...not in order of importance:
still plucking last year's carrots from the garden
still nudging Sam to get down to some revision for his GCSEs
Sam's been accepted onto a 2 year BTEC National Diploma in Construction/Civil Engineering at Mid Kent College, subject to passing one more GCSE (English. Because he already has statistics and core science at grade C)
tutoring has picked up a little at last...money for the Florida pot (if only we would stop dipping into it for the occasional takeaway and to fund the kids' weekends out and about with friends!)
Katie's parents evening - what a star! Predicted an A* in art for GCSE already! No pressure then! Good all-rounder, especially in all things arty and the humanities.
Sam's trip to Poland with school history group....has it spurred him into some history revision?! Time will tell.
Hub has finally got a secondment onto day shifts for 6 months. Hallelujah!! I have a husband and not a grumpy zombie! ;-)
New car! Audi went...we hardly used it. Got a nice little shiny black Volkswagon Polo now...with an iPod accessory instead of 6 CD interchanger...woooOO!
ebaying like a nutter to clear the clutter and get more Disney funds together! Conservatory currently in a state of disarray with boxes of stuff that I've listed. Would be nice to see the floor again soon!
No longer studying with the OU. Time for a break!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
BSc(Hons)Open(Open), Cert WTC (Open)...don'tcha know. Moving on.
There we go...two more pieces of paper for all that hard work, now wasn't that worth all that hard work! I need another two frames now and if I hang them on the wall I'll mess up my nice diagonal row of existing certificates. Tut.
That's probably it now. The enthusiasm has totally vanished into thin air and I am on the verge of cancelling my Masters course. I've lost my drive..I don't need the Masters, I've plenty of other stuff keeping me on my toes so perhaps I'll bow out gracefully instead of constantly beating myself up for not making time for studying.
I've enjoyed my studies with the OU and thought I'd always have my nose in a course book but the time feels right to move on now. Life has so much more to offer.
Friday, February 06, 2009
A skate off!
I haven't been following this series of Dancing On Ice but have heard a few things and decided to take a look on You Tube.
Absolutely loving this clip!
Absolutely loving this clip!
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Thursday, January 08, 2009
New Year
So what will this year have in store for the Milledges?
Well, hub and I are off to Spain for a long weekend at the end of the month to celebrate my 40th birthday. I'm really looking forward to escaping the cold. I'm keeping an eye on the weather in Malaga, and although it's warmer than here I'm hoping temperatures might creep up to about 18 degrees or so, so that I can sit outside with a drink (hot or cold!).
Katie has a day trip to the British Museum with school and her 12th birthday before I turn 40. She's planning a trip to Pizza Hut and to see a movie at the Chatham Dockside. Guess who'll be taxi because her car seats 7!
School is important for Sam this year. He'll sit his GCSEs and is starting to think about where he wants to go from here. He's tempted by an apprenticeship with Tubelines because of the salary, but at the same time find the thought of finishing school and starting work scary. It's not all study and no play though, he is going on a 5 day trip to Auschwitz with his history group in the Spring. Like me, he finds that period of history interesting. Kinda wish I was going with him, I know that sounds morbid but I think it's important we remember how lucky we are to sit here in our warm house with food and clothing.
Once those GCSEs are out of the way we are off to Orlando for two weeks...did I already mention that? Ah yes, so I did ;-) It's just that I'm pretty excited about it, in fact, I'm probably more excited than the kids. Lee and Sam will be celebrating their birthdays out there...Sam will be the big 16...wow, 16...I remember turning 16 like it was last year!
Workwise Lee is still doing shifts. Things are less hectic now that I am mostly at home. I do the odd bit of tutoring but numbers are down. I've been accepted to mark KS2 SATs again, just hoping Edexcel get their skates on and get this year's testing organised and that things will run more smoothly than last year! I had applied for OCR Biology GCSE marking, or so I thought, turns out I'd applied for GCE marking and my application needs to be given to the appropriate section at OCR and I haven't heard anything since :-/
So that's what we'll be up to for the first part of the year. No idea what's in store for autumn and winter since we don't know what Sam will be doing or how hard the credit crunch will be hitting!
Happy New Year Bloggers, may it be a peaceful and happy one.
Well, hub and I are off to Spain for a long weekend at the end of the month to celebrate my 40th birthday. I'm really looking forward to escaping the cold. I'm keeping an eye on the weather in Malaga, and although it's warmer than here I'm hoping temperatures might creep up to about 18 degrees or so, so that I can sit outside with a drink (hot or cold!).
Katie has a day trip to the British Museum with school and her 12th birthday before I turn 40. She's planning a trip to Pizza Hut and to see a movie at the Chatham Dockside. Guess who'll be taxi because her car seats 7!
School is important for Sam this year. He'll sit his GCSEs and is starting to think about where he wants to go from here. He's tempted by an apprenticeship with Tubelines because of the salary, but at the same time find the thought of finishing school and starting work scary. It's not all study and no play though, he is going on a 5 day trip to Auschwitz with his history group in the Spring. Like me, he finds that period of history interesting. Kinda wish I was going with him, I know that sounds morbid but I think it's important we remember how lucky we are to sit here in our warm house with food and clothing.
