Egluntyne Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 That is good. One of the houses that My son lived in was like an opium den. You could have sliced the air with a table knife. One word of advice....wear your rose tinted glasses if you visit your son, and you use the bathroom in a shared house. I always ended up doing a Kim and Aggie when I visited him, especially the house he had 2 years ago on Upperton Rd. I would have had sleepless nights otherwise. At least I knew the bathroom, kitchen and sitting room were cleaned once every couple of months. There would always be at least 2 full bin bags of recycling.....cans and bottles. All these youngsters were brought up in the kind of homes where recycling is second nature.....but that all goes out of the window when they leave home. Another thing, I don't know how some of these landlords get away with the state of some of the houses they let to students....and they are on the University lists. The wiring being the main concern. I'm delighted that my son has gone back into "halls" type accommodation for his post grad thingy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted September 26, 2007 Author Share Posted September 26, 2007 I'm glad my son is on campus too - at least they seems to have certain standards!! All the curtains, shower curtains, mats etc were new, there was a new kettle and fridge freezer in the kitchen. They have a cleaner who goes in once a week - good luck to her I'm not sure I really want to be invited into his "house" - what I dont know about etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Never fear - Rosie will be going away to Uni, or at least living in halls. I firmly believe in student life too - having done it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Ethan's planning on moving into Alexander's bedroom when he goes to uni. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Another thing, I don't know how some of these landlords get away with the state of some of the houses they let to students....and they are on the University lists. The wiring being the main concern. I'm delighted that my son has gone back into "halls" type accommodation for his post grad thingy. Egluntine, you are spot on about the landlords. Working for a University myself, it's definitely something that is being clamped down on more, and more student housing is being closely monitiored that appears on the uni's housing lists. There is great move towards building new halls of residence for students, mainly for the profit that can be made, as we all know, universities get more buisness-like every year, but it's great for the students. They get a better deal all round. There wasn't any purpose built halls when I was at Uni. My accomodation sounds very similar to your son's where there was internal warfare between the bacteria in the bathroom and the kitchen! Isn't it supposed to be character building Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 We just spent all our time out (drinking) so we hardly ever saw our digs - perhaps it was best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 No purpose-built halls Gina? Where did you go? I must have been at uni at least 10 years before you and there were 8 Halls of residence plus other university houses dotted around. Huddersfield Halls are privately run - but overseen by the uni. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 I used to work in Oxford and most of the halls there are very well appointed and run. Personally I think that a bit of squalor and discomfort does them good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 No purpose-built halls Gina? Where did you go? I must have been at uni at least 10 years before you and there were 8 Halls of residence plus other university houses dotted around. Huddersfield Halls are privately run - but overseen by the uni. I went to Loughborough College of Art, Ginette. There were only 1000 of us over all of the degree courses that ran, 10 on my particular course. It was a very unique, and friendly experience. It was a very small institute at the time. I do teach over there from time to time now, and they have built some halls as the University took over the independent art college of the early 90's. The 'halls', as they were known then, we're big Victorian Terraces that were knocked through into big houses. Like rabbit warrens. (Good fun at the time. I was young enough not to care!) So, no, no purpose built halls for us bohemians! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Well, now I know! We stopped at the Loughborough Harvester on the way to Huddersfield for a good filling meal. It's only just off the M1 so we didn't waste any time either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Ooooo....we've dined in there many a time. (You have been about a bit recently haven't you ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Yes I have - and I've discovered a love of travelling, especially in my car! We knew we wouldn't have time to eat later, when we were unpacking etc, so thought the Harvester a good place to fill up so much that we didn't need to eat again! It worked. We have a Harvester near us too - and when we're feeling very virtuous, we cycle there (about 2 miles each way) All those place names off the M1 that I knew really well, but didn't know where they were or how they fitted together. It's been a real education. I'm already looking forward to the next journey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 I love driving round the country too Ginette. Rosie has got to be a good navigator and can get me back on route when I take a wrong turning too. I must say though that I was very taken with a friend's satnav the other week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Back to Halls of residence... I went to Goldsmith's College, in London for my 4 year degree and despite having over 7,000 students back then, they offered accommodation to all students for all the time they were there! As OH and I already had a flat by the time I started college ( ), I lived in halls Monday to Friday for the whole time I was there: Had my room cleaned daily and meals cooked nightly. It was bliss! I wonder if they still do it, or they have been forced to sell off some of their VERY nice properties in an up and coming area... Shame if they have. It made college life completely stress free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyLizzie Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Huddersfield Halls are privately run - but overseen by the uni I went to Huddersfield (when it had just turned into a Uni ) - Halls were OK but after the first year everyone was OUT and had to find somewhere to stay - one year the house was really damp, but we did find a launderette that would collect your washing, wash, dry