Oh come on! Stake through the heart. A little sunlight. It's like falling off a log"

in_need_of_direction

Hey Buffy, we all have the !!!!!! moments that you're facing right now. Mine are generally due to procrastination rather than mistakes with dates. I do know however that the more I have to do, the more I get done. You're also really fortunate in having a ready formed research audience if you wanna sound things out. I'm not sure what your area is but whatever, I do know that sometimes the man / woman in the street can be a whole lot less blinkered than the silo ed expert. You may even wanna set up a dissertation thread that I'm sure we will follow you too. Either way, start looking at your progress here, the inspiration you've been then ask why you're being silly enough to doubt what you can do. Also, listen to your body and take care of you the way you would of your pets.

Buffythedebtslayer

mothernerd wrote: »

Keep calm love -we're all with you. Just keep doing a bit. Re the dissertation,you're way ahead of me - I was coming to the end of a 2 year Foundation course when my brother died, trashed the report I was in the middle of writing (was only a few words off finished,then mis-read the question,tore the whole thing apart to get to new length only to find when I handed it in that the original length was right.One of my best subjects too) got writers' block,struggled through exams but couldn't write any more. Automatic moving into third year meant spending 3 days a week at a college 20miles away over the summer (I had work and also had to travel 300+ miles to sort out my brother's house and selling it -mum couldn't handle anything) and they had lost their 'science' element (was hoping to end up teaching and get extra funding whilst studying).

Would have loved to have re-done second year where I was but they didn't have any students after us (college not putting resources in -to close course down) and the building we were using was being knocked down (recurring theme in my life, I tried to do my French 'A' level dictation to the sound of the toilets in the cloakroom next door being smashed up -school to be re-used for littlies and worked out the other day (following on from what skinty was asking about whether times were harder for young ones now or for older generation) that 5 places I used to work at are now housing estates and 2 are car parks.

I would still like to go back to studying but haven't been able to get myself organised enough to sort out a fairly local college,doing the right sort of course,who are willing to take me and persuading the student loan people to give me the money to continue (now past the 55 year old deadline but the government has added 6 years on to the time they expect me to work so they could extend this).

Sorry for hi-jacking your diary (will get one of my own sometime,but the next 4 weeks are likely to be 'up a ladder,painting' or 'outside,digging').

The dissertation is something you really want to do and is important for where you want to go next. Prioritise that and looking after yourself. This is most important. I think I had got run down and when I was forced to take a break, I found it hard to get started again. So do the dissertation, eat properly, get enough sleep,try to get a little fresh air every day. Take as much sick leave as you are entitled to -your job is stressful and you want to leave anyway - try to think of it as a means to an end (I know you are dedicated but that can mean that other people take advantage and your health is suffering as a result).

On 'management speak' - the one I love is 'the seagull manager' - flies in, sh*ts all over everywhere and flies out again.

Love it, exactly that style of management at my old place!


thanks for the post, so sorry for the loss of your brother. Do you think you will go back to studying? I guess you have looked at the open university horribly expensive now.


What are you painting and digging then?


It has taken me a good few years to finish this MA, it would be a real shame to sod it up now.


Take care and thanks for posting Mothernerd (love that name!) XXXX

Buffythedebtslayer

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Hey Buffy, we all have the !!!!!! moments that you're facing right now. Mine are generally due to procrastination rather than mistakes with dates. I do know however that the more I have to do, the more I get done. You're also really fortunate in having a ready formed research audience if you wanna sound things out. I'm not sure what your area is but whatever, I do know that sometimes the man / woman in the street can be a whole lot less blinkered than the silo ed expert. You may even wanna set up a dissertation thread that I'm sure we will follow you too. Either way, start looking at your progress here, the inspiration you've been then ask why you're being silly enough to doubt what you can do. Also, listen to your body and take care of you the way you would of your pets.

I was procrastinating, I knew my tutor would have email I just put off reading the damn thing.


That is a REALLY good idea about the research thread. I am going to walk the dogs (currently both asleep on the sofa....)


have been cleaning the kitchen. One bin liner full of cleaning products Noah would have thrown out.


6 cans of furniture polish and enough dusters for a lifetime.


XXXX

Buffythedebtslayer

Walked the dogs, they were very good! didn't bark at anyone or any dogs. Dg2 is very nervous - to the point he won't take a treat when we are out he is so worried. But he is getting better.
Dg1 is ok so long as he is with you. So you can literally being doing anything he doesn't care!


Watched this earlier.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1UYs3Zr7Vs from Stressed Steph's diary. Really made me think ALOT.


Also found his website, which thinking about I have seen it before.

http://www.daveramsey.com/new/baby-steps/




Really interesting, might watch some vids. at some point. Right now I need dinner..........chicken here I come!


xxx

gwen80

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

It was going fine till I updated my old email account, I should just sign in on line all the time.


