University's Eve

5.20am

Friday has come round all too soon. One proper day left at home. I'm a bit* raaaar that I have to go to work and spend it with other people's children, not my own. At 3.20pm I'll be hot footing it home. At approx 3.22pm I shall be home!

*I'm a LOT raaar.

I know she will be back before I know it with mountains of dirty washing. I know it'll be fine. I know it'll be the best years of her life. I know I've been working her whole life to get her to this point. See everyone, I DO listen. And thank you to everyone who has listened to me whine n whinge on. I'm pretending to myself, she's just going on another Scout Camp. This, I can deal with!

Her Dad, my HG ( Hunter Gatherer ) who doesn't say much, is struggling too. He spends his whole days at work thinking about his little girl, wondering if she'll be alright!
*rolls eyes* Daddy's Girl.
If she's wanted it, even when cruel, hard Victorian Mama has said no, never, not in a million years, Daddy has got it for her!!! ( Then moaned at her for not putting stuff away- she can't put it away, dear reader, there is too much sodding stuff!! )


Our poor, left behind son is going to feel the weight of all this parental attention!!! He'll be dragged out of his lair and have to take the role of both kids!! *sniggers*!!!! Please note I won't make him wear full make up and short skirts to go to school though! Hmmm nor will I fill his room with teenage girls!

He doesn't say much, obviously taking after the strong silent type his father is, but I'm sure he will miss her too.

They've been good siblings. She's completely bossed him about his whole life, apparently he swears at her on the way to the bus stop in a morning. The way she can strop n boss, I'm not surprised. I think I'd be swearing at her on the way to the bus stop.

But they've always been together. Even this summer, gone shopping, cycling, walking etc. They gave me a heart attack when they let go of the bar, when they were hanging upside down together, on a scary ' people die on those things ' extreme ride of terror at Camelot a fortnight ago! ( I videoed this on my phone, I am screaming louder than the people on the flipping ride! )

So he will be left at home. He takes his GSCEs this year. If all goes to plan, I'll be recycling this post in three years time, if he's been as successful as she at Sixth form.

You think I'm maudlin and whinging now??? You just wait til then!!!!


Here is one of my favourite photos of them. Playing together in one of our favourite places. It's a bit blurry, but that's to help you imagine seeing it through my tears!!!!

I hate to admit it, but my mother was right, the time has flown by and 'they are not babies for long' but they'll be my babies forever. I've already told work colleagues that if I'm not in on Monday, it's because I'm at Uni, under the bed in a tiny room in Newcastle!

No doubt I'll be back on my blog to regale you with The Move. I have NO idea how we are going to get it all in the car :-/

PS please keep little Harry chops in your thoughts today. He's gone for his four weekly Exam Under Anaesthetic. No more tumours, no new growth is what we want to hear.

One week to go...

Again I'm here on my phone. How lazy of me but I have genuine excuses.

I cannot get to the laptop ( which needs to be permanently on charge ) as there is the European University Stuff She Needs To Take With Her Mountain* in front of the desk. It's alarming at how it's lava is spilling down the stairs too.

Every day it's like an episode of The Krpton Factor as I try to manoeuvre safely round the house.

Students really do need everything.

£98 a WEEK is what her accommodation costs.

This is the lowest budget option too!! More than my mortgage. She is in a four bedroom flat with her own tiny room, sharing a kitchen, lounge and bathroom with three other girls.

Modern technology means that the girls have already 'met' and chatted on Facebook. One has a microwave, mine has a slow cooker, hoping that one of the others has a toaster! But how fantastic is it that they can forge friendships from the beginning? This makes me less intensely stressed somehow!

So that £98 pays for her room, heating, electricity, security and insurance. Internet is included too.

She totally deserves to be treated and spoiled. I am told over and over at how lovely, generous and kind hearted she is. She worked hard for this. Her whole family are so very proud of her.

( Yes of course she drives me insane sometimes, and let's not forget the fact she has been tidying her room for 7 years - I'm hoping for miracles when she's on her own!) ( But equally I will not be there to see it, therefore cannot nag about it!)

She has been spoilt by her lovely Nanna ( my mum ) who bought her new bedding, kitchen utensils, pillows, an iron, matching sets of knives, pads of paper, cleaning up stuff, a colander, microwaveable bowls ..... And stuff I can't remember. It's like the Generation Game. Her lovely other Nanna,( Dad's mum ) who is just as indulgent, will buy her the Student Railcard and a journey or two home. The money she was lucky to receive in her congratulations cards has been spent on the Fresher's Week pass(£55) and Student Union Card (£12).

She is having a purple theme, she's told me! We took her to Dunhelm Mill and got the few bits - few bits !!!!!!! - she needed from there. Including a delightful little lamp for £7. Lovely purple shade. Her quilt and a bedding set were kindly donated from her other Nanna and Grandad with a large bath towel.

Calling in at Sainsburys, we picked up some fabulous new pens and pencils etc all with 80% off. She is also taking all the old stuff from sixth form with her. Plates etc are from us. Pans are either going to be a new cheap but decent set ( I hate false economy ) or the set we gave away to Nanna if she doesn't actually use them!!!

The biggest outlay so far ( excepting the Uni fees themselves ) has been the book list. But with careful sourcing and shopping around I'm confident we made some good buys.

I will furnish her with the basics; pasta, toothpaste, shower gel, loo rolls and porridge. After that, anyone going to see her will take food parcels. She is going to get a job over in the North East where she is headed. She will have to. Her maintenance loan grant thingy will almost be used up on her accommodation. We will help as much as we can, but our income has gone down. Losing her child benefit for one !!!!!! Sorry am laughing at myself there!

Today's mission is to try and get everything into one area of the house. Take stock and see what's missing. She will buy certain things there as and when she needs them. Like an airer, maybe a pop up wardrobe cupboard etc. Tupperware boxes and anything else she can think of. Although I did say not to buy too much as eventually it'll all have to come back again!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If anyone out there has been through this, what is that ONE thing that was either the best thing they ever got/was essential that's not on my list/total waste of money that never got used?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Keeping myself busy with practical things means I shouldn't have too much empty head space to dwell on the fact that she is going. ( uh oh - my nose is doing that prickling feeling thing, when your eyes water and you are going to cry.) The nightmares I've been having are horrendous. I cannot really get my head round it. I don't want to. Yet I know she is ready. Even though she has only been eighteen for three short months, I know I have raised a smart, independent, confidant girl. She can cook a whole array of things. She CAN clean thoroughly. She can shop smartly, knowing what's a good buy.

The photograph I have chosen to go with this post is a Sunrise shot, from our Holiday appartment in Wales. I've chosen it because it symbolises a whole new world is opening up for my daughter.
(Wow, that's a bit deep from me!!)

Now I just have to set her free ( ish - I will be texting and writing and visiting and ringing etc ) and hope she continues to choose well and set her standards high and is successful and happy. What more could I wish?


Love from
A melancholic mama *wipes solitary tear rolling down cheek*

* photos of EUSSNTTWHM to follow!

13

Just thirteen sleeps till my precious daughter flees my safe, nurturing, loving nest. I well up just even thinking about it.

It seems worse somehow that I will be part of the team that will take her and abandon her ( with full equipment list; bedding, fluffy towels, crockery, a slow cooker, pots, pans, cutlery etc ) to the harsh, cold reality of the North East.

Dark and brooding is it's skies, bleak, lonely, cruel. ( pause for dramatic effect and maximum sympathy ) Group hug please!

Pass the tissues.....