The summer again.

Just rtealised it has been over a year since I wrote in this blog. I did plan to keep it up to date and then ended up writing it in the memory of my computer.
Year 2 of the degree course has now finished and I have passed which is a big relief. I am now on the downhill stretch ( I hope).
I found year 2 much harder than year 1 but am amazed by how much I have learned and also remembered.
Year 3 is going to see me better organised and up to date with all my tasks. Thats my aim - we`ll see if I manage it.
I have started thinking about what I plan to do for next year and have come up with the idea of a web site for my business and service users. I would like to make this both informative and fun for all. I will obviously have to think of the protection issues as I work with chikdren and will be careful exactly what I allow on the public site. If possible I would like to make some kind of security measure which would mean that only my service users have access to certain areas of the site.

Tonight I made an initial attembp at the site and created www.butebabies.com/
Although it is a major work in progress.

I am giving myself a wee pat on the back as this is the first time I have ever attempted this kind of thing and even having the courage to try is a major achievement for me.

Onwards and upwards.

PDA Finished

At last my PDA is finished and in the post First class recorded. I have completed this in 8 months rather than the 2 years allowed. Lots of hard work while also untertaking year one of the BA degree at the same time. Today I just hav the marking for SQA to do and then its back to the current module of the BA. Plan to have it finished for next monday.
I have noticed that some other researchers are making comments that this module was not timed right. As they are in a school environment holidays etc were a problem. Holidays provided me with a greater number of children to take part in the trial as I cared for them over the holidays.

Never mind back to work and head down to finish this module and start the next. The next one is the last in the first year. Hip Hip hurray. I don`t know what I am going to do with my time over the summer. i may introduce myself to my family, cook some decent meals and even tidy my house - What a treat for us all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

back at the old grind stone again

Have been busy with the food trials and have now completed them. Everything went well, kids loved food, parents loved the ease of it all and the knowledge that their child was eating healthy food. I am knackered. I have been running about making all sort of lovely home made food and then when the children go away I have been eating rubbish as I am too knackered to prepare all the nice stuff for my family. If I am to continue this as an ongoing service, I will have to be more organised. i usually am and do batch cooking etc but somehow my brain has been frazzled by the whole thing. So frazzled in fact that I think I even agreed to continue providing food. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. It will be worth it in the end I think. Just think lovely healthy children growing up but a frazzled childminder in an early grave. There has to be an easier way to earn a living.

Phewwwwwwwwwwwwww

Pheww such a lot going on. Tax man at my heels for the end of year return so have spent 2 days sorting that out. All present and correct and a tax rebate due, how wonderful. Thank God thats finished for another year. College lost my last module of my PDA so have to search for a copy on my computer and through my files. Thank goodness I found a copy last night as just as I submitted that module my computer crashed and I lost all my work. Lucky that was one that I saved before the crash. College has also shortened the deadline for the last module and the professional study by 4 weeks. It is now due on the 12th July. Help ma boab. Luckily Ultraversity has extended the deadline for this module to 20th July, a big help to me.

The food trial is getting on fine and I am nearing the end f the second week. The results have been very much as I anticipated although I think the parents have been a bit surprised, I thought they would be. There has been quite a lot of interest in the healthy eating and some have asked for the results of the trial.

I have loads in my head, some on computer and some in scraps of paper. Need to collate it all but it will have to wait till after the PDFA submission. Phewwwww made me tired even just thinking about all of this.
Together with all this, I have a wedding, silver wedding, jazz festival and visitors galore. Must be the summer season starting in Rothesay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting on like a house on fire

Im getting on fine with this module. Every thing is just jumping into place which is quite nice for a change. i am hoping not to panic at the last minute and be all up to date with everything.
Questionnaires, menus, permission etc, all done.

Organising the clan gathering in Glasgow on 10th June. So far only 3 scots, the rest from over the border. But hopefully more will come forwars. it would be nice to put the name to the face.

Visitors at the weekend, away next weekend and then hosting a wedding in the garden the following weekend. Busy, Busy time so just hope the weather is good.

Head Down Now

Getting my head down to the work. Have done loads with the kids, the menus, the questionnaires etc but not actually done much writing up yet. Sent a timeline to H and also posted in the online community. Should be 200 words mine is mear 350 but I know why. I need to take all the questions etc out and put them into my ILP. This will make the word count more realistic. I expect comments on the word count but the final for my assess ent folder will nearer the word limit.
Will do a bit this afternoon if I get a chance but otherwise it is head down for the weekend. Am hoping the weather is appalling and I don`t want to go out and no one comes to visit. A wee spell of the ferries being off for the weekend would suit me fine. No unexpected visitors then.
Oh to be Cut off from the mainland for the weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish.

