Holiday 2007

Not being able to afford where I really want to travel to, I have just booked a villa in Alhaurin el Grande (Andalucia, Spain). We're sharing this with my in-laws for 10 days in April because the kids enjoyed having their nan and grandad on holiday with them for 4 days this year.
Take a look at what it's got...

lounge


Studio
for the in-laws


sun room


bedroom 1


bedroom 2


kitchen


outside space




Should be very nice, and only a short walk from the restaurants, shops and our friends. Not to mention the perfect place to practice my Spanish for LXZ194!

Talking of food..

It was our 14th wedding anniversary yesterday and last Saturday hub announced that he'd booked the two of us into a hotel for one night. We stayed here.
It was very nice (the photos of the room in the above link must have been executive rooms 'cos ours, although nice enough, wasn't that posh!
The best bit was the food. For our evening meal we could choose from fish, prawns, fruit, salad for starter, lasagne, chicken in a white sauce with green peppers, roast turkey, roast potatoes, potato wedges, and mixed veg for the main course, and the most deeelicious desserts (cheesecakes, gateaux, fresh fruits, would have been Profiteroles only someone had beaten us to it!). Breakfast was enoormous! There was (sorry, am I making your mouth water?!) fresh fruits, toasts, uncut granary bread, malt loaf, pastries, cereals, hash browns, mushrooms, bacon, fried and scrambled egg, and baked beans, with hot drinks or a variety of juices.
Of course, if you make a complete hog of yourself you could always take a leaf out of hub's romantic book and bring along a box of choccies, miniature bottles of wine and Baileys to enjoy late into the evening 'cos the rooms have a little fridge.

I can highly recommend the hotel/the surprise booking for you and your partner if you are ever in the Rochester/Chatham area.

Revision, am I ready?

Someone, somewhere out there posted a link to this site.
This is what it recommends for revision:

Revision and Lifestyle...

Use student/athlete analogy: aim to peak at the right time and train properly: ok, I can do this...

Get into revision routine, work in short manageable bursts. nothing other than extremely short looks likely until the weekend!
Avoid getting over-tired. when do I ever feel under-tired?!
Avoid working very early in the morning (leads to anxiety oh dear, somethingelse to worry about..) or late in the evenings (leads to over-tiredness, insomnia and clogged memory. I can relate to that..... Only trouble is, late evenings and early mornings are usually my only 'me'/study time lately. I don't think I told you about my 3000 word research assignment finally got finished after a 2pm-3.30am marathon assignment-typing session last week. Only 2 nights ago I got back out of bed at 11.30pm and worked on another assignment until 1.30am...insomnia you see, knew there was work to be done and couldn't switch off.
Turn off frequently I honestly hadn' written my last comment before I read this!, do something quite different. what a perfect excuse to keep on bloggin' this month!

Key Areas:

Exercise ah well, I was going to go jogging in the evenings with hub, only he's back on night shifts again. Ho hum.
Aim for minimum 20 mins aerobic-type exercise (i.e. anything which makes your heart beat faster and your breathing rate increase) 3 times a week. Brief exercise (preferably outdoors) before revision periods and exams, improves concentration and intellectual performance. Ah, ok, so instead of waking up at 5.30am to revise I could wake up at 5am for a swift jog round the block....yeah right!!

Sleep
Regular periods of sleep at regular times.sigh This helps your body clock to function well. Get lots of daylight.

Study
Study in a well-lit room, or near a window. Get outdoors often. Best times: between approx. 9.00 and 12.00 amno good, am surrounded by 26 little learners at this time of the day, and they've got alot more to learn than me :O), and 4.00 & 6.00 pmah well, that's tea time and my kiddie time. Worst times: after lunch (1.00 to 3.00 pm - body clock set for sluggish not an option, more little learners left, right and centre.) and at night (body clock set for sleep!if I'm lucky!) Best to have a short nap after lunch. Don't think this'd go down to well in the staffroom.

