Phewwww am i relieved

Last night I had a great chat in FC with DH and DC. Great chat except I was the one who had to save transcript and allow catch up. Never done that before so DH told me how. I got the red dot ok and DH said that when we finished it would ping to my mail box. I finished chatting a couple of mins before the others and said bi. Then there was no bloody ping. I closed down my computer and have been thinking about it on and off during the night. Thought I would have to lg on and admit to the others how daft I am. BUT went into fc this morning and there it was that lovely wee red flag telling me the transcript had pinged its way into my box. Thank God for that. Phew I was relieved.
At least I now know how to do that. Another thing learned and also that technology often does work for me.

Well what do you know

Well what do you know, there are people that look at my blog. I find that very scary. I am not sure if this will make me more reserved in my comments. Mmmmmmmm when in my life have I ever been reserved? never!

I was delighted to read your comments. i have not put my blog onto the Ultraversity page - yet. But I do have it in my signature on e mails and first class. And yes kate I will put on the pictures of my Von Trapp Family Singers when they are born over the weekend. I cant remember if I explained why I was making them. It is the annual scottish childminding weekend in Dunfermline next wekend and we have a gala dinner on Sat night were we have to dress up. This years theme is children from films , cartoons, books etc. My friend is the oldest Van Trapp boy, I am the oldest girl and we have 1 boy and 4 girls to make. Our clothes are all identical made from curtain material. This of course is taking time away from Uni work but I will be ahead by then. Won`t I.mmmmmmmmmmm

Thanks again for your comments. Now back to some work.

My wonderful view today

Just thought I would capture the view from my window this morning. Lovely.

I have been busy looking at Activity 1 about reviewing my learning over the last two years. I knew I had come a long way but never realised how far.

I have made a Table with my learning on it and now just need to add the writing bit. 600 words I think. Hope to have this finished for tomorrow when I have a live chat with other Tornados in FC. Quite looking forward to that as it was DH and I whio instigated the chat for tomorrow night at 8pm. Hope that others join in. Posted this pic also in FC this morning and had a few replies.

One thing that I must look at in this blog is how to see if anyone ever reads this blog. Not that I think it would interest anyone except me but maybe there are some lurkers out there that visit but don`t leave comments. If thats you I would love a comment to let me know you visited.

A day of sewing life size children on Saturday with maybe a bit of maths thrown in and then Ultraversity work on Sunday although I may treat hubbie to lunch. Maybe!

Year 3

Well thats it I have started year 3. I had dreamt that I would go into year 3 with a bang. The reality has been it has been with a quiet wimper which is building up to a roaring scream - well at the moment anyway.
I thought I was all sorted for my Year 3 research but as the time went on, i convinced myself it would be an evaluation and not research. T, H and S are reassuring but fair (cruel - but in a nice way) and keep bursting my bubble. i know it is being cruel to be kind because I am sure they want me to finish year 3 as much as I do - if only so that they never need to speak to me again.

I am stillconvinced that the website is a good idea and I have already thought about the exhibition and how I can pilot it and then do the real one. Just waiting for the go ahead to start the AI.

I have scribbled and thought about the LA`s and plan to complete 1 and 2 and the ILP this week. Am hoping for the go ahead soon as I dont want to get behind with the work.

Maths has also started. Open Learning with Inverness college so its down to me. I will have to devise a study plan to take into account all the activities I am up to at the moment.

I have also started tap dance classes on a Wed night. Got the tap shoes from e bay and feel like Ginger Rodgers.

This weekend I have to make 5 life size material ( and stuffed) children. Why? because I am a childminder of course and that is the kind of crazy things we do.

Mmmmmm got that wrong

So much for me having a lot of work done on the web site before term starts. I have done a lot of work but as I finish a page, I see another feature that makes it look better( in my opinion) so needless to say I am attempting all things fancy and not really getting it finished. Well never mind It will be worth it in the end - I think.


I am hunting around now for some literature to use for my research and finding it not very easy. mmmmmmm this looks like it might be hard.

New term starts on 17th September and must admit I am looking forward to it.

I have signed up with Inverness college to do Intermediate 2 Maths as an open learning student. I have to sit 3 unit tests in a "controlled environment" and then sit the final exam next May in the local Academy with all the kids. Its either that or I travel to Inverness for the day.
Got my calculator and got my books so I am ready to start.

A Homepage

Sort of finished my home page on the web site. Can`t believe how easy it has been. I even have some moving pictures - a wow for me to manage to do. Although it is seemingly simple to do, it is going to be time consuming I think. I am glad that I am starting it now and not waiting till the start of term. I will probably modify the website many many times and that will just be the changes I want to make. I still have to do a parents,service users study and also let other childminders see it and get feedback. Having thought this might not take long it seems as if the web site might actually take the whole of year 3 to complete. A challenge - but I am enjoying it and am amazed at what I can achieve in such a short time and with very little it knowledge.

I intend to work very hard over the next few weeks and have the site open by the start of the term - well thats the plan.

Still on my Holidays

Well holidays from Ultraversity and studying that is. Got my Higher English result and passed. Wow can`t believe that. I failed twice about 27/8 years ago so to resit it and pass well has made me very proud. Clap on the back for me.
As for taking a break from studying, Ha ha. I am on the quest to design my own web site. One that will be useful in the degree as an action Inquiry and also a useful one for my business.
I am trying to be away ahead of myself and organised this year as there are overlaps in modules etc and also a long time off over the christmas period. Some of the others in C5 are concerned but as I don`t work to terms in my job, working anytime is hard so I have to get my head down and get on with it.

So today I have sent a draft copy of my parents/potential parents survey to my mentor and another good person to have a look at and provide feedback on the questionnaire. If they get that back to me I can re look at the questions I want to ask and redo the questionnaire ready for sending out to parents, potential customers, local womans group, playgroup, creche and also fellow researchers in C4, C5 and Parents and also the Ultraversity site. This should (hopefully ) supply a good range of feedack to use in my action inquiry. At least thats the idea.

Having a meet on Saturday in Glasgow with a fellow student who lives in Scotland. looking forward to catching up and discussing our final year of Ultraversity. It will also be good to have a chat about my understanding of the next four modules and if my approach is going to be any good.

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