| Well deserved ends |
[Sep. 25th, 2011|10:47 am] |
No I haven't been bumping off the people who made my life hel or even gleefully reading obituries. I have however, submitted my final version of my thesis (despite issues with the postgraduate admin people) which means it is done done done - Just got graduation to concern myself about now.
I have also asked that my PGCE registration be closed, I won't be going back. I am awaiting the arrival of my transcript and the associated credits. I'm planning to go to the OU and put those credits to use. Something good has to come out of the mess that was my PGCE. I've learned in the last couple of months that the PGCE is still a bit of a sore spot for me. I suppose I shouldn't be surprise by that but I was still trying to ignore the whole thing, that's not really possible any more (if it ever was...) and I want to move on. I am hoping that closing everything down will help. - I have (more than) a few issues. *sigh*
It was the annual black belt grading last weekend, no one from Exeter club was grading but several of my friends were grading. I thought I might end up partnering someone but I didn't. I was only involved in one 4 person attack. There's the national BAB course coming up in early October and I'm going to go and combine it was a weekend at my parents.
Generally speaking my life is pretty good. I just need to avoid stressing too much. |
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| Happy Days |
[Aug. 7th, 2011|12:41 pm] |
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I'm still justing to being 'Doctor' I haven't got round to getting my name changed at the ank or whatever yet. I've done my corrections and will be heading uo to uni in the next few weeks to submit my final version. I'll be submitting electronically although I will get a hard bound copy made up, mainly for my parents.
My muses all went completely AWOL for about two weeks after my viva, it was horrible, it was so quiet in my head. Two of them have now returned so I am writing stories / character studies about my two federal agents James and Dan. The rest are still AWOL. It has been a very long time since the inside of my head was this quiet, I'm not sure what I can do about it, I guess the rest will show back up at some point.
My other good news is that my contract has been extended so I am employed until the end of March. This news is very good for my nerves.
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| Viva |
[Jul. 11th, 2011|01:48 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  ecstatic | ] |
It's all over now, I passed (with minor corrections). :D :D :D It went on 2 and half hours and seemed more like five minutes. I got hand shaking adrenaline come down but I'm feeling pretty good. I made it. It has been a very long road. |
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| Viva is Imminent |
[Jul. 9th, 2011|09:38 am] |
My Viva is 9 am Monday morning and is thus less than 48 hours away. The nerves are jangling a bit but I'm generally optimistic about the whole thing. I'm oscillating between that nd looking for the nearest table to hide under, although the former is winning.
Yes, I know I've been terrible at updating this journal, I am keeping up with my friendspage but I've noticed I only tend to write when I'm stressed and life is pretty good at the moment. You'll be getting a viva update sometime on Monday and then I'll do my best to update more generally. |
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| Updates Galore |
[Jun. 26th, 2011|11:21 am] |
Hi All out there in LJland.
I am still having a good time of it, although as always I'm doing a lot and could really do with more time for myself but there you go...
Work: I love my job although it's only a 6 month contract so I need to convince my boss that I'm worth keeping around beyond that and then he needs to make a case for my continued employment and so on up the chain. I think I've got a reasonable chance of getting my contract extended but it's still pretty nerve racking.
PhD: Viva is on the 11th July which is a Monday at 9:30 am which is one way to start the week... I'm mostly looking forward to it by the thread of nerves is starting to grow. I'm having a minor case of imposter syndrome over this but it's not my decision whether I deserve the doctorate or not.
Aikido: Still going, although now seriously low on students, will probably only have one student doing black belt this year, the other has been hit by some fairly major family problems. Really need to get some more students or we're going to end up in financial issue sooner or later.
Writing: I'm writing quite happily at the moment although I am working on two 'short' (inverted commas because I have no idea how long they are going to end up being) and a series of character studies about of a pair of federal agents. Something tells me I have been watching too much (or maybe exactly the right amount) of American cop shows. Also unusual because they are the first thing I've written in ages that has no scifi or fantasy in it. |
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| Happy Days |
[Apr. 10th, 2011|08:49 pm] |
The end of March turned out to be a bit stressful as my supervisor was so busy with exam marking that he couldn't read my thesis until the Easter hols which didn't start til April I wasn't exactly impressed by this but there was nothing much I could do. Yes, I could submit it wihout him having read it but I don't want to wreck our relationship. I have been granted another month of interruption, this means that this phD had taken four and a half years. This interruption was granted on the grounds of my supervisor being busy rather than on medical grounds like the iinterruptions I actually wanted. I haven't heard anything from him yet and I'm hoping that's a good sign. I wanted to get my thesis submitted before I started work and also the end of Marh gave me time to get everything done in time to graduate this summer. If I submit at the end of April then it's just about possible for meto graduate this summer, if my examiners manage a turn around of a month, which i consider rather unlikely.
