The 'I'm less money-idiot more money-savvy' Diary

judi24 · 1 July 2015 at 8:44PM

Don't worry my dearest &! I am not actively trying to save money but also not being too 'spendy'! I tried hard today to spend money and get a gardener to come and do the garden - but ended up coming home and getting stuck in and cutting the grass myself - its far from perfect but the rest I can tackle after next week!

Dissertation feedback from tutor is good overall - a few bits to amend/add/develop if I want a decent mark but apparently would pass as is!!!! Very pleased - not finished references and will take extra care as directed by DD on 5OS - but on track!

Not sure getting kids to help with the shop would be helpful this week but will certainly do this at some point sounds like fun! Goodness knows what we will end up with!

Interesting conversation with DD2 last night - she's been chatting with her 2 best friend about renting a house together! as much as I love her I think this is exactly what she needs! I don't think it will happen for a while but the seed is there! I pointed out how much it is likely to cost and she looked a little shocked! Welcome to the real world! very few people have huge sums of disposable income once house and car is paid for at 22 (or for many years to come!!!!) C'est la vie! The days of a new outfit for every night out will be gone!!!

This possible change in house occupancy got me thinking again about moving house!!! I will have too much space and rooms unused that take time to keep clean and maintained! (something to consider after next weeks deadline!!!)

ampersand · 1 July 2015 at 10:16PM

judi - 'took' you with me to Compline tonight, into the contemplative quiet, asking for continuing strength for you and yours through this Diss. stage. Absolutely no identifiers. It's an experience I deeply value and appreciate - taiz! music, tealights in the large wooden Cross on the floor of the Choir, stillness, no electric light, 1st Wed. each month @ 20h.

&'s referencing conventions were strictly Harvard, but others used Vancouver, dependent on field[medical, generally]:
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/plagiarism/students/referencing/conventions.html
- so do you straddle both?

Future empty bedroom=income. Student lodger/babysitter? Mon>Fri commuter?

re: grass-cutting. I have always found it to be some of my best thinking time, including during Uni. Steady, vaguely rhythmic pacing up and down, je suppose?

That f/b is a springboard to a 1st - go judi go!

judi24 · 1 July 2015 at 10:45PM

I'm glad you 'took' me to compline - it sounds lovely and very spiritual - there is a bit of me at the moment that needs to reconnect with my spiritual self - I actually really need to take some time out for me sometime soon even though its not something I have done often throughout my life - I seem to have been full throttle trying to 'do' rather than 'be' for a long time if that makes sense?

Referencing is strange at University of Birmingham - seems to be a bit of a free for all! When I started out many moons ago it was a cardinal sin to have a colon in the wrong place (challenging to say the least for dyslexics) but Bham seems to be a little less prescriptive (pick a style and stick to it!) so I have gone with Harvard as it closer to what I'm used to - but have 2 days off work (Mon and Tues) to sort it all out and get it submitted plus any time at the weekend so not too stressed at the moment (ask me again on Sunday!)

Grass was cut in the time it took to boil the potatoes for dinner! I knew the rain was coming and if I sat down I would struggle to get moving again! Its not a good cut - it was way too long! But its cut! It was less than relaxing as DD3 suddenly developed quite a bad nose bleed mid cut! Managed to stop her being over dramatic by having a good giggle