Welcome to another year and another course!

Well, it's been over a month since my last post, so I thought I'd better get started again even though the course hasn't quite started yet.

I've made the most of the 'time off' with lots of quilting, even bought a new sewing machine which is proving to be great fun.

Have to admit, I'm ready to be back at the studies, albeit with the usual 'how am I going to fit it all in?' panic which seems to hit at t-minus-a week or so.

I attended my 'baby' brother's PHD graduation ceremony a couple of weeks ago, which of course has me thinking and planning and hoping for 2015.  (I get the feeling I might have to wait till 2016 for a ceremony though as there seem to be limited ceremonies up here in the North East).  I can really start to taste the results now, which is an incredibly exciting feeling!

Next posting will get an official 'course title' kind of title like the historical stuff.  But for now I just wanted to say hello again after my long rest!

Merry Christmas blogpeeps!!

Lock up the chocolate and prepare for Doctor Who, it's Christmas!!!

I got some lovely notebooks for Christmas, one of which I intend to use for the next course, as it's too nice not to start using in a hurry!

I can see me starting on the new course materials very shortly after the holidays, if only for the sake of using the book!!

Have a great time, see you on the other side!!!!

A sneaky peak...

Despite the fact that the course materials are never due for despatch till January, they invariably land just prior to Christmas, a little mini-present of sorts.

Which brings the same dilemma as the early present, do I open and start looking now or do I wait until the course is due to begin.

Me, I'm a peeker!  Loving the looks of the new course, will now have to try and prevent the rare scenario of using course materials for procrastinating when it comes to pre-Christmas chores.  I so want to dive in but I know that if I do, all the things that I promised myself I would tackle or achieve in 'downtime' will not happen.

The washing basket does actually need to be tackled, I like to hit the bottom before Christmas Day so that I can have a work free, guilt free Xmas and Boxing day.

Confessions of a Resting Student

Sometimes I wonder if the long awaited break between courses is actually a good thing.

There, I said it, not just in my diary but on my blog for the whole world to see, if it were ever so inclined.

I am thoroughly enjoying the time off away from study, and therein lies the proverbial rub. (Where did that come from?).  A bit like exercise, studying is indeed the exercise of the brain, and in the way of exercise and fitness, it's much easier to keep doing it while you're doing it. Stopping makes starting very difficult for a while.... Many an OU student might tell of the early-course procrastination period.

So don't get me wrong, loving the break but will be almost glad when, 2 weeks after the course starts, I have caught up after procrastinating again.  And then keep on doing it to myself till the journey's end.

A long awaited day...

Yippee! Results are out and I passed, not just passed but with Grade 2!

The elusive distinction remains just so, but given the big leap in mental requirements that was needed for Level 3, anything that says pass would bring me joy.

(Mental requirements=I needed to be slightly more mad to take on each new level of part time study craziness).

Bring it on M364, I think I am ready for you!
(After another couple of resting months more though!)

Are we there yet?

No not an interminably long journey with a toddler, but an unexpectedly longer wait for results! Due out by the 29 November, we had to wait till 3 December! Only a few days of real time but, oh the machination of the stressed student mind when no real reason is given for the delay, have the papers been lost, will they make us do it all again long after we have forgotten most of it?

The other side...and the bit in between

Well, I survived the exam anyhow.  Whilst I wouldn't say it was good, I will say that it could have been worse.  And so I am now happily indulging the need to quilt, and the need to simply stop for a while.

In fact, some days I just can't figure out which of the many things that I want to do will be first, so I end up doing none of them.

I'm genuinely looking forward to the next course, but I am exceedingly glad for this period of downtime, where my own time is simply that - my own, to do or not with as I will.

Results are not due till Nov 29 so a bit of a nervous wait, but I do feel hopeful for a positive result - as ever anything over 40 will do but I live in hopes for the elusive distinction.