Once those GCSEs are out of the way we are off to Orlando for two weeks...did I already mention that? Ah yes, so I did ;-) It's just that I'm pretty excited about it, in fact, I'm probably more excited than the kids. Lee and Sam will be celebrating their birthdays out there...Sam will be the big 16...wow, 16...I remember turning 16 like it was last year!
Workwise Lee is still doing shifts. Things are less hectic now that I am mostly at home. I do the odd bit of tutoring but numbers are down. I've been accepted to mark KS2 SATs again, just hoping Edexcel get their skates on and get this year's testing organised and that things will run more smoothly than last year! I had applied for OCR Biology GCSE marking, or so I thought, turns out I'd applied for GCE marking and my application needs to be given to the appropriate section at OCR and I haven't heard anything since :-/
So that's what we'll be up to for the first part of the year. No idea what's in store for autumn and winter since we don't know what Sam will be doing or how hard the credit crunch will be hitting!
Happy New Year Bloggers, may it be a peaceful and happy one.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Wishes...
My Xmas wishes:
for my kids' eyes to light up when they unwrap their pressies,
for all my friends and family to enjoy a happy and restful Xmas day,
for those who will be having a difficult Christmas, some peace and comfort,
for a sprinkling of snow,
and last but not least.... an extra helping of Yorkshire Puddings and/or profiteroles ;-)
Merry Christmas everyone.
for my kids' eyes to light up when they unwrap their pressies,
for all my friends and family to enjoy a happy and restful Xmas day,
for those who will be having a difficult Christmas, some peace and comfort,
for a sprinkling of snow,
and last but not least.... an extra helping of Yorkshire Puddings and/or profiteroles ;-)
Merry Christmas everyone.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
It's official!
And this one shows every painful step since 2001!
I think I will proudly click on Accept....
Cool!
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Upper Second Class BScHons!
Exam results came out today:
The Level 3 course I thought I would fail (U316), I got a Pass 3 with 68% in the exam and 62% for the continuous assessment element. The OU website detailing the breakdown has gone down, but from memory I got very good marks for my website and project review. They liked it! What a shame I didn't keep a copy of it! I didn't attempt any more than a few notes for the essay so the best said about that examinable element the better! :-)
The Level 3 course I loved (KE312) and hoped for a distinction in...I got a pass 2 with 73% in the exam and 82% for the continous assessment element. The last essay out of the three that I attempted let me down a bit, I got higher marks for the first two essays unsurprisingly.
In 2006 I got Pass 2s for my two Level 3 exams, and before that I clocked up all distinctions and one pass 2 for my Level 2 courses, so it doesn't matter which of the above courses I include in my BScHons I still get an Upper Second Class.
Yay! 7 years of juggling study with work and family and I have something good to show for it :-)
Onwards with the Masters now....
The Level 3 course I thought I would fail (U316), I got a Pass 3 with 68% in the exam and 62% for the continuous assessment element. The OU website detailing the breakdown has gone down, but from memory I got very good marks for my website and project review. They liked it! What a shame I didn't keep a copy of it! I didn't attempt any more than a few notes for the essay so the best said about that examinable element the better! :-)
The Level 3 course I loved (KE312) and hoped for a distinction in...I got a pass 2 with 73% in the exam and 82% for the continous assessment element. The last essay out of the three that I attempted let me down a bit, I got higher marks for the first two essays unsurprisingly.
In 2006 I got Pass 2s for my two Level 3 exams, and before that I clocked up all distinctions and one pass 2 for my Level 2 courses, so it doesn't matter which of the above courses I include in my BScHons I still get an Upper Second Class.
Yay! 7 years of juggling study with work and family and I have something good to show for it :-)
Onwards with the Masters now....
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Disney in 2009!
Been wanting to say this for a long time...."we're going to Orlando!"
It's now all booked! Hub and I went in 1992 for our honeymoon and I've always wanted to take the kids, especially seeing how much their eyes lit up when we went to Disneyland Paris when Katie was four.
Here's a little trip back down memory lane...
Honeymoon 1992, Orlando, Fl.
Who could ever forget the fairytale castle...
nor just how exhausting it can all be...!
or that in those days, before the kids, you could 'treat yourselves' to a convertible!
Disneyland Paris, 2001
Arriving at International Station in Paris you can just sense their excitement!
Meeting Mickey for the first time...
Never too cool to pose with Disney characters!
"Muuum....I think he might eat my food!" Katie wasn't really sure what to make of Chip...or was it Dale....
How time flies....
You can check out my Orlando holiday planning here
It's now all booked! Hub and I went in 1992 for our honeymoon and I've always wanted to take the kids, especially seeing how much their eyes lit up when we went to Disneyland Paris when Katie was four.
Here's a little trip back down memory lane...
Honeymoon 1992, Orlando, Fl.
