Today I took K to look round the Bognor Campus of Chichester University. It's a couple of years early (she's planning to do 3 years at college) but she wanted a look to see if it really was for her. Bognor is a small campus, focusing mainly on Business and Education courses. There are only 3 halls of residence and it really is a very small site.
Anyway she thinks it's lovely. The rooms in the halls are bigger than hers. There are no big lecture halls; lessons are given in classrooms similar to those used in schools and colleges. She also likes the idea that it is less than a mile's walk to the beach. And the strangest thing of all, according to her, is how far it is to the horizon at sea when there's no Isle of Wight in the way. She couldn't get over it. It was very warm so we sat on the sea wall, eating ice cream, as the sun came out.
K reckons she gets the same positive vibes about Bognor Campus as she did when she looked round St Vincent (where she is now at college) - warm, inviting, friendly, welcoming, etc.
So look out all the other universities, you've got your work cut out to convince her to come to you.
Thursday 29 October 2009
Monday 26 October 2009
It's over!!!!!!
Yesterday was the Great South Run 2009 around Portsmouth and Southsea. The weather was pleasant - sunshine and clouds, a decent breeze and 16 C. Once again the intrepid Great South Stumblers assembled at the start line in various stages of preparedness. Chuck and Tom did it in 1:15 and 1:19 respectively, leading us home, with Kamila and I bringing up the rear (of the team and just about the whole field) in 3:02, crossing the line together.
We backmarkers have our excuses. Kamila's knee has started hurting if she runs too much and I sprained my ankle 2 months ago and it still twinges occasionally. It had been nagging a bit last week so I decided to wear my ankle support. This was a good thing insofar as the ankle didn't hurt once, but it was a bad thing as the rest of the leg went off in a huff. Kamila thinks that although the support is just fine for general day-to-day stuff, it's far too tight for any serious exercise. First of all the plantar fascia (smooth muscle that runs from heel to toe under the foot) couldn't flex properly when I jogged (only a bit, and only over the mile markers). This set up a chain reaction. The muscles along the shin bone joined in the nagging, then my knee started. I was ok at 4 miles. By 6 miles I was seriously considering quitting. By 6.5 miles it had worn off and by 7.5 miles we were walking at a fair clip to keep ahead of the clean-up crew. At just after 8 miles the course returned to the front near the Marines Museum. And of course, being right by the beach, the breeze was blowing well - straight into us. By 9 miles my whole right leg felt almost numb. Various bits of it took turns to spasm with each step - sometimes more than one bit. Believe me if there had been a first aid crew there I probably would have stopped. But it was still a fair trek back to the flat so I figured I might as well carry on.
Just after mile 9 we were joined by Richard, Clare and Alex, who were spectating and there for moral support - THANKS GUYS!!!! The breeze kept blowing me about - it wasn't that strong but I just couldn't brace against it enough. I weeped and hobbled my way to the end, barely able to put one foot in front of the other. But I finished. Special thanks to Kamila for all her support. I'd definitely have quit without her.
Then the muppet on the mike at the finish line asked for big smiles and waves as we approached the line. HA! Fat Chance! Then he told us we needed to try harder, put more effort in. If I'd had the energy to climb his gantry the mike would have disappeared where the sun don't shine. I mean, we'd just done 10 miles and I was obviously struggling and there was he (thick eejit) wanting happy smiles!!!! Plus all the first aiders just stood by the finish line. Not one of them offered me assistance, just because I wasn't weaving about. No, it was taking me all my remaining energy to concentrate on the immediate road surface in front of me and avoid any changes in direction and foot orientation because that was sheer hell. Then to add further insult all the medium t-shirts had long gone and I had to have a large (really not a big ego boost).
I daren't stop moving as it was over half a mile to the flat. At some time Rich had phoned hubby (who was just about to hit the shower after his race) and told him he was needed. I have never been so happy to see A in all my life. I collapsed into his arms and couldn't stop blubbering. He immediately ordered me to put my fleece on and, after a few feeble protests that I wasn't cold, I did. Looks like the almost-hypothermia got me again (got it last year). I was still cold at 9pm last night despite a lovely hot dinner and loads of hot drinks. And I'm still on the cool side today.