Working away

Working away hard. Decided and started the AE. Nutritional guidance in Early Years. This will tie up with my Professional Development Award at the same time so should kill two birds with one stone. I have started doing the observations on home - provided meals this week and also on behaviour and well being. i have given letters to parets, discussed with the children, made menus, making a display for the playroom wall and and and . Phewwwwwwww very busy this week. What I have not done is do my timeline and give it to H for approval. Am sure he will approve any way. I start the two week food trial next week which should be interesting. Plan to do as much shopping as possible on Saturday for raw ingredients.

Time line has to be with H by Friday so will need to work on that tonight.

Thought this was funny, although others won`t. H is my LF and M is someone else i knows. They have different styles as far as I can see. H is very hands on, supportive ( buts in to conversations to give advice, support and help - I like that) M is more the "find me if you want help" type. - glad he`s not my LF, I like H style better.

One in C5 said " going to as helpful H as given up on missing M". I liked that.

Both seem to be really nice guys and good at their jobs, just different styles.

Time line is target for today and tonight so I better get cracking.

Just thought if M reads the above and takes it the wrong way, I might fail. If I do fail, I might just blame it on M and not on my bad work - only kidding Honest M.

Welcome Back

Been on my Holidays for a wee while. o peace perfect peace. Life on the canals is fun.

Back to reality and work work work. Thought about my action enquiry throughout my time away and changed my mind a few times. At last decided on the Nutritional guidance for early year. A scottish Executive document about nutrition in early years settings.

Have decided to have a trial of 2 weeks providing food for the children and then use the feedback to assess if the trial was worthwhile and if I will continue to provide the seervice in the future.

One small problem with this is that although I bake my own bread, cakes scones etc, which the children love, the supply of very fresh veg and fruit here is limited. Really bad quality in shops and really an eat it today or else sort of fruit. Can`t ( and don`t want to) grow my own so thias could be a small problem for me. Tinned fruit is okay . It would mean shopping for fruit and veg every day. okay if I have the time but don`t always.
Never mind. I will plan menus etc and see how I get on.

First thing I need to do is do a timeline for H. Got to be done for Friday so I need to get cracking. Will try to complete tonight ( he ha not on your life, but I will try).

Good news is I got a good pass again on the last module. Really really pleased again but no time to celebrate. Got to get my head right down and get on.

The in between times

Last module finished and out of theway ( in time). New module in but too new to really look at too much. i`m still at the read it and now thinking about it stage. I have to do an action inquiry. MMMMMM lots of things I would like to do but really need to think.

PDA module(last one) due mid June as well. For that I have to do a professional study which is just a name for a bit of research. Decided I am going to do "what are the barriers to training for childminders". Got a survey which I am going to carry out. Lots and Lots to get on with. It would be good if I could link the two together.

Had a night off last night, went to the pictures but the film I wanted to see was not on. Never mind. Holidays next week. 2 days and couinting down the minutes.

The tortoise on the final stretch

On the final bit of this module. Just about finished, just the tidying up to do. Probably a pass, but not a good one. I don`t care as long as it is a pass. Did`nt need my extension after all. I plan to put the completed work in my final file tonight so that the good fairy can steal it during Monday night.

Ian was my good fairy last time so hope I get one of the good guys again.

Lots of bits to do, but it is the weekend so may treat myself to that glass of wine with my name on it. Pint size tumbler is what I deserve.

On the home stretch now.

Finished drafts for LA1/LA2/LA3. Now working on LA4. Put some stuff on for feedback. Why does everyone look so good compared to me. H told me about a great book to read call confidence by Paul McKenna. Going to get it to read on my hols next week. Can`t wait, for hols that is not book.

Will be taking PDA stuff with me and also a copy of the guidelines for the next module. Not sure how much I will get done. Too many pubs with food and wine to visit in one week. maybe not a good idea to take work with me or I may write even more rubbish than usual.

Forgot to say that except for a great big fat disaster, I won`t need the extension.
Hip Hip Hurray.

Will work this afternoon on LA4. Got quotes to use and will get stuck in.

Fitting it all in

Did a bucket load of work last night and managed to get a lot typed up. However did not put the snow pictures online or get back to A with feedback on her model - if your reading this it was great and I`ll do it today. Will need to put the snow pictures on or no one will believe me. Meant also to send a B card to DC yesterday. Too many things to do and not enought time.
Spoke to H by e mail last night. I would like him to have a look at some work. Said no problem and he would let IT see it too. OOOOOOOOO that`s the scary bit. Not sure if I am ready to share with I yet.mmmmmmmmm need to work that out.

Got three hours this morning to do stuff and then some time this evening. Hope to be on the home stretch. Would LOVE to have completed 123 by tonight and spend WED/THU doing 4 and then send FRI. Hows that for an action plan? Anyone that knows me will know that things NEVER run smoothly for me. I seem to jump from one crisis to another. Holidays in 12 days and counting.

And another crisis

Apart from all the lovely snow yesterday, it was a bit of a disaster for getting work done. Actually did quite a lot but not as much as I wanted.