Diet
Keep intake of sugar down - too much sugar lowers your blood sugar level, makes you sleepy, and makes you need more! 'Energy' sweets are especially bad for this. Cut down on caffeine - in short term caffeine makes you feel more alert, but large doses lead to insomnia and increased tension/anxiety. But don't give up caffeine right now - withdrawal symptoms (headaches, etc.) can be severe. Sources of caffeine: coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolate. Know all this, but those cravings are mighty powerful!

Avoid too many carbohydrates (from potatoes, pasta, rice, bread) just before busy revision spell or exams, as these food make you sleepy. not a problem, can resist these.

Note: Starving yourself does not enhance intellectual performance. definitely not a problem, I like to eat :o)
There's a number of other useful links, but that'd be procrastinating. I just need to get on with it!

If you're looking for a good book, check this out. I bought it a few years ago and it was worth every penny.

Revision time

Time for one of those time tracker thingies I think, to spur me into some revision for my 2 exams.



So far I've avoided reading the last 2 books of each course (having got bogged down in a 3000 word research TMA... and skipping off to Spain for a long break of course!) and avoided thinking about just how I am going to remember everything to get me a couple of good passes. Things aren't looking good for SD329 (The Senses). Not only have I not really grasped alot of it (chemistry and physics) but I'm rather behind, with half of one TMA still to either complete, or send off partially done.

Plan 1 I concentrate most of my effort on S320 (infectious Diseases), a whopper of a course but alot more interesting and somewhat easier than SD329.

Plan 2 (for 2007) if I fail SD329 (and thus not get my BSC at the end of the year) I am going to take U316 (Environmental Web) next year. Alot of it is done online (TMAs, group discussions, ECA report) and I don't mind that one bit now that I've got my lappie set up to work wirelessly.
I still need another 30 points at level 3 to make it a BSc Hons, so I'm going to do SXG390 (Geohazards project) in 2007 too. Ok, so that's alot of work, but in two very interesting areas. Researching a volcano won't seem like study, it'll just be an extension of one of my interests.

Now, I know I said I'd be posting my holiday photos, but I think that may have to wait.

BTW I only gained one pound on holiday. All that swimming must've helped burn off the icecreams and crisps! Have a sneaky feeling that I may have gained more since I've been home. I reverting to bad habits of snacking on whatever I fancy whenever I fancied it. But I'm back at work now and that means no snacking, and a healthy packed lunch. All I need to do now is overcome the craving for biscuits and coffee when I revise!

Home sweet home

I'm home.
It's raining. I've a ton of studying to do.
So am I pleased to be back? Sort of....I missed my internet access! I missed my own bed. And I missed Cadbury's chocolate! LOL!
I'll tell you all about our stay in Spain soon.


Over the coming weeks I'm planning to store all my photos of our trip to Spain (and older piccies) on a new blog. I'll probably still post the odd one or two here, but pop over to my Profile and have a look at Our photos.

Home sweet home

I'm home.
It's raining. I've a ton of studying to do.
So am I pleased to be back? Sort of....I missed my internet access! I missed my own bed. And I missed Cadbury's chocolate! LOL!
I'll tell you all about our stay in Spain soon.


Over the coming weeks I'm planning to store all my photos of our trip to Spain (and older piccies) on a new blog. I'll probably still post the odd one or two here, but the majority should all be making an appearance on www.tinas-photos.blogspot.com

I did it, I did it!

I lost those 2 pounds and am a whole 2 stone lighter than I was at the beginning of the year! I also got out the tape measure.....20 inches gone in total from bust, waist, tum, hips and thighs!! Well chuffed with myself today! :o)

3 days and counting!

Not long now til we fly out to Spain and I am getting excited, can't sleep (what a big kid I am!)
Still tons to do though:
3000 word double weighted assignment
bedroom carpet to be fitted tomorrow
packing....almost done!
ebay selling to wrap up
washing bins to empty (and all that mundane stuff)

Can't complain about the weather here lately.... but it will be good to be somewhere hot that has somewhere to actually cool down (the pool). Doesn't matter what the British weather is like, we always find something to complain about don't we!