Still, that frustration is rather an aside as I have now started work at the Met Office. I started two weeks ago and am still in the stage where everything is new and shiny. I am really enjoying it. |
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| In which I am confused and somehow busy but without anything to do. |
[Mar. 23rd, 2011|01:19 pm] |
I have finished writing my thesis. YAY. Put the final touches to the abstract on Saturday. I've been working on it for so long that it feels very strange not to be working on it any more. My current deadline for submission is the end of March, however despite having had most of my thesis for three weeks + now my supervisor has read half a chapter and says he has no time before the end of term, 1st of April. Now I am a little annoyed by this, he knew when my deadline was, couldn't he have warned me earlier? *Sigh* it's frustrating but I know he had a heavy lecture load it's also mid semester test season so he's backed up with marking.
Apparently I can get an interruption on the grounds that my supervisor is very busy but he had to write a letter to say he's buy and he'd been a bit busy ... Anyway, I'm going to get things sorted today.
The Met Office has finally gotten back to me and I'm starting on Monday. I can't wait. |
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| Countdown // SQUEEE |
[Feb. 16th, 2011|02:51 pm] |
I was tempted to title this half of the post 'a river in Egypt' but I'm not entirely convinced that I am in denial. I have about a week and a half before I want to hand in my thesis. It isn't going to be perfect and frankly I'll be grateful to see the back of it. Not that I haven't enjoyed my postgrad work but this write up has been going on too long now. Should be working on it now but trying to decipher comments from my supervisor is hard work and my brain needs a rest occasionally, or so I keep telling myself...
//
I have a job!!
It's at the Met Office and it hasn't sunk in yet. I don't have a start date yet as they're still doing security checks but still, I HAVE A JOB :D |
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| Reading Meme |
[Jan. 19th, 2011|01:39 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | lab | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  happy | ] |
Borrowed this one from Jo H
What do you read? Mainstream, genre, Young Adult?
Anything with print that sits still long enough. Preference for scifi, fantasy, crime fiction, action/adventure
What do you never read?
C-lebrity (auto)biographies (by which I mean people of no discernible talent or skill who are famous for being famous), depressing books (ie ones with downer endings)
Morning reading, Afternoon reading or Nighttime reading?
All of the above, and all moments in between if I've got nothing else to do.
Bed, Bath or Bus?
All of the above although I mostly have showers these days which aren't really compatible with reading
Hardback or Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback or eBook? Mass Market paperback generally speaking. There are a few series I buy in hardback as I'm impatient. I'm not picky about what I pick up second hand
Bookmark or Dogear? Neither. I either finish a book in one go or I remember what page I was on. Have quite a large pile of book marks though, never really use them. In case of books for reference I tend to use strips of tissue or dead receipts as book marks
Alphabetize by author, title, or random? Chronolgically within a series. Series and individual books by genre.
Keep, Throw Away, or Sell? Keep. I like to reread. If I don't like a book I charity shop / read and return it.
Short story or novel? Mostly novels but happy to read either
Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks? At the end of the book or at some memorable page number/chapter break. Former more than the latter
Buy or Borrow? Either. I'm going to the library regularly at the moment.
Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation, or Browse? Browse mostly followed by recommendation
Tidy ending or cliffhanger? Depends, I like relatively upbeat stories. One book I read recently ended with a main character seemingly dead but I all ready knew there was another book in the series being written so that wasn't so bad. At the end of a series/standalone I like things tied up in some manner.
Standalone or Series? Both/Either
Favourite book of which nobody else has heard? The Black Alchemists by Gar Wilson, it's part of an 80's action series about a super secret anti-terrorist group
Top 3 favourite books read within the last few years? Tricky.... Changes by Jim Butcher; Bullet by Laurell K Hamilton, First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde
Top 5 favourite books of all time? Even harder....Lord of the Rings, the three listed above, Surely your Joking Mr Feynman. In order they came to mind. I could go at length but I won't |
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| out with the old ... and in with the new (Meme) |
[Jan. 6th, 2011|03:02 pm] |
I'm doing the end of year meme that has been going round, yes; i do know I'm late to the party but I'm hoping it'll help me get things in perspective
A) Was 2010 a good year for you?
