That is very sad. I don't like major change like that either. I remember when my third brother went off to uni and it was just me and my parents at home; at first I accidentally still set the table for four, etc. It was so quiet too, one didn't know what to say to a parent without the "whole" interaction thing going on all the time! There weren't any distractions.

Why are you going home to your father instead of your mother (I take it you would prefer to see your mother?) Can you visit both in the time off? Do you know anyone down in England you can visit, a classmate maybe?