My knee was definitely the worst bit of me. It got well-acquainted with the ice pack, yet was still very sore when having to lift the rest of my leg. I was expecting it to be murder today but it's gone away. Shame the hips and fronts of the thighs have taken its place.
Will I do it next year? I really don't know. Last year was tough but the day after I knew I wanted to enter this year's. This year it felt more like an ordeal. Today I have been feeling a bit down, my medal is just hanging with all my others on my wardrobe door handle. Last year's was hanging in the living room for months. I'll have to see how the training's going when the entries open next year.
And to cap it all I weighed myself this morning. I didn't lose a thing - NOT ONE SOLITARY POUND!!!! Now that really is depressing.
We backmarkers have our excuses. Kamila's knee has started hurting if she runs too much and I sprained my ankle 2 months ago and it still twinges occasionally. It had been nagging a bit last week so I decided to wear my ankle support. This was a good thing insofar as the ankle didn't hurt once, but it was a bad thing as the rest of the leg went off in a huff. Kamila thinks that although the support is just fine for general day-to-day stuff, it's far too tight for any serious exercise. First of all the plantar fascia (smooth muscle that runs from heel to toe under the foot) couldn't flex properly when I jogged (only a bit, and only over the mile markers). This set up a chain reaction. The muscles along the shin bone joined in the nagging, then my knee started. I was ok at 4 miles. By 6 miles I was seriously considering quitting. By 6.5 miles it had worn off and by 7.5 miles we were walking at a fair clip to keep ahead of the clean-up crew. At just after 8 miles the course returned to the front near the Marines Museum. And of course, being right by the beach, the breeze was blowing well - straight into us. By 9 miles my whole right leg felt almost numb. Various bits of it took turns to spasm with each step - sometimes more than one bit. Believe me if there had been a first aid crew there I probably would have stopped. But it was still a fair trek back to the flat so I figured I might as well carry on.
Just after mile 9 we were joined by Richard, Clare and Alex, who were spectating and there for moral support - THANKS GUYS!!!! The breeze kept blowing me about - it wasn't that strong but I just couldn't brace against it enough. I weeped and hobbled my way to the end, barely able to put one foot in front of the other. But I finished. Special thanks to Kamila for all her support. I'd definitely have quit without her.
Then the muppet on the mike at the finish line asked for big smiles and waves as we approached the line. HA! Fat Chance! Then he told us we needed to try harder, put more effort in. If I'd had the energy to climb his gantry the mike would have disappeared where the sun don't shine. I mean, we'd just done 10 miles and I was obviously struggling and there was he (thick eejit) wanting happy smiles!!!! Plus all the first aiders just stood by the finish line. Not one of them offered me assistance, just because I wasn't weaving about. No, it was taking me all my remaining energy to concentrate on the immediate road surface in front of me and avoid any changes in direction and foot orientation because that was sheer hell. Then to add further insult all the medium t-shirts had long gone and I had to have a large (really not a big ego boost).
I daren't stop moving as it was over half a mile to the flat. At some time Rich had phoned hubby (who was just about to hit the shower after his race) and told him he was needed. I have never been so happy to see A in all my life. I collapsed into his arms and couldn't stop blubbering. He immediately ordered me to put my fleece on and, after a few feeble protests that I wasn't cold, I did. Looks like the almost-hypothermia got me again (got it last year). I was still cold at 9pm last night despite a lovely hot dinner and loads of hot drinks. And I'm still on the cool side today.
My knee was definitely the worst bit of me. It got well-acquainted with the ice pack, yet was still very sore when having to lift the rest of my leg. I was expecting it to be murder today but it's gone away. Shame the hips and fronts of the thighs have taken its place.
Will I do it next year? I really don't know. Last year was tough but the day after I knew I wanted to enter this year's. This year it felt more like an ordeal. Today I have been feeling a bit down, my medal is just hanging with all my others on my wardrobe door handle. Last year's was hanging in the living room for months. I'll have to see how the training's going when the entries open next year.
And to cap it all I weighed myself this morning. I didn't lose a thing - NOT ONE SOLITARY POUND!!!! Now that really is depressing.
Thursday 15 October 2009
Is there really a swine flu epidemic?
We all know that there are people out there who think anything above a slight sniffle must be the flu. If I had £1 for every time I've heard someone say that they were off work for ONE DAY because they had the flu I'd be rich. Flu doesn't lay you out for just one day. Trust me, it can put you out of it for a week or more - I know, I've been there.
