Feeling intelligent
Feeling rather pleased with myself at the moment. Passed the TMA for book 4 (chemistry) of the OU course with 97% and just completed my latest iCMA with a mark of 100% and all correct on the first go (you get three trys).
Current book is on biology which i'm also really enjoying but finding it hard to get on top of time wise as we have several activities that we needed to put on the forum which we've only just had instructions regarding, so i've had to back track a bit. But I will have a bit more time to myself soon when the in-laws go home and will be able to catch up.
Have spent a large amount of time deciding what to do next and can't decide between social science, life sciences / health sciences or possibly environment or even computers! Arghh decisions decisions. Think I will probably do a 30 point course in September and a few 10-point 'taster' courses in a range of subjects to get a better idea.
Labels: career, Open University
It's been a month...
I am so bad at keeping this updated aren't I?
So, what have I been doing? Well, i've been back home to Wiltshire to visit my family for 8 days, i've spoken to the area manager about the assistant manager job, I'm working on book four on my OU course and i'm still working on three pet portraits.
My trip back to Wiltshire simply confirmed what i already knew - I don't want to go back. I want to be able to look out my window and see fields not the neighbours and drive 20 miles without getting in a traffic jam (driving half a mile in my home town without a jam would be a miracle!). Even sleepy little Warminster felt busy and over-crowded. Needless to say I was glad to be back, though of course it was great to see the family again.
I have to finish my Step 3 training at work then it's likely I will be promoted to part-time Assistant manager. I'm really pleased about the part time bit. I now have to get motivated about completing the training which is really not exciting and to be honest the more time i've had to think about being a manager the more i've been thinking perhaps I don't want to be! Oh well, the money will be nice and I don't have to do it forever. I also think it will look good on my CV if I ever attempt to get a job relating to whatever OU stuff I end up doing.
The OU stuff is back on track. It hit a low somewhere in the middle of the Physics module as I felt I was banging my head against a brick wall. There was so much Maths and equations and symbols and I could do the Math but found it soooo hard to work out what equation I was meant to be using!! I managed to get a TMA result of 89% though which is my best so far. I'm not sure how I managed that seeing as I bluffed my way through the last question without having done the relevant course work! The current book is Chemistry which makes sense and i'm on track for the study timetable and i'm really enjoying the work and understanding it!
So, there's a quick update. There is other stuff to talk about but I will come back to that at another time.
Labels: career, Open University
Changes on the horizon
I have my fingers crossed that life will be changing shortly. Our Area Manager has been discussing the possibility of creating a Deputy Manager post at out store, which will mean one of our Assistant Managers will be promoted, meaning an AM post becoming empty. Neil, one of our current AM's asked me if I was interested so I said I was and he's passed my name on to the Area mnager. Another good thing is Pets at Home only employ AM's from current staff, so I just have to cross my fingers that no-one from another store fancies it.
If I do get promoted it will likely mean going back to full time hours, which means something has to give - which will be the piccies. I may well give them up, at least temporarily if this doesn't happen. I am finding it hard to fit everything in and it would be nice to come in from work and do what I want, rather than draw other people's pets. As I have been so busy with them, it's become a bit tedious over the last few months, so some time spent drawing what i want would be good. The more I think about it, the more it seems a good idea....
Just means I have to control my finances better - as the piccies are a valuable source of extra income.
The OU stuff needs more time too though and I do feel that is very important - possibly another future changing thing at a later date. I've submitted two assesements, both at the last minute and I'm about a week behind on the study, so less time drawing means more time studying. I'm enjoying the study and not finding the science concepts too difficult but still struggling on the Maths.
My budget hasn't been going well at all - it's only February and i've already failed. This month I must try harder, though it's going to be tough due to the state I got in last month!!
Labels: career, Open University, resolutions, spending
