So tired

I spent all day rushing around at work trying to work my hardest and now I appear to be too tired to do much around the house!! I think I need to find a better work/home ethic... after all it is not the end of the world if the students wait one more day for their acceptance letters. The member of staff I thought was returning today did not turn up so I still have no idea how long they will need me for.

The dog has been given a clean bill of health so she can be exercised again (which is just another thing to squeeze into my day). The parents are away so no one is walking her during the day meaning she has oodles of energy by the time I get home to her!

I have managed a little more reading of my new masters book but things keep interupting me! I am getting on quite well with Emma but I can imagine that the self development will be pretty much on hold this week. I am hardly managing to keep on top of the housework and I only mowed half the garden on Sunday so I need to finish the rest of that off too. I also have my students assessments on Wednesday but one of the other lecturers is going to give me a hand with it!

New clothes

Today I made it into town and spent lots of money on clothes! I only got four items but two of them were from m&s and they are always expensive. I also have seen some lingerie which I want to get but I just couldn't justify the cost this shopping trip. I aim to go back in a couple of week with my mum (hopefully when this work is over) to go to another few shops. York wasn't very busy today as it was wet but it did mean that every time there was a shower everyone piled into the shops, I got the idea there were lots of women on hen parties in Next as everyone had a Newcastle Accent.

Other than that I have been weeding the veg plot today (have to give the seedlings a fighting chance!) and generally relaxing with Emma and my cross stitch. The bf has been working on his masters so it has been lovely and quiet. I did attempt a little of my masters but I took the laptop running out of battery as a sign that I shouldn't do any lol. Another of my masters cohort text me yesterday saying she was practically writing an essay for her proposal for her research project. I said I had already handed mine in, it is only a proposal and not being marked, they just want to see the outline of what you are doing and how you hope to achieve it... I don't intend to make my life any harder than I need to for the next few weeks.

Tomorrow I will probably have to do a bit on my masters as I can't justify having more than a couple of days off it. I will lock myself in the study for a bit and knuckle down to some hard work, though I also want to go to the cinema as I haven't been in months and it is my last chance to see the film I want. Oh and I need to put together a cross stitch card for a friend who has just had a mini operation.

My parents are away in the lakes this week so I am going to have to work harder than normal to squeeze in my work and looking after the animals, the housework and my masters. I don't want to think about it now though! I think I may even make tea for Monday tomorrow as we are only having chilli which will make my life easier.

I am trying to be good and resist Game of Thrones which I bought the other day to read and which is sat on one of my many bookcases taunting me. By a coincidence a friend of mine also bought it yesterday and she is already hooked... but I need to finish some of my other books AND have more free time before I can treat myself to it!

TGI Friday!

Another busy day managed to sort all the paper work out at work... but since then the post will have arrived, applications will be in and lecturers will have returned interivew packs... so plenty for me on Monday!

I had my hair done today and have bright pink nails and I am feeling much better for it. I feel pretty again for the first time in ages. I have also been through my wardrobe today and thrown loads out of clothes that no longer look that nice on me... so tomorrow is going to be a trip into town to do some clothes shopping :D Three or four shiney new tops (in bright colours) is just what I need. I am also going to see if I can find any more boots as my winter ones are dying.

I also managed to visit pets at home, clothes shop at Tesco, go food shopping and get take out pizza tonight. Cannot wait for a more chilled out weekend, no development, no need for blogging and lots of TV and cross stitch!

Obstinent students!

Worst teaching session ever yesterday... student refused to leave the room, refused to sit down, refused to work, refused to be quiet. Spoke to her manager and if she looses it apparently she can't be very rational. She is now refusing to come to my class (some part of me is happy with this lol) although I suspect she will get down off her high horse soon. Apparently I can call for someone to remove a student from my class which I didn't know before, I also know what staff this student doesn't like so if she causes me problems again I will make sure it is someone she doesn't like who is removing her! She is so far behind with her work but as she doesn't need my module to graduate she seems to think she can just cause a distraction for everyone else. I have found out there is another lesson she is like this (another one she doesn't need to graduate). But honestly I don't think I will have her in the class when we are doing group work, it is not fair on everyone else.  

