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 !

[KingscoteStaff]

First of DD’s flatmates moved in today and say it smells of cigarette smoke! Scented candles (well, any candles) are forbidden, so reed diffuser has gone on the list for tomorrow!

[Alsoplayspiccolo]

Kingscote, I’ve bought Febreeze today for DD for exactly that problem!

[CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee]

I'm a big fan of wax melts so I've bought dd an electric burner of her own ...it just the same as a small lamp so shouldn't be an issue. I get my melts from a fab company called Cushty Co.... wanders off to melt 'Chai Latte'

[icanbewhatiwant]

@GoldenRuby I think most at Sussex will arrive Sat. The kitchen at ds1's accommodation at UEA just had a table with 6 chairs for a flat of 12. The one at Sussex has a table with chairs, plus sofas and coffee table. So a bit better for socialising.
I haven't heard from Ds again. I hope he's ok. He isn't one for messaging though.

[kiwiandcherries]

Thanks @ProggyMat - my dd is having a great freshers week! We have navigated a couple of little moments but overall it has been easier than I expected for all of us. She has great flatmates and made some nice friends on the same course which I am relieved about. The anticipation was definitely worse for me than actually taking her as we just had to get on with it then! Missing her a lot though ...

Hope everyone else's dc are settling in well too and that those of you caught in the tension of them preparing to leave can hang in there!

[EspeciallyDivided]

DS has had another busy 24 hours in Fresher’s Week. Pub crawl last night, he had quite a lot to drink but went back to campus fairly early with some others. Unfortunately some damage was done later to a communal part of his hall area and they have been told they will all have to split the cost if they can’t find out who did it. Need to look into what it says in his contract about that. He felt a bit rough this morning but managed to go along and sign up for hockey club.

[sazzy5]

Oh wow it is so nice to hear everyone is settling in. We are due to go on Saturday and are staying over. Our car has decided to break down, amazing timing, we are now going hundreds of miles in my DS’s 1litre car. It does mean he will have to restrict what he can take.
DS is having major wobbles, he’s normally quite chilled, he’s trying to change his accommodation, which is rather late in the day to be worrying about. It is a weird time for us all.

[singingstones]

Now imagining you bombing down the M5 like this sazzy

[Monkey2001]

@singingstones

Now imagining you bombing down the M5 like this sazzy

Brilliant!

@sazzy5 that is unlucky, hope you can get it all in. If you and DH are both going, would it be an option for one person to get the train down?

[Fonty]

Found you all again! Thanks cinnamon for new thread.
Sounds like a busy one this weekend. We’re off to Exeter Sat am. Moving in slot 2:30. It’ll take around 5-6 hrs. We’ve gone electric so DH busy planning a route where we can charge up! Oh joy.
@Zebracat we’re also staying the night in a country b&b, which I’m seeing as a mini break!
What accommodation have you got @sazzy5 ?
Whats the deal with airers @Monkey2001 ? I assumed it was the heated electric ones which were prohibited, but DS says he’s not allowed to bring one. I’m going to sneak a normal one in. DS is a swimmer, so there’s always wet trunks & towels draped around our kitchen.
Lovely to hear the GP stories too. I think I’d actually faint if one of mine actually went to all the effort of making a plum pudding. Putting the kettle on for someone else seems way beyond their capabilities…. Good luck everyone. Safe travels this weekend & hope those already in, are settling down

[sazzy5]

@singingstones 😂I hope it won’t be that bad. We also have a dog we are taking. @Monkey2001 that could be an option, we did look at hiring a car but it was around £500. @Fonty it’s because all his classes are on the other side, he’s also realised everyone else he knows is on the other side (East) He’s not worried about the actual room, just the location. I’ve told him to ring to see if there is any space elsewhere, somehow I doubt it.

[Heifer]

@CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee

I'm a big fan of wax melts so I've bought dd an electric burner of her own ...it just the same as a small lamp so shouldn't be an issue. I get my melts from a fab company called Cushty Co.... wanders off to melt 'Chai Latte'

I didn't know about electric wax burners, this sounds perfect for DD who was upset re no candles at uni as they have become part of her evening ritual. Where did you get the electric wax burner from and which one?

[CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee]

I got Dd this one mosaic wax burner

I have one like this it's quite pretty

There are so many waxmelt companies out there ftom commercial like Yankee or airpure to Etsy shops. The ones with glitter in are nice for a ritual. I think the smell last longer than candles but it's basically the same thing ,you can reuse the melts .

[Decorhate]

@sazzy5 There is probably a waiting list system he can join for room changes. Spaces often come up within a few weeks when people change their minds about going etc.

[Benjispruce4]

Thought the thread had gone quiet then found the new one! Thanks @CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee
Last order of small double mattress protector has arrived. Still waiting on hsbc card and we take DD tomorrow.
Had a morbid thought last night. With DD1 now moved out and DD2 off tomorrow, if one of us dies, the other will be alone. Why am
i thinking like that? Told DH this morning and he had , had the exact same thought. How bizarre! I thought it was a menopausal thing.

[OublietteBravo]

We’re heading off with DD this evening. She essentially did a version of supermarket sweep through the house last night working out what to take. Is it bad that the towels/tea towels are so old that they went to university with me? The pans were my grandmother’s and must be at least 70 years old.

[Benjispruce4]

Hah @OublietteBravo you must’ve bought good quality ! DD has pans of ours too but only about 5 years old.

[Fruitygal]

@OublietteBravo my first two had hand me down pans etc

[Fruitygal]

@BlueMarigold hope things go smoothly on Saturday

We finally got move in date and time yesterday. Saturday 24th 10am! Thank god I booked Airbnb for Friday and Saturday night was just going to do Saturday. Pleased because we can do a shop together after dropping and sorting things with her in the room. She’s got freshers induction timetable for her college so suddenly we have new shopping for the fancy dress theme nights etc

The DSs are laughing as they went to uni without the colleges just normal halls. I’m secretly pleased it’s more structured as it gives her a chance to meet friends and be busy so doesn’t get as home sick. they all get a little though

[Fruitygal]

Melts are new one for me …. Will go and look

[craggyrat]

So many people either gone or going! Still another two weeks here. @Fonty My DS is a swimmer too and I was wondering about drying. Laundry is free (well inc in their accommodation) so he should be able to sort towels but there will be lots of wet speedos

[Oblomov22]

Loving idea of Sazzy bombing down M5 with croc!

[NCTDN]

@craggyrat laundry is free? Wow! Where's that?

[DontCallMeBaby]

@Fonty airers are banned where DD is cos they make the rooms damp, I imagine that’s usually going to be the reason. She has one anyway - officially they’re supposed to tumble everything. Um, bras??

[craggyrat]

@NCTDN - He’s off to Downing Cambridge. I think they started inc laundry a couple of years ago from what I saw online. Makes a big difference. I know other unis we looked round were crazy high prices for doing a wash. That always assumes he will actually wash anything…..