gone weird

Archaeology

2011-12-11T15:14:00.001-08:00

I passed SA188. I'd actually forgotten about it!

RIP Gary Speed

2011-11-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

Deeply shocked by this news - and deeply saddened that there was seemingly nothing that anybody could do to alleviate his pain.

Declared a winner!

2011-11-27T02:32:00.001-08:00

Have printed out my certificate and had copies of my novel printed ready for distribution! :)

NaNoWriMo ...

2011-10-29T04:58:00.000-07:00

I've signed up to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) to write a 50000 word novel in 30 days ... haha! So there is a new blog - click HERE:

Oh and I finished SA188, the archaeology course - it didn't inspire me to want to continue with the subject. And I've changed the BSc Environmental Studies to BSc Natural Sciences, which will save me having to do U216, which I really didn't want to do ...

Shingles!

2011-08-30T03:08:00.001-07:00

I've been feeling lousy over the last couple of weeks. Thought I had a bad reaction to hair colourant - but turns out it was shingles! So tired ...

This one's for Hilma!

2011-08-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

Finally, the OU phoned me with my honours classification and I now have a BA (Hons) First-Class! I'm dedicating it to Hilma Miles, who sadly died in the Himalayas a few years back. She was aiming for a first, because she said she deserved it (!!) - but, she never got to finish - so, Hilma - this one's for you!

Still waiting for honours!

2011-08-08T06:54:00.000-07:00

I (finally) got the result of EA300 and was delighted and surprised to get 88% for the ECA - so I got my grade 2 (it would've been a distinction on any other course - but EA300 are a bit mean - one student got 99% for her ECA and still *only* a grade 2). Still waiting for confirmation of the classification though, because the (only!) lady who works them out is on holiday!

I've decided to cancel A330, with some regret. Have signed up for a short course in Archaeology (SA188), starting 1 September - and a 30-pointer Analytical science course (S224) which starts in February. That should keep me busy!

Living in hope ...

2011-07-19T03:04:00.000-07:00

... of some sunshine! They promised some today - but it's dark and drizzly. We've hardly seen the sun since we got back from Greece, over 2 weeks ago. So miserable has it been (and I've felt) that I'm already deep into booking a trip for next year! We've booked a villa for a week in Naples, Florida - and plan to fly to Miami and take in the Keys for the first week. Of course, it rains in Florida in June! I just need to get my money's worth out of my white shorts!

And there is another hope ... hope that I get a grade 2 for EA300. Results are just over 2 weeks away ... I need a grade 2 for a First Class honours (I think!) I got an average of 80% for the coursework (80, 72, 71, 89, 91, 79) - so I just need >70% for the ECA - but I have my doubts that the essay (on Gaiman's 'Graveyard Book') is good enough. But it doesn't matter too much. Meantime, I thought I'd register for A330 - Myth in the Greek and Roman Worlds. I bought all the set books (plus some more) - and I expected 'history'. I'm not a big fan of history, but I'd sworn never to touch literature again. And guess what the course is mainly about? I'm about to unregister, as I can't justify spending £700 on a course I'll no doubt hate.
*EDIT* Except that I want to do something! So I signed the DD. What's more, the OU today announced THUNDEROUSLY huge increased fees for new students. The end of studying is nigh.

Love/hate relationship

2010-10-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

I'm hating the essay-writing of EA300. I don't mind writing essays, but my writing of these is shallow. I'm scared that I haven't written them as they should be written - but I also acknowledge that it doesn't matter one jot! The most important thing is that I'm enjoying the learning.

Tomorrow is the cut-off date for TMA01, which was the essay I wrote some weeks ago on Little Red Riding Hood and which I've almost forgotten. It won't be long now until I'll have to face the marks! I hope our tutor will be a quick marker - although she isn't very visible at the moment.

I've *more-or-less* done TMA02 as well, even though it's not due for another month. It's a bit lonely getting ahead as I do - you miss out on all the 'fun' of racing to the deadline. But I can't do it any other way. My TMA02 essay is on Little Women and Treasure Island - on 'social control'. I couldn't give a fig about the social control aspect, to be honest, but I've become totally fascinated by Miss Alcott. I think I've neglected the actual book and written my essay mainly on her - which is a mistake and a half which I'll probably regret (it doesn't matter a jot). RL Stevenson I find interesting, though much less fascinating - and I fear that he and his book have less than 50% of my essay!

Anyway, in preparation for block 3, which is on poetry and Peter Pan, I'll probably make myself watch 'Finding Neverland' again, which will be a right drag having to watch JD for a whole couple of hours! :) My neighbour has met him (JD) as she's an extra in the new PotC film. She says he's 'bloody gorgeous', even though he chains smokes (tut).

It's not been a bad day for me. Decent weather, decent company, a bit of studying, a bit of tidying, iced buns. But my thoughts, today, are with my dear friend in Canada, who will be having not the best of days at all.

Plugging away

2010-09-21T13:12:00.001-07:00

The weirdness metamorphism is almost complete, I fear. I've become emotionally involved with Little Women and felt sad today when I discovered RL Stephenson died at the age of only 44.

I've done TMA01 (more-or-less) and the course hasn't started yet! It's a 2000-word essay on Little Red Riding Hood ...

I'm actually enjoying it - it's really interesting. And I now have a tutor, although am unlikely to attend any tutorials - one of them is in Taunton!

A change is as good ...

2010-09-19T04:49:00.001-07:00

Feeling awfully down right now, so I thought I'd change the design of my blog - but I don't like it! And, in the process of changing it, I've lost half the STUFF I had on here! But it sure is the right colour!

Almost completely wierd

2010-08-04T11:12:00.001-07:00

Much to my amazement, I got a distinction for A363. And I now have a Bachelor of Arts degree! Just about to start EA300 - Childrens' Literature - to try to get the honours bit. Then I'll be truly wierd. I'm going to try hard to do well, but don't hold out too much hope. I'm going to also try to keep this blog more up-to-date.

Other things: We are surviving the Gay Cowboy government and have recently returned from a 3-week trip to the USA - photos are up on Flickr somewhere. I have to go for an ultra-sound scan on my gallbladder in a couple weeks time - and am waiting for an appointment for an endoscope examination - can't wait. But Ruby is thriving and more beautiful with every passing day!

Thought for Today

2010-05-12T03:30:00.000-07:00

Times Online

No further comment.

Nearly done

2010-04-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

On the home straight now with A363, thank goodness. I truly think that creative writing can't be taught. My last effort, 'Hot Tub' went down well with my tutor - so I'm hoping that my ECA will also be ok. It's a totally different type of story to my usual though - a bit of a historical romp into the life of a Navajo.

I don't know what to do next. Maybe, I should continue and add the Hons to the BA, which I should get after this course (fingers crossed) - but I've little enthusiasm for continuing on the 'dark side'. I'd like to do the MSc in Earth Science, but the money aspect frightens me.

Meantime, I'm doing the NaPoWriMo thingie - a poem a day for April. Considering I've avoided poetry completely with A363, this is a challenge! No, not really a challenge, as I'm not taking it seriously and might not even complete it! The rubbish is on here. Laugh if you want. I do!

Waiting ....

2009-11-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

Ruby's been poorly this week. Two visits to the vet - high temperature - 2 antiobiotic injections - 1 anti-emetic injection. But now she's better! :)

Let me introduce you to ...

2009-10-15T05:49:00.000-07:00

Ruby!

We've had her since August. She's 3/4 blue Persian - but we like the 1/4 bits that don't conform to standard. She's now 4 months old and is a minx. We adore her.

Peeping out from the duvet

2009-10-15T05:29:00.000-07:00

It's hibernation time again! It doesn't creep up on you as much as leaps up! One minute I'm alert and functioning as well as can be expected from somebody of great age - and then WHOOMPH the blasted SAD hits.

Anyway, a little bit of catch-up.

I got a distinction for A215, which was hilarious really, given my lack of dedication. But, of course, I was more than happy with that. Now I've started A363 and am as lost as can be. I'm in the middle of getting together a story for TMA01. Once that's marked, I might feel a little better as at least I'll know a bit more about what my tutor looks for. It might be fun, actually - I look forward to the scriptwriting!

Such a prolific blogger!

