Hurdler's Race to be Mortgage-Free

Hurdler

gallygirl wrote: »

What an exciting time for you :j.

Getting receipts will be easy once you get the hang of it. Great way to get good service in fast food outlets as they think you are mystery shopping . DD sometimes goes to McD's with colleagues for lunch, they can't understand why she gets her order quicker than them and then they all get cleared up and swept around all the time :rotfl:.

That's hilarious... the first time I asked someone - the manager literally sprinted over to go and get it... which I thought was overkill!!!

I think the other challenge is staying on top of it - I think once I get all set up on the online setup things will be easier... at the moment I have a massively growing spreadsheet!

Hurdler

Into my second week and I spent a bit of time getting the finances in order... I think I have amassed a bit in Vernon from my last salary in full time employment to pay maybe an extra £250 OP ... I was going to be all high-horsey and only pay off in monthly amounts, but I was thinking maybe just plug away as and when I can.

I am really really struggling with revamping my law revision notes... they are actually in my eyeline, balefully looking at me... taunting me.

I got a full mock paper from my tutor for reporting, so I am going to do that today.
And then me and classmate who is staying for a couple of weeks will have a well deserved afternoon off and have a bit of a film fest.

OK, Access to Courts... OK... I HEAR YOU. (and your friend, the section on Coroners!)

Laters....

Hurdler

Well I did my mock (and classmate staying while he does another placement also did it downstairs... annoying he finished early and stomped about the place while I stuck rigidly to the 2 and a half hours)...

Today back to work. Met with my client/boss last week for feedback on my articles. Bless him - he thought he was being really mean - but he's obviously never been on one of the feedback sessions in Journo school after mocks!!!

I think because I am going hell bent for leather writing how the NCTJ wants us to do, I forget that for professional blogging and analysis I need to put more of a personal spin... so there's some tweaking to do today... and then get them up on Wordpress.

Out with the old, in with the new... I have a meeting with the new accountants this morning... let's hope that they are a little more engaged than the old ones.

I need to do a quick round up of my savings accounts and sort out where interest has gone (interest, HA!) and then make a small overpayment to the mortgage.

Right - the working hour is upon me... wish me luck grappling with the wonders of formatting in Wordpress!

Hurdler

Ah jeez... I did 2 marks WORSE in my 2nd classroom reporting mock.
Now I am seriously worried.

gallygirl

Oops , can you think why?

Better in the mock than the real thing, and was it a pass anyway?

Hurdler

gallygirl wrote: »

Oops , can you think why?

Better in the mock than the real thing, and was it a pass anyway?

Just mistakes - in a shorter question I used information that was ruled as "misleading"... and in the longer first question I used the most up to date info but left out that someone had been suspended.

They just seem to be mistakes rather than issues with actually being able to WRITE, which I suppose is a relief.

Both fails, though 47 for the first mock (assumptions and misleading paragraph)... and this time misleading and missing content - 45.

I did a mock question 1 and forgot to put the platform and when it was going to be published - again sloppy but in the second mock where I did both questions, I think I got everything and MADE myself check, check and check again.

You just start second guessing yourself, though....and the 40 mins they recommend for checking, you start to change stuff.

For what it's worth, my classmate who has just got himself published on his 2 week placement with the Independent on Sunday also failed again.

I doubt I have done any better in my Sports Mock ... and they're so subjective.

Sigh... just hope I have a better day in 2 weeks when I do this for real.
[/disengage miserable mode]

Hurdler

Reporting exam tomorrow.
Sigh.

Feel even less prepared for the Sports Reporting exam at the end of the week.

What a week.
Will tidy up my Virtual Mortgage Pig and houses on Friday as a bit of light relief!

gallygirl

:j:j:j Good luck :j:j:j

Hurdler

It's been a while I know... both exams were... well... who can say.
I took my first tilt at shorthand (although nowhere near ready) but good to get the exam experience out of the way.

We have a law mock today, sigh.

Things to do (still).
Features x 2
Portfolio tarting up (needs features approved and done!)
Court Reporting Exam
Shorthand @ 100wpm
Any resits :-(

On the bright side - I got paid to be an Analyst/Writer and my limited company is officially up and running. In the words of my client/boss "nyah nyah nyah" to the examiners!

Need to have a sit down and a chat with Vernon, the Virtual Mortgage Pig, see how he's doing and what he's been up to...

gallygirl

When will you find out hon?

Glad all is going well :j