Who could ever forget the fairytale castle...
nor just how exhausting it can all be...!
or that in those days, before the kids, you could 'treat yourselves' to a convertible!
Disneyland Paris, 2001
Arriving at International Station in Paris you can just sense their excitement!
Meeting Mickey for the first time...
Never too cool to pose with Disney characters!
"Muuum....I think he might eat my food!" Katie wasn't really sure what to make of Chip...or was it Dale....
How time flies....
You can check out my Orlando holiday planning here
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Exam
The questions were pretty nasty. I got three of the themes I'd revised: participation, identity and formal and informal learning, but applying them to the actual questions was hard! Results not due until December so it's sit back and wait time.
In the meantime, on with the Masters. Progress is being recorded here
In the meantime, on with the Masters. Progress is being recorded here
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Final countdown to the BSc Hons!
Well that's it, U316 project (ECA) is finished and has been sent off. I had hoped that that would see an end to U316, but I have discovered that only part of my final assignment could be seen at the OU's end and that two files were 'missing' so I only got 17%!! Ok, so I was only aiming for 40% but that's not the point! I'm currently chasing the OU to see what has gone wrong and hopefully get a remark.
In the meantime I am trying to revise for my final (as in last ever, hopefully!) exam. I love this course (KE312) and want the satisfaction of doing really well in the exam. I got the final assignment back and got my best score yet for the course: 86% Well chuffed! Go me, I can do this!
Meanwhile, sitting on the conservatory floor there's a nice big box of Masters materials waiting to be loved. The course officially starts in two days time but I may have to play catch-up for week 1's content in week 2 because my exam is in 8 days time and I have lots of lovely students sitting their 11+ exam on the 18th and in need of some help with revision and practice papers that is taking over every evening, Monday to Friday!
In the meantime I am trying to revise for my final (as in last ever, hopefully!) exam. I love this course (KE312) and want the satisfaction of doing really well in the exam. I got the final assignment back and got my best score yet for the course: 86% Well chuffed! Go me, I can do this!
Meanwhile, sitting on the conservatory floor there's a nice big box of Masters materials waiting to be loved. The course officially starts in two days time but I may have to play catch-up for week 1's content in week 2 because my exam is in 8 days time and I have lots of lovely students sitting their 11+ exam on the 18th and in need of some help with revision and practice papers that is taking over every evening, Monday to Friday!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Approaching the final hurdle
Well, here I am, almost at the end of another OU year, the year that should secure me a BSc with Honours 2:1 or First (touch wood). It's been a busy old year, particularly from the spring when I started back at work part-time. Juggling the two courses, family and work hasn't been easy! I think it shows in my assignment marks for U316, Environmental Web. Not only have a developed a growing hatred of the course but also a 'can't be bothered, too much else to do' attitude, as demonstrated by my latest assignment grades:
TMA1 85%
TMA2 90%
TMA3 55%
TMA4 66%
TMA5 not submitted!
On the other hand I have enjoyed KE312 Working With Children and Families and that's reflected in my marks:
TMA1 75%
TMA2 82%
TMA3 86%
TMA4 80%
TMA5 82%
I have one assignment for each course due back soon and these will determine my overall assessment score, along with my exam and end of course assessment marks.
All that remains to be done (I use the word 'all' loosely, it's actually pretty daunting!) is a 3000 word webpage, a 1500 word review of my project and a 2000 word essay for U316, and a whole bunch of revision for KE312's exam.
Once that's all out of the way and I have spent a week in recovery it's onward with the Masters. ED840, Child Development in Families, School and Society will be arriving on my doormat shortly, but I won't be tearing open the box until post-exam. Had to sign up for one more under-grad course because I discovered the OU doesn't accept Tesco Deal Tokens for post-grad study, so D270 Family Meanings is also in the running from October.
Now work in the pipeline, other than the odd bit of tutoring here and there, so I have no excuse but to get on with it!
TMA1 85%
TMA2 90%
TMA3 55%
TMA4 66%
TMA5 not submitted!
On the other hand I have enjoyed KE312 Working With Children and Families and that's reflected in my marks:
TMA1 75%
TMA2 82%
TMA3 86%
TMA4 80%
TMA5 82%
I have one assignment for each course due back soon and these will determine my overall assessment score, along with my exam and end of course assessment marks.
All that remains to be done (I use the word 'all' loosely, it's actually pretty daunting!) is a 3000 word webpage, a 1500 word review of my project and a 2000 word essay for U316, and a whole bunch of revision for KE312's exam.
Once that's all out of the way and I have spent a week in recovery it's onward with the Masters. ED840, Child Development in Families, School and Society will be arriving on my doormat shortly, but I won't be tearing open the box until post-exam. Had to sign up for one more under-grad course because I discovered the OU doesn't accept Tesco Deal Tokens for post-grad study, so D270 Family Meanings is also in the running from October.
Now work in the pipeline, other than the odd bit of tutoring here and there, so I have no excuse but to get on with it!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
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