It was very strange when she went away last year, it was the first time that Mick and I had been on our own for over twenty one years but we soon got used to it. In fact, it's the norm now so it takes some adjusting when she comes back home and we have to share the house again. The house does seem empty again though now but I'm slowly getting back into a routine of being on my own during the day.
She managed to get herself a little bar job while she's been at home, she worked four and a half hours on a Friday night and eleven and a half hours on a Saturday. She's saved most of her wages so that she's got quite a bit of money to take back to uni with her.
The hard work really starts for Eleanor now. High grades have never come easy for her, she has to work for every mark she gets, so we were thrilled when her overall grade for Year 1 was a 2:1. It's a shame that the first year grade doesn't count towards the degree. We're just hoping that she can keep it up, though she does work hard so I know she'll give it her best.
Good luck to Eleanor. It sounds like she's doing well. Saving her wages is the sensible thing to do. X
ReplyDeleteThank you. She's thoroughly enjoying all aspects of university and couldn't wait to get back for her second year. The wages she's saved up will allow her to do a few more things this year.
DeleteGood luck in your second year Eleanor.
ReplyDeleteThank you. She's a hard worker so she'll definitely give it her best.
DeleteYou will be making too many potatoes for a while until you adjust to having two in the house again! All the best to Eleanor for the coming year.
ReplyDeleteI know, it took some getting used to making food for just two after she left last year. The food bill goes down considerably when she's not at home though. Thank you.
DeleteWhat a lovely photo Jo. As long as Eleanor does her best you can't wish for any more. It always sounds to me that you have a thoughtful and loving daughter and that she must be a source of great pride to you and Mick. She will be back before you know it but in the meantime enjoy the peace.
ReplyDeleteMick just snapped that photo on his phone when he went to pick her up at the end of her shift on Saturday night. We're so very proud of both her and Daniel, they've both always done their best and as you say, that's all we can ask of them. I don't think she's planning on coming home again before Christmas but I'm pleased that she's happy there, it would be worrying if she wanted to come home all the time.
DeleteI'm sure Eleanor will continue to do well. It must have been lovely having her home all summer.I'm a bit gobsmacked that the first year grade does not count towards the degree. Why not? Why do they do the (hard!) work if there is no accountability? What is the point? BSc/BCom/BA/teaching degrees here are 3 years long; a student completes 8 papers/courses every year and all of those 24 papers/courses count towards the degree. I seriously thought university degrees were equal around the world in terms of workload/counting for grades etc! (not in fees though!)(Surely she does NOT pay fees for the year to worth zero?!)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed having Eleanor home with us for the summer, and we were really pleased that she still came on holiday with us too. They say that the first year at university is to get all the students up to the same level academically as well as giving a good grounding in the subject you've chosen so that you're well prepared for years two and three. The first year's exams do have to be passed though in order to go on to year two, and the results of the first year is looked at if you want to do a placement or an internship. Also, employers may look at the grades for individual years as well as the overall degree grade, so although the mark doesn't count towards the actual degree, it does count in other ways. So you can see that the first year isn't really worth zero and yes, she pays the full fees.
DeleteOr maybe... does it only determine whether you get into a 2nd year course like engineering/med school/ law school here?? Students do what we call an intermediate year and then only the top academic ones get into the "real" course from there on in...
ReplyDeleteYes, the first year exams have to be passed in order to go on and take the second year of the degree.
DeleteI hope this year goes well for her, it's nice to see her working towards her final goals.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I do hope she does well as she's putting so much effort in to it, it's nice to see hard work rewarded.
DeleteThat first year went quickly! I'm sure Eleanor will continue to do well. Both my eldest and youngest had to put lots of work in to get good grades, my middle daughter however used to get good grades without much effort at all. Sometimes having to put that extra effort in makes them value what they are doing even more.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy having the house back to yourself again :-)
It certainly did, though it didn't surprise me as I knew how fast Daniel's three years passed by. I think it's hard on those who have to work for their grades when they see how much of a breeze it is for others, but you're probably right, they'll value the end result more.
DeleteGood for her, she deserves to do well. xx
ReplyDeleteShe does, she's worked hard to get where she is and I know she'll continue to do so.
DeleteEleanor sounds like an amazing young woman. She certainly isn't afraid of hard work, that was a long shift every Saturday! Good luck to her, I'm sure with her positive and hard working attitude, she will soar xx
ReplyDeleteHer Saturday shift was a bit of a marathon but she's pleased with the money she's been able to save, it'll help her out at uni. Thank you, I do hope that her hard work will be rewarded.