2009-07-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

I have dumped EA300 in favour of A363 - Advanced Creative Writing. There was nothing wrong with the Childrens' Literature course - it was just that I was feeling sentimental and didn't want to leave my A215 pals! I still haven't filled in all the forms yet though.

The A215 ECA went in at the beginning of June. I didn't submit the puberty story in the end; it was too, I dunno, dull. Instead I submitted a more recent auto-biographical thingie - probably I should've stuck to the puberty one... The results will be out the week after next. Eek.

We went to Hawaii for two weeks, in June - and now it feels as though we never went at all! But it was lovely - saw the lava hitting the ocean - went down in a sub - enjoyed some beautiful beaches - saw different birds and plants and ate different fish - and we visited South Fork in Dallas! The write-up is on here. A selection of pictures on here.

We said goodbye to summer when we landed back home. A dreadful July. And I am spinning. BPPV, I think.

Children's Literature

2009-03-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

Interesting though the creative writing is, I'm not very happy with spending so much time inside my own head, so I really don't fancy the advanced creative writing course. Instead, I've registered to do the new 60-point course, Children's Literature from October. There's a long list of set books to buy, with the recommendation to read as many of them as possible before the course starts!

Alcott, L. M., Little Women - read many years ago, but will have to read again.
Browne, A., Voices in the Park
Burgess, M., Junk - I bought this one and read it - amazing for a children's book!!
Gavin, J., Coram Boy
McGough, R., 100 Best Poems for Children
Naidoo, B., The Other Side of Truth - I bought and read this one - excellent.
Pearce, P., Tom’s Midnight Garden
Potter, B., The Tale of Peter Rabbit !!
Pullman, P., Northern Lights - own and have read this one.
Ransome, A., Swallows and Amazons
Reeve, P., Mortal Engines - reading at the moment.
Rowling, J. K., Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone - hub owns all of these. Is this the first one? If so, I did read that one.
Stevenson, R. L., Treasure Island - I've never read this one!
Taylor, M., Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry

Looking forward to the course, but I haven't studied literature since I was at school, and this is a level 3 course, so it doesn't bode well!

Still writing creatively

2009-03-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

I got the Mills & Boone back some weeks ago. I got 88% for it, which is quite extraordinary! It was suggested I get it published. No chance. I've had TMA03 back too, the poetry. 78% - again, quite extraordinary! I wrote 3 poems, 2 of which weren't liked - but the third was given that 'get it published' suggestion again. I might try! At the moment, I'm working on TMA04 (a bio of a part of my Dad's childhood), TMA05 (a wierd story!) and the ECA (autobiography of me at puberty!) It would be fair to say that I'm muddled. But I want to get it all done and out of the way.

New camera!

2009-03-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

I love my little Nikon, but it's getting a bit old now and people keep looking at me like I'm poor, so I decided to splash out on a new one. A Canon Ixus. It's very pretty (pink), but I'm pretty certain the Nikon takes better photos - I'm not dumping it yet!

Dartmoor ponies

Daffodils outside 42 Commando barracks.

It's been beautiful weather over the last week or so, and this was the Hoe on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the whole city was there.

Art!

What a Feeling!!

2009-02-22T04:06:00.001-08:00

Brilliant!

21C Slavery

2009-01-05T05:49:00.000-08:00

I wrote a (sort of!) poem. Poetry is still a complete mystery to me - but, I'm with Annie. (I gave up on the JanNoWriMo - I'd prefer to spend my time reading others' writing, than struggling to write my own drivel!)

‘Stop looking at me!’
cries the boy in the cage
who, despite being eight
has a face full of rage
and eyes rimmed with
the sadness of one
eight times his age.

He threw a rock, once
or maybe it was two.
Everyone cheered
as over the wall it flew.
It hit a man on the head;
felled down on golden ground;
‘Who did that? Was it you?’

His cage is filled with blood;
his mother’s arms; his father’s eyes;
his sister’s heart; his brother’s brains.
In the corner, his grandmother lies,
and all had thrown not one stone,
though they must be ever dead
as hatred rushes in ‘cross the skies.

‘Give me a cave to live in
and a pond from which I can fish.
Freedom from this slavery
Is all that I wish.
One hundred million missiles
or one hundred thousand stones
cannot break these bars,
don’t you see?
You have your Zion,
but you took it from me.’

Another New Year ..

2009-01-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

.. there've been so many of them! This one has dawned grey and cold, but at least the 'festive' season is over with and I'm grateful for that.

I think I've gone stark raving bonkers, as I've signed up to the JanNoWriMo 2009 and have pledged a 30,000 word novel by the end of the month - LOL!

Wow!

2008-12-21T01:53:00.000-08:00

Bravo Tom and Camilla!

Monsters!

2008-12-12T14:40:00.000-08:00

They might look cute

But they take hours to get back into their hutch - I'm going to get them a huge run (aka CAGE).

So what's been happening? I've had the bad elbow, so have had to limit time on the computer - now that's better, I have bad eyes! Blepharitis, my optician told me. Hot flannel compresses and 'washing' in baby shampoo. Great.

I got 77% for my first A215 TMA, which wasn't bad considering the awfulness of the story. I've just finished writing a wiffly Mills & Boone type thing for TMA02. Somebody I know would have apoplexy if they read it. But they won't. And neither will anybody else, apart from my tutor and a couple selected critiquers! Poetry next. Then life writing. I'm going to write something about my Dad's childhood (with his blessing).

Apart from A215, I squeezed in the short science course S187, Forensic Science. Interesting yet boring at the same time. I've kind of sketched out the ECA.

Soon be Christmas. Great.

Oh and we've decided to go to Hawaii next year, a week on Oahu and a week on Big Island! As long as we don't encounter any cane spiders, it'll be wonderful!

Dandelion Dave for President

2008-10-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

The campaign starts here!

Poem for Today

2008-10-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

Killing my son

I cooked him a chicken escalope
Asda, Cheese and Chive
It fell on the floor with a wallop
But I scraped it up still alive.
I wiped off the bottom
and put it on his plate
With a dollop of beans on the side
But I couldn't help wondering
What if he got ill and died?
I wiped it again and checked it for hairs
It was as clean as clean can be
If the hub had been home
I'd have given it to him
But he was at work
So it went in the bin.

Anger management

2008-10-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to sort out some personal things and found that my emotions had turned to anger. Anger directed inwards and outwards. This is so unlike me and I blame A215 somewhat for this 'inner reflection' business, which I truly think could drive you totally insane! But, this afternoon, we went for a hike up a Dartmoor tor (no idea which one, they all look the same to me!) and I trampled up the hill, puffed myself out, made friends with the wildlife and nearly fell asleep on the way home. Worked a treat - all anger gone - serenity returned! How could you fail not to be happy with such wonderful countryside all around you and that fabulous blue sky!

not the one tor in the middle right, but the one right up the top - it was much further than it looked!

all that lovely granite

Lack of progress ...

2008-10-05T14:22:00.000-07:00

... with A215. Despite having done TMA01, I don't seem to be able to get down to studying and I would've liked to have been a bit further ahead by now (with the Forensics course starting soon). A lot of my fellow students have gallantly been putting their (excellent) work on their blogs, but mine is too poor for general viewing! I haven't really got on very well with clusters and freewrites and this one is about my best effort!!

"Like a spider in her lair, crouched, menacing, hirsute and with clicking joints, the widow spun her yarn. With sweating palms, Lucinda watched from behind the door. She shuddered. The widow reminded her so much of her phobia that she wondered if, at any moment, she might start to eat flies. The black widow reached into her pocket and popped something in her mouth. A sherbet lemon."

Which begs the question(s) - who is Lucinda and why is she behind the door?

Dolly and Dandy's contraception solution

2008-10-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

They've been separated. And they hate it. When one comes out to play, the other gnaws on his or her hutch to try to escape. Not sure how much longer the hutches will remain intact!

Note the homage to Captain Bunzee - got it off ebay!

Lovely weather

2008-09-29T04:00:00.001-07:00

We've had a few nice days; not all that warm, but SUNNY! It's a bit late in arriving, but it's been welcomed, all the same. We walked along the Hoe yesterday afternoon and it was packed, with the ice-cream vans doing splendid business! I wouldn't fancy diving into the water though - brrrh.

I've made an effort at A215, TMA01 - but what I've written is complete garbage! Everything is a bit of a struggle at the moment, because my elbow tendonitis is playing up big time and I shouldn't even really be typing.