People exaggerate their symptoms and, given that, why did someone decide it would be wonderful to turn the diagnosis of swine flu down to some website that asks such simple questions the diagnosis is seriously questionable. (Deep breath). It gives you a list of a dozen or more symptoms and asks you to tick yes if you have 2 or more, or no if you don't. These symptoms include: a headache, sore throat, blocked or runny nose, fever, earache, etc. Now it doesn't take Einstein to work out that these symptoms can also indicate other infections besides our friend H1N1 - glandular fever, common cold, tonsilitis, ear infection, etc. So how come if you have two of these this faceless, brainless website issues you with a prescription for Tamiflu?!
You're probably wondering how I know this. My daughter K has been decidedly poorly since Sunday. Yesterday afternoon her fever started to get higher. She spent an uncomfortable night, swinging from freezing to boiling and back again. This morning her fever had hit the magic 100 F. By lunch time she was at 101 F. I asked for advice from a local pharmacy this morning, where the nice ladies behind the counter decided that it sounded like possible glandular fever to them and that they thought a call to the GP was in order. (You can see where this is going, can't you?). Of course, Thursday afternoons our surgery closes so I waited till 4.00 to phone. I'd barely mentioned some of her symptoms when the receptionist (who has NO medical training whatsoever) told me I needed to go to the Pandemic Swine Flu website and do their diagnostic quiz. I didn't really get chance to tell her what the pharmacy had thought.
Surprise, surprise, given the above information, we now have a course of Tamiflu. K now has to decide whether she'd rather feel as ill as she does or feel slightly better but run the risk of nausea, vomiting and nightmares (common side effects). She's decided to wait till morning as she doesn't want to decide to take one tonight and then spend all night chucking up and disturbing the rest of us.
I'm not really sure about Tamiflu. You're supposed to take it within 48 hours of the symptoms starting (K has been ill since Sunday, it's now Thursday), it shortens the length of suffering by a whole 24 hours (careful, don't get too excited), and it has wicked side effects which can make the sufferer feel worse than they already did (just what you look for in a medicine, eh!). So why did I go and get it? Well, this online diagnostic quiz gives you a special code number that is linked to the patient's name. You can only get Tamiflu once, so I figured I might as well get it in and if she wants to take it she can.
Given the ease with which Tamiflu is given out, and therefore you MUST have swine flu, is it any wonder that the number of cases is rising. At this time of year all sorts of germs are out and about, making people's life uncomfortable. The vagueness of the questions mean that anyone with a cold will get Tamiflu and be chalked up as a swine flu statistic.
So tell me folks, is there really a swine flu epidemic?
People exaggerate their symptoms and, given that, why did someone decide it would be wonderful to turn the diagnosis of swine flu down to some website that asks such simple questions the diagnosis is seriously questionable. (Deep breath). It gives you a list of a dozen or more symptoms and asks you to tick yes if you have 2 or more, or no if you don't. These symptoms include: a headache, sore throat, blocked or runny nose, fever, earache, etc. Now it doesn't take Einstein to work out that these symptoms can also indicate other infections besides our friend H1N1 - glandular fever, common cold, tonsilitis, ear infection, etc. So how come if you have two of these this faceless, brainless website issues you with a prescription for Tamiflu?!
You're probably wondering how I know this. My daughter K has been decidedly poorly since Sunday. Yesterday afternoon her fever started to get higher. She spent an uncomfortable night, swinging from freezing to boiling and back again. This morning her fever had hit the magic 100 F. By lunch time she was at 101 F. I asked for advice from a local pharmacy this morning, where the nice ladies behind the counter decided that it sounded like possible glandular fever to them and that they thought a call to the GP was in order. (You can see where this is going, can't you?). Of course, Thursday afternoons our surgery closes so I waited till 4.00 to phone. I'd barely mentioned some of her symptoms when the receptionist (who has NO medical training whatsoever) told me I needed to go to the Pandemic Swine Flu website and do their diagnostic quiz. I didn't really get chance to tell her what the pharmacy had thought.