I thought i had done quite well and was on the right track with things, then Ags sent me hers for a look and I started to doubt myself. KL put her stuff up for comment and it is superb. I think I have lost the plot and am away on anoher planet. My work looks nothing like theirs. OOOOOOps I might be wrong. Think I might just have to ask H to have a look and see if my interpretation is okay.

I`m sure somewhere ages ago I said that I was not going to look at other researchers work because it scares me so much. There I go again. Just can`t keep my big nose out. Will I EVER learn. Probably not.

Will work tonight and ignore chats and message boards and the like. Bit too easily distracted I`m afraid

working hard

Am working hard to complete this module. I have remembered quite a lot of the stuff that my computer lost. Somehow my memory has not died on me too and I am surprised by the amount of stuff coming back to me. Today I am going to try and type up all this , share my CI`s and generally get on with it.
Thought this was quite funny and I am sure I will be able to use this somewhere.
Yesterday I was at a training for Trainers day in Glasgow and we were given items and asked to give an off the cuff 3 minute presentation. I was given a mirrored disco ball. Surprisingly this bit just popped into my head and the words came tumbling out. Even I was stunned. I said this reminded me of Gibbs reflective cycle and how this was all about reflective practice bla bla bla bla. Everyone just looked at me as if I was some kind of intelligent person. I think they might find me out.
Back to work.

Phewwwwwwwww

I wrote up a lot of stuff yesterday as it came back into my mind. last night I typed up Loads. I have CI 1 and 2 just about finished and I have the poem finished for CI3. I am goin to finish C2 and then leave CI`s. If I get time at the end I will make a short film about CI3. If no time then I will just submit as a poem. I have written up some for LA1 but will continue today. I would like to get LA1, LA2 and LA3 finished by the end of the weekend, if not before. This would probably mean that I won`t need that extension after all. That would be good. Not feeling as defeated as I was.

C5 started

Forgot to say that C5 started on Monday. H aske Ags and I to be part of C5. to offer support to all the new folk. Ags and I think it is because we are rubbish and they will see that you don`t need to be clever to do this. H assures us this is not the case. There are some real computer whizz kids amongs C5. I remember how I felt at that stage and was no where near as confident or able to do the stuff they are doing now. Wonder if I should make friends with some of them in case I am bumped back to C5 for being rubbish.

Used time - that I don`t have - last night to say hello to a few people and leave a message in the discussion board. Hope this is enough to let folk know it`s not as bad as it looks.

Will make sure I keep up with them. i wonder if we will be part of C5 for ever or are we just wanted for the first few weeks. must ask H that question.

Getting on with things

Spoke to C about an extension due to all my problems. Just might get it.
Hope I will not need it but at least I will have that comfort zone.
Getting on okay and my mind seems to have remebered a few things that I had written.
I also decided to scrap my CI 3 about having to keep children awake and decided to use my computer experience as my last CI. I wrote a wee poem in about 10 minutes. of course it is rubbish and a 6 year old could have probably done better. However i am going to use it becuse it sums up the incident and my feelings about it. I am trying to remember all the LA1 stuff today and look for all those dam quotes again. I a m sure I will do it. Would love not to have to get an extension so am going to get really stuck in. No weekend for me.

Oh My God

Just had a big disaster. 5 day old computer just crashed and I lost all my stuff. Of course I never kept a hard copy so I am f...........

Might need to get extension. e mailed H. Think I will probably manage in time but to stop me panicking I will ask.

Learning Experiences - I have learnt to ask for help early and not panic so much. Good idea. I have emailed H and it only happened this morning. Also keep hard copies of everything. This I will do from now on I promise.

One other thing I did was throw away all my scrappy bits of paper with notes on them - not a good idea as I will now need to start from scratch.

Not panicking too much - a wee cry but I can overcome this.

Here I go again

Here I go again. Lots of problems with my computer and finally had to chuck it out the window. Thought i might just use the lap top but in the end decided to treat myself to a new computer. Arrived Thursday night. Am liking it but I think it is a bit slow sometimes. Might be all the software that D has put on it. If only I was more confident to do the loading myself. Maybe one day!!!!!
UNB2604 is coming - so is Christmas. But I have to be finished by 20th March. Would love to be finished well before then but I have my doubts. Have lots of scraps of paper and now need to get down to the serious stuff. Going to spend the whole day today attempting to do the business. Weather gorgous - but cold. Everybody else in the country seems to have snow except us.

Here I am again

Had a break to finish Module 3 of my PDA. Thank goodness that`s now out of the way and I can concentrate on Module 4 of my BA. I have until 20th March to complete this and then its back to the final module of the PDA.

Got the results of the last BA module and I passed. Am coming round to the idea that I just might be able to do this.

Module 4 asks me to identify 2 critical incidents and reflect on them. I am trying hard to think of 2 incidents. H says it is not the Incidents themselves which are important it is the process of reflection that they will be concentrating on.

I have to get my thinking cap on.