Sex is everything

2008-09-29T03:41:00.000-07:00

We got two new bunnies last week. A boy and a girl from the same litter - mainly mini lop, but with a little bit of lionhead in them. Anyway, the seller said there was 'plenty of time' to get them neutered and she knew we only had one hutch. HOWEVER, the vet won't neuter, even the male, until they are 6 months old - so we will have to get another hutch and keep them apart until then. It's such a shame, as they are very fond of each other.

No names yet - Dolly and Dave are what we 'call' them, but ....

A Poem

2008-09-11T12:47:00.000-07:00

The Waiting Room

It was Wednesday, the 10th of September,
Two thirty PM, as I remember.
"Is that a cat or a dog in the box?"
Asked a woman whose face shouted BOTOX.
But the answer was not one of her choice,
"It's a rabbit", we replied as one voice.

Joan Rivers went "oh" and started to go,
"It's just a bunny", she thought, and quite so.
But as hub fed him a yoghurt drop treat,
And I stroked his soft, warm, furry feet,
We wanted to shout, "Don't you see? He's not
any old bunny, he's Captain Bunzee!"

We took him in to see the vet in blue,
But there wasn't very much he could do,
Because the Captain was so very old,
And when we took him back out, he was cold.
He'd gone to the Big Bunny in the sky,
And we could do nothing else, but to cry.

It's so sad when this happens to a pet,
And our lovely bunny we won't forget,
But we're all in the waiting room, waiting,
None sure of what we're anticipating.
Joan Rivers, every man and his wife
Sit in this same waiting room, known as life.

Bunzee's now a part of the glade. R.I.P., Captain.

Physics

2008-09-10T04:32:00.000-07:00

Has the Large Hadron Collider destroyed the earth yet? Keep updated on here.

Anyone for Haiku?

2008-09-09T13:32:00.000-07:00

The A215 materials should've been sent out on Friday - but there is a delay; probably a long one. So I succumbed to printing out the first part of the book from the online .pdf. About 80 pages so far ...

I've been busy doing freewrites and clusters and actually enjoying it! I've burnt down a house, developed a phobia about an old woman sucking lemon sherbets, commented on Little Black Sambo, as my first ever 'read', written a menacing letter by Marjorie White to her brother, Henry - and other such rubbish - great fun!

Anyway, we are being encouraged to write daily Haiku, so here are my today's offerings.

Poor Captain Bunzee
He smells so badly of pee
Does he want to live?

This is actually not as flippant as it might appear. Bunzee is very poorly - his back legs are paralysed and he cannot move or clean himself - so he is indoors and we are trying to help him, but it's not looking too good. We really do need to take him to the vet, but he is nearly 10 years old and ... well, it's a very hard thing to think about.

Poor Bunzee

This is the other one.

Naxos, Mykonos
Which island shall it be?
Maybe Paros, eh?

Which is attempting to illustrate how utterly undecided I am about which other island to visit, apart from Crete and Santorini. Oh, but I'm learning Greek - LOL!

Γειασου!!

Palin for President!

2008-09-07T03:59:00.000-07:00

New Course About To Start!

2008-09-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

... so I thought I had better update this blog!

When I last wrote about OU stuff, I was still studying S339. Not any more. Not for months. And months. I didn't see any purpose in torturing myself on a course I didn't enjoy and (more importantly) didn't NEED to do. So I dumped it. (But I have all the books still, so I shall slowly read through all of those - one day).

Anyway, I'm back to my BA plans! I registered for A215 (Creative Writing) and the course starts on 17th September; the materials are due to be despatched tomorrow. I'm rather excited about it and rather scared of it also. I've also registered for the new science short course, S187 - Elements of Forensic Science, which starts in November - I'm really excited about that one!

I can't wait to get back to studying again - I've missed it very much.

Otherwise, nothing much has been going on in my world. Captain Bunzee is not too well - he appears to have spells of difficulties with moving his legs. We get him ready to go to the vets and he gets better again. At the moment, he is struggling once more. He is old, that's for sure, so these things will happen, but I think a trip to the vet is imminent. We are also looking for a kitten (or two) AT LAST! We went to see a Maine Coon, but the kitty was a bit too timid and we came home with an empty box. There is no rush and it's best to make sure that the kitten is absolutely right for us - probably we will end up with a moggy.

Tracey got married on 24th August, in Cardiff, at St Davids Hotel & Spa. It was a lovely wedding, and the bride looked absolutely stunning - but the beer wasn't half dear! I wrote a poem - LOL - Elizabeth Browning, eat your heart out!!

A pink ribboned chair;
Coiffured hair.
Wonderful food;
A jovial mood.

What a great day!

A beautiful bride;
Dad filled with pride.
What’s that I spy?
A tear in the eye?

What a great day!

A handsome groom;
Roses in bloom.
Sunshine - and smiles
That went on for miles.

What a great day!

New, pinching shoes;
Very dear booze.
But who gave a care
With such love in the air?

What a GREAT day!

The weather here has been disgusting. No summer at all. So I've been busy planning next year's holiday to Greece! We've booked a villa on Crete for a week - and are fiddling around with plans to fly to Athens, stay there a couple of days and then ferry it to Mykonos (or Naxos) and Santorini, before ending our trip on Crete.

Can't wait for the delivery man to arrive with my new books, so I can get down to some more poetry writing! :)

Can't Sleep ...

2008-07-03T21:20:00.000-07:00

It's 5:20am and a new day has dawned. Can't sleep. Probably because I slept for 12 straight hours last night. It's called JETLAG!

We've been to the States for nearly 4 weeks. It was FABULOUS! Lots and lots of miles by JUMBO and 4,500 miles by car. RIGHT ACROSS! We went to:

WINDSOR (her Majesty was in THRESHERS)
TERMINAL 5 (long, long walks)
JFK (smaller and more antiquated than anticipated)
TIMES SQUARE (amazing!)
WTC SITE (very moving)
STATEN ISLAND FERRY (ours crashed when we landed!)
STATUE OF LIBERTY (from a distance)
TOP OF THE ROCK - Rockefeller Center (high!)
MACY'S (bought not one thing!)
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM (full of noisy kids, but COSMIC COLLISIONS was good!)
CENTRAL PARK (heavy on the feet when HOT!)
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (awesome - real PICASSOS!)
JET BLUE AIRLINES (the BEST!)
CHICAGO RIVER (WOW!)
TRIBUNE TOWER (rocks 'n' stuff from all over)
MICHIGAN AVENUE (bank refused to allow us to take out money!)
HARD ROCK CAFE (yet another T-shirt)
NAVY PIER (fun; great views)
SEARS TOWER (even higher than TOTR!!)
BUCKINGHAM FOUNTAIN (best bit was when the wind changed direction and drenched a few!)
ALAMO, CHICAGO to pick up our RED Toyota!
MADISON, WISCONSIN (lots of it - a detour from the floods)
LA CROSSE (perfect little streets, with perfect little houses, with perfect little lawns)
MISSISSIPPI (up close, it looks like any other river)
JOLLY GREEN GIANT Blue Earth
SIOUX FALLS (pink quartzite .... in my bag)
BEWARE OF MOSQUITOS AT SIOUX FALLS!
MITCHELL (why? They have a CORN PALACE!)
CHAMBERLAIN (why? It has the MISSOURI)
BADLANDS NP (wonderful)
WALL DRUG STORE (hmm)
HILL CITY
CRAZY HORSE MONUMENT (they'll NEVER finish it!)
CUSTER STATE PARK
WILDLIFE LOOP (deer, marmots, burros, buffalo, PRAIRIE DOGS!)
MOUNT RUSHMORE (hmm)
DEADWOOD (I won $37.50)
MT MORIAH CEMETARY (Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane)
LEAD (mines)
BEAR COUNTRY USA (bears all over the place - lightning too!)
CHEYENNE (closed)
TRAIL RIDGE ROAD, Rocky Mountain National Park (only a bit, was we were running LATE)
DENVER (ring road)
COLORADO SPRINGS
TAOS
RIO GRANDE
SANTA FE (disappointed)
LOS ALAMOS
BRADLEY SCIENCE MUSEUM
4 CORNERS MONUMENT
MONUMENT VALLEY
VALLEY OF THE GODS (took 2 hours to drive - car now DIRTY red)
MOKI DUGWAY (OMG - look it up!)
MOAB
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK (including WINDOWS and DELICATE)
More McDONALDS and SUBWAYS than I care to ever repeat
TROPIC
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK (AGAIN! But this time, no thunder)
NAVAJO LOOP
ZION NATIONAL PARK (AGAIN! And AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN would be great - it's BEAUTIFUL)
LAS VEGAS (WORSE than LAST TIME - 'music' coming out of FLOWERS. EVERYWHERE.)
HOOVER DAM
LAKE HAVASU CITY for LONDON BRIDGE (!) (it was 111 degrees F)
PALM SPRINGS (hot, hot, hot!)
PALM DESERT (scrappy shop!)
TEMECULA (McD in a WALMARTS)
SAN DIEGO
SEAPORT VILLAGE (very disappointing)
SPAIN WON THE EURO CUP!!! :)
PETCO PARK (padres 2; mariners 9)
HARD ROCK CAFE (yawn)
MISSION BAY
LA JOLLA (HUGE breakers!)
OLD TOWN, SD (little MEXICO)
SD ZOO (large zoo, few animals)
LAGUNA BEACH (if only we had MILLIONS)
LAX

Now I'm tired. But it's breakfast time!