I totally thought I had till September to resubmit my dissertation.


I don't


I have till the 10 th July.


And my tutor will have to read a draft before that.


Holy !!!!ing !!!! bags. I am shaking.


I don't even belong to the university library anymore.


I have not written a thing. not one word. There isn't even a document on my laptop that says dissertation.


I really want this.


ok..................


date is 18 weeks away.


Realistically I would need at least half that to write it (ha, perhaps that should read optimistically)


10 weeks time is 10 th May.


Get tutor to read it.


have 7 weeks to redraft (she would need a week to read it)


I could berate myself re the date but really there is little point.


woah. this is big and tough and scary. going to go swear for a bit.


XXX

Hey Buffy

As you say, no point beating yourself up about it. You could have realised even later. You have time. Can you set small goals for the ten week period to ensure that it stays on track?

Thanks for the Dave Ramsey links - I'll take a look at those. Currently beating myself up to the nth degree today - could have got a lower mortgage rate 4 years ago and saved myself a fortune :eek: I'm so !!!!!!!g stupid.

Ha, your last comment about dinner made me picture you going out to the back garden and 'grabbing' dinner.

Gx

Buffythedebtslayer

In all the MA shock and deep thinking I forgot I joined this month's NSK Challenge.


This Challenge commences on the 1st March 2014 at 00:00 and ends on the 31st March 2014 at 23:59.


You will set your OWN SFD target.
10 days.

The most important point is this; choose how much you are paying towards your debt and do it on the 1st of this month. Live on what’s left!!
Paid off the Barclaycard with the car insurance. 644 hence being skint.


Set your “outgoing” totals now. Choose envelopes for each activity i.e. food, outings etc. Re-jig that spreadsheet or notebook and write EVERYTHING down!

have 300 pounds. maybe 400. if my tax refund comes back.

Food budget will be £20 less this month than last month. Supermarket basics are the staple of your diet, you will meal-plan and you will make your own food. No convenience foods please.
I can't cook so will still be having microwave meals!
Budget is 40 quid a week.


De-clutter that kitchen. This includes appliances you don’t need and food that needs to be chucked out. Again you MUST use up what’s in there before buying more. Get to the bare bones and be experimental!
doing this tonight, so I can shop with a proper list.


No take-outs of any kind. This is including the use of them as rewards for an OH being good or kind. Find something else that costs nothing to amuse him/her.
will probably have fish and chips to celebrate Mum's homecoming. but aside from that am good not to have any.


Summer holiday prep must begin now.
Not going on holiday.


Please donate £3 worth of toiletries this month to your food bank.
can do that.


De-clutter that house.
yep, Preloved is my friend this month.


Find a neighbour / friend / family member that needs a favour.
yep can do that


You must carry your lunch everyday.
already signed up to the challenge with Wantobeseen

mothernerd

Need to sell house so getting it looking something like. Painted downstairs before Christmas (had a damp proof course put in, in October -they knock all the plaster off the walls upto3 feet high then drill and inject the walls about every 6 inches).then the plasterer put new plaster on,then I painted (a problem in the bathroom brought down half the kitchen ceiling, as well).

Managed to cobble a 'new' kitchen together and put it in one weekend in January with the help of Mr and Mrs Builder. Now DS1 has moved (back temporarily due to housing crisis) out, I have to paint the upstairs -(painted the attic before I moved in there to clear the way for the dpc) did DS3's room today (started last weekend). Back and front gardens also need sorting (hence digging) + a hundred small/medium diy bits. Hoping to have it on sale at end of month but that isn't fixed -just asap.

Plan is for mum to come and live with me if/when anything happens to her partner (he has dementia and other problems and won't eat healthily). So . need to sell this and downsize to a property we can both agree on.Would make me debt free and have a bit spare,hopefully. Just such a lot to do and no money to do it -being very inventive.

skintygerlinky

Buffy - out all day and night yesterday, stayed at mates and shared bed with her and her niece - no sleep, so just gonna have nap.
Will come back later to catch up properly xxx

Sun_Addict

Wow a lot has happened since my last catch up with you! Very brave joining the NSK challenge! Some great ideas though.

skintygerlinky

Just caught up Buffster - how you doing?? Loving the NSK challenge!!

So glad you know where you're at with the dissertation - book a tutorial and have a good gab with your tutor.

You know, as we all do, that there is just no way you will miss your July deadline. But head down now, lets make a start. What are you doing it on?

PS I've a mega presentation to do for Monday. Should have been working on this all day today. So far I've:

done my laundry
Been post office
Picked up prescription
Been shopping for veggies
Made hummus
Made coleslaw
Made dinner
Been online

Now going to:
Make tea
Do more laundry.............

................so yes. Completely with you on the procrastination, sistah!

Can anyone out there please offer motivational tips to me and Buffy??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iQl46-zIcM