It actually was good developmentally wise for me though as it didn't make me cry!! Usually I would respond to a situation like that by crying and although I did have tears in my eyes I didn't let myself go - I am referring to after the situation... not blubbing in class in front of the students

Other than that I have been working like crazy at work. I didn't have a break yesterday and today I only managed lunch at 3pm. I don't think I will have long left with them so I am trying to fit in as many hours as I can before I go. The new manager starts Monday and someone else will be back from bereavement leave so I can't imagine that I will be needed after next week.

I am still trying to read Emma where possible but I am so tired on an evening that I am just falling straight asleep. I was also very naughty and kinda started Beatrix Potter's biographgy the other day so I now have 5 books on the go!! I am being bad and buying lots of books again without getting rid of any old ones.

My brain is having a spaced out on tramadol moment so I now can't remember any development points I may have done the last few days... aprart from I have established that we don't have the money to have the cold shower replaced with a nice warm electric shower as it will cost over £500 which is just stupid

QTLS

Got my Qualified Teaching and Learning Status through today so I can work in a Secondary School if I want... I don't but it will look shiney on my CV (which is part of what my development is all about!).

I also got my proposal sent off to the comittee which looks at my thesis so fingers crossed I will get the go ahead for that.

The woman I am covering for at work is supposed to be coming back to work Monday so fingers crossed I can at least cut back... if not stop altogether! Although some more money would be nice as we have established today we can't afford a new shower to be put in as it is going to cost around £500 without even the cost of the shower (stupid crappily built house). Got an email from work today which asked me to write reports for my students with two days to go... so my lunch hours are pretty much gone!

Puppy still has a poorly back so we are off to the vets in the morning to fix her *fingers crossed*

Frist ever training session :D

I did my first ever training session today with a friend and her labrador, it was really fun and I got paid for it which was really good (it has gone in the wedding fund pot). I now have a bit more confidence about talking to clients and she wants to come back again so that is brillaint for me!

I also planted some seeds today so hopefully we will get some veg this year if the weather is good (most of them drowned last year). I need to get some more seedlings started off inside but I don't want to do it today. The neighbour from out the back said hi today and would like us to look at replacing a bit of the fence that is falling over. It does need doing but it isn't really the best time. Plus the tree will need pruning before we can replace it which is going to involve more cost! It did mean however that the bf and I ended up in the loft looking at our title deeds, the land for the house was bought in 1928, the garage was added in the 50's which was earlier than I thought and origionally the house had a different number!

I made my proposal for my supervisor sound much much better and got that sent off too, I just wish I would read my instructional texts first!!

Back into another crazy week next week but hopefully *fingers crossed* there will only be a couple left before I can get back to normal!

No time!!

I havn't even had time to blog the last few days. The puppy continued ill for a few days meaning mornings were fun... She now appears to have done something to her back. She didn't want to be walked today and is struggling to get in the back door from the garden. I gave her a massage tonight in the hope that I may be able to loosen things off and there has been discussion of her sleeping in our bed tonight... the start of a slippery slope?

Handed in my project proposal only to realise after reading my 'how to write a thesis' book that it was a load of rubbish so am rewriting it!! It sounds good so far but needs a bit more rejigging before resubmitting.

Been shopping today and bought Beatrix Potters biography, some antiwrinkle cream (apparantly you start to get wrinkles in your mid 20's... so I am a little behind on starting treatment!). I also found a cardigan for the wedding I am attending next month so my outfit is complete.

I have started a new baby card for a woman in the office, not sure what she is having and I won't be there when it is born but I so wanted to make a baby card!! I will post a picture when it is more than an orange blob.

Tomorrow I am starting training a friends dog so one step closer to my end career goal... oh and I have been accepted as a provisional member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.

Stupid

The last post title was supposed to say University Challenge not Open University (an example of how tired I am... or maybe how stupid).

Yesterday I had the bunny given the OK only for the puppy to promptly fall ill, she pooped all over her bed other night and was sat next to it looking very sorry for herself in the morning. I think she perked up though as she stole some of my dads lunch, naughty pup!! She was ill again this morning so I have removed all her toys from her cage. I ended up bathing her this morning and washing her bed and cleaning her cage

I managed to get a journal article read on my return home yesterday before I made curry for tea and consumed home made strawberry wine. My supervisor is supposed to be ringing me to discuss where to go next with my dissertation... but no luck so far!
Today I learnt about chicken restraint which is a great development point. My lecture was ok although the message it was a practical lesson somehow got lost on the way to the students so there were only 3 of them that could contibute to the chicken restrain and pig grooming/walking. But they seemed to have a good time. I also connected somewhat with the bird instructor who is a former student of mine who I struggled to connect with in the classroom so that was good.

