Having resurrected the blog after some time away, I figured that the first order of business ought to be a touch of catch-up, it's seemed like a long year, despite (or perhaps because of) the lack of structure of new formal study modules to start, assignments to prepare etc..
Hmm - where to begin?
I'll start at home:
The Washing Basket remains firmly abdicated, although we have negotiated terms over the ironing which gets exchanged for a full day's dish-washing. After about 8 months I pulled myself off the couch and am starting to make inroads in domestic issues, the shed had a long-overdue overhaul and many loads of rubbish were taken to the skip, as well as new homes found for Phillip's old bikes which he'd long since outgrown.
Moving onto work:
The project I'd been working on since joining the team reached 'maintenance' stage, where there was no real new development work, and the support of the live product was to be taken on by a team in another location. So, having successfully navigated my way to a point of confidence in my understanding of the project and its code, and having developed a great working relationship with my senior developer who'd joined in the latter stages of the project, of course we were moved on.
Moving on together was what I had expected, unfortunately that isn't what happened, we moved to separate teams on opposite sides of the room. I think I'll save some of the gory details for a more long-winded post of their own, as those first few months in particular had a massive impact on my confidence levels and I think you may fall asleep before the end of this post if I try to cram all my thoughts about everything in here!!
I've learned a lot about the supporting technologies we use outside the project code itself, such as Gitlab and Docker, maybe sometimes at the expense of understanding how our project itself hangs together. But in a couple of weeks time I will be the sole developer on our team for 4 months while the senior dev is on parental leave. Can't say the prospect fills me with joy and confidence, but I am learning to face it with 'feel the fear and do it anyway' mentality instead of 'run!!!', so I will take that as a win for now.
And the grading/job issue:
Thereby hangs yet another long tale, to be shortened here to the salient points - jobs were eventually advertised (at 2 grades above my own substantive grade), online test was taken and passed (nay, aced), interview was survived and done.
And now we are in the interminable WAIT period for results - which were expected within a week (6 weeks ago tomorrow). Confident of getting through as the management have said that bad news travels faster so we would have heard quickly if we had failed. But nothing will compare to being told officially, and eventually getting paid that higher salary. For me it's always been much more about the substantive grade of any kind, the protection from being pulled away to process benefits again when someone decides there are too many support staff in the world. But I'll admit to a certain level of excitement about the idea of jumping a grade entirely (coupled with trepidation of course too...)
More stuff to come once I can make some sort of structure out of my tangled thought-stream.
Thursday, 31 May 2018
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Where do we go from here?
Wow - it's been a LONG time between posts this time round!!
(and I will admit even a long time getting round to posting this and not sitting in a half-completed draft state!!)
I have to admit, I'd kind of lost my way a bit with the will to blog even over on the Beyond the Basket page - I changed teams at work and with that came a massive slump in confidence.
I doubted how to continue now that I didn't have an 'OU journey' to blog about.
And at the time I felt like there were only so many ways I could keep saying 'this job is a roller-coaster of emotions'. I've learned loads when I look back on it all, most of it unrelated to the project I'm working on, which is a new place to be.
But lately I feel a need to blog a little bit about the rollercoaster itself, it lends itself to my initial reasons for starting the blog in the first place - to share the ups and downs of the journey.
And while this journey is now outside of the OU 'basket', I'm starting to realise that it's all still part of my 'OU journey' - I'm here, doing a job I love, partly because of my OU studies and the path they led me down.
So - that may have been the longest-winded 'hello again' you'll ever read, but welcome back, and I will try and keep you updated more often as to the twists and bends that life (and life as a Software Developer/Engineer/Insert next job title here) throws at me on this journey.
The 'Beyond the Basket' page will remain, as an archive to those heady early days of the job, but the journey and my story will continue over here on the main blog.
(and I will admit even a long time getting round to posting this and not sitting in a half-completed draft state!!)
I have to admit, I'd kind of lost my way a bit with the will to blog even over on the Beyond the Basket page - I changed teams at work and with that came a massive slump in confidence.
I doubted how to continue now that I didn't have an 'OU journey' to blog about.
And at the time I felt like there were only so many ways I could keep saying 'this job is a roller-coaster of emotions'. I've learned loads when I look back on it all, most of it unrelated to the project I'm working on, which is a new place to be.
But lately I feel a need to blog a little bit about the rollercoaster itself, it lends itself to my initial reasons for starting the blog in the first place - to share the ups and downs of the journey.
And while this journey is now outside of the OU 'basket', I'm starting to realise that it's all still part of my 'OU journey' - I'm here, doing a job I love, partly because of my OU studies and the path they led me down.