DeleteCongratulations to her, her hard work and determination has been rewarded. Its amazing how quickly you will get used to her not been around, it was the quiet I struggled with and kept putting on the radio. These days I enjoy the quiet.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I must admit that I don't miss the noise around the house, it's lovely to have a bit of peace and quiet, though it's also lovely when she comes home again and there's a bit of hustle and bustle in the house.
DeleteIt feels like no time at all since Eleanor started uni and here she is going into second year. Enjoy your peace and quiet! :o)
ReplyDeleteThe time goes by so fast, it's hard to believe that she's done a year already.
DeleteIt must have been lovely to have her back home for so long even if it was a bit noisy.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely. It's so nice to have her around, I'll miss her now she's back at uni.
DeleteI wish Eleanor all the best with her second year studies. I think students have to work so hard and need money behind them as they work out their budget for living. Our children went away to study when everything was so different with finances etc. Our granddaughter is the first grandchild to go to university (the three boys of our other daughter went to college in their home town) so we're also wishing her well as she finds her feet away from home. I'm sure you're finding lots to do to fill your days.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I don't know how students manage if they don't have parents who are able to support them. Eleanor's maintenance loan doesn't even cover her accommodation costs, we have to pay towards that as well as paying for all her food and living expenses, yet she'll still finish university with a debt in excess of £40,000. The money she's earnt over summer will certainly help her out. I will miss Eleanor but I'm never bored, I've always got something to fill my days.
DeleteHow wonderful, such fantastic grades for Eleanor. I am really happy for her. I am sure she'll continue to work hard! I remember how determined she was to study biosciences and no doubt that determination will carry her forward and upwards. I bet she is looking forward to the lovely parcels you send her every now and then :-) xx
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Eleanor was very determined to succeed in her A levels so that she could study the subject she wanted to at university. It took a lot of hard work, which I think has put her in good stead for all the studying she has to do now. The Happy Mail parcels have already been mentioned, though she's a second year now so there will definitely be fewer of them this year.
DeleteI can't imagine the kids not being at home but I have a feeling it won't take long for us to adjust when they eventually fly the nest as well. I think that the empty nest syndrome may be more of an issue for folks that don't have many of their own personal interests, which is really not a problem I'll ever face (I have TOO many interests!) and I know you are not short of personal interests either.
ReplyDeleteI love nothing more than having all my family around me, I thought I'd never get over my kids leaving home, but I'm really proud that they're independent and able to stand on their own two feet, and as you say, I have plenty of things to keep me occupied. That's not to say that I don't love having them home again for holidays. I haven't seen Daniel since March so I can't wait to see him again, though he's in America at the moment visiting his girlfriend's family.
DeleteGosh it doesn't seem five minutes since I was at university but I graduated 10years ago!
ReplyDeleteI hope she has a lovely second year and that you can enjoy having the house to yourselves without it feeling too empty.
Time passes by so fast. Neither Mick nor I went to university, we both left school at sixteen, it's been a real eye opener visiting lots of universities when each of them were making their choices. So many opportunities. Eleanor seems to have slotted back into uni life easily enough and is enjoying her time back there again, and I'm already getting used to the house being a little emptier again, there isn't half as much tidying up to do!
DeleteI found it terribly unnerving when all the kids left home, but did get used to it eventually. When they visit these days it's like bedlam with grandkids in tow, but I still love seeing them all, which isn't that often due to distance. We are actually away child minding just now for a couple of days. Good luck Eleanor with your studies for this year. Take care all.
ReplyDeleteI've found Daniel and Eleanor leaving home much easier than I thought I would, though I do love them coming home again. Thank you, Eleanor's enjoying her time back at uni again, I'm so pleased she's happy there.
DeleteWell done to Eleanor for such an amazing first year. She did well to save her money to take back to Uni, I' sure it will come in very handy for her there!
ReplyDeleteLisa x
Eleanor enjoyed having some money to spend whilst she was at home, but the majority of it was saved. I know she'll be glad of it now that she's back at uni.
DeleteWishing your beautiful daughter well in her studies this year.
ReplyDeleteThank you. She's enjoying being back at uni and her lectures start properly this coming week, I think she's looking forward to being back in the labs.
DeleteIt funny how quickly we adapt to changing circumstances, I hated it when daughter went to uni but as you say you quickly adjust. Eleanor sounds such a sensible girl, I'm sure she will continue to do well.xxx
ReplyDeleteI thought I might have empty nest syndrome when Eleanor left for uni but I soon got used to just Mick and I being at home. Eleanor's a hard worker so I do hope all the studying pays off.
DeleteWhat a lovely smile ...
ReplyDeleteSo pleased to read all is going well.
Good luck to Eleanor for her second year of study.
All the best Jan
Thank you. This year started off well, though she's suffering with Fresher's Flu now. I just hope it doesn't last as long as it did last year as she had it right the way to Christmas.
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