Off to make home made pizza now...

Open University

Sadly I couldn't even answer one question on University Challenge today... usually I can get a couple right... maybe my self development is going backwards?!

Work is going well though, I actually got to the point where I had nothing to do today, so they set me to photocopying (they are really scraping the barrell!) I am not really sure they need me almost full time. I really should just be doing 4hrs a day or something but I am not going to say anything as they are paying me! Parents are away in a few weeks though so I am not sure what will happen then as the dog can't be left alone all day (Cavalier with a need for human contact... not other dogs, just humans).

Someone at work told me I was very busy today as I was trying to arrange my working hours this week with her, I have vets and dropping my father off at the car garrage tomorrorw morning. Then Wednesday I am being taught bird handling before I teach it to my students later in the day. Thursday is the chiropractor and the electrician and Friday is the drs. And somehow I need to fit in some hours at work around this... and the thesis work of course!!

I managed to finish off a BBC Wildlife magazine today which is a development point for me, although I loose a point as I have a new magazine that I havn't even opened yet. I am trying to work my way through them but I just keep buying new ones, I am diversifying into dog and random pet magazines. I like the idea of curling up with a magazine on the sofa but this is failing for several reasons a. I can't physically curl up after my car accident a few years ago b. I am at work all the time c. I have too many good TV programmes that I have recorded off the TV to watch. The sky box is at 50% which is possibly the worst ever for me and it will only get worse!!

Sunday is thesis day!!

Been working on my thesis today, don't really feel like I have got anywhere with it though! Have been reading a 53 page journal article which is just going on forever, I even started to fall asleep whilst reading. Then I looked for journal articles and only found about 3 off my list. I can see that I am going to end up ordering lots from the British library which will cost me! I am starting to get a bit more enthusiastic about the whole thing now and I just wish I could carry on with it tomorrow but I have to start my 4th week in Student Records. No doubt there will be massive pile of paperwork waiting for me as I wasn't there on Friday to do any filing. We will also be starting on offer letters for students which I think will take up all my time. I also need to establish what I am doing on Wednesday with my students as I havn't heard back yet about the availabilty of someone to do bird handling with my learners.

I slept really badly last night which I am attributing to The Hobbit describing the witch king of Angmar being sealed up inside a mountain side after his death. That and a drunk bf texting me at 5am to tell me he loved me. I keep finding myself dozing off today which is making doing anything difficult.

Got to go and get the bf from the station later and spend some quality time with him, what with his masters and my masters and us both working and having weekends away I feel I have hardly seen him the last couple of weeks!

All around N Yorkshire

Today we did a massive puppy walk which took in Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey (favourite Yorkshire place) meaning she should (and I do say should!) be tired out tomorrow and give me an easy day so I can concentrate on my masters reading. I also fed her some home made lasagne tonight so I am hoping the extra food will make her just snuggle up and sleep to digest it all... that way I can have a lovely quiet evening. I have even locked the bunny in the kitchen. I am getting over a bad headache and I need things to be drama free.

So not much development today but I am in a good place to start it tomorrow.... I am certainly not getting as much development done as I thought I would when I started this blog... I can see how the days run away with me. I blame fullish time work!

Oh and I did see one of my ex's today (looked like he had a son) at Fountains Abbey which meant we spent our time trying to avoid him so I didn't have to pretend I had seen him and said hi. Quite petty of me really but I just couldn't deal with it at the moment, I feel like I have enough on in my life as it is. I would also have been disquitened and probably spent this evening thinking of things I should have said lol.

The day of eveything

Today I did almost everything on my mammoth list of jobs which ranged from moving my Bramble bunny outside again as the weather is getting better to dusting months worth of dust. I have even discovered the floor under the bf's side of the bed... he won't be pleased as I washed and tidied everything away so he will have no idea that I have 'hidden' his things in his draws!

I have had an email from my supervisor, she wants weekly updates as to my progress on my masters... this week will be easy... none!! I have managed to read a couple of journal articles though so I feel I have made a start.

I also treated myself to an animal magazine and two new books (although not really developmental I feel justified in getting them as I had rehomed so many of my old books) today as a treat for working so hard this week.

