but I’ve called them weekly … I think it’s down to personality type and some kids find it easier to compartmentalise uni life and home and not have much crossover. Probably having too much fun which although hard for you is good for them. You’ll be able to do a welfare check soon and gauge what’s been going on I guess.

@WelcometoParadise10is that their usual comms style? If that were my Dd I’d have been round there within a day or two as she is the sort of person who I hear from almost hourly, but if this is relatively normal for your dd then I’m sure it’s fine. Does she not use or update social media much either? Again, not all dc do but you’d think by 18/19 you’d know whether you have someone who communicates a lot with you or not! Hopefully they have just been super busy - usually no news is good news, and that they have been having a great time.
we are driving up tomorrow then returning Sunday as it’s several hours drive. I am very excited to have Dd home; she’s had a brilliant first term (despite a lot of initial reservations about her choice before she left) so I’m delighted it’s gone so well.
hope everyone else / their dds have a safe trip and enjoy some home comforts.

I'm off to collect dd tomorrow as well, looking forward to seeing her! It's quite a long drive so I'll stay overnight and we'll have dinner together, then head off on Sunday.

Looking forward to having her home.

We've just returned from picking up the rest of DS's stuff (mostly dirty laundry + some house plants he's looking after for friends). One of the porters came along to see what we were up to which was reassuring, the kitchen hadn't been cleaned yet & was revolting.
£5.45 to drive up the bailey though😮

We’re not long back ourselves - Durham was full of young people hauling suitcases up to the train station this weekend! DD has also brought laundry home, but has started the day cooking eggs the way she likes them (catered halls has made her appreciate the little things!), baking banana bread and luxuriating in a long bath!

She misses her friends already, though. Swings & roundabouts, despite clearly being ready for a break from studying.

@MillicentFaucet qq if you don’t mind. As you live in Durham, what’s our best option when dropping off. We are taking DD back on Friday and she’s at South college. Can we park at the park and ride we used in September. We don’t plan to stay long but we would like to go out and get her some groceries

Hi @Brienneoftarthismyhero I'm not sure how closely the P&R is monitored for people parking up then not getting on a bus/buying a bus ticket. There is also parking at The Story (mount Oswald) which is a bit closer, or use the staff car park behind the college if you're not going to be there long (I've used the university's car parks all over town for 20+ years with no problems)
Safe journey, I think the snow will be gone by Friday

Thank you @MillicentFaucet has there been a lot of snow in Durham? I think we’ll use the staff car park, drop off. I can stay behind and then dd can get groceries with her dad

I took DS1 up to Newcastle airport at 7am yesterday and it was awful, roads are all clear today though and no more snow forecast so moving back weekend should be fine.
Durham is really pretty with a covering of snow but not great for driving up & down the hills.
DS has already booked for a formal & a ceilidh, apparently there will be some exams too!

thank you @MillicentFaucet

Just back from dropping off DS, I hate coming back to an empty nest. Fortunately I've got a lot on next week to take my mind off it.
Bit slushy and skiddy around the Bailey today, it's going to be fun tomorrow morning if it freezes again tonight.
DS shooed us out immediately, so he could crack on with unpacking. How are everyone else's DC feeling about their return?