Weight loss.....I am now 2 pounds off of losing a total of 2 stone since January. Very chuffed and finally feeling a bit more confident about wearing shorts in public, something I have never done in the past 2 years (still self-conscious in a bikini, but better than I was).

Open University.....I decided to see SD329 (Signals and Perceptions) through to the bitter end! I hate it and have to force myself to open the books. On the other hand S320 (Infectious Disease) is a wonderful (if somewhat huge) course and I am actually enjoying writing my 3000 word assignment!
Did I mention I have signed up for Beginners Spanish for November? I just haven't had time to go it alone, so I am doing it properly with the O.U. and looking forward to it.
Having trouble choosing my final 60 points for my BSC Hons though. Went off the idea of AT308 after failing to be enthused by its shorter version AT272.So that leaves me to consider SXG390 Geohazards project, S369 Sedimentary Stuff, S377 (molecular and cell biology), DD304 (Cities) or EK310 (research into children and young people).
Better get back to that assignment!

Wisdom teeth. Yipes!

Not sure what has kept me so busy that I haven't had time to blog much. July always seems the most hectic month of the year to me. All I know is that I have another 3 days at school and the summer holiday begins! Hurray! It's been way too hot to be in school, the poor kids are miserable, hot and bothered, and the teachers are reaching the bottom of their very deep pots of patience.

I am really, really not looking forward to tomorrow. I have finally managed not to cancel my dental appointment to have one of my top wisdom teeth removed. I have already had two lower wisdom teeth removed, and although one was ok (because I had a general anaesthetic...best sleep I ever had!) the other was a nightmare and came out in lots of small pieces. I dont think it helped that the dentist said "oh dear" a few times, and puffed and panted as he pulled :o(

Anyway, I have a different dentist now, a softly spoken lady, but I still cant help feeling rather panicked. When I last saw her (January, when I initially booked to have it taken out!!) she offered sedation but I was as scared of that as of the extraction so I declined and opted for numbing injections, she also said that it has a large root and to see how we get on with that. Gulp, not what I wanted to hear at all.

Hence still being awake at this hour (I'm normally an early bird after a day at work). The appointment is at 11am tomorrow, how I wish it was at 9.10 so I could drop Katie at school, go straight there and get it over with. And you know what it is like in the waiting room, you seem to wait forever especially with NHS dentists. If they keep me waiting too long I shall start to feel ill. But I will try to think about deep breathing, I will try to be brave, and positive that it will be a piece of cake.....

Holiday countdown!

Ascot

Did I say I was going to Ascot? I think I forgot!
Anyway, it was Saturday 2th June, and I was chuffed to be going in a size 14 dress!
No hat, just a cute little flower that cost 50 pence from Claire's Accessories (that kinda made up for the cost of the dress!)


7.30 am, drove to friend's house in Essex, champagne breakfast then into a limo for the journey to Ascot (with more champagne!)



The girls:


Don't know if you can see in the photo of the girls, but I was the only one to wear flat shoes. But boy was I glad, my feet and legs ached badly by the end of the day!

6 races....one winner! (£13, the final race...just when I thought I'd be going home empty handed!) 'Twas boiling hot (red shoulders and backs!), and spent a fortune on cold drinks, but it was fun!

Waiting for the next race:



When all races were done we stumbled (stoney path or just plain drunk!) back to the limo for a picnic and more drink and a laugh:





And watched the sun go down before heading for home (with more drink, but not for me, I was NOT going to feel ill and ruin the day!)



Recommended for a fun, if somewhat exhausting day out! As a kid I could never understand my nan's boyfirend's fascination with betting and watching the 'gee-gees' on TV, but I think I can now. It's exciting to see if your horse is going to find its way from the back of the pack to win like mine did!