Surprise, surprise, given the above information, we now have a course of Tamiflu. K now has to decide whether she'd rather feel as ill as she does or feel slightly better but run the risk of nausea, vomiting and nightmares (common side effects). She's decided to wait till morning as she doesn't want to decide to take one tonight and then spend all night chucking up and disturbing the rest of us.
I'm not really sure about Tamiflu. You're supposed to take it within 48 hours of the symptoms starting (K has been ill since Sunday, it's now Thursday), it shortens the length of suffering by a whole 24 hours (careful, don't get too excited), and it has wicked side effects which can make the sufferer feel worse than they already did (just what you look for in a medicine, eh!). So why did I go and get it? Well, this online diagnostic quiz gives you a special code number that is linked to the patient's name. You can only get Tamiflu once, so I figured I might as well get it in and if she wants to take it she can.
Given the ease with which Tamiflu is given out, and therefore you MUST have swine flu, is it any wonder that the number of cases is rising. At this time of year all sorts of germs are out and about, making people's life uncomfortable. The vagueness of the questions mean that anyone with a cold will get Tamiflu and be chalked up as a swine flu statistic.
So tell me folks, is there really a swine flu epidemic?
The boy finally did it
On attempt number 2, D has passed his driving test (yesterday). I've notified the insurance company, who don't offer no claims bonus building for additional drivers so will not be getting my renewal come November 14th. Now I need to find some 'P' plates that are magnetic like his 'L' plates were.
Gonna have to share my car now.
Gonna have to share my car now.
Monday 12 October 2009
The future's bright.......
...... the future's mine for the taking.
I blame Ros - yes Ros, if you're reading this, I know I'm not allowed to really. Ros is someone I've known on and off for a few years. She is a life coach, amongst other things, and she offered me some sessions as I was at a crossroads in life (no more HE) and not sure which way to go. Thanks to Ros and her probing questions I now know exactly what I want and, thanks to research and Gemma (one of my AAT tutors) I know how to get there. Blood, sweat and probably tears appear large in the next 5 years or so but, oh my, it will be worth it.
You see, many years ago I started an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Level 2 course. Unfortunately life, and moving house/counties, got in the way and I didn't finish it. Years passed and I was quite happy as a stay-at-home-mum, then home education (HE) became our way of life so working outside the home became awkward. So this August I took the plunge and re-signed on to the Level 2 course, now run as an NVQ award (sheesh!!!) with the intent that I would earn a few pennies playing with numbers - and I adore maths so numbers don't scare me.
So, the AAT run three levels of courses (2, 3 & 4), after which you can either a) go on to university and do whatever else needs to be done to get an accounting degree (the AAT courses mean you don't have to do all the years), or b) get a job at some point during your AAT studies and hopefully your employer will encourage you - and fund - the rest of your AAT studies as well as your Chartered Accountant/Management Accountant studies. All in all option b), the one I shall be following, should take 5 years or so. After that, and a few years experience, I have been told by Gemma that Financial Accountants can earn £120 per hour, and Management Accountants can earn £160 per hour!!!!! Not being the totally greedy type (yeah, right) I've kind of decided to go for the £120 per hour job.
Financial Accountants deal with what has happened - they have a paper trail to build a picture of how the business has been doing in previous years. Management Accountants deal with the future - crystal ball accounting if you will - projected profit and loss over the next few years, likely investment required, income/expenditure forecasts. Hence the higher pay packet.
Ros's life coaching has helped me realise that I am money-oriented. Reward me enough and I will work like a slave. Also I value financial freedom (don't we all, I suppose). I like the idea of being able to afford the nicer things in life - not necessarily being able to afford everything (that's no fun), but certainly a decent standard of living - including a nice home in a very rural setting with a pool and several acres between me and the neighbours, oh and a Ferrari 430 of my very own. Yes, a lot of it is probably pie in the sky but if you don't dream you can't set yourself a goal. I'm also concerned that A's health may be a factor in how long he works before retiring - he already has achy joints (arthritis runs in his family) and a back problem - so I want to be in an earning position so that if he has to cut his hours or stop working completely I can take up the slack.
And besides, the way this government has cocked things up and put the country in a mountain of debt that will take years to clear (don't get me started on borrowing to make up a shortfall) I don't want to rely on the state pension provision. I want to be able to retire when I'm ready, not when some faceless bureaucrat in Whitehall decides I can.
So, watch this space, this girl is going somewhere!
