School's out

For those who read my twitter feed you would have seen that the final days of school was an emotional time for us all.  I think from the staff point of view we had realised how much we had collectively achieved and what a year we had.  The last few days consisted of school trips and on uniform days for the students and high fives (inside joke) with the staff.

The students will need the 6 weeks to recharge before they embark on year 8 and the staff need the time to recover before we greet an ever expanding school in September.

School ended with us staff sending the students off at lunchtime and then going off to have a bbq complete with speeches and some tears followed by a well deserved night out.
As I write this I look back over the months with fondness, I have made some good friends since September and I feel so proud of myself and my new friends.  When I go back in September I now I can deal with whatever is thrown at me, it will never be as harsh as it was in the very early days of the school

In other news, the OU graduation ceremony has been booked along with the gown and the other bits and bobs that go with such a thing.  Again I look back and I feel so proud of what I have achieved with regard to study.  It was not easy but I am the first in my family to have completed a degree and the tears, heartache and sheer hard work has been worth it as its all over now, all that's left is celebration.  I have not got my official result yet but I was urged to book, so book I did.  I have decided that I need to leave the study behind now, I don't need to battle any further and everything have fallen into place, I could not wished for better.

This week sees a royal baby being born to Kate and William, a boy, like last year with the Olympics the country seemed to join together and rejoice.  The excitement from where I was seemed to seep through everything and even the hardest person seemed to soften by this news.

The last few months have been very exciting for me and things continue to be joyful and exciting, I look forward to being able to share some of the good news with you soon but in the meantime lets just enjoy the sunshine.

Freedom yolo

Well this is it, freedom is just around the corner and it feels so good.

My final uni paper has been written and will be sent in on time and all I have to do is relax and enjoy myself, party celebrations and looking forward to my graduation.

The degree hasn't been easy to deal with at times, there were occasions I absolutely hated it.  I hated having to put my social life on hold on many occasions whilst I pushed on with it all but I knew there was light at the end of the tunnel and I knew I would never have to go through all this amount of study again.

I want to thank people for their support whilst I went through this educational mountain climb and I will repay as much as I can.

So I can relax and get going on other things in life, no more having to hold off from what I want.

We have one life and just like the kids say you only live once, so not is the time to live mine safe in the knowledge I have a degree (once paper is marked) under my belt.

Spring into new beginnings

Easter is always a bitter sweet time for me.  I have both fond and not so fond memories around Easter time, but the thing is as Easter moves every year the chances are I experience the memories twice, once during Easter and then again on the actual anniversary.

However, despite some sad memories I always look to Easter as a time of rebirth and rebuilding, its like new year for me, a time to put away the past and start again with the future.  Life is too short for regret and unhappiness and we should all go and find whatever it is that we need in our lives, whether its a person, job or a situation.  We only have one life, it needs to be lived in the way we want, with the people we want.  When we have found what we are looking for, we should grasp it with both hands and never let it go.

This Easter shows that yet again it is a rebirth for me, my health problems from the beginning of the year have now been fully resolved, thankfully after months of worry and I am grateful for the doctors and health workers who have assisted in the resolution.  I have also lost the weight I needed to to feel better and I feel confident in myself, I know I am a strong, loving, independent, woman (I have also been told beautiful too but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, who am I to say? I will say thank you though.)  I am a woman who can do whatever I choose to do, the world is really now my oyster.  Some of that has come from within but some of that has come from the special people around me.
The uni study is nearly over (1 month to go) and although I will miss the study I know I can always come back to it if I want later or if I need to, but life starts again and I don't need to study to have what I am looking for as what I want career wise is now on its way, which means my mind moves to the other things, the other goals I have in mind for my personal life.  These goals will happen as I want them to happen and despite any wobbles I have had in the past I know I can do whatever I set my mind to, fortune favours the brave and if nothing else I know I am brave.
Lets hope the weather changes and improves now and show us it is really spring to match with my theme of new starts!  As this is a scheduled post (as I am not around) I wont be able to comment on the actual weather but I could end up like a polar bear.

