We spent the best part of the day there today, I thought it would be a case of dropping her off, doing some food shopping and then coming home again but it took rather more time than we expected. There were quite a few administrative things she needed to do so we helped with those before leaving.
Her room is much smaller than Daniel's was but she likes it which is the main thing.
The view from her window.
Directly below her room is a polytunnel and some veg beds, I don't think she'll be volunteering her services, she wasn't keen on helping when I had the allotment.
Two other girls were moving in to her flat today whilst we were there, there's another three arriving tomorrow, a girl, a boy and one other who they don't yet know. There's lots of things planned for Fresher's Week, both during the day and at night, as well as lots of introductory workshops and meetings and then her lectures and lab sessions begin properly the following week. She's very excited about it all but has taken some photos to remind her of home all the same.
This is where the next chapter starts for us all, Eleanor at uni and Mick and I home alone for the first time in twenty one years. It will feel very strange to start with but I'm sure we'll soon get used to it.
Don't forget about the swap I'm running. The Twelve Days Of Christmas Swap 2016 Sign Up is still open if you fancy joining in, just leave a comment on that post and I'll add you to the list. It proved to be a very popular swap last year and it would be lovely to have more people joining in, it doesn't matter where you live, many people who have already signed up have expressed an interest in swapping worldwide so I'll definitely be able to find you a partner. It's a great way to make new friends too.
I still remember the fear when my parents dropped me off at Uni - it lasted about 5 mins until I met the other people I lived with and I never looked back. Hope Eleanor loves it and you and Mick find a way to cope for the next few weeks until you get used to the new dynamic. x
ReplyDeleteEleanor was quite nervous but very excited so I'm sure she'll be fine. I think these next few weeks will be the hardest for us, as you say, we'll just have to get used to it.
DeleteOooh, I do like Eleanor's frame of photos - especially the one of Archie with his curls! Good luck to you all in the next chapter. :o)
ReplyDeleteNotice there's no photo of me, that's because I won't let anyone take my photo. The photo of Archie with his curls was taken when he'd just come out of the sea, his fur takes on a bit of a bedraggled look.
DeleteI hope that poor boy has another male flatmate!
ReplyDeleteI know. Eleanor liked the idea of a mixed sex flat but they each choose their own rooms without knowing who's taken the others so there's no guarantees.
DeleteI love how you've titled this post! It is indeed a new chapter for you all.
ReplyDeleteEleanor's room looks very comfortable and I like the pictures she's taken from home - a good idea. I wish her well as she embarks on University life and studies.
Good wishes to you for the weekend.
All the best Jan
Eleanor's room is cosy, not a lot of space but she's made it homely. Thank you, she's looking forward to university life.
DeleteBoy, if I was a student there, I would have been down in that veg patch within minutes of discovering it :)
ReplyDeleteYour house probably felt so quiet when you returned home. I'm sure that just knowing that this is IT made the silence louder (so to speak).
Me too, I think I'll have to go and have a nosey sometime when I visit. The house wasn't so bad last night as Daniel and his girlfriend are here for the weekend, which I was glad of really, no time to dwell on an empty house yet. I know the coming week will be very different though, Eleanor's been home with me since she finished her exams and that seems a long time ago now.
DeleteAll good wishes to your young lady on this new stage in her life. Such an exciting time.
ReplyDeleteAnd a new stage for Mick and yourself. It goes so fast. X
Thank you. It's so exciting for her and I wish that I was her age again so that I could have that experience too, neither Mick nor I went to university.
DeleteAlways a scary time for both student and parents - but they'll soon get over it, I'm sure! It looks as if Eleanor has a decent place to live, anyway. One of my girls had some pretty grotty digs when she was at Uni in Birmingham.
ReplyDeleteI think the first few weeks will be the worst for us all but we'll soon get used to our new way of life. Eleanor's digs should be half decent the amount she's paying for them, her student loan doesn't even cover the cost of her accommodation so we're having to pay towards that as well as paying for everything else she'll need and her day to day living expenses, well, everything else really.
DeleteI'm sure that you'll soon get used to it. The costs involved are a real eye-opener nowadays. Flighty xx
DeleteThey've supposedly made it so that everyone has the opportunity to go to uni, but the strain it puts on parents can be too much. We're lucky, we can afford to help her out but some young people don't have parents who can.
DeleteGood luck at university Eleanor. Nice flat and surrounding.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Her accommodation is on campus which is handy as she won't have far to go for her lectures.
DeleteIt certainly changes when they go off to Uni! The old college bus went silently by last night, without stopping - the kids used to come home every Friday from weekly boarding - and I must confess, we were both a bit nostalgic, missing the chat and raiding the fridge. Still, hey ho, no mountains of dirty laundry!
ReplyDeleteDaniel used to bring his washing home when he first started uni but he soon got used to doing his own. Eleanor's a bit more self sufficient so I'm not expecting much coming home with her, I may be wrong though.
DeleteI hope your daughter enjoys uni. I never went, which I don't regret, but I do think I missed out on the experience.