The bf is away at a stag do this weekend so I am planning on a thesisathon on Sunday! Hopefully then I can fill in this progress update and make it look like I am actually doing stuff!!!

Darn work!!

Darn work is getting in the way of my self development!! I think I need to start doing a few less hours as all I have managed is to read one journal article. But then it is hardly my fault that The Hobbit came out the other day and I had to spend two evenings watching it.

I did manage to spring clean my car and give it a thorough wash (to which nature responded by raining on it!) which I have been meaning to do since October.

Anyway I am responding to this serious lack of development by spending the weekend doing EVERYTHING lol. The bf is away at a stag do and the parents are over so by Saturday morning I will be thesis(ed) out and the house is going to be sparkly clean. I will also have read something... anything!

Long weekend

It was the longest of weekends away in a freezing cold house! I did however read the National Geographic which I decided must give me self development points. I also saw mummies at the British museum (whilst being jealous of the people who had been lucky enough to get Pompeii tickets!) and got lost in Harrods. 

Pepsi bunny has been poorly so the bf have been running around the house this weekend trying to get various antibiotic drops into him. He seems better but we have an appointment in the morning with the bunny vet. I can see all my money from this extra work vanishing into the vets pockets!

Managed to get my bridesmaids together for the first time and got them to try on a few dresses and realise that making them both happy is going to be very difficult as one doesn't want her cleavage on show and the other doesn't really want any flesh showing off... and they only seem to make dresses that do both! I think I need to find a real wedding shop to get some advice rather than department stores. 

Going to London alone was rather a big step in the right direction in terms of me being nervous of going places alone especially as the northern line and Barnet station both had disruptions on them. 

Other than that I didn't really achieve any development as Emma was too heavy to carry around with me! Although I put in a time sheet for over £300 so I should have money to do stuff soon

But we have decided where to get married AND have our evening party for the wedding... but now I need to book it.

The day before the weekend away

I am utterly shattered today, I spent most of the day at work on my feet. Tess puppy came to work with me and stayed in the grooming parlour meaning I spent my lunch hour giving her a walk and feeding her my lunch!

Tomorrow I am off to London for the weekend to try bridesmaid dresses on my bridesmaids and to indulge in some culture!

I started reading Emma today... but apart from that stuff the self development!!

Yesterday I realised how awesome 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus' is! I am beginning to see how full time working is going to stop my development plans as I am not even managing the house work at the moment. Oh and the bunny is sneezing and has a poorly eye so tomorrow I am off to the vets which will allow me a little time to throw some clothes together before I need to go and catch my train... oh joy...

Lesser ouch!

My shoulders are slowly getting better (with the help of tramadol and paracetamol) so I can actually move around without twinges. Last night was not fun as every time I needed to move and use my arms it was so painful, hoping I get a better nights sleep tonight

Still plodding away with my 50 shades of beige cross stitch, I don't want to leave it too long between stitching as I am sure I will loose my place. I am also annoyed that they chose the symbols / and \ and I have mixed them up :( all the symbols in the world and they pick two so similar!!

I started my  proposal outline today for my thesis but need to do more research before I can actually write it. I am using my lunch breaks at work to make a bit of a start on things. Oh and I started reading 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus' so hopefully that will brighten up my relationship. 

I may have my first training session with a friends dog soon, just need to find out if she is happy to have discounted training sessions with me or if she wants someone more experienced!

Ouch!!

My shoulders kill today, can't lift my left one up high which is a pain when you are trying to hang out washing! At least I haven't hurt my knee which would have been worse long term for me but I think if my shoulders are this sore tomorrow it will be interesting at work, I just need to remember to take many painkillers with me.

I can't fill in my thesis proposal as adobe won't let me convert it to word and the darn thing has to be word processed! But I have managed to make a start at compiling relevant journal articles and filing them on the computer where I should be able to find them. Unfortunately that means that I am almost at the point where I actually need to start reading them. 

I have started on the garden today as if I don't get a start on the weeds now then as soon as it is warm they will take over the garden! I also need to buy some plants for the garden this year as at the moment all I have are lots of nice well weeded soil... I wish the people who lived here before us had not let the garden go! The whole of the fencing needs varnishing too but I need nice weather and no work for a couple of days... a 120ft long garden I am guessing will take a while to varnish...

I also baked malteaser cakes for work tomorrow so I shall be very popular... but I really should go and check that they taste alright...