Wednesday 28 September 2011

A little perspective

A colleague of mine from the board of governors has just tweeted today to say she's been offered a place at Newcastle University to do a Masters in British History. I'm thrilled for her, naturally, but this will be her THIRD masters degree. She already has an MA from Newcastle University in European History and an MRes from Northumbria University in History. Brainiac or what?! Love it.

Makes me feel a bit pathetic for all the hype I've given to my own masters degree and puts it into perspective a little. I haven't even started my Masters yet and here's Helen about to start her third, I've gotta rein in the excitement a bit...

She's hoping this next masters will bolster her chances of getting accepted to do a PhD. She certainly deserves it; you have to admire someone with such determination and eagerness to learn.

Helen, I tip my hat to you, you're an inspiration.

Monday 26 September 2011

T-minus 10 days

10 days. That's all that's left.

In 10 days time I'll be getting ready to drive down to Durham for my first lecture as a postgraduate student. How am I feeling? Am I nervous? Am I scared? Am I excited? Am I anxious? Honestly, I don't know. I sort of feel like it's just another day as a student. That it's going to be just the same as a new Open University module starting, but I don't think that will be the case.

Next Tuesday I have to go for a postgrad induction day where I get my identity verified by the department, meet my fellow pg'ers, get introduced to the faculty members and sit through a talk about what's expected from us and what it's like to be a pg student and THAT's the bit I think I'm most nervous about.

I've never been good at going in blind to things like this, I always find it very uncomfortable being in a room full of people I don't know for the fear that no one will want to talk to me. It's rarely the case and I've no doubt I'll have plenty of opportunity to get chatting to people but it's still causing a bit of a flutter in the pit of my guts.

So the countdown begins. I have loads to do in the meantime; EMA to study for and write, next months articles for BDT to research and write, Platform to write, S154 to start... Plenty to keep me going but in the back of my mind the countdown clock ticks by.

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Sponsorship of a different kind

I recently did the Great North Bike Ride. A 57 mile bike ride down the North East coastline for which I managed to raise a respectable £250 in sponsorship. I've also managed to coerce a couple of the BDT girls into doing a 17 mile hike through the Peak District in November for which we're seeking sponsorship too.

But yesterday someone agreed to sponsor me in a completely different way. I went through to Morpeth to buy some stationery in preparation for my multiple studies starting any day now and knew before I even got to the shop that I was going to buy an Oxford A5 notebook. I had bought one last year and was really impressed with it. I know that's a strange thing to say about paper, but this particular notebook is excellent. It's spiral bound, perforated AND pre-punched, quite a rarity for an A5 pad, and to top it all off they do this special Optik paper which is super-white and has a satin finish which makes it perfect for writing on both sides (something I've always done and get annoyed when I see other people wasting half their paper). I love A5 pads too as they're easier to carry around and I often find that because my handwriting is quite small a whole A4 page of notes is just too much for my feeble little brain to cope with so A5 is easier for me to take in.

After admiring my new notebook I decided to email the company and plead my studies and so I am now very proudly sponsored (in stationery) by Oxford. Some products are on their way for me to try out so keep eyes peeled for reviews.

In the mean time though, W H Smiths and Tesco currently have offers on the range so if you're in need of any stationery for studies or the office I highly recommend them.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

It's really happening!

I've just had confirmation from the admissions office at Durham University that all conditions of offer have been met and I am definitely going to Durham to study for a masters!!

I start in less than a month which is quite frightening, but exciting at the same time and I can't wait to get stuck in to it.

I'm promising myself that since my blogging for Platform is relating to my continuing studies with the OU and I'll not be bleating on about my masters on there I'll rekindle my blogging on here and keep up to date on this blog. After all, it's why I started this blog in the first place!!

Watch this space for further developments, oh and while you're at it check my new website www.workstudyplay.co.uk