Oh to be 20 years younger!

2008-03-31T03:14:00.000-07:00

"Is it a bird, is it a crane...no, but it's possibly a geologist. The students who used to be teased at my school for "just fiddling around with rocks" are the new superheroes of the American job market. It's no longer just oil - soaring prices for copper, silver and gold have made geologists as valuable as, well, gold dust. Geology graduates in the United States are now receiving higher average starting salaries than people with Harvard MBAs. And immigration experts report that if there is any other occupation more guaranteed to speed your entry into America, they have yet to hear of it."

From today's Daily Telegraph (so I've been told - I wouldn't read that Tory rag!)

Confused

2008-03-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

In what must be a record time, my S339 TMA01 was returned to me yesterday. I got 80%. EIGHTY PERCENT! My tutor wrote that it was an excellent assignment. He even gave me marks for an 'error' that I'd found which wasn't an intended error, because I was right and because of my argument. Or something. And (get this) I got 20/20 for that question with the plates that I'd struggled with so much!

Today, I got my result for S186, the level one short course on volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. There was no mark given, just a 'pass', but there were some indications of learning outcomes; well achieved, achieved, just achieved, not achieved. I didn't do marvellously - only got 2 well achieved's and there was one question which I got 'just achieved' for. This was a question on volcanic risk - what I'd done for SXG390!! I can't, for the life of me, see what was wrong with my answer!

I've 95% finished reading through block 2 of S339 and have had a quick glance at TMA02. I can say, with extreme confidence, that I can't do it.

Britain takes over America

2008-03-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

Sent to me by an OU friend, Carol (an American!)

Britain is Repossessing the U.S.A.

A Message from John Cleese

To the citizens of the United States of America:

In light of your failure to nominate competent candidates for
President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical
duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except
Kansas , which she does not fancy).

Your new prime minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a governor for
America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded.

A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any
of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following
rules are introduced with immediate effect:

You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary.

1. Then look up aluminium, and check the pronunciation guide. You
will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.

2. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'favour' and
'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without
skipping half the letters, and the suffix -ize will be replaced by the suffix -ise.

Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to
acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary' ).

3. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises
such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of
communication.

There is no such thing as US English. We will let Microsoft know on
your behalf. The Microsoft spell- checker will be adjusted to take
account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of -ize. You will
relearn your original national anthem, God Save The Queen.

4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns,
lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and
therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent.

Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to
sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then
you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.

6. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything
more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if
you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

7. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for
your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what
we mean.

8. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will
start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time,
you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion
tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British
sense of humour.

9. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been
calling gasoline)-roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.

10. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French
fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling
potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal
fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

11. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not
actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be
referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be
referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting Nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer.
They are also part of British Commonwealth - see what it did for them.

12. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as
good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to
play English characters. Watching Andie McDowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a
cheese grater.

13. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind
of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough
will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American
football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty
seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). Don't try
Rugby - the South Africans and Kiwis will thrash you, like they regularly thrash us.

14. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to
host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played
outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world
beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we
will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their
deliveries.

15. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

16. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's
Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all
monies due(backdated to 1776).

17. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 pm with proper cups, never
mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; strawberries in
season.

God save the Queen.

Only He can.

John Cleese

Yes please!!

2008-03-01T14:44:00.000-08:00

(Thank you Circle Line)

That brought a smile to my face, after an afternoon of struggling with 3 strips of paper (marked Plates A, B and C) and a ruler, with no real result.

First assignment for S339 due

2008-02-29T14:39:00.000-08:00

That's what it says on my OU student home page - and they're right! I finished block 1 some time ago. I didn't do the assignment, at that time, because block 1 flummoxed me. They presume you have done S267 (nope) and block 1 is an all too hazy revision of that course. So I am quite lost! I'm now about halfway through block 2, which is altogether more to my taste - although I still don't understand half of it! Anyway, I MUST sit down and do this first assignment SOON! It doesn't matter too much how well I do (just as well), but I have some pride and don't want to give my tutor the impression that I am totally geo-ignorant! Besides, I need to do it as prep for the MSc - now scheduled for an Autumn 2009 start.

Here is a brief 'working outline' of the content of the 60-point component course (180 points total required):

S808 Earth Science: a systems approach

1. Introduction to Earth System Science: an overview of how a systems approach to Earth Science offers greater potential to investigate, interpret and understand interactions between different Earth systems from the core to the top of the atmosphere; this section will provide an introduction to each of the main topics below (3-4 wks)

2. Mantle plumes and sudden climate change: covers topics such as - climate change; oceanography; mantle plumes; large igneous provinces; sedimentation rates/processes; metamorphism by sill emplacement; tectonic and geochemical insight into deep/mantle processes; geochronology and effects of plumes on sedimentation; relationships between mantle plumes and global climate change (4-5 wks)

3. Mountain building and climate change: focusing on two main areas i) Ordovician-Devonian Earth and Cenozoic Earth - tectonic processes; impacts on global climate; evolutionary changes; weathering rates and influences; geochemical and isotopic tracers and ii) the interplay between tectonics and the hydrological cycle and how water interacts with the crust, thereby facilitating the formation of metal and hydrocarbon deposits (4-5 wks)

4. Antarctica and ocean circulation: environmental sensitivity, conservation and preservation of ‘wildernesses’; impacts on global climate; inter-relations between the oceans and global climate; transfer of nutrients within the oceans; carbon sequestration; plate tectonics and circulatory systems (i.e. the focus will be scientific rather than environmental studies issues) (4-5 wks)

5. Living with the modern Earth system: summary section reviewing the key concepts and issues covered in each study topic from the perspective of a broader stocktickerESS framework. This section will also investigate recent developments in a systems approach to Earth Science and where future research interests may focus and/or lead. (2-3 wks)

ECA – mini project/essay, 4-6 weeks study time"

All of which will lean more heavily on the 'hard' rocks side than I might have hoped - and, therefore, at least a basic command of S339 is kind of essential!

And I've only gone and pre-registered for the new Ecosystems course, which starts in November ...

Apart from not studying much, I seem to be busy doing nothing at all! I *think* that the holiday planning is now more-or-less completed. A couple changes have been made - not least that we are now going to fly from NYC to Chicago (JetBlue?!)

The scrapbooking continues, with no regard for bank balance. I decided to do a new blog for that and it's on here - not very exciting.

The daffodils are in full bloom, but are, as always seems to happen, being bent and broken by lashing rain and high winds. *sigh* Soon be spring.

A Message to America

2008-02-06T03:01:00.000-08:00

Please choose Hillary as your Democratic candidate. Nice though he is, Obama will not win the presidency and we will be stuck with another Republican ruling the world. You know it makes sense - thank you! :)

Where've I been?

2008-01-21T08:10:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure! Neither am I sure where I am now!!