So I want to thank the people in my life once again and say I am grateful for the support and love that has been given to me over the months and years whilst going through my transition.  I also raise a glass to the people no longer with us whilst sending you my love, a drink to my rebirth and lastly to you all on your tranistions.

Easter is a time of new beginnings, a rebirth, so with that in mind I would like to wish you all a happy Easter and may this be the start of what we all deserve.

Pascua es un tiempo de nuevos comienzos, renacimiento. Con eso en mente, me gustaría desearles a todos una feliz Pascua y que este sea el comienzo de lo que todos nos merecemos.

Pâques est un temps de nouveaux commencements, une renaissance, donc dans cet esprit je voudrais vous souhaiter à tous de joyeuses Pâques et que cela soit le début de ce que nous méritons.

Now moving on

Its been an up and down few weeks, the last two were difficult and in among all the turmoil I had an OU paper to hand in. The fact that I was able to get it in a day before the due date was a feat in itself but it was done. I am up to date with the whole study thing for the first time this year and its a good feeling which means that I have cleared the way for the weekend. Happy days.
I need to let the OU know very soon who I would like at my graduation, I think I am allowed 3 people such a shame as I knew who I wanted to go with me but times have changed now.

I had some good news yesterday, I am being promoted at the end of this school year. Its for a position I had half an idea on and it appealed to me so I have decided to accept it and work on that for the next few years which means that the plans I had put in place for after my study ended mid May have changed. I don't need the second degree or the GTP placement for the moment so I am happy that the study is stopping in less than 2 months. This means I can get on with the other important things in life like having a life!!!!
Normally I would thank the people who have supported me to this point and I would have said that I could not have done it without their help support and understanding over the months and years but unfortunately some of the people I would have thanked could not be bothered to hang about for the good times so alas I cannot express my gratitude.  However, I will thank those who are still around and look forward to the future with them instead.  Exciting times ahead.

Yesterday was also a good day in the sense that 180 students travelled across London by PUBLIC TRANSPORT NO LESS and they all got back all in one piece with no casualties.  More brownie points.

Today is comic relief day and the students are in good spirits along with the staff, money being raised is always a good thing.

One last thing, on line things like facebook, xbox, etc is a wonderful thing for communication and meeting like minded people but it always has a chance to catch up on you if you are doing something wrong!  Always treat others how you expect to be treated yourself! Otherwise you might end up with a moose!!

Looking forward

Its been a quiet two weeks thankfully, allowing me to focus my time on the things that needed to be focused on right now and to think of tactics for the next few months.  A chance to look forward and keep to goals.

Slimming world is going just fine for me, its slow but sure progress and I think that's the best way.  I am still not well enough to hit the gym, I am still breathless and in the really cold weather my chest still feels tight.  Really annoying as I need to get to the gym, after all its an expense that needs to be dealt with.
I decided to purchase a "colour a month" daily diary from moleskine to use as my food diary.  Great little item that can be slotted into my Filofax for when at work, or on my desk at home.
Each day is split between Breakfast; lunch; dinner and snacks, at the top of the page is a A and B choice in accordance with the slimming world plan and at the bottom is the syns and the total.
Plenty of space on the page to even include a note regarding how I feel should I feel the need.

On the study front since the day school last Saturday I have got my act together, the tutorials were great and I got the gist of where I have been going wrong.  The study still isn't easy but at least I know what to focus on to get the better marks.  I have a phone tutorial today to ensure I am on the right track.  I intend to get to the Saturday tutorials in future, I have been silly enough to neglect them and I need to make the most of the remaining sessions.  I have reread some of my "how to" books such as "how to write essays & assignments" and "study skills for dummies". I thought that although I am nearing the end of this degree I needed to refresh my writing style, especially after the feedback from my last TMA.  Its a scary feeling knowing that I am nearing the end of this degree with only 4 papers left.
I have decided that once I have finished this degree I want to start another one, providing my family agrees too! Yes just for my entertainment and hair pulling ha ha.  I enjoy the focus once I am focused on study and I don't ever want to get stale, the fees have gone up and I am worried I may not be able to afford it but I am looking into it and hoping I can figure out if I can afford it somehow.


