Thought I would just write a bit of a catch-up post to let you know what’s been happening lately in the Burgess household.
The most important event in the calendar was Rory turning 18. My son is now a man and, like all mothers before me, I am incredulous that the years have slipped by so quickly. I’ve been looking through old photos to remind me of each stage of his boyhood and thought I’d share a couple. The final image, Rory holding his birthday balloon, makes me smile and reassures me he will always be my little boy.
Hot on the heels of the birthday celebrations – a meal out (he didn’t want a party or any fuss) – and we’re in university mode. Rory has conditional offers from Exeter, Sheffield and Newcastle to read politics in the autumn so is now going to Open Days to see which one to accept.
We travelled down to Exeter this week and it proved to be a big hit with everyone. Beautiful city, impressive campus within walking distance of the city centre and a friendly atmosphere. Took nearly five hours driving to get there, which was the only negative.
Dougie and I found we were reminiscing about our time at university, wondering where the time had gone and yet realising some things are so different to the 80s when we were students. Communication seems to be the biggest change. Students now have so many ways to keep in touch. If they are lonely they can chat to friends and family on their phones, text or Skype. That’s reassuring for me as a parent to know I hopefully won’t have to wait for the weekly call from a draughty phone box, which was how I kept in touch with my parents when I was at college.
We did laugh as the student showing us round the accommodation explained how you could have your Tesco shop delivered. ‘So much easier to have your beer brought to your room rather than carrying it’, he said. They don’t know they’re born, these kids!
I’m still trying to keep up with the newspaper column – sending copy to them a week ahead means I keep forgetting what day it is. This week’s column is all about ice-skating on the Fens. Let me know what you think as it’s a different style to the others so far.
Get your skates on for next Olympics
Finally, a couple of books to recommend to you:
The paperback version of Helen McGinn’s The Knackered Mother’s Wine Club has now been published. It’s a very readable, informative guide to wine, making that bewildering array of bottles in the supermarket a little easier to navigate.
I reviewed this book last year when it came out in hardback and loved it. You can read the review here:
Review: The Knackered Mother’s Wine Club
An e-book I can highly recommend is The Great Escapes of Danny Houdini by Stephen Herrick-Blake. Steve writes an excellent blog, Bloggertropolis, and you will often see his witty comments at the bottom of my posts. He is a talented writer and this book, which he has self-published, deserves a wider audience.
His novel is a unique, contemporary love story packed full of humour, pathos and gritty realism. Danny, an awkward young man with a pronounced stutter, who lives in a dream world much of the time, falls in love with Thalia, a deaf girl who works at the local college. Their fledgling relationship is hampered by Danny’s uncouth parents, his arrogant brother and a seedy world of drugs and violence.
Give it a try at £2.49 on Kindle.
Bless you – thanks, Trish; you're an angel.
No problem, Steve. Fingers crossed you have success with it.
He has such a sweet face. And how exciting to be looking at such great universities. I bet I know which one grandma would advise!
I think Grandma would love to look after him in Newcastle and cousin Jessica would be keen for him to go to Sheffield. We'll see. He has to get the grades yet before he goes anywhere!
I hope your big boy had a lovely birthday; I can't get over the similarities between our boys! Birthdays almost at the same time (which day was it? my boys was on the 5th), they're the same age and both studying politics (although mine is hoping to do English at Uni). Neither wanted a party or any fuss and have both got offers from Sheffield – spooky!
Exeter is a beautiful city and the Uni I believe is excellent, everyone I know who's visited has been very impressed – Good luck Rory!
His birthday was March 1st, a few days older than yours. Wouldn't it be funny if they both went to Sheffield!
We thought Exeter itself was wonderful – reminded me a bit of York. Lots of investment in the University and it sits well in all the league tables. Decisions…decisions…
Can't believe your boy is 18! I can't believe mine is nearly 9! The pictures are gorgeous and it sounds like he's doing brilliantly (can't get over Tesco delivering shopping to uni halls). And thanks for the book recommendations too.
You will find it's the secondary school years which fly by, Sarah. Make the most of every minute.
That is the best review for 'Danny'! (and deservedly so)
Your boy is just gorgeous. xxx
I know you are a big supporter of Steve's work too. Hope he gets the success he deserves.
Rory is a lovely boy – always has been – but then I'm biased 🙂 xxx
Congratulations on your son's offers for university. Our daughter went off to University at 16 (she'd skipped grades in school) and except for holidays never lived at home again, so enjoy every day you have.