So - that may have been the longest-winded 'hello again' you'll ever read, but welcome back, and I will try and keep you updated more often as to the twists and bends that life (and life as a Software Developer/Engineer/Insert next job title here) throws at me on this journey.
The 'Beyond the Basket' page will remain, as an archive to those heady early days of the job, but the journey and my story will continue over here on the main blog.
Sunday, 26 November 2017
Graduation Ceremony - The Sage Gateshead, November 16th 2017
How to organise the tumble of my thoughts around graduation then?
I think this picture says it best - happy, happy, happy!
Made the ever-familiar metro journey with hubby and child by my side this time, then abandoned them so they could do a bit of shopping in Newcastle, whilst I did the official bits of registering my attendance and getting dressed officially in the academic robes. Mortarboards (or motor boats as my BFF calls them) are not permitted for the ceremony, they can be hired at extreme prices if you're so inclined for photos though. (I was not so inclined..). Had my first couple of 'moments' in this bit of time - firstly at catching sight of other graduates in gowns outside the Sage (our venue for the day), and then standing in the queue for my gown fitting. I've said it a few times through this journey, but occasionally it all feels a bit surreal, like it happened to someone else. As distance learning students, often the graduation ceremony is one of our first chances for personal interaction with other students in a physical location.
I chatted to a few of my fellow graduates while waiting for the family to come and join me, what amazed me as it always does is the sheer variety of stories we had about what drew us to the OU. From the elderly gentlemen who'd retired and were trying something new, to the mothers and wives who, like me, felt the need to change their lives, a little more about that when we get to the ceremony itself though.
Then I got to have a happy hour or so celebrating with the family and BFF as we waited for the ceremony to begin...
Many photos were taken, and many feet were aching... discovered the choice of 'lady heels' was maybe not the best for the venue, but hey ho. I bought a t-shirt cos it had my name on it (alongside the other 3 hundred and something graduates...)
And finally - we got our first glimpse of the graduation venue in the 'big hall' - I'm somewhere down there on the far right, if indeed I'd entered the room by the time this pic was taken:
It's strange - I'd been in the venue before for a talk, so I always felt like I'd know what to expect and how it would look - but it felt completely alien, in a good way though. So we got to take our seats and settle in for half an hour with a bit of 'chamber music' from the band, everything from classical to local folk, to jazz, played out on a bit of brass.
I sat next to a lovely lady called Dawn, whose name followed mine on the t-shirt, and whose journey was similar to mine in length (13 years for her), as we all got increasingly more nervous about the walk up the stairs and across the stage. Particularly after they showed a video of past graduations where some guy did a forward roll to receive his degree....gulp, I barely felt confident of walking across in my 'lady shoes'!
The ceremony was a game of 2 halves, with presentations top and bottom and an honorary degree conferred in the middle to a local teacher who did lots of influential work in teaching science.
Once again, the breadth of graduates surprised and delighted me, from a lady who rolled on and off in electric wheelchair, to a blind lady led on and off stage by her guide dog, to a lady who was in the process of fighting cancer and still proudly taking that walk across the stage, to a guy whose journey had taken 40 years! Young and old, and middle aged like me, we were all represented up there that day. The Chancellor who was presenting the awards (with a funky bit of pink in her hair) was finding it hard to keep her emotions in check at times.
And then it was my turn:
Hands hurting from all the clapping, I did manage not to trip up across the stage, even managed a little wave at the crowd (that being all the showboating I was capable of). The ceremonial tube will be a good place for keeping my degree certificate, which actually arrived in the post a few weeks ago. The tube also contained an OU alumni pin, as a reminder of the day itself.
And finally all that remained was to process out behind the Chancellor and the assorted bigwigs of the alumni present, and finish the day off with celebratory drinks before heading out for food with the family, including my lovely sister-in-law who turned up after work to celebrate with us all.
I think this picture says it best - happy, happy, happy!
Made the ever-familiar metro journey with hubby and child by my side this time, then abandoned them so they could do a bit of shopping in Newcastle, whilst I did the official bits of registering my attendance and getting dressed officially in the academic robes. Mortarboards (or motor boats as my BFF calls them) are not permitted for the ceremony, they can be hired at extreme prices if you're so inclined for photos though. (I was not so inclined..). Had my first couple of 'moments' in this bit of time - firstly at catching sight of other graduates in gowns outside the Sage (our venue for the day), and then standing in the queue for my gown fitting. I've said it a few times through this journey, but occasionally it all feels a bit surreal, like it happened to someone else. As distance learning students, often the graduation ceremony is one of our first chances for personal interaction with other students in a physical location.
I chatted to a few of my fellow graduates while waiting for the family to come and join me, what amazed me as it always does is the sheer variety of stories we had about what drew us to the OU. From the elderly gentlemen who'd retired and were trying something new, to the mothers and wives who, like me, felt the need to change their lives, a little more about that when we get to the ceremony itself though.