New Year's Eve, both Paul and I had flu. (Reminder to get flu jab next year). We both had terrible coughs. But my cough turned into a chest infection. They gave me anti-biotics. I took one and my temperature shot up to about 106!! So they gave me another lot of ab's. Levofloxacin. I took one - about 10:00pm, 8th January. Almost immediately, I came out in hives, all over. 999. The ambulance folk were very nice and injected me with some antihistamine, which worked within 10 minutes. Fortunately, my 'vital signs' were fine, but they decided to take me to A&E anyway. Hub and I were there til 4:00am... My temperature was, apparently, horrendous! I had a chest X-ray and they decided I had 'nearly' pneumonia and I was given TWO lots of antibiotics. LARGE STRENGTH!! Amoxycillin + doxycycline. Seemingly, I had a slight urine infection too (?) - but they allowed me to go home - phew!

The week taking the antibiotics was awful - I felt SO ill and couldn't eat, because everything tasted vile! I even spent one whole day in bed, which is something I NEVER do! FINALLY, I finished the course(s), only to discover that I now had thrush, brought on by the antibiotics. Everywhere. Easily fixed - apart from the oral thrush, which is STILL lingering. I'm taking Nystan for it and is has improved somewhat - but I went several days not being able to swallow!! Now I can swallow, but I cannot chew - not helped by the fact that I broke a tooth!! I have a dental appointment tomorrow morning, which I am dreading, because my whole mouth is so sore. However, the next appointment wasn't for TWO WEEKS!

I can breathe. I can eat (just). And I am sleeping for England. I am MUCH better. But I have most certainly lost most of this year, so far!

Must be Christmas!

2007-12-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

Mary and Bob's Christmas card arrived this morning! Their card has been the first to arrive for about the last 30 years!!

I had better start writing mine then. Although they are all handmade this year (what a chore!) and it's a case of choosing who gets the worst ones and who gets the better ones (which are not much better than the worst!) Next year I'll be back to buying.

Bubbles has departed this world

2007-12-03T04:53:00.000-08:00

Bubbles (my gorgeous Oranda!) had been sick with swimbladder disease, for some months - but it got much worse over the last week. He was stuck, upside-down, at the top of the tank - he couldn't swim and he couldn't catch any food (although he tried). What's more, where his body was exposed to the air outside of the water, he was drying up and rotting away. It was awful to see him this way. So, Saturday evening I did a search for humane ways to euthanise goldfish and decided on the clove oil method. Just thinking about it made me cry - amazing that you can cry over a fish!

Yesterday morning, I took Bubbles out of the tank and put him in a small bowl. Then I added some clove oil, which I'd added to some of the tank water. He was gone in a few minutes... He's now buried in the garden, with a Euphorbia Robbiae planted above him.

We bought a new friend to keep Malcolm company, but it (Jack Sprat) sits at the bottom, under the plastic coral. I'm in the process of doing a water change - I hope that sorts him, or else he'll be no use whatsoever!

Wish I had a van ...

2007-12-03T04:45:00.001-08:00

I would be tempted to start off a computer fixing business! Simple things, that is. My PC was making noises and emitting burning smells, before it completely conked out. I replaced the PSU and all (appears) cured.. Took about 10 minutes and cost £15. How much would a computer fixer have charged for that?

Hellio!

2007-12-03T04:37:00.000-08:00

He's about as charismatic as my pale blue socks! Apollo was much better!

This is more like it!

Not that I'm a fan of the Spice Girls, but I thought Mel and Max were better (as, evidently, did the panel). However, apart from the American public voting for the wrong couple, we really enjoyed Dancing with the Stars, the US version of our Strictly.

Children in Need!

2007-11-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Please give generously!!

(This is how Paul has gone to work at the Garden Centre today - should raise a few glares, if not cash!)

Also, please sign this petition on the 10 Downing Street website. The goverment wishes (and, at this moment intends) to withdraw funding from students who are studying at a level equivalent to, or lower than, qualifications already held. This will have knock-on effects, not only to the students involved, but to all other students, as (inevitable) falling student numbers will require fees for remaining students to be even higher.

Hilma

2007-10-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

Hilma died. Up the Himalayas. In her sleep. Of altitude sickness. I can't believe it. She will be very sadly missed by all who knew her at the OU. :(

An announcement from her brother.

(from Hilma's resume)

He tells her that the Earth is flat -
He knows the facts and that is that.
In altercations fierce and long
She tries her best to prove him wrong.
But he has learned to argue well.
Her arguments he calls unsound.
He often asks her not to yell.
She cannot win. He stands his ground.

The planet goes on being round.

(Wendy Cope)

S.A.D. kicks in bad!

2007-10-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

Seasonal Affective Disorder arrived earlier than usual, this year. I can only put that down to the dismal summer we've endured. It's an odd little blighter - I always forget it exists and then, one day in September, I feel unwell and tired and I think I'm ailing for something which never materialises. And then I remember the SAD. It doesn't affect me with depression, as such - I simply feel ILL - languid and forgetful and TIRED and as though I have flu. No matter how much sleep I have; I want more. I am constantly hungry and TIRED. This results in a feeling of tension and DEPRESSION!!

Need to get out more. And take some vitamins. And SLEEP!

I don't think it's helped, this year, that I've had very little OU work to do. Today, this year's intake of S330 took their exam. I missed taking an exam and the revision beforehand! It kept my mind off other things (like Christmas), sharpened my memory (sort of) and gave me a reason for the tension exploding through my body!

In order to avoid this in future, I've planned out the next few years! I have to finish off (or start properly, come to that!) the volcanoes short course - and then, in February, I start the Understanding the Continents (S339) course, which I'm looking forward to, in a masochistic sort of way. Then, next September, I'm going to do A251, Creative Writing.. February 2009, it will be S369 (to finish off the geo-courses I missed out) and then, in September A300, which is a 20th century literature course (set books of which, I've already started reading!!!) If I get through that lot, I shall not only have a BA, to add to the BSc, but also a Diploma in Creative Writing and Literature PLUS a lot more background for the (hopefully impending) MSc in Earth Systems.

The secret is to keep busy and keep yourself challenged. And to SLEEP!

Why?

2007-10-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

Why do people who post photos of hotels onto TripAdvisor, post photos of themselves on top of a bridge, or a few people with their arms around each other, at some scenic spot miles away from the actual hotel they're reviewing? I am much more interested in seeing underneath the beds and the bathroom!

There are some wonderful hotels around - most of which we can only dream of staying at. One I found yesterday, Inn New York City, is one to make your jaw drop - a far cry from the cupboard-sized, dingy rooms that most of us with less than ample wallets are forced to sleep in! We are booked into Radio City Apartments, which have good reviews on TripAdvisor - and the location cannot be beaten. However, I only need to read one review mentioning 'large cockroach' and I am, once more, scanning the travel sites, in search of that elusive penthouse with 500 count linens and gold plated jacuzzi, for less than $200 per night!

This isn't to say that we don't have some luxury lined up for next year's trip though! A night each at the Signature at MGM Grand, Vegas and the Top of the Village near Aspen are pure indulgence ... but, heck.

(part of) the floorplan for the 3 bedroom/3 bathroom condo, I've booked in Snomass Village (it was so big, I couldn't get all of it in the screenshot!)

Got tickets!

2007-09-19T07:12:00.000-07:00

I bought our British Airways plane tickets for next year's trip, this morning! A total saving of around £600, compared to what they cost last week - so that's one ticket, plus some, for nothing! Interesting that we are down for Terminal 5 - I wonder if it will open in time?!

What constitutes having 'made it'?

2007-09-15T03:52:00.000-07:00

My Dad was 83 on Thursday and we bought him a standard lamp. He was brought up to think that 'only rich people' had standard lamps and that they were a symbol of success. So now he has one!

Also in the picture above are my sister-in-law, Anita - and niece, Amy, who has just had her GCSE results - 10 grade A's, most of those with *'s (whatever that means). Very clever - and, certainly, my old school is producing better results out of her than they did out of me! She is going on to do arts A-levels, including Media Studies ... I do wonder why clever people don't go into the sciences. We need them.

Anyway, back to the have made it things. Hub considers that we have 'made it' now, as we have a bolster on the bed! I can remember my mother and father having one of those though, when I was a child - so, can you possibly have 'made it' if you have a bolster but not a standard lamp? I don't think so. We only have an uplighter, so we have a long way to go yet.

The planning for next year's coast-to-coast USA trip continues and this is the latest map of our latest route!

Last week, I booked a villa (with pool and spa) in Vegas for 2 nights and another villa (with pool and spa and golf cart! :)) in Palm Springs, for 3 nights. I'm getting excited - but it is a long way off yet and we haven't yet bought our plane tickets!