ReplyDeleteI didn't go to uni either but I'd jump at the chance if I were young again, I think it's a brilliant experience.
DeleteHey Jo,
ReplyDeleteWhen I dropped off Sam last year. I sat in the car and cried my eyes out! I just couldn't believe that he would last five minutes. But of course he did. Not only that he has thrived. Best of luck to Eleanor. And to you.
Leanne xx
Thank you. They do change an awful lot when they first go to uni. When Daniel went, I was worried that he'd starve, he was such a fussy eater. It's amazing what he eats now, it didn't take long for him to start eating many things he didn't at home. I'm not worried about Eleanor, she's more than capable of looking after herself, but I will miss her very much.
DeleteNow you both have to start living your own life, doing things for yourselves, we love our offspring, but also love our life together. Our is changing, youngest daughter is have a baby boy in February next year, her 1st our 5th grand child, so more fun to come.
ReplyDeleteThere's so many different chapters to our lives and this is just another new one which we'll learn to embrace. We're not quite at the grandparents stage yet but that's another change I'm sure we'll have at some time in the future.
DeleteBless your heart, it is an emotional time for everyone. I have a five year old you can rent if you need some action at home!
ReplyDeleteMeredith
If I lived closer I'd definitely be borrowing Little Buddy, he'd be a great little pick me up at the moment with his beautiful smile.
DeleteGlad Eleanor is happy with her room. Accommodation on campus is handy. I'm sure she's adaptable and will soon settle in and then there'll be plenty to occupy her getting to know the other flatmates and finding out more during Fresher's Week. You'll miss her, but at the same time I know that you're pleased she's branching out and starting on a new phase of her life.
ReplyDeleteYou're exactly right, I know I'm going to miss her but this is her time now, I want her to take all the opportunities which come her way. She's having a great time so far, has met lots of new people and has been out partying. I think she's going to get a shock when the work actually starts.
DeleteWhat an exciting time, it must seem so strange and quiet, means it's time for some 'you and Mick' time xx
ReplyDeleteIt hasn't been quiet yet as Daniel and his girlfriend came to stay on Thursday and they're still here. It's been good as it's taken my mind off Eleanor going.
DeleteGlad that Eleanor is settled in well, I hope she has a great time in everything going forward. Hope that you have a great new chapter and time in your life too and that it brings good things your way! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you. I think it's a bit daunting and exciting at the same time for us all.
DeleteThese things always take longer than you expect, we had to clean Stevies room top to bottom before putting her things in, although we were told the cleaners had been!!
ReplyDeleteWishing her all the best and i hope she enjoys her time at uni, and that you and your husband enjoy being just the two of you again :-)
That's one thing about Eleanor's flat, it was clean. Thank you, lots of change ahead for all of us but I'm sure we'll get used to this next phase in no time at all.
DeleteAnother important life change for you, Jo. You seem to be handling it very well. My very best wishes to your daughter -- and to you, of course. P. x
ReplyDeleteI will certainly miss Eleanor very much but we're all so proud of her and want her to do well in whatever she chooses to do. Back to life as a twosome for Mick and I now.
DeleteBest wishes to your daughter, it's a big and exciting step and I hope she has a wonderful time. She may not volunteer in the polytunnel but seeing it out of her window may help her feel more at home and settled. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you. She certainly sounds as though she's having a ball at the moment. I'd be straight down volunteering in the polytunnel if I were there, right on the doorstep too.
DeleteShe'll be fine. You know she will! Have you got used to the quiet yet?
ReplyDeleteI know she'll be fine, she's having a great time so far. It hasn't actually been quiet yet, Daniel and his girlfriend came on Thursday evening and didn't go back to York until last night. I'm glad I didn't come home to an empty house after dropping her off.
DeleteGood to know that Eleanor seems ready to start her journey into her new Uni life. Being empty nesters is strange to start with, but gets easier with the passing years. Hope you've had a good weekend & take care.
ReplyDeleteEleanor was really looking forward to getting to uni, her boyfriend started the week before she did so she couldn't wait to go too.
DeleteThe smallholder in me thought wow - look how tight they got that polytunnel plastic!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy this new chapter, we found they all come back again..........and again........and again until finally they really have moved out!
Ha ha, they're obviously teaching them well. Daniel's renting a house in York at the moment but he may still come home yet, it depends how the job hunting goes.
DeleteGood luck to Eleanor I know it's hard for us mums to let our babies go, she will have a fantastic time xx
ReplyDeleteThank you. It is hard, but I'm so proud of what she's achieved so far and I know she's following her dreams so that's good enough for me.
DeleteA new chapter indeed, I am sure she will have a wonderful time there. Keep yourself busy for a couple of weeks and then enjoy the peace and quiet.
ReplyDeleteI think that's the best plan. I've got lots of things organised to keep me busy, I think the first couple of weeks will definitely be the hardest until I get used to things.
DeleteSwishing your daughter well in her studies, I hope she meets some lovely friendly people.
ReplyDeleteThank you. She really likes the people she's sharing her flat with and has met lots of other people too. It's good that she's making some nice friends already.
Delete