I have seen a pair of duo boots I like and I am hoping to get them for work, although they look high they are a platform sole and I need all the height I can get maybe I may get them for my birthday, if I ask nicely. 
Another birthday gift I wouldn't mind would be another customised bag from Rickshaw.  I have the skinny commuter and have recently fell back in love with the versatility of it for work and when I go to tutorials.  I would like another one in a different colour range and full size instead of skinny for the days I need to carry more.  The only downside is the shipping to the UK but maybe if I am good I may get one for my birthday.

Finally, work is going OK, its so busy right now but I am attempting to balance things better whilst there.  Each day is different and although I get down about some things I also know I cannot control certain things and I am slowly learning to let go. I have been at this place 6 months now and I feel confident every day I made the right move to join.  My old place has been in the news recently and it has left me shocked and upset, I can't and wont go into details here but I am so glad I am no longer part of that place and where I am now is different.  I really do feel that I am moving forward, steps in the right direction.

This blog should have been posted two weeks ago just found it in my drafts! D-oh

Flexing my organisational skills

It’s been a manic few weeks hence the silence on blog.

The new job although absolutely amazing is also full on and very tiring and as a result I had been left with little time to do much else.

The school is what I had hoped it would be, fully supportive to the students and staff alike and if I had a child I would want them to go there as the system is so great, everyone gets a chance and no labels! I felt very strongly in the past about a child being labelled throughout their school life, sometimes a student cannot help themselves and will always be off track but others make one mistake and they are labelled for the next 5 or so years.

My penultimate Open University course is now over and I am on the final module with a big sigh of relief as its back to literature now. I have finished reading Harry Potter today and ready to write my first TMA for EA300 and I hope now I have made this good start I can keep it up for the whole course.  I have looked at what to study in the future, fingers crossed this time next year I will have  degree in English Language and Literature but I want to progress on and make sure I don't become stale.  I will want to study for another degree that holds professional interest as well as private like Psychology

I went back to the gym for the first time in a few weeks too, it was hard work and I am so aware (if I wasn’t before) on how I have let things slip so much there. I was slightly annoyed with my gym, nobody’s fault really as such but it has led me to stop my personal training sessions. I liked training with Mike and my stopping my sessions is no reflection on him but a reflection on the expenses heaped on by my gym. The gym without PT sessions is expensive enough and the price increased greatly this year for nothing extra, in fact some things had been taken away from my membership. When I got a text to say that Mikes fees were going to increase I knew I couldn’t go on any more paying these sums of money out. On reflection I did like having a personal training but I can achieve the same results by classes and focus myself. I just need to make sure I factor my gym sessions in with study and work and everything else.

I feel that I have not had a great balance for the last month and I have also allowed other negative things to creep in, but now that stops. These last few weeks I have had numerous headaches and migraines, some so crippling all I can do is crawl to bed. This was a wakeup call to my mental and physical health and has put me back on the right path. I hope that I now become mentally strong and able to hold down my lovely job whilst continuing my studying and physically strong to cope with the day to day trauma my job can bring whilst getting back to the gym.

With everything that’s been going on I have had to review my organisation. I used to use an A5 Domino filofax for work, I have found this to be slightly impractical on a day to day basis in my new role but I have found a saviour, an A5 filofax flex. Who would have thought it?? I was anti flex when it first came out, but looking around for organisation ideas I revisited the flex system and wondered if this could be the answer. Found one in a sale a pink one (although they call it magenta) and I have not looked back since, used daily I make notes with regards to the students or lessons I am in, I slot the lesson plans for the day inside the note book and the calendar is there for the daily briefing. Then once a week if I want to, I move what I need to my Domino. The jot pad is my to do list as well as other things I need to focus on, e.g. book recommendations from the students or ideas for merit giving. It’s slim enough to pop into my resource folder (as I don’t carry my handbag around anymore) but easy to get to when I need it.

