keepy-uppy
Having had it commented that things chez Silva have been rather quiet of late, I thought perhaps I should write a blog post instead of an article tonight before I get dinner for one (+ rat).
First off, we are all doing OK here. At least we are until Lily reads the email I've just had to send her, letting her know that she failed the assignment part of her Genetics module with just 30%. I am really not at all impressed with the standard of teaching at Hartpury College (that's HARTPURY COLLEGE for any web crawlers out there) this year. The kids (prolly shouldn't call them that) on Lily's course have already made an official complaint against one tutor and the consistency of marking, comments and general course materials has been really poor from what I've seen. To play DVDs at every session is not adequate in my opinion, and as Lily said, she could have watched them at home if they'd given her a list because they weren't accompanied by any decent course notes. Even if they were, the online system that UWE have (again, that's the UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOL) hasn't worked properly all year.
I have copied the section of the UWE website that states clearly
"The Harvard system is the most frequently used referencing style at UWE. Despite this, there is no agreed 'standard' for referencing all resources."
In case Lily decides to fight it (as I think she should), but knowing her she will just decide to not go back next year at all and join the ranks of Tesco shelf stackers instead.
She is currently doing her work experience in a pet shop in Cornwall. Hopefully it is going well - well enough to make this disappointment not quite so devastating for her.
I'm doing OK too, despite being the only one of me now at work when I'd been assured that there would be another grade 4 to take up the slack before Clearing starts. Not so. We have had to sacrifice the other G4 position in order to cover 3 extra temps to do the data monkey stuff, otherwise we are likely to lose the British Council contract (which we cannot do otherwise we'll all be out of a job).
Thanks to the Chancellor's wonderful Indian-giving budget yesterday, I may see some of my anticipated pay-rise in August, until the VAT rise hits and then I have to give it all to the Government again next January. Nice one Nick.
The Arizona trip is off. My friend decided that she would rather do the northern route from Nevada to California in September before it gets blocked with snow, and as I am rather paranoid about volcanoes, hurricanes and BA strikes at the moment, it seemed sensible to shelve it for now. I have fingers and toes crossed that I'll make it over there for a long weekend at the start of October, because frankly I need to see Ray and 9 months is a bloody long time to wait between visits. I almost have the money, and would have had it sooner if I didn't have to replace large electrical items that keep giving up the ghost just as I get within a few pennies of having the flight fare sorted.
Step son #2 is still in Dallas County jail awaiting a rehab bed. Mother in law is having cataract surgery this week and next week - and I have finished the pair of socks I was knitting for her:
And I am off to Coventry this Friday for the weekend, then to Oxford next weekend for lunch with Elfie, and after that who knows where the wind will blow me....
First off, we are all doing OK here. At least we are until Lily reads the email I've just had to send her, letting her know that she failed the assignment part of her Genetics module with just 30%. I am really not at all impressed with the standard of teaching at Hartpury College (that's HARTPURY COLLEGE for any web crawlers out there) this year. The kids (prolly shouldn't call them that) on Lily's course have already made an official complaint against one tutor and the consistency of marking, comments and general course materials has been really poor from what I've seen. To play DVDs at every session is not adequate in my opinion, and as Lily said, she could have watched them at home if they'd given her a list because they weren't accompanied by any decent course notes. Even if they were, the online system that UWE have (again, that's the UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOL) hasn't worked properly all year.
I have copied the section of the UWE website that states clearly
"The Harvard system is the most frequently used referencing style at UWE. Despite this, there is no agreed 'standard' for referencing all resources."
In case Lily decides to fight it (as I think she should), but knowing her she will just decide to not go back next year at all and join the ranks of Tesco shelf stackers instead.
She is currently doing her work experience in a pet shop in Cornwall. Hopefully it is going well - well enough to make this disappointment not quite so devastating for her.
I'm doing OK too, despite being the only one of me now at work when I'd been assured that there would be another grade 4 to take up the slack before Clearing starts. Not so. We have had to sacrifice the other G4 position in order to cover 3 extra temps to do the data monkey stuff, otherwise we are likely to lose the British Council contract (which we cannot do otherwise we'll all be out of a job).
Thanks to the Chancellor's wonderful Indian-giving budget yesterday, I may see some of my anticipated pay-rise in August, until the VAT rise hits and then I have to give it all to the Government again next January. Nice one Nick.
The Arizona trip is off. My friend decided that she would rather do the northern route from Nevada to California in September before it gets blocked with snow, and as I am rather paranoid about volcanoes, hurricanes and BA strikes at the moment, it seemed sensible to shelve it for now. I have fingers and toes crossed that I'll make it over there for a long weekend at the start of October, because frankly I need to see Ray and 9 months is a bloody long time to wait between visits. I almost have the money, and would have had it sooner if I didn't have to replace large electrical items that keep giving up the ghost just as I get within a few pennies of having the flight fare sorted.
Step son #2 is still in Dallas County jail awaiting a rehab bed. Mother in law is having cataract surgery this week and next week - and I have finished the pair of socks I was knitting for her:
And I am off to Coventry this Friday for the weekend, then to Oxford next weekend for lunch with Elfie, and after that who knows where the wind will blow me....