I feel like it chewed me up and spat me out again
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Got my first Dan blackbelt and coaching qualifications, Signed on
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
In 2010 I wanted to get a job, my PGCE, my PhD and my blackbelt only achieved the last one. 1 and 3 are back this year. I
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No
B) Did anyone close to you die?
My Sensei
4. What countries did you visit?
None
C) Did you move anywhere?
No still in Exeter and still happy here
5. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A job and a completed thesis
6. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
In chronological order:
Monday 28th June - day I found out Sensei had died
Saturday 18th September - Blackbelt grading
Saturday 16th October - Sister's wedding
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Passing my first Dan
(Surviving all the put downs in my PGCE)
8. What was your biggest failure?
I failed the teaching part of my PGCE, am now coming to the conclusion that in terms of the rest of my life this probably wasn't a bad thing
D) Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing too bad, I slipped downstairs and did something clever to my foot back in January, seems an age ago now, kept it strapped until April. Other than that stress/exhaustion colds/sniffles and a bit of a tummy bug
E) Where did you study/work?
Exeter Uni
9. What was the best thing you bought(or was bought for you)?
I think the netbook was this year. It's been great.
10. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My parents, my sister, my friends; everyone who has supported me through the rough times
11. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Several people on my placements, I am not going to name names,
12. Where did most of your money go?
The house, Books, DVDs, aikido
13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Grading, Wedding
14. What songs will always remind you of 2010?
Lots of country music, I've had loops running on spotify while I write these
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i) ...happier or sadder?
At this point I think sadder but less stressed covers it
ii) thinner or fatter?
Clothes say thinner, scales say nothing's changed
iii) richer or poorer?
A lot poorer, I had money coming in this time last year
16. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading, writing, spent time with friends,
17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
spending time in denial
18. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas 2010 with parents, sister and brother in law and mum's younger brother back home in Guildford
Christmas 2011 likely very similar
19. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No
20. How many one night stands?
None
21. What were your favourite TV programmes?
Doctor Who, Sherlock, Criminal Minds, NCIS,
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Wouldn't go so far as to hate someone it's a waste of energy
23. What was the best book you read?
Changes, Jim Butcher - the most recent Dresden Files novel
24. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Country music,
25. What did you want and get?
An interruption in my phd
26. What did you want and not get?
A job
27. What was your favourite film of this year?
Most likely the A team
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
On the actual day I was on placement and feeling rather out of it, I had a party at the weekend which was pretty good :) I turned 28
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Completing my thesis
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
A mix of student comfort and trainee teacher smart
31. What kept you sane?
Friends and family and it was a near thing
32.Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
no one jumps out for this year
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Election / Student fees
34. What was your favourite moment of the year?
Being told I had passed my blackbelt
35. What was your most embarrassing moment of the year?
Bursting into tears at school, not too embarrassed about it now though
36. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
Accepting that I had failed my PGCE
37. Where were you when 2010 began?
At my Parents place
38. Who were you with?
My parents
39. Where will you be when 2010 ends?
Was at my parents house
40. Who will you be with when 2010 ends?
with parents
41. What was your favourite month of 2010?
Not sure, September most likely
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2010?
Not really
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2010?
Only alcohol and I ended up giving up caffeine
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2010?
One.
45. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2009?
Nothing springs to mind
46. Did you treat somebody badly in 2010?
neglect of friends due to stress/lack of time
47. Did somebody treat you badly in 2010?
PGCE tutors
48. How much money did you spend in 2010?
quite a bit
49. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2010 and change it, what would it be?
If I had asked my tutor to be honest with me earlier in my first placement maybe everything that followed wouldn't have been such a shock. Would have liked to have spent more time with Sensei.
50. What are your plans for 2011?
Thesis, Job, holiday
51. Whom did you miss?
My family, and friends who I've been too busy and/or skint to travel to see
52. Who was the best new person you met?
Alexa
53. Did you enjoy this year?
No
54. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?
It's no use moping if a plan fails get over it and move on.
The world doesn't stop even if your life has fallen apart
- These are less depressing than they sound, I think.
55. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I'm still standing / better than I ever did / looking like a true survivor / feeling like a little kid |
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