I had a major organisational issue with my personal diaries/work diaries/study diaries that cause many an issue for me that took ages to resolve. It was down to an electronic organisation; thank goodness I had my personal Holborn to fall back on. Basically in a nut shell I started to use Google calendar for study as that’s what the OU used for a study diary and decided to use that for the work diary when desk based with the flex as a carry round. Trying to link my Blackberry to the Google diary meant I lost everything everywhere, I was in bits and it took hours to get back. It meant that I realised that no matter what the humble filofax can never be replaced. However, I wanted to embrace new technology, after all I love my Blackberry and Ipad, how to amalgamate them all I wondered? Luckily for me the filofax website had the answer, I saw the Pennybridge A5 it’s the best of all worlds. I collect the parcel from the post office tomorrow so I can’t blog about the set up yet but I have high hopes. At this point I would like to thank Parcelforce for the limited ways of getting my parcel from Filofax. Parcelforce tried to deliver during the week, I wasn’t in (at work) so they took it away instead of trying a neighbour like my postman or yodel do. Parcelforce don’t redeliver if they have taken the parcel at a local post office and the local post office isn’t work hour friendly. It has been rather frustrating getting my parcel and for me to get it tomorrow means I have to leave work early just so I can get there before the post office closes. Annoying and not my fault but I have to take the time out to get something I have paid a lot for. Maybe Parcelforce need to review their delivery options or Filofax UK need to try other methods of delivery.

Back to the Pennybridge, I will have the option of just having the filofax or having the filofax with the Ipad and my phone is always with me anyway, so the best of everything. I cannot wait to set it up properly tomorrow evening. I will be moving from personal size to A5 and I am not sure who that pans out and I love my Holborn and I am very sad that won’t be in action. However, upon reflection the Pennybridge although used day to day could be left at home a fair bit so the Holborn will still be used on the days when I don’t need the Pennybridge. Maybe Filofax need to make a Holborn version that also takes the Ipad, if they every do I will be first in the queue!! I am keen to know of anyone else who has successfully switched from a personal size Filofax to A5 and if it was worth the extra weight and size.

Never enough hours....

So I am now in a tiny bit of a drop, a bit of down time as my TMA06 (which was my EMA proposal) has now been in and I have 6 weeks to complete my EMA.  For a split second I thought great I can relax, have a few long lay ins, bake cakes and watch rubbish DVD's........I then glanced down at my to do list and realised that I don't have such a thing as down time.
Firstly as I cross one thing off the list, the list fairy comes along and adds another thing for me to do.  These appear to be jobs that can't be fitted in when I am at work, being in a school means that I can't really take time off when I want which means things that need doing pile up and wait for the school breaks.
Also, I am starting in a new school so the pressure is on, more as there are things I need to prepare for more so this August compared to last August.  My new school start has to be right and failure is not an option with that or my studies!
Don't get me wrong, I like being busy but I also would like to be able to get up one day without the alarm and think, hmm what shall I do today, shall I bake some cakes/bread/biscuits or watch  DVD or spend the WHOLE day at the gym.  Sometimes I just feel that there is never enough hours in the day, or maybe I should try to clone myself so I can do everything!
So I will have a five minute celebration after submitting my TMA and I will check my reading list for my next course EA300 and have a cup of tea and get cracking again on my to-do list.