and fold it and deliver it back to you! ACE. My (now) hubby lived in a house one year which had slugs and snails in the downstairs 'bathroom' - it was a lean-to off the kitchen We had an ace time though, although I would not recommend having porridge for brekkie and then having a pint in the pub straight after - they DON'T mix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 It's good to meet someone who was at Huddersfield - and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully 1st years meet up with older people in digs and will be able to take over from departing 3rd years! DizzyLizzie I was at Bristol I lived in Stoke Bishop in the 1st year and Clifton for 2+3. I LOVE Bristol! And I met my DH in the first week at uni - we've been together ever since. Annie - Goldsmith's sounds good (and has a good reputation!) I did a PGCE in Cambridge (Homerton so I'm qualified in Scotland too ) As a post-grad I thought it would be really uncool to live in college so I lived out. I SO wish I hadn't. The meals at Homerton were delicious, the accommodation lovely and all facilities on site including the resources library while I was on TP. And DH and I would have been near each other instead of 2 miles apart - that would have saved time too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Good point Ginette. Being on Teaching Practice was exhausting.. so glad those meals were there for me on my return... The worst part of it was (back in the olden days), no mobile phones, so we'd have 24 girls all queuing up to use the one telephone on each floor.... If you were expecting a call to come in, it was purgatory. I used to set my alarm for 3.00 am to use it . (luckily OH did night shifts back then and I could ring him at work). Happy days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Oh Annie, I had forgotten about the no phone thing. As I didn't live in halls, we had to use the phone box down the road! How did we ever survive without a phone?! Actually, it was quite easy. We all used to meet in the same regular places, and you could turn up alone and always know somebody. I do remember, however, reversing the charges from that phonebox to my Mum and Dad quite a lot! I think in Yr 3, we got a phone that could only receive in coming calls. These stories are making me feel all warm and fuzzy! I love them. they're bringing back such lovely memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocobo Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 It sounds like my brother, whenever hes gone back to uni, about 3 guitars go back, a huge amp... loads of cds.... Its so quiet afterward. This year hes sharing a house with three girls who are flatmates from last year- it's his second year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Another thing, I don't know how some of these landlords get away with the state of some of the houses they let to students....and they are on the University lists. The wiring being the main concern. I'm delighted that my son has gone back into "halls" type accommodation for his post grad thingy. Egluntine, you are spot on about the landlords. Working for a University myself, it's definitely something that is being clamped down on more, and more student housing is being closely monitiored that appears on the uni's housing lists. There is great move towards building new halls of residence for students, mainly for the profit that can be made, as we all know, universities get more buisness-like every year, but it's great for the students. They get a better deal all round. It is also better for the area around the University if the students are housed on campus. I live not too far from Birmingham University, and it is always worrying when a house goes up for sale. Do we get a single homeowner or a landlord on the make. The area close to the university is wrecked now. There are some owner/occupiers but mostly streets of rented houses, with tatty coversions to cram lots of students into one property, overgrown long gardens, and bins, rubbish and cars all over the place. Landlords don't look after these properties, and if you know of an unsafe house, please report it to the university. If universities could house all of their students it would be most welcome, believe me. Rant over, sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 We had to sell up and move from our last house precisely because of the problems you mention. The garden was one big bonfire party, and the noise level was horrendous. We were gutted. We loved our little terrace, but it just got too much for us. We did have at one time, students on both sides. The other side was great. No problems at all. We all got on and lived with respect for each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Claire has a point - we are two roads along from the college, and ther are three student houses in the road. The only real problems are with the parking because they all tend to have cars. The street has a strong community spirit, and if they're getting out of order, someone goes and tells them. We all know the landlord well, so he's available if there are ever any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 The problem with areas being turned over to landlord owned student accommodation is that for long stretches, such as the summer holidays, the houses are empty, with burglar alarms going off all the time. It is like a ghost town for weeks on end, and it makes the few families who do live there quite vulnerable, so, like Gina, they move on, understandably. There is an active pressure group in Headingly, Leeds, trying to reverse the rot and prevent houses being sold to landlords. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 I agree with that Egluntine - if lots of the houses are rented out, they become more dilapidated as the landlords tend not to be bothered about smartening them up, then vandalism sets in and house prices go down. We live in a conservation area, so the landlords are supposed to keep them smart, not that they ever do, nor does anyone enforce it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted September 28, 2007 Author Share Posted September 28, 2007 Well, one week on and I think I'm beginning to get the hang of this uni lark! Phone call Tuesday "Hi Mum, how are you?" "Fine thanks love, how's it going?" "Okay thanks - just thought I'd ring to see how you are" Phone call Wednesday "Hi Mum, how are you?" "Fine thanks love, how's it going?" "Well I've had to spend £16 to insure my belongings while I'm here" "Dont worry love I'll send you the money" Phone call Thursday "Hi Mum, how are you?" "Fine thanks love, how's it going?" "Can you send me £90 'cos I had to buy all my sports memberships!!!!" Yep - definately getting the hang of this............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