Back to the books now. After more than a week of lost motivation and dithering I have decided I will not give in and will see these level 3 courses through to the end! And if I don't pass I don't care! I'll just go and take a year off from the degree and enjoy Beginner's Spanish and a bit more blogging!

Ah yes, no weight-loss for 6 whole weeks!! Might be time to add some exercise and tone up the wobbly bits for the summer holiday!

Quiet

I've been rather quiet because:
1) I have just submitted 2 whopper assingments
2) my laptop needed an XP reinstallation (argh!)
3) I've been backing up files like crazy (we learn by close shaves!)
4) I've been sunbathing instead of sitting here ;o)
5) I've been catching up with weeks worth of study
6) I've been contemplating packing in one of my courses (SD329...no wow factor)
7) I've been choosing next year's courses (more about these when I have got my laptop back to how I like it)


Things that haven't changed since my last post:
My weight (although I am now in selected size 14s!)

Next week's plans:
1) Ascot!! Piccie of dress to follow. No hat yet!

4 pounds off

wow, been a real busy bee since my last post! Ofsted gone, 2 boxes of ironing gone, one TMA done, and I'm 4 pounds lighter :o)

We tried out our tent for the first time two weeks ago. It really was alot of fun, and alot warmer than I thought it might be inside it at night. The only problem we had was loading what we needed into the car (Peugeot 206). We have a roof top box (got 2 holdalls of clothes and 2 sleeping bags in that), and the boot was full to the roof with porta-loo (an essential!!), 2 more sleeping bags, BBQ, fold away chairs, tent (huuuuge heavy bag!) and 2 cool boxes! Needless to say we've been looking at getting a car with a bigger boot, and we pick it up tomorrow! It's a Fiat Doblo, a handy seven seater, with the option to take out the back 3 seats to make a big boot! I have absolutely no plans to expand the family to suit the number of seats in the car in case you are wondering :o)
This weekend we are off to Whitstable to try to put up the tent faster than our first attempt! I'll let you know whether we get rained on! ;o)

OFSTED

We had the company of OFSTED yesterday and Tuesday, I was lucky enough not to be observed (I say lucky not because my planning and lesson were rubbish but because I hate being observed! In fact it was probably one of my best lessons ever).
3.30pm yesterday, all staff sat nervously awaiting news in the staff room....in came the Head with the news....one category...good.....all the rest....OUTSTANDING! How good is that?! Needless to say a few bottles were opened, and there were a few wet eyes. So if anyone wants a darned good primary school to visit, here is one you want to look at (the website's not wonderful, but the school and staff jolly well are!)

Holiday snaps

As promised, photos from our stay in Coin in April. First, the views....beautiful and green...




Here's what we got up to...


swam (and shivered!)



sought adventure!

made stuff with Tesco's playdough (hours of entertainment for £2.99!)

With temperatures in the 80s and 90s we did alot of lying around. And anyone who knows my hub and son will be astounded to see that they read books.....but look what reading did to hub....he enjoyed it so much he fell asleep!




I wasn't going to put this one on my blog, but what the h*ll, I look a darn sight better than I did last year in a bikini and ought to be proud of the 22 pounds I lost I suppose. This is the bikini that I bought from LaRedoute, only I've tucked the straps away for maximum tanning! That MP3 player was worth every penny too for the ultimate chill factor, and it only cost hub a tenner from Tescos (again!) at Christmas!

We did a bit of socialising with our friends...

and did silly things with bits of tissue....this is Sam, with Jesus, a friend of our English friends. There was a definite language barrier, he's picked up some English and we speak hardly any Spanish, but he was great with our kids and the language barrier didn't stop them from having alot of fun.


Katie discovered that ice cream looks rather attractive on her nose...

Forgot to put these the right way up but you'll manage ;o)
There are more, but I have 2 assignments and half a ton of reading to do before half term!