I blame Ros - yes Ros, if you're reading this, I know I'm not allowed to really. Ros is someone I've known on and off for a few years. She is a life coach, amongst other things, and she offered me some sessions as I was at a crossroads in life (no more HE) and not sure which way to go. Thanks to Ros and her probing questions I now know exactly what I want and, thanks to research and Gemma (one of my AAT tutors) I know how to get there. Blood, sweat and probably tears appear large in the next 5 years or so but, oh my, it will be worth it.
You see, many years ago I started an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Level 2 course. Unfortunately life, and moving house/counties, got in the way and I didn't finish it. Years passed and I was quite happy as a stay-at-home-mum, then home education (HE) became our way of life so working outside the home became awkward. So this August I took the plunge and re-signed on to the Level 2 course, now run as an NVQ award (sheesh!!!) with the intent that I would earn a few pennies playing with numbers - and I adore maths so numbers don't scare me.
So, the AAT run three levels of courses (2, 3 & 4), after which you can either a) go on to university and do whatever else needs to be done to get an accounting degree (the AAT courses mean you don't have to do all the years), or b) get a job at some point during your AAT studies and hopefully your employer will encourage you - and fund - the rest of your AAT studies as well as your Chartered Accountant/Management Accountant studies. All in all option b), the one I shall be following, should take 5 years or so. After that, and a few years experience, I have been told by Gemma that Financial Accountants can earn £120 per hour, and Management Accountants can earn £160 per hour!!!!! Not being the totally greedy type (yeah, right) I've kind of decided to go for the £120 per hour job.
Financial Accountants deal with what has happened - they have a paper trail to build a picture of how the business has been doing in previous years. Management Accountants deal with the future - crystal ball accounting if you will - projected profit and loss over the next few years, likely investment required, income/expenditure forecasts. Hence the higher pay packet.
Ros's life coaching has helped me realise that I am money-oriented. Reward me enough and I will work like a slave. Also I value financial freedom (don't we all, I suppose). I like the idea of being able to afford the nicer things in life - not necessarily being able to afford everything (that's no fun), but certainly a decent standard of living - including a nice home in a very rural setting with a pool and several acres between me and the neighbours, oh and a Ferrari 430 of my very own. Yes, a lot of it is probably pie in the sky but if you don't dream you can't set yourself a goal. I'm also concerned that A's health may be a factor in how long he works before retiring - he already has achy joints (arthritis runs in his family) and a back problem - so I want to be in an earning position so that if he has to cut his hours or stop working completely I can take up the slack.
And besides, the way this government has cocked things up and put the country in a mountain of debt that will take years to clear (don't get me started on borrowing to make up a shortfall) I don't want to rely on the state pension provision. I want to be able to retire when I'm ready, not when some faceless bureaucrat in Whitehall decides I can.
So, watch this space, this girl is going somewhere!
Where does the time go?
Another month has gone sailing by! A & I have had rotten colds, and they're still loitering in the background. D has had a sniffle but seems to be coping fine. K has just started with the first bout of sore throat/loss of voice and general cold symptoms of the winter. All in all we're a grotty lot!!!!
I've also been busy making decisions and getting the next phase of my life planned - more in the next post. It's been very strange, this transition from a HE parent to a not HE parent; it's almost like when they first went to school at 4 years old. I have found it quite strange and a bit disconcerting to suddenly have the house to myself all day. In fact it's so strange that I am usually out at least once a day, and I can count on one hand the number of weekday lunches I have had at home since 18th September. Yes, that's right, I crave social interaction. Best scrape yourselves off the floor now. Fortunately I can usually find an accommodating friend or two or, failing that, I'm not afraid to eat alone - in between various errands. Changes are afoot!
I've also been busy making decisions and getting the next phase of my life planned - more in the next post. It's been very strange, this transition from a HE parent to a not HE parent; it's almost like when they first went to school at 4 years old. I have found it quite strange and a bit disconcerting to suddenly have the house to myself all day. In fact it's so strange that I am usually out at least once a day, and I can count on one hand the number of weekday lunches I have had at home since 18th September. Yes, that's right, I crave social interaction. Best scrape yourselves off the floor now. Fortunately I can usually find an accommodating friend or two or, failing that, I'm not afraid to eat alone - in between various errands. Changes are afoot!
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