I do enjoy studying with the OU, I have said it many a time.  The problem is the excitement goes very quickly once a new course starts and there are times when I feel so overwhelmed with the TMA's and the course materials.  I don't think I am clever enough to get a degree but on the other hand I am willing to prove myself wrong.  Getting a degree would be one of the greatest achievements of my life, it would be up there with my first job in the investment industry (many years ago), starting work in a school and meeting a lovely man! I want to be the first person on my side of the family to have worked independently and got a degree, my mum and step dad as clever as they are never needed a degree so didn't work towards one.  My brother, (there's a story that I wont bore you with) if you could get a degree in how to smell like a fish then he would have got one, but he was never academic and would never even think about continuing education and so he didn't.  To have my family see me graduate would mean the world, I just need to get to that point!  I need to pull my socks up for the EMA and again for EA300.  Once I have my BA (Hons) (fingers crossed) I would then to look at some smaller modules with the OU that would be of great interest and at some point may even work towards a second degree, life is all about improvement, you don't stop learning once you leave school.

I had cancelled gym for Tuesday, I am gutted to cancel to be honest as I feel that I need it but thanks to my to do list I felt that I needed to get myself straight, as I have work meetings towards the end of the week.  However fingers crossed I am back in for Wednesday, after I have dropped a car off at a garage.  I am hoping the garage wont mess me about leaving me with no option but to cancel another class!

I am not a sentimental fool, I go through stages of hording things for the sake of it but then I have a massive clear out.  This week is clear out week, as I have mentioned there will be things going onto ebay but I have decided to also clear stuff for the charity shop, find a new purpose for things or chuck out completely.
A case in point was a lovely mug I was given as I left my old job saying 'special teacher' although I loved the mug I didn't really like drinking out of it as I am a fussy old so and so and have a zillion mugs already but I wanted to keep it as a reminder.  Suddenly after searching around for a Sharpie in one of my pencil cases I decided that the mug will be my 'sharpie mug' and I will have a lovely selection up on the shelf above the PC in the mug.  I will gaze upon this mug when I am having a study crisis and I will hope it will remind me of why I am studying whilst completing a vital role by holding my lovely Sharpies.  The Sharpies came from Costco where they have a mega pack of 24 Sharpies plus 1 free in a range of lovely colours for £7.00 (Amazon have them for £11.93 link to amazon Sharpies).  As I love these pens that was an offer I could not resist and now I have new colours to put into my Sherpa ready for my new job as well as writing at home.

Anyway must go.....my to do list is calling!

Training again.

Time to blog about my training at the gym, writing down my sessions not only helps me keep on track but I hope it provides inspiration to others too!

My first PT session after the holiday was on the 10^th August.  In this session I completed the following:

Warm up was a walk on the treadmill for 12 minutes incline was set at 2.

Leg press 40kg 4 sets of 20 reps, between each set alt reach step 4 sets of 20 reps.

Pull down 20kg 4 sets of 20 reps, between each step lat steps 4 sets of 20 reps.

Kinesis press 5kg 2 sets of 20 reps however this was reduced to 12 reps then 10 reps on the final set, between each set touch toes and reach to ceiling 4 sets of 20 reps.

Treadmill intervals on incline 2 walk at 5kph for 30 seconds followed by jog 7kpm for 30 seconds each 30 second interval continued until 13 minutes and then a walk to cool down, taking it to 20 minutes on the treadmill.  I covered 2km in 23 minutes.

Session ended with a stretch.

Back in the gym Monday.

Weigh in for me is today I wont publish here what damage I have done  weight wise but I will be noting a start weight and recording what is lost (I hope) over the next few weeks.  I need to be fit and healthy for my new job and I have Christmas 2012 and Summer 2013 as goals!

This session was hard work but it was expected to be hard after being away from the gym for what felt like a long time.  I felt good afterwards but it will be interesting to see how the next week’s sessions go and if I am on the right track back to fitness.  I had noticed that the gym have scheduled new classes and I am looking forward to giving them a shot over the next few weeks.

On the university front I have started my ECM proposal, I am not keen on what topic I have chosen to investigate but time was running out and I needed to get something down on paper.  I was hoping for inspiration but have gone with my first idea, I cant put here what this idea is until after the cut off date but I am hoping it will provide me with a pass and then onto the home straight.