Then I got to have a happy hour or so celebrating with the family and BFF as we waited for the ceremony to begin...
Many photos were taken, and many feet were aching... discovered the choice of 'lady heels' was maybe not the best for the venue, but hey ho. I bought a t-shirt cos it had my name on it (alongside the other 3 hundred and something graduates...)
And finally - we got our first glimpse of the graduation venue in the 'big hall' - I'm somewhere down there on the far right, if indeed I'd entered the room by the time this pic was taken:
It's strange - I'd been in the venue before for a talk, so I always felt like I'd know what to expect and how it would look - but it felt completely alien, in a good way though. So we got to take our seats and settle in for half an hour with a bit of 'chamber music' from the band, everything from classical to local folk, to jazz, played out on a bit of brass.
I sat next to a lovely lady called Dawn, whose name followed mine on the t-shirt, and whose journey was similar to mine in length (13 years for her), as we all got increasingly more nervous about the walk up the stairs and across the stage. Particularly after they showed a video of past graduations where some guy did a forward roll to receive his degree....gulp, I barely felt confident of walking across in my 'lady shoes'!
The ceremony was a game of 2 halves, with presentations top and bottom and an honorary degree conferred in the middle to a local teacher who did lots of influential work in teaching science.
Once again, the breadth of graduates surprised and delighted me, from a lady who rolled on and off in electric wheelchair, to a blind lady led on and off stage by her guide dog, to a lady who was in the process of fighting cancer and still proudly taking that walk across the stage, to a guy whose journey had taken 40 years! Young and old, and middle aged like me, we were all represented up there that day. The Chancellor who was presenting the awards (with a funky bit of pink in her hair) was finding it hard to keep her emotions in check at times.
And then it was my turn:
Hands hurting from all the clapping, I did manage not to trip up across the stage, even managed a little wave at the crowd (that being all the showboating I was capable of). The ceremonial tube will be a good place for keeping my degree certificate, which actually arrived in the post a few weeks ago. The tube also contained an OU alumni pin, as a reminder of the day itself.
And finally all that remained was to process out behind the Chancellor and the assorted bigwigs of the alumni present, and finish the day off with celebratory drinks before heading out for food with the family, including my lovely sister-in-law who turned up after work to celebrate with us all.
Wednesday, 15 November 2017
T minus 1... And counting!
Well, it's nearly almost here now! Graduation day tomorrow - yippee! The final step on the OU road, and one I've looked forward to for so long, it seems almost unreal that it's happening.
I'll update again in the next couple of days with some pictures and feelings from the day, but I just needed to share in the buzz of pre-graduation excitement.
See you on the other side of the gown!
Friday, 8 September 2017
What's next?
To answer that - I don't have an answer for anyone yet. That question is still remaining mysterious to me too.
From a work point of view, I have a job I love even though changes are making it a bit of a roller coaster ride again. Still no further forward getting the grade side of things permanently though.
From an OU point of view - only one more VERY IMPORTANT step to go - my graduation ceremony on 16th November. Do I want more study? I'll admit, there's a very small part of me that hankers after a Masters, just to say that I did it. But I think it's unlikely to happen, the day job is requiring constant learning, which probably gives me (at times) more than I can take in at one go. So for at least this year, I can give a definitive answer that no, I am not planning to add to my degree with more formal qualifications.
(Eeek - I have a DEGREE!! Sorry, every now and then the 'bigness' of that hits me..mostly when I am blogging, bizarrely..)
From a home point of view, we have a family wedding in mid-October when my baby brother gets married (hen do sensibly arranged for this weekend so lots of time in between..). After that start planning properly for the graduation ceremony and the 'C' word, cos apparently there aren't enough shopping days left to go before it... or so Facebook would tell me if I liked to listen...
From a 'mojo' point of view - hmm, I have a couple of cross stitch projects to finish, a graduation quilt to make (which did get started eventually but is currently on hold due to time-bound stitching), a 'bitsa' quilt to finish, oh and I might fit in some knitting. I also have a software development project to play with when I feel like I can face a computer outside of the office again.
Trying to learn to be OK without an answer to 'what next?' is difficult for me, I think - this journey has been full of plans for that answer all the way along. But I shall try and look forward to the unknown 'next', and to make my couch-potato moments productive at least with my craft projects.
From a blog point of view - I will figure it out as I go along, maybe a change of strap-line but I will need to find my own focus before I can share much of it with the world.
Whew - 3 posts in one day.... I had a lot to make up for, what can I say? Thanks for reading.... :)
From a work point of view, I have a job I love even though changes are making it a bit of a roller coaster ride again. Still no further forward getting the grade side of things permanently though.
