Teenager (18yo) and 1 week summer intensive course

Martin_the_Unjust

Google parking London and book yourself a close parking space for the day (or half day)

tooldle

Spendless said:

Thanks for the suggestions. Never used Hello fresh, but will look into it. I like the crackers/cheese etc lunch ideas.

Well I've wondered exactly the same thing @tooldle but I'm reading from the info pack and it says (in bold) 'There is no car parking available. If you know you will be arriving/collecting by car there's a limited amount of on street parking. We recommend looking into this before you travel by visiting <London borough's website>  

No canteen or cafe at all in the building the course takes place. Again this is mentioned in the info pack which says they ';recommend fetching lunch each day as there are only small local shops close to the venue with the main high street 10 mins walk away, so make sure you come prepared for the day'. .

I need to check out the distance walk between halls and venue.  

Daughter needs to take into account the daily morning requirement to take a covid test and grt evidence of the result. This info only came through as a requirement recently which admits it's over and above any legal requirements, so she needs to be really organised (not always her forte!) to have this done, get herself ready and take food with her. I agree it would be a lot easier if she could eat on-site t  (which is what she'd have if she was on the Junior program because it would be catered for, probably at a different venue) but it's different for those on the adult course as they need to sort out their own meals.

I would interpret this as drop off being possible. It’s not unusual in London to have to drop and shift. Lateral flow tests don’t take long at all. There is a recommended waiting time but the lines can appear very quickly. Do it before she jumps in the shower and it will be complete by the time she leaves. Tell her to investigate the location of the nearest Gregs, or supermarket for a meal deal. She can pick up on her way in. Let her take the lead with the investigations, it is part of the fun.

Edited to ask, is the hall near to any other University buildings? If so, it is worth exploring what those can offer.

popadom

I used to work away and live in university accommodation for up to six weeks at a time . Most kitchens had basic items.
 

-I bought a mini kettle which helped.
-Buy ready meals for the evening. 
-sandwiches for lunch. Cheese if you have a fridge or something like chocolate  spread if you don’t . 

- breakfast- breakfast bar, tea, fruit and buy some mini UHt milks form Home Bargains. You can buy coffee/milk all in one sachets which helped. 

- If it’s a university campus, you’ll have a drop off period. You can’t park all week, that’s all. There was a parking app ( I forget the name) that I used when I was a student in London. I paid to use a private car park for I think about £20 a week. Could be an option. 

-take paper plates/cups/cutlery to save on washing up. 

-take one antibacterial wipes to clean the kitchen after use. 

For a week, don’t bother with pans Ect. It’s way to much to carry. 

macaroni

I wouldn't over prepare. Keep it simple. A kettle and Instant porridge, pot noodles/pasta, a loaf of bread, peanut butter/jam/marmite bottle of squash. I'd forget the fresh food If she takes loads of stuff the likelihood is it won't be used.

Rosa_Damascena

macaroni said:

I wouldn't over prepare. Keep it simple. A kettle and Instant porridge, pot noodles/pasta, a loaf of bread, peanut butter/jam/marmite bottle of squash. I'd forget the fresh food If she takes loads of stuff the likelihood is it won't be used.

You took the words out of my mouth! I think the chances are the OP's daughter will be having cafeteria / supermarket sandwiches with her colleagues at lunchtime and probably find a cheap cafe for the evenings. I doubt she'll be on her ownsome.

Spendless

Hi, thanks for the further replies and suggestions and sorry for the late response. I didn't want to say as I was worrying about it, but said teenager is now on holiday abroad for the first time without us. Due to only being single jabbed and visiting an amber country she'll have to quarantine on return which leaves me only a week when she's allowed to go out with me to get anything. I've heard from her and already they were eating at the cafe next door because she didn't like the food at the AI resort!  Sigh. That's why she needs to take stuff I know she will eat with her, not rely that a nearby place will have a suitable sandwich/meal for her.

Thanks to the poster who compared it to inside camping. That changed my mindset of how I approached it, previously I was thinking along the lines of it being a week long Uni experience with all the equipment they take to halls. We have a picnic hamper rucksack that DH takes when he works away (proved a Godsend during lockdowns) that has adequate (plastic) plates and cutlery for her to take and then if there's any room 1 small saucepan for her to make her signature spaghetti dish I'd already suggested breakfast bars, but she'd asked for protein bars for lunch and didn't want to repeat same sort of thing. She's a bit hit and miss with toast, but does like bagels. I need to check the kitchen equipment to see if there's a toaster there (I'm not going to pack one). Wraps with ready grated cheese will work well for lunch plus a few bits and a few microwave meals and pizzas should see her through the evenings with some pot noodles for snacks. She doesn't like hot drinks except the odd hot chocolate that's unlikely to appeal in August anyway

I wasn't aware that you could book in advance for a half/full day London parking - something to look into. 

tooldle

Ok, try winding it back a bit. She is going to London. She will be able to find whatever she prefers to eat in abundance. If she can sort herself out in Greece, she can absolutely sort herself in London. 
Has she thought about taking the train? Depending on arrival date she might get a good priced ticket with a rail card. Less cost and time for your DH, meaning perhaps a little more cash in her pocket for her daily spends.
in my experience, throw a group of 18-25 yrs old together and none of them will be thinking of bringing a saucepan. They will see the opportunity for fun, independence and experiences.
I was lucky enough to be be accepted by a national scheme for a residential course at Bath Uni in the summer break between first and second yr of A’levels. We were all 17 years old and were out every night having an absolute blast. Only 2 of a group of 30 were chauffeured there and back by parents. Participants came from all over the UK.
I know you are worrying and it is not easy to stop doing so, but please consider stepping back. I’m sure you don’t intend it, these posts come across as ‘lawnmower parent behaviour i.e. one who is constantly preparing the ground in front of their child / teenager / young adult.
i hope she has a lovely time in both Greece and London.

maman

Now you've told us that she's gone to Greece and not starved, maybe you're over thinking this. I'd send her off on the train with some protein bars and pot noodles and let her sort herself out. Give her the option of taking the picnic rucksack if she wants or do exactly what she's doing now and find a cafe. I have a student hall at the bottom of the road and we're surrounded by every conceivable take away or she can use deliveroo or Just Eat. It's what students do and it's only a week. She'll be fine. 😉

Spendless

maman said:

Now you've told us that she's gone to Greece and not starved, maybe you're over thinking this. I'd send her off on the train with some protein bars and pot noodles and let her sort herself out. Give her the option of taking the picnic rucksack if she wants or do exactly what she's doing now and find a cafe. I have a student hall at the bottom of the road and we're surrounded by every conceivable take away or she can use deliveroo or Just Eat. It's what students do and it's only a week. She'll be fine. 😉

Hahaahaha. She only went yesterday and at the point I wrote that, she'd had one meal in the hotel and already not liked it. She was faddy as a meat eater. That didn't change when she became vegetarian. Just reduced what food she was prepared to eat.  She's got all day long on holiday to stroll around looking for somewhere/something to eat. She won't have that timespan when she's on the course. There's more of a list to take than the food and cookware, such as bedding and towels.  

Rosa_Damascena

OP, did your daughter do the DofE Bronze? If so she will be perfectly capable of planning and executing that plan herself. I'd leave it to her to tell you what she needs help with.