Tag Archive | OU

I’m getting there… slowly, and now the work begins

Sep23

Whilst still trying to get to grips with WordPress, I have set aside today to get a good start on the course work for Module A363 (Advanced Creative Writing), which I am studying with the Open University.

This is my seventh OU course and my fourth year of study towards a BA Open Hons degree.  I love the start of a new module (or course as they were known until recently); opening up new textbooks, the starting of a new notebook, the feeling of wonder as it all starts to come together.  I will also be starting module A251 World Archaeology in November, so a packed nine months is ahead of me.  Dear Husband is also studying with OU this year, so no doubt come time for TMAs (Tutor Marked Assessments), the air will be alight with sparks of creativity and smoke from the tips of our fingers on keyboards.

Today’s work will be to read through the first chapter of the text-book along with reading any additional matter and also a few writing exercises.  If I discover any gems whilst doing those exercises, I may well decide to subject you all to the questionable pleasure of reading them ‘in the rough’.  Please be gentle with me :)  And so, as the title says, now the work begins.

Blogging hiatus is ended… Knitting has begun!

Sep20

I have notably been absent from my blog for a little while, and I apologise.  My writing channel was diverted into producing a 3000 word essay for an End-of-Module assessment of one of my Open University courses and it pretty much drained all the juice I could muster for a while.

However… I’m back!

Next week sees the start of yet another OU module, but this time one which should see me posting even more here, as it is another Creative Writing module.  I hope to be able to share some of my scribbling with all of you on the ‘Writing’ page in due course (or ‘module’ as the OU now call it).

During my absence, and out of the necessity to find a space in mind to write 3000 seemingly unending words about ethics in end-of-life care, I have hunted out my knitting needles.  apart from one small hat when my grandson was new-born, this is the first time in about 15 years that I have knitted and completed a whole garment, nay two!

One completed jumper and hat

Here is the evidence – I bare my knitting and my soul to one and all :)

I have also knitted a pair of elbow length gloves in the past week, but they were knitted for someone else and I forgot to take a pic before sending them, about which I am somewhat irked.  Never mind, I’ll not forget again.

Next up is another hat, a striped one methinks this time, and also a Work-in-Progress, is a lacy top for teen-daughter although the summer is now past so I hope it will fit her for next.

In the planning stages, are birthday cakes galore (forgot to mention earlier that during the hiatus I had my birthday, I am now on the downward slope from 40 toward 50).  A very large 50th birthday cake for a friend and helping No.1 daughter with dear grandson’s 1st birthday cake in a few weeks time.  Photos will follow of course.

I am learning much about WordPress and hope to learn more so that your blog-reading experience becomes better here as time passes, still much more to learn – shame that there are no more hours in the day!

Till next time dear readers, TTFN

 

Writing on the Edge

Jul11

Today I am truly on the edge of insanity!

I have a 1500 word essay due by noon Wednesday and a total block about what to write, how to write it and so on.  I ask you – how can I get excited or even motivated to write about ‘how age shapes expectations about how someone should behave when bereaved’???  I find myself continually asking why I bothered to take this module in my degree program.  It’s a question I can’t answer.  There have been more people drop out of this module than any other i have done with Open University and I am sure that although the content has something to do with that, the general lack-lustre support from tutors is also a factor found high up on the list.

‘Death and Dying’ might put a lot of people off for starters (Module Code – K260), but I thought it might be interesting to find out, and learn about the process of dying from social and health-care perspectives.  It has to be said though that much of the materials are so dry they would turn to dust and blow away if left out in the air for more than a modicum of time.  I know that academic writing can be dry, but this is beyond the pale.

So, today, in blogging I am also procrastinating… again… about this darned essay.  I’ve got pages and pages of notes, long lists of references to include, AND NOT A CLUE WHERE TO START!  Perhaps another cup of tea is in order?  I think it might be.  I’ll go and stock up on tea and give myself a little more sympathy, then I might hit a packet of biscuits too.  After that I might get the hoover out and salve my conscience by doing housework for a while till my muscles hurt.  Then I shall check in on my emails – there might be some that need to be answered and after all – its rather rude to keep folk waiting any longer than necessary.  Later I have to go to the post office and send off a book for a ReaditSwapit.com swap and post a couple of letters.  The kids will be home by three and I will need to cook them some tea – poor starving little mites that they are.  That brings us through to early evening – have to get my daily dose of ‘Neighbours’ and maybe follow that with some ‘Home and Away’ – love my Aussie soaps.  By nine o’clock, all should be quiet on the western front, kids will be in bed, hubby is safely at an Am-Dram read-through for a new play, and I shall have peace and solitude to be able to write this essay.

Now I wonder if I can just get my head down and do it now – while they are all at school/work?… I’ll let you know later :)