From an OU point of view - only one more VERY IMPORTANT step to go - my graduation ceremony on 16th November. Do I want more study? I'll admit, there's a very small part of me that hankers after a Masters, just to say that I did it. But I think it's unlikely to happen, the day job is requiring constant learning, which probably gives me (at times) more than I can take in at one go. So for at least this year, I can give a definitive answer that no, I am not planning to add to my degree with more formal qualifications.
(Eeek - I have a DEGREE!! Sorry, every now and then the 'bigness' of that hits me..mostly when I am blogging, bizarrely..)
From a home point of view, we have a family wedding in mid-October when my baby brother gets married (hen do sensibly arranged for this weekend so lots of time in between..). After that start planning properly for the graduation ceremony and the 'C' word, cos apparently there aren't enough shopping days left to go before it... or so Facebook would tell me if I liked to listen...
From a 'mojo' point of view - hmm, I have a couple of cross stitch projects to finish, a graduation quilt to make (which did get started eventually but is currently on hold due to time-bound stitching), a 'bitsa' quilt to finish, oh and I might fit in some knitting. I also have a software development project to play with when I feel like I can face a computer outside of the office again.
Trying to learn to be OK without an answer to 'what next?' is difficult for me, I think - this journey has been full of plans for that answer all the way along. But I shall try and look forward to the unknown 'next', and to make my couch-potato moments productive at least with my craft projects.
From a blog point of view - I will figure it out as I go along, maybe a change of strap-line but I will need to find my own focus before I can share much of it with the world.
Whew - 3 posts in one day.... I had a lot to make up for, what can I say? Thanks for reading.... :)
That Back To School Feeling
The schools went back this week, and my 'baby' started the comprehensive school! So smart in his new uniform, and so far seems to be armed with a new positive attitude towards all the changes too. I'm very proud of the way he's embraced it all.
September normally brings that back to school feeling for me too, the eagerly anticipated course materials dropping through the door just as I drop the child off at school.
So this September start is just WEIRD. I can't think how else to phrase it. I've felt such a slump since finishing the last module, like the normal summer slump but much longer lasting. Without the discipline of the new module to begin, I have to admit to an awful lot of couch-potato moments lately. I've been working on a cross stitch project with a deadline, which is slowly forcing me back into action, but I have to admit I am still finding it difficult to motivate myself.
I've changed teams at work too, which I have to admit is not helping the confidence levels either. Might get round to updates on the 'other page' later, but as I am off on leave this week, I am leaving the office at the office and enjoying some time off.
Hopefully I can take some inspiration from Phillip's enthusiasm for the new school life, and kick start my own brain cells again with a bit of PMA.
September normally brings that back to school feeling for me too, the eagerly anticipated course materials dropping through the door just as I drop the child off at school.
So this September start is just WEIRD. I can't think how else to phrase it. I've felt such a slump since finishing the last module, like the normal summer slump but much longer lasting. Without the discipline of the new module to begin, I have to admit to an awful lot of couch-potato moments lately. I've been working on a cross stitch project with a deadline, which is slowly forcing me back into action, but I have to admit I am still finding it difficult to motivate myself.
I've changed teams at work too, which I have to admit is not helping the confidence levels either. Might get round to updates on the 'other page' later, but as I am off on leave this week, I am leaving the office at the office and enjoying some time off.
Hopefully I can take some inspiration from Phillip's enthusiasm for the new school life, and kick start my own brain cells again with a bit of PMA.
An apology and an update!
Wow - I knew I had been off my game recently - but I have just realised that I have not posted here since mid - July!! So my readers are left hanging as to my results... sorry about that folks!
Module results came out and I did much better than I had expected on the 'examinable component' - making the final result a Grade 2 Pass. For a module that I had no real love for from the early stages, I'm impressed with that.
That also meant that my predictions were true for the overall result of the degree, I'm therefore the proud owner of a Bachelor of Science Honours degree, Upper second class (a 2.1 in real money...). When I stop and take into account that I did this in my own time, mostly at my own expense, and whilst working and bringing up a family, it occasionally hits me just how big an achievement that actually is.
More in my next post about life after graduating... and the plans for what is next.
Module results came out and I did much better than I had expected on the 'examinable component' - making the final result a Grade 2 Pass. For a module that I had no real love for from the early stages, I'm impressed with that.
That also meant that my predictions were true for the overall result of the degree, I'm therefore the proud owner of a Bachelor of Science Honours degree, Upper second class (a 2.1 in real money...). When I stop and take into account that I did this in my own time, mostly at my own expense, and whilst working and bringing up a family, it occasionally hits me just how big an achievement that actually is.
More in my next post about life after graduating... and the plans for what is next.
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