We are visiting David in Hull tomorrow, the first time since we dropped him off when he started university.
He didn’t have a half term and, after seeing him via my webcam 
last weekend, I didn’t want to wait another two weeks for his first trip back home.
We talked away on Skype while he tucked into his Pot Noodle. These little plastic pots which are teeming with unpronounceable additives seem to now form a regular part of his diet now. And I thought he looked thinner, although he was sporting a smart new haircut.
David could see the roast lamb we were been tucking into and the heaving Yorkshire puddings which were falling off the plate. Then he spotted something which didn’t please him too much:
“Why is James sitting in my chair?”
It’s true. His younger brother James seems to have claimed David’s former place at the dinner table, but I never realised kids were so territorial.
David’s only complaint so far is about the poor food at the uni hall of residence, he misses his home cooking. He complained about his full time table which he flashed in front of me on the webcam, but it was blurry and I couldn’t read anything. He is also getting stuck into his football there. This means he doesn’t have free time to find a job, he thinks he will have more time next year.
A couple of times he surprised me by mentioning that he has cooked pasta. I never knew he could do this, so I am pleased he has learned something useful at uni. I admit I did spoil him at home because I enjoy cooking and it never appealed to him, however hard I tried.
To help prepare him for next year when he will be renting somewhere and having to cook for himself, I have bought him Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food after seeing it included some of his favourite dinners. It’s a great bible for boys. I could hardly buy him Nigella, that would look too sissy on his bookshelf.
So tomorrow we will be doing a big food shop for David and taking him out for a good, hearty meal. And Hull is not exactly down the road, but a good three hour drive. The day may well come when I have to save my carbon credits to make such a long trip.
I wonder if we will bump into John Prescott, MP for Hull East, as we take in a tour of the city’s highlights.
I must admit I have become a fan of his wife Pauline after being charmed by her warmth, wit, humour and patience in the BBC 2 documentary Prescott, the Class System and Me. And Pauline wouldn’t be the same without her distinctive stiff coiffeured hair. So Pauline, please don’t change anything if you go on to become a TV star.
She has turned out to be a great asset for Hull, I wonder how many more I will find.
I was never so healthy than at uni after I discovered indian grocery shops. Before that I starved; food was just too expensive. You could get a huge handful of coriander or parsley for less than the price of a few sprigs in a supermarket. I learned from other (asian) students how to make curry and chinese stir-fry’s. From a veggie I learned how to roast vegies (yummy with honey dressing) and that a tin of tuna is the healthiest staple food that doesn’t go off – you can have it with cheese on toast (sounds gross but tastes ok) and mix it with pasta and cheese sauce granules for the quickest meal. Use nuts, raisins and fruit with veggies to vary tastes. Yep, veggies are the way to go IMHO. I suggest he uses his cookbook to get to know new people and be able to swap recipes and invite people over.
PS: I found the food at Universtities in Germany and Vienna much much better. And the food in hospital (UK) recently was pretty dire. What is it about large scale catering in this country that organisations just can’t manage?
Pip, thanks for the tips. David likes nuts, but I think he prefers Jaffa cakes, which I have already packed ready to take tomorrow.
Can you please send me the link to your blog so I can try logging into it again.
I learnt my cooking at uni from Delia’s One is Fun!. Good variety of recipes for one person, simply explained and easy to follow.
Hypocentre, Yes, that’s a sensible recommendation. It might be ok for David to have a Delia book at home, but I don’t think it would do his street cred any favours with his peers.
Pip, I’m very impressed by your healthy eating. In fact, you inspired me to snack on dried cranberries and almonds. 🙂
My son is now in his second year at uni and is renting a house. I sent him back after the summer with a “George Foreman”, which is great even for healthy toasted sandwiches. He has assured me it is being well used by all in the house, no doubt along with the occasional Pot Noodle! Enjoy your weekend.
looks like you have a nice day planned with david and a massage tonight to relax you before the drive tomorrow…… see you later 🙂
Julie-Anne, a George Foreman is a good idea. We have one at home. I’ll ask David if he wants to take it with him when he moves into a shared house.