10 more points

2007-09-15T03:47:00.000-07:00

The AT272 results came out on Wednesday and I passed (quite well). I could care less - but I know that I did better than at least a couple of much keener students and I wonder why this is? Do we have a natural 'gift' for writing essays/waffle? I thought what I handed in was tripe - I did it (quickly) before we went to Portugal, intending to edit the essays fiercely, when we got back. But I didn't touch them. Perhaps I should've stuck with the arts? (Nah!)

Bye-bye bones

2007-08-26T02:18:00.001-07:00

I decided I was a fool. Bones and pots were not for me. Little essays, whose only difficulty factor, was to ensure that you put their words into your words - where was the challenge? I'm back with the rocks! I'm going to try to woo the MSc Earth Systems selectors by adding extra courses to my portfolio and I'm doing it because I LOVE EARTH SCIENCE! So, I have signed up for the new short course in Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis, S186 - which I'll leisurely run through over the next few weeks, as a very gentle reminder of what I've been missing. Then I'm going to register for S339: Understanding the Continents, next year. It won't matter if I fail even - but I missed out S339 and S369, because I used U316 for my degree - and I know there is a gap in my knowledge, which I'm hoping to fill.

Meantime there is a whole heap of work to be getting on with in this house. The weather is beautiful, but we have to stay in to do that. Bummer.

Mustn't grumble

2007-08-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

I was going to write a piece about how TIRED I am, despite having slept til 11:41 this morning! Tired because of the work on the bedrooms and the building of wardrobes and chests and the laying of new carpet (twice, cos we didn't like the first one!) Tired because of the new bed which is strange to me. Tired because there is a whole heap more work to do on those rooms, including the building of 2 more wardrobes and the laying of yet another carpet and the house is a TIP! Tired because my PC went funny last week and I put in a new hard drive, but XP wouldn't install. So I bought new RAM and installed that yesterday and XP installed - but the thing kept crashing. So I took out the new RAM and put in the old and now it works. Tired because I had to reinstall all my software and drivers and tired because I lost so much stuff (I MUST buy an external hard drive).

But I must not complain about being tired. This morning, I learnt, with great sadness, of the untimely death, last night, of one of my OU friends. Keith Blomfield. He and I studied together on S103 and we were both 'punished' by Audrey, because we wrote too many messages! He was a great guy - funny, witty, to the point, kind, helpful, encouraging. He loved his physics and wanted others to love it too! He helped me with my maths. He read my A174 stories! He will be sadly, sadly missed.

Keith was diabetic and suffered for years with pancreatitis. But he got on with life and helped others whenever he could. He was taken quickly by cancer. He was only in his 40's.

Life is too short to be tired.

Bones, bones, bones

2007-08-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

With AT272 finally out of the way (dire course), I bought myself a second-hand copy of the A251 World Archaeology book and have read about 100 pages of it. It's all bones and rock fragments, much like S292 (Emergence of Humans), which I disliked intensely. I have to MAKE MYSELF get into this and enjoy it - I MUST become enamoured of broken pots. I am getting very depressed.

I also registed for AA310, starting next February. That is, the History of Film and TV ... seeing as I'm not much of a cinema buff or much of a remote couch potato or a lover of history, I can see that that's going to be fun also!!!

I miss science.

(Very) unfit??

2007-08-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

I decided to test my fitness, following instructions on a website. (1) Exercise and take pulse. Mine was 100. (2) Wait one minute and then take pulse again. Mine was 82. (3) Minus the second figure from the first and divide by 10. So I'm 1.8. Apparently, a figure of <2 is 'poor' and you should aim for something like 4. But my resting pulse is only 72, so even if I'd managed to get down to that in the minute, my figure would've only been 2.8, which isn't much better. Perhaps I should've exercised for longer than the one minute running on the spot and got my pulse rate higher! :)

There are now 80 000 people classifying the galaxies. There are (initially) one million to classify, but they want each to be classified by 20 different users. We're over halfway through that task, it seems - what then?

Galaxy 587729386066804930

2007-07-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

I'm categorising galaxies!! This is one of mine (587729386066804930)

which I've categorised as a clockwise spiral galaxy. It's quite a responsibility! And it is also very absorbing.

The pictures were taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. And, you can join in (if you pass the trial!) by Galaxy Zoo.

"Sir Patrick Moore, an enthusiastic supporter of the project, said: ‘Non-professionals have always been deeply involved in studying the sky and they now have yet another opportunity to make themselves really useful. Moreover, their help is now of immense value so do join up – as I am doing myself!’"

Fed up ....

2007-07-03T14:19:00.001-07:00

... with the sight of blue skies and the warmth on our skin and the sounds of cicadas and the smell of mimosa and the taste of fresh fish and the friendly people and beautiful villages and pristine beaches ....

we returned to the rain and critical terrorism alerts. As you do.

{Silly} Fun in the Sun!

2007-07-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

Live Action! :))

Give me my coloured coat ....

2007-06-10T04:50:00.000-07:00

Well, the right guy won for once!

We are thinking of going up to London to see the show, probably in September. We haven't been to the West End since Cats!! But, although the theatre seats are expensive enough - the hotel rooms are even more expensive. I have my eye on the ParkCity Hotel, in Kensington - number one with TripAdvisor ....

Back to the Romans and Portugal packing.

Sucker for tears

2007-06-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

Let me make this very clear - I HAVE NEVER WATCHED BIG BROTHER, nor have any wish to do so - but I do have a terrible weakness for the reality show progs, especially Strictly Come Dancing and the Ice Skating thingie - and even Just The Two of Us. Then, last year, we were searching for the lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production of the Sound of Music - and, this year, we have his search for the lead in the new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - "Any Dream Will Do". Saturday evening isn't right without Dr Who, followed by a programme of back stabbing, bitching, huge egos and tears! It helps that the Everton chairman, Bill Kenwright, is one of the panel members! (And Graham Norton's silk suits and shirts give me ideas for scrapbook pages!) Fortunately, all here enjoy it, although none of us have ever voted.

Craig went out last week. He was sweetness itself and such a nice boy - like a teddy bear, all cuddly and undemanding. However, he was useless, stood like a plank and just kind of drooped ... So, tonight we had the semi finals, in which Ben was voted off. That's a shame, as he was my second favourite , because, although he can't sing very well, he is a very good showman. (Can Philip Schofield sing - and John Barrowman himself can't sing all that well, imho!) But Ben is gone and we are left with Lee, Lewis (LEWIS!!) and Keith Jack. There is absolutely no competition. Lewis (LEWIS!!) is sweet, but he is a child and is far too lanky - it is impossible to imagine him in a loincloth. Keith Jack is horrendous - I have no idea why people vote for him. His voice drives me daft and I certainly wouldn't pay to have to listen to it for 2 hours. There is only one winner.

Apart from this, I am bored out of my skull with AT272.

Oh, and multi multi congratulations to Pippo Inzaghi for single-handedly winning the Champions League Cup for Milan last week!

Bye-bye Mr B

2007-05-14T02:06:00.000-07:00

Tony Blair has announced that he will be standing down as PM on 27th June, so I did a scrappy!!

And, here is possibly his finest moment! :)

Uploaded by Knoxboy.bebo.com

I think he will be very much missed.

The Sun appears to have disappeared from this part of the country, and we have been stuck in November for weeks. AT272 is just as drab.

The bat cloak!

2007-04-15T12:12:00.001-07:00

I had my graduation ceremony yesterday, at Torquay. What an ordeal! But I was happy to fulfil one of my ambitions - that of wearing an academic gown, like the teachers did at speech days!

I remember very little of this!

Meantime, my AT272 stuff has arrived and it's back to the studying!

Certificate in Contemporary Science

2007-03-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

I got my astronomy course result (and thus quali-ed for this quali) last week, I think - and I was so excited I had to put it up here right away .....

So, what's this? BSc (Hons), CertNatSci, CertContSci (Open)

Doesn't mean a lot when I don't remember anything - LOL!

Visual DNA

2007-03-20T17:47:00.003-07:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

I am jealous of Heidi Swapp!!

