Thread 40 - Corona Cohort , Falling into Autumn 🍂

[CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee]

This is a support thread for our young adults post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting, and their results ( or life updates for those who went into work or have had results earlier). It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, uni vs employment please don't within this thread.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue. We were previously on the secondary board and then further education, now we shall be here in 'Parents of Adult Children' gulp

Our DS/DD may continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed). Be warned there might be lots of 'Uni Freshers' chat this time of year. My experience is that everyone is welcomed wherever, whatever their child is doing we have some in work, gap years , apprenticeships etc too. Lots of contributors with different experiences and always sympathy and support to be had !

Apparently her bf is visiting today. Not sure if that’s a good thing as far as socialising but I am relieved for her to have someone close.

Oh @Benjispruce4 she is trying so hard bless her and done so well sticking it out. How stressful for you 💐
@Oblomov22 I am at the age where a lot of discussions with friends include a bit about what time we woke up that morning.
@Isthisjustnormal would you mind sharing your recipe please? My family get a slightly nervous look when I say I am baking, I think it was my old oven (and the one before it!) I’d like to do some brownies when they are both back next.
Really need to consolidate the various piles around the house of DS’s stuff now . He has been in contact with his personal tutor who seems lovely.

Forgot the room photo - half unpacked so stuff everywhere

@Benjispruce4 is her bf close by or travelling from home?

I don't think dd has been to bed yet after going out last night..

BF is at Leeds uni. He’s starting 2nd year on Monday.

He’s travelling down from Leeds. ❤️

Big room @singingstones and the same curtains and carpet as DD.

Poor DD, @Benjispruce4! Hope that she has a good weekend. Fingers crossed for some developments once classes start etc?

I have transferred a bit of cash so my DD will eat something other than pasta, "off budget." Thanks to those who suggested it! She is right next to about a dozen tiny independent restaurants (just off Mill Road for anyone who knows Cambridge) so DW and I decided that £15 would be a nice treat without being spoilt (bearing in mind she tends to drink tap-water with meals!)

Nice big room @Oblomov22 ! She's being really brave, @Benjispruce4 - really hope things turn a corner for her soon...

I use Nigella's brownie recipe, @Isthisjustnormal : Nigella's brownies. This makes 48 brownies which is honestly a ridiculous amount - I do 1/2 this quantity. I think the key thing with brownies is to err on the side of undercooking as there is nothing better than a brownie that is only just cooked ime, and nothing sadder than a dry brownie - these are definitely brownies that need eating with a spoon!

DS called last night. He finally met someone in his corridor when he went to the loo and they have half arranged to go somewhere today. The other guy has a room which is actually three rooms all to himself apparently - that's what you get for single study plus in Rutland 😯
DS's room looks just like the other Notts rooms...

Ha there was definitely a sale on turquoise curtains at the Nottingham curtain shop!

Singing your room is huge. Ds's is tiny. Like mummy describes plus = equivalent of two rooms?

Mummy do you think your ds will be ok now?

Yes to the turquoise Nottingham curtains. Liked the Zebracat suggestion of rucksack.

Think there must be national supplier of university curtains! This is my DDs room at UEA

@Oblomov22 he seemed a bit happier last night although he was playing online games with a friend from home. I'll let you know how today goes. Hopefully some more people will move in to his corridor.

Mummy I've PM'd you.

@Oblomov22 DS's is called a large standard, he went for that mostly for the slightly bigger bed. No en-suite though and the kitchen is tiny, no idea how 5 people will be able to cook for themselves in there!

Safe journeys to anyone dropping off today or travelling for tomorrow 🍀

That room is huge @singingstones ! My DS would have proper room envy.
I also have envy of the plain colour curtains you all have, DS's ones are like some 80s throwback. I have to say I was not impressed with the bathroom arrangements, 1 shower and two toilets between 6 students. I hope they don't all have their lectures at the same time...

@mummyinbeds and @Benjispruce4 I hope your DCs settle in soon, it's such a worry to think about them unhappy.
The first few weeks can really be difficult.

@HarrietDVane DS's bestie is moving in to Warwick tomorrow too. Good luck to everyone over the next three days, I think we will have everyone in place by end of the weekend?

Same recipe as I use Isthisnormal, they have earned the best brownie awards throughout DD’s childhood :)

All done by this weekend with exception of the Oxbridge gang JustHere I think!

@Benjispruce4 definitely a good thing that BF is visiting. Would be great if he they went to some Fresher events together and met some people whilst she has the safety blanket of BF with her, but at least she shold enjoy being in her own place (but parents) with him. Hope it works out for her and that the first academic intro was not typical of how it is going to be, but as others have said, however it works out, she has given it a good go and will have learnt from the experience.

I think one of the problems DC have is that they are told it should be the best time of their lives so they have high expectations, exacerbated by social media, and for lots it is not what they experience. It was worse in 2020 - if your accommodation bubble didn't gel, you had no social life. DS1's GF at Sheffield Hallam had pleasant flatmates but she didn't socialise with them or stay in touch after leaving. As a nursing student she was out on placements, which gave her the interactions she needed. We need to be grateful that Covid is not such an issue this year!

Ok, first of my last minute panics ;-) Likey to be a few of these posts today…! Having assured me we definitely had some vacuum bags in the loft, Dh can’t find them. Just popped to Robert dyas and only small vacuum bags available. Where would stock those in a high street/DIY store rather than online?!? I’ve always bought online before…

@Isthisjustnormal I get mine from IKEA, B&M sell them too, but don't think they are at all essential - I didn't use any for DS1 drop off even though I had some.

Thank you @Isthisjustnormal , will try them and I can shift my reputation as a baking disaster zone !
@Benjispruce4 , I agree with @Monkey2001 , be good if she can go to some events with him. DD moved to Cardiff with her ex when she started as they were both studying there and having him around helped her go to freshers events where she made friends she then went on to live with .
@Monkey2001 I was thinking today how pleased I am they aren’t doing this with covid restrictions. Friend’s DC gone down with Fresher’s flu and really isn't well, have added cold and flu remedy to the list as had forgotten.

@Isthisjustnormal i got mine from the range. They were out of stock in every b&m.

Dunelm / B&Q / Argos all sell them I think Isthisjust