Studying with the Open University has been a long hard slog, it has had its highs and lows and it definitely has not been easy to do whilst working and trying to run a home and fitting everything else in.  I would recommend the Open University though, they have so many subjects and if I am honest I think I will find a new subject to study once this degree is over but by then the pressure will be off.  If you want more information about the OU subject range visit http://www.open.ac.uk/.

Damage limitation

So back from holiday, suffering a little with jet lag but ready to get on with life back in the middle lane until September when life moves quickly into the fast lane.

So things I need to complete or start before I start work on 3 September.

1-start new gym routine
2-finish TMA06 for E303 (current open university level 3 module)
3-start ECM for E303
4-read books for EA300 (final open university level 3 module)
5-organise work filofax
6-organise house
7-start Slimming World
8-plan a starter for new school

Doesn't seem much when I write them down but they are big goals and I don't have as much time as I would have liked.  The title says it all for me, I know that this time next year I want to fit into and feel good/look good in a Hollister bikini!!!

I haven't weighed myself yet, I plan to weigh in on Sunday and see what weight I have added whilst being on holiday, I am not strong enough to see it right now and my body is all over the place with the jet lag.  So weighing in right now would have the chance to tip me over the edge and give up before I have even started.  However, I have booked up gym classes for next week and I hope its the kick start I need to get into a routine.

On the gym front I am annoyed, I booked an aqua class for Thursday morning to start my new routine, I got into the pool with the others and waited and waited, 10 minutes later we were advised that the instructor was on holiday and cover has not been arranged therefore class was now cancelled.  So annoyed as I didn't have my swimming stuff with me goggles etc and as I was in the pool I could have gone onto the gym floor if I had my gym stuff with me.  I went off fuming and did a steam room session instead.  I hope this isn't a sign of things to come at David Lloyd, we have had issues before but recently things had been OK, I don't want to start looking around for a different gym that puts people first.
Booked for next week:
Monday RPM and PT session
Tuesday Zone Cycling
Wednesday RPM
Thursday Yoga and Zumba
Friday Spin and Zumba

I have PT session today, not looking forward to it but I have to get back on the wagon and reverse the damage.

Whilst on holiday I did plenty of reading thanks to the joys of kindle, I plan to post about good books worth reading in the future on this blog in the meantime this is what was read whilst I was away:

ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror by Iain Rob Wright - A fictional story that could be fact, worrying and frightening insight into what 'could' happen in the real world.

Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson - Amazing book that I could not put down, repetitive to start with for good reason with a fantastic twist to the plot.

Broadmoor Revealed: Victorian Crime and the Lunatic Asylum by Mark Stevens - A brilliant insight to why Broadmoor was built and some of the inmates from the early days, factual and interesting.

The Crew by Dougie Brimson - Started off well, all about football violence in the 1990's but thought the ending was disappointing.

Inflight Science: A Guide to the World from your Airplane Window - Read whilst on my flight to Mexico.  A great little read and almost put my fears about flying to bed.  Lots of facts about inside and outside a plane and around the airport.

Its Your Time You're Wasting by Frank Chalk - Written by a supply teacher brilliant insight in how some schools are and the children within them.  Good reasons behind behaviour by kids and staff, eye opener when you realise that some of the things described in the book happen for real.

London by Tube: A History of the Underground Station Names by David Revill - Bit of an underground geek after travelling on it for many years and wanted to understand some of the history.  Was also a cheap book for the kindle and pleased I purchased it before the Olympics so I could gain knowledge of the east end.

Shadow Of The Minotaur by Alan Gibbons - It was a 'have to read for work book' wasn't looking forward to it but once started I found it enjoyable.  Good for boys if they are reluctant readers and with more than a nod to Greek mythology anyone who has an interest in that field should enjoy it.

I know my taste is different to others but I have found some good reads by looking at what others are reading via kindle ratings and will continue to search out good and different books to read.

Wishing you all a good weekend.