2007-03-07T12:40:00.000-08:00

Not only is she a highly successful businesswoman, who scraps all day - but she lives in Arizona and wakes to the sun glinting off the saguaro! But, despite my envy, I've bought a box of her embellishments and I won't want to open it when it arrives for fear of spoiling the wonderfully girlie pink and black stuff!

I've done about 40 pages now. And I am broke! I don't appear to have a particular style; I flit around. Let's see. I like pretty, like this daffodil page.

and I enjoy doing simple, but striking pages, like this one of my hub (when he was young!).

and I like pinks and greens.

and

and I love doing cutesy stuff, like my bunny's page! I refused to pay out 79p for one sheet of paper, so I painted the background myself and slung up real string as a washing line! Pity Bunzee is no longer as cute as his surroundings!

And I like simple, but striking (did I already say that?)

And I like strange.

So, I like strange and striking and cutesy. I like black and red and black and pink and pink and green. I love rick rack and red velvet and gold organza. I love pearly brads. I love Basic Grey and anything else by K and Co. I love Jollees and Rouge de Garance.

Nice hobby - I'd better make the most of it, before I start studying again!

I'm back!!!

2007-03-07T12:20:00.000-08:00

So much for the year out!! I decided that the only way to ease (if not cure) my disease, was to rejoin the land of the learning, so I've registered for AT272 - Ancient and Medieval Cities: A Technological History, starting in May. Nobody likes this course, but it's only 10 points and I'm not averse to a couple months' moaning. I've also registered for A251: World Archaeology from September. This is a pilot 30-point course, which does the 30 points in half the time it usually takes (so double the time needed!) Then, from next February, I would only need to do 1 x 60 point level 3 artsy course and I would have a BA! Just like that! How about AA310 - Film and Television History? Looks about the easiest - and you get a load of films to watch - like Citizen Kane!

So, I am happier now. But I still plan to do an MSc. One day.

Taking a break ...

2007-02-09T02:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I cancelled my A103 registration - just 2 days before deadline! Motivation and desire was nil and I finally realised that I needed a BREAK! So, I am now mercifully free from TMAs - for this year, at least! I now have to think very carefully about what I would like to do next year. It has to be something I really WANT to do - physics maybe?

Stuck on scrapping!

2007-02-05T03:07:00.000-08:00

With 2 short essays on the Colosseum to do, I decided that I needed a complete break! So I took up scrapbooking - I have SO MANY photos all over the house, that it was time that I did something with them. It's rather an addictive (and expensive!) hobby though and there is little time for the Colosseum ... but I MUST get back to it TODAY!

100th Postcrossing card!

2007-01-24T05:40:00.000-08:00

I received this card this morning, from Barbara of Munroe, Washington State. How nice that my 100th card should be of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, of which we have such fond memories!

Pardon?

2007-01-08T11:43:00.000-08:00

Having had a fair bit of spare time (and relative peace) over the last few days, I've made great headway into Block 1, including roughs of the first 2 TMA questions. I've learnt how to analyse a painting (sort of) and how to interpret a sonnet (although I might've got it completely wrong!) But, today, I spent doing the music intro. And I couldn't hear; I have no ear. But I worked hard on timbres and things and thought I'd got it. But they've given us a piece of music to write about which has the texture of a sheet of paper and I don't know what's chordal or what's syncopation (or what that is even). Where are the tambourines and the muted trumpets?

Oh well - it's interesting anyway - onwards to the philisophy!

Summertime ...

2007-01-04T07:17:00.000-08:00

by Jackson Pollock (Jack the Dripper; alcoholic and depressive, who died in an 'alcohol-related' car crash, aged 44), 1948, which sits in the London Tate Gallery. This was my first lesson in A103, as it was the first TV programme on the first DVD (I probably should've started reading books first!). I've learnt that grey paint was dripped onto a canvas, which was then dripped more heavily onto by black paint - that bits were 'coloured in' with blue, purple, red - and that, finally some little splashes of greens and browns (to liken it to a landscape ...) were added. But, sorry, it's still complete garbage to me!

What have I done? Will I ever be able to understand art?

My materials arrived this morning. Several books, including a lovely thick book of paintings etc (including 'Summertime'), 18 CD-ROMs, 2 DVDs and the usual other bits and pieces, including the TMA booklet (there are 9 assignments - eek!) Also, arrived this morning, were the set reading books: "Wide Sargasso Sea", Jean Rhys, "Medea and Other Plays", Euripides - and "Pygmalion", Bernard Shaw. All are mercifully short - although I'm rather looking forward to reading about the mad woman in Mr Rochester's attic.

This is Pollock's painting of Moby Dick.

Bye-bye 'honours, even?'

2006-12-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

Well, I got them, so it was finished!

'Gone weird' - hmm. Well, I have decided, after all, to do a BA. It seems as though I need very little by way of new courses to get it ... so I'd just as well. I would like to do the philosophy course (A211), but I'm not sure I feel confident enough to jump straight into philo essays, so I thought the humanities foundation course (A103) might be (a hoot) interesting. I need to check with a study advisor on Tuesday first though. The current plan is to have a break from science (with the arts) and then return to do the new named MSc in Earth Systems Science, which hasn't even been approved yet! If it doesn't get given the go ahead, then I'll do the MSc in Science. I have until 26th January to register for next year's course. (I will have to cancel my registration of S369, but I will still read the books).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I feel like a potato ...

2006-12-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

... stuck in the dark, with no air.

Christmas was *OK* as Christmasses go - plenty of family and gifts and chocolates and savouries containing sausages or equally questionable fillings. The turkey was a bit overcooked and the sprouts were like bullets, but all presents were happily given and received. The hub bought me a beautiful aquamarine and diamond ring - for a Christmas and graduation present. I was quite amazed at that!

So, all was fine - but I feel flat, flat, flat. However, I forced myself to go out this afternoon - and feel a little bit brighter after a long drive and a brisk walk on the (very cold!) moors!

No, you cannot have any grub - it's illegal to feed the ponies!

I've also booked my graduation ceremony at Torquay's Riviera Centre for 14th April. Dreading it!!

Remnants of Christmas

Jack Sparrow stands atop cake, surrounded by cracker gifts.

Yer tis!

2006-12-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

I haven't booked my grad ceremony yet though - I'm really not sure that I want one!

Soul searching

2006-12-17T13:17:00.000-08:00

I still haven't decided what to do with myself now. I'm feeling rather flat. But I think that I should take my time over this and have decided to take a 'year out' and have registered for S369, The Geological Record of Environmental Change, for next year. It's the course I would've done this year instead of S330, but it wasn't running. Although not an easy course, it is only 30 points and I intend to 'go easy' with it, as I'm going to study it purely out of interest; I just thought I should do it before I completely move on. I might not even take the exam, as there is no point.

After that .... who knows. I could do a BA - or I could do an MSc. My heart and mind yearn for the MSc, but my wallet tells me not to be so daft. I don't know ... but I have a year to figure it out.

We should hear confirmation of our degree classifications tomorrow - and we can also then make our graduation ceremony arrangements. I'm really not sure about that ...

Soul soothing

2006-12-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

We all went to the annual carol service at Buckfast Abbey yesterday afternoon. As usual, the abbey was filled to the brim - and, as usual, people brought babies ..... The acoustics are incredible, and I don't think I have captured them very well on these shabby little digital camera movies - but they give a flavour.

This one is sung by the choir as they enter the abbey (Jistebnice Cantional)

and here are links to a few more snippets.

Once In Royal David's City
The First Nowell
Cantique de Noel (choir) (beautiful)
O Come All Ye Faithful

My one complaint is that they left out 'Hark the Herald Angels' this year.

Well, well, well ....

2006-12-14T13:48:00.000-08:00

The exams people listened to my plea and released the results at 11:50 this morning!

and

I passed SXG390, grade 2!

and

I PASSED S330!!! By the skin of my teeth, but I only need to pass for the 2.1 hons!

No idea what to do now - I need to let this sink in for a bit.

Message to the OU Exams Office

2006-12-13T03:24:00.000-08:00

HURRY UP!!

Please.

What is a blog?

2006-12-13T03:20:00.000-08:00

According to Uncyclopedia:

"The blog is an important and recently introduced aspect of the much-lauded "Care in the Community" treatment for the mentally-handicapped. Mental patients (from the schizophrenic [1] to the learning-disabled [2] to the just plain weird) are invited to express their fears, suspicions, experiences and cravings by means of one of these occasionally-updated internet logs."