And Sally, yes, what better way is there to start the weekend than with a relaxing Swedish massage. And guys, keep it clean, please!
My daughter is married and has lived away from home for years but she still insists it’s HER bedroom. When Younger Son moved in there we had trouble but we appeased her by saying the ‘guest-room’ was now for her and her husband. Now heaven forbid if anyone else wants to stay in there!
Pasta is a great standby for student cooks!
Sounds like you are going to have a fun day out together 🙂
David tells me he has only had six Pot Noodles since arriving at Hull. That’s not so bad then.
Pauline and her hubby seem poles apart!
Our son is in his first year at Uni in Aberystwyth. As a jokey parting gift in September we bought him various flavours of Super Noodles. He assures us that these are far superior to Pot Noodles, coming in more interesting flavours. He is in a catered hall of residence but has these as standbys for when he misses cafe opening times. When unpacking his clothes he decided to use his glass fronted bookcase to store his pants and socks, at least they’re visible and may prompt an occasional change?! Hey ho, it’s a learning curve for all the family isn’t it. Am so looking forward to having him home at Xmas but not the farewell in January.
Oooh someone mentioned Aberystwyth – had a real feeling of hiraeth for a moment there.
I don’t think I ate very well at Uni either. I remember my granny always said how thin I looked when I got home every hols. But I seemed to survive!
My daughter actually loves cooking and she is finding herself cooking for loads of people since she has been at Uni. It’s quite good though – because they do the buying and she cooks so it is saving her money. No-one would have asked me to do that – I think the most sophisticated thing I rustled up as a student was Spag bol.
Hope you had a lovely time in Hull. My daughter is home next weekend from Durham – can’t wait to see her again. But yes, Skype and Facebook are fab for keeping in touch aren’t they?
Sheila and RL, I enjoyed reading your experiences. David enjoys his food and I’m sorry for him that his food in hall is pretty tasteless. There shouldn’t be any excuse for this. We had a great day, absolutely fabulous. Because he has no space in his tiny room to store food, we gave his mobile phone a hefty top up instead and took him out for an Italian meal.
RL, my son won’t let me join his facebook books, he wants to maintain some privacy, and I do understand that. He has made some great new friends and said the best thing we did was not go and visit him before so it gave him the chance to settle in.
He has planned to come back for the weekend for two weeks and I am looking forward to feeding him up then with his favourite dinners. I know he has planned to meet up with lots of old friends too. I can’t wait to have him back home again, it will be so lovely.
Ellee and RB – I am green with envy that you are getting weekend visits! With the coach journey being over 6 hours, and him having lectures Friday and Monday, it’s just not worth it. But perhaps in a way it’s a blessing for all concerned…. he can get on with his new life and friends without being pulled back home emotionally…. and I’d find it hard to let him go again – the impending parting would be hanging in the air all the time he was home!!! Am I sad or normal? I suspect I am just your average Mum learning to let go and separate.
PS What is “hiraeth”?
Sheila, I have just stopped phoning David every day. That’s been hard for me. But I am so happy knowing he is so happy, that he has new friends, plays football for the uni team and has now settled in well. I just hope he is on top of his work. His uni is fantastic too. It’s really beautiful, a lovely redbrick college, and so clean and well maintained – from what I have seen.
I didn’t know what hiraeth meant so I googled it and learnt it is a word for homesickness.
http://hiraeth.blogspot.com/
Ellee, I’m glad you had a lovely visit to Hull. Funnily enough Hull was our son’s other offer! I know what you mean about the phone calls, there have been many times I have stopped myself dialling. We try to have a good long chat once a week – sometimes on Skype with webcam – so can check for signs of rickets and scurvy!! Any text messages in between are a bonus.
His older brother visited him last week and that was lovely. They have discovered a wonderful new relationship and that helps bridge the gap whilst separating from parental ties.
As Mums we initially just want them to be happy and settle in. Now that seems to have been achieved, I just hope some work enters into the equation!
Does anyone else find they feel almost guilty when enjoying a family meal that is their absent child’s favourite? I know this will pass but never would have thought his absence would affect me in so many peculiar ways!!