That's on my mind such a lot, Janet. Both Dougie and I never returned home after university either, so we are prepared for Rory doing the same. Doesn't make it any easier though x
They just grow up so quickly. My daughter is preparing for her GSCEs and thinking about University already and I know she'll be off in no time at all.
I'm told that the next stage can be fun too – holidays last for weeks, don't they?!
Good pick of pictures, I like the middle one best though. Happy Birthday Rory! Do you read RTFM? One of his is currently at Exeter. He mentions the journey fairly regularly, but the recent floods gave it a bit of a headache. I'm amazed really that Rory is so many years older than Cog, she is not close to leaving, no sireee, nope, not listening, fingers in ears lalalalalalalala
I did follow that blog for a while but he never returned the visits so I let it drift. The floods have worried me too – though it was beautiful when we visits last week so, of course, Rory thinks it will be sunny all the time 🙂
Keep singing!!
I accidentally deleted this comment from Sarah so have copied and pasted from the email. Appogies, Sarah. I was so excited you had gone to Exeter University, I pressed the wrong button.
Sarah has left a new comment on your post "Weekend catch-up":
I was at Exeter University. I remember visiting for the first time with my parents the day Maggie T declared war on Argentina over the Falklands. It was spring and all the flowers were out. It looked so utterly gorgeous, a huge contrast to foggy Durham where I couldn't see my nose in front of my face.
I had a great time at Exeter. Good luck to Rory and his choices!
I thought your article was very interesting, and I loved the names they had at the time – Turkey Smart is priceless! I zapped most of the Olympics because I can't get UK tele any more and the French coverage only showed French competitors.
That's great to know you had a happy time at Exeter. It looked just as lovely last week – daffs and crocuses in the university grounds.
Thanks for reading my article. It was the unusual names that appealed to me too. So frustrating for you not getting any UK tv 🙁
If I had a decent internet connection I could watch iPlayer, but I don't even have that. Life is very basic here… 🙂
Sorry, for a moment there I thought you said students can get their Tesco shop delivered.
WTF?
Rootling about in the commie Co-op avoiding the hairy women for an equally hairy carrot and a handful of lentils, that's a student weekly shop.
I believe vodka and stolen cheddar adequately meet student nutritional needs. Your husband would agree.
The student told me carrying six-packs up the hill can be very tiring…
Husband agrees with you. He used to melt Dairylea cheese into pasta on special occasions.
Oh my gosh, he was the most gorgeous looking baby and boy!!! And now a handsome lad! How wonderful that he has so many good options open to him – you must be such a proud mama! Happy Birthday Rory – I cannot believe he's gotten so old since I first starting reading your blog!
I am so proud of him. He was an easy baby, a gentle, happy boy and now a funny, caring young man. He's a lazy bugger though… 🙂
I'm a bit prejudiced, as I think my granddaughter is the sweetest baby ever, but yourRory is almost as cute.
My son is 28 this year, but I still think of him as my little boy.
Especially when he does something really dumb.
I suppose they will always be our children so it must be hard to see them as adults in their own right.
He's a handsome young man, but that baby picture – absolutely gorgeous child. #2 just turned 17 last week (no FB posting – I'm off for Lent) and will be doing his University visiting this summer. It's not easy to watch them head off, but it's really exciting to watch them spread their wings. The skating article was really interesting – kept thinking 'Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates' – but what I want to know is why no one ever gets paid in mutton anymore? ; )
I keep thinking of you and your boys. If you can survive with No1 son on another continent then I think I will manage if mine moves a few hours away. It is exciting – I think it helps Dougie and I know what university is about so we want him to spread his wings.
Glad you liked the skating article. Mutton prizes really should be reintroduced.
Happy birthday Rory, such a handsome fellow.
Ah thank you Wendy xx
What lovely photos of your son, Trish. I agree with you, time just flies…xx
Happy Birthday Rory, time just goes too quickly doesn't it? And good luck with picking a University, I would be happy with any of those choices! xx PS. thanks for the book reviews too, I have been meaning to read Helen's for ages, but will add The Great Escapes to my list too! 🙂
I'm so glad you called him a lazy bugger – I was beginning to think he was utterly perfect! A very handsome young man too. We didn't look at Exeter for either of ours but we did go to Sheffield which we loved. I hope he is happy wherever he ends up!