There is also a pretty accurate description of a geologist on there!

God bless Ikea!

2006-12-13T03:07:00.000-08:00

We now have storage! The trip up to Bristol last Thursday, was more of a trial than usual, because of the atrocious weather! We did a little shopping in Cribbs Causeway (after Ikea) and when we came out, it was blowing an absolute hurricane and pelting with rain - and we couldn't find our car ... Then we got stuck in the traffic on the M5, for about 3 hours, as the motorway was closed, due to an accident involving a lorry and gas canisters. We got home very late.

BUT, a blitz over the weekend saw our bathroom quite transformed!

There is still a fair bit to do but, apart from putting up the blinds and some pictures, it can wait until after Christmas.

Water on Mars?

2006-12-06T13:29:00.000-08:00

NASA scientists think that there could be water on Mars - or at least, they think there may've been water on Mars during the last 5 years! New photos show deposits in gullies, that weren't there before (the deposits). These deposits could be CO2 or rivers of dust. Or they could be WATER! How exciting!

See New Scientist.

So what do you think?

click pic for bigger

My little world of what ifs

2006-12-06T13:16:00.000-08:00

The results are fairly imminent now - some postgraduate results came out today. The '15th December' message has also appeared on my SXG390 page, so despite the imminentness of things, that one isn't as imminent as I'd hoped. What if the results come out tomorrow when we're up in Bristol. What if the weather is so bad (as forecast) that we can't get back and I don't know they're there? Well, they will wait!

What if I've passed S330? (Now then, there's a forlorn what if if ever there was!). What should I do? I have been over and over the artsy course descriptions and, in all honesty, I don't fancy doing an artsy course. So I could do the Masters? But it's so expensive! There's always the Crowther Award! But you have to apply the year before, I think - so if I applied and, even if successful, I would have to wait until next year to start. And I couldn't afford it else. And why am I thinking of doing a Masters? Could I do it? What if I couldn't?

Ho ho ho!

What if I've failed S330?? LOL - well, that's almost a given! However, I have changed my mind slightly over SXN390 (nuke waste project), because I have so always wanted to do S369. So I should do that one. What's one more exam? I could even do it if I passed S330 and had to wait another year for the Masters (if successful with the Crowther plea). I could do it for fun!!

(However) What if I get a 1 or a 2 for SXG390? (I would be disappointed with less). (And failed S330). Then I would stand a chance of a first!!! So would I then want to do S369 with another exam - or should I do SXN390 to stand a chance of a 1 or a 2??? I don't know!!

And what if I've passed S330 AND SXG390 and I take my 2:1 (which I would, if that's what it is) then what would I do next year?

Confused.

Syzygy Mimistrobell (that is my Second Life name, but I cannot access the game on this PC, due to having an inferior graphics card or something - I can only access on my laptop and as I can't get at my laptop at the moment, I cannot play it. Not that I want to play it. I got myself a free pair of purple leather jeans and somebody approached me and I flew away!! It's very odd - all those people on that game are actually REAL!)

Back to it ....

2006-12-03T04:48:00.000-08:00

The bathroom work is limping along.

We've now got to the stage where we're thinking about storage and (I) have decided that Ikea cabinets would be the most economic/useful - so we will have to drive up to Bristol (probably Thursday), which is a horrid drive and one which we only did last week!! We'll do some Christmas shopping while there, and make a day of it.

I'm all flu and dithers at the moment. I wonder if thoughts of the impending results has anything to do with it .... ?

There is no such message on my SXG390 page - maybe that result'll be out earlier???

Praha - a city of fascinating hats!

2006-12-03T04:41:00.000-08:00

We returned from the Czech Republic on Wednesday, having had to fly back with a cold, which resulted in deafness and a near-exploding face. I'm still suffering! However, it was a very interesting trip.

A letter to the DIY fairy

2006-11-15T03:53:00.000-08:00

Dear DIY Fairy

Please help my husband. I (sillily) accused him of not being able to multi-task, and now he's gone multi-tasking daft. He has the bit of wall (what we call 'ground zero') down, but not all. He has most of the white tiles grouted, but not all. He has cleaned off the grout from some of the grouted white tiles, but not all. He has fastened most battens (for the cladding) onto the wall, but not all. He is now taking the floor up (as asked to by the plumber), but not all. And he's doing it using a HAND SAW. If I enter the room and cheerily ask "done that little job?" or offer suggestions (like "shall we get in a man?") or assistance, then he barks at me, so I retreat to other rooms, all of which are hovels, containing a multitude of bathroom bits, tools, pieces of wood, nails - and several inches of oak leaves in the kitchen. What is complete is the grouting of the travertine tiles and the cleaning up of the same (I did both jobs). If I could get to the windows, I would measure them up for voiles. If I could get to the toilet, I'd make myself a cup of tea ...
Yours desperately,

Evidence

Under a cloud

2006-11-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

We had a real-time observation session with S194 tonight - alas, it was cloudy at Milton Keynes (as it was here), so they had to give up.

Next session is planned for 11th December.

Sprecken vous Italiano?

2006-11-11T06:16:00.000-08:00

I'm testing out the development of the new OU Beginner's Italian course. (L195 Andante Beginners' Italian). This will last for 6 weeks and entails, I'm not sure what yet! My materials arrived this morning.

It's a pack, which includes a book ("Colloquial Italian" by Sylvia Lymbery), cassettes and CDs. The really interesting part though, is that we will be trying out the OU's new Virtual Learning Environment, and we have to write blogs and play with wiki and lyceum. Could be fun!

For the Lyceum online tutorials, I've had to buy a headset and have been practising with it this morning! I CAN BE MARIA!! LOL!

Bathroom update!

2006-11-11T06:11:00.000-08:00

IT'S WRECKED!!

We have a week to try to sort this out!

I feel sorry for the hub, as he has to come home from work and then face working on the bathroom!

Then he doesn't have time to do the ironing!!

Beta blogger?

2006-11-11T05:40:00.000-08:00

I've just changed over to the new 'beta blogger', powered by Google (they are into everything now?). I appear to have a search bar at the top of my blog now (unwelcome) - but, everything else seems to be more or less the same! They promise lots of extra utilities and stuff - if only I had time to find out more!

New Game!

2006-11-07T10:03:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Bill, I've now discovered YouTube, which is a very useful place to stick all those really useless videos you take with your digi camera! Here's a very exciting clip of Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone, back in July (I'm at the end in the red T-shirt!).

Now I'll be able to do movie updates on the bathroom!! :)

Just bought this!

2006-10-31T16:29:00.000-08:00

Hehe!

I spy a plumber!

2006-10-31T14:12:00.000-08:00

He came out this morning and will return on Friday week to take out bath, sink and radiator, so that we can do the tiling etc. (I wish it had been sooner). For some reason, he says we need, not only a 4 inch plinth underneath our shower - but also a 3 inch x 5 inch boxing in effort around the wall, to the waste. So that means that we'll have to take legs of cupboards and bolt them to the wall ... Not very happy. Goodness knows what else is going to go wrong!

I took this picture of myself today (as you do) to post on the conference, as we were discussing hair and age. Nobody thinks I'm too old to have my hair this length. In fact, nobody thinks that there should be any difference how long your hair is whatever age you are.

Anyway, I think I look very studious! Talking of which, I've finished S194 - and just have the ECA to do (which, actually, isn't all that easy!) I'm a bit disappointed, because it took me to chapter 7 (of 8) to get to anything I hadn't already learnt from previous courses! And now, I have 3 months to hang around doing nothing! Not that I have a clue what course to do next year anyway - it depends on the S330 re*ult. It'll probably be SXN390, therefore. And there are some weird things going on with regard to nuclear waste, at the moment. 'Bribe' for councils to take atom waste and seemingly no geologists involved in deciding on a suitable storage place. Worrying.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

2006-10-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

... to my baby, Nicholas Jon.

1st Birthday

Now he's all grown up, has a BSc in Chemistry (with Astronomy), a job as a civil servant and a wife, Nicola.

And he's

30 YEARS OLD!

AGHHHHHHH!

Where's the plumber II?

2006-10-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

This arrived today.

Dual flush and with a 'soft close' seat - therefore, for a toilet, about as interesting as it gets! But it has to sit in our living room as every other room in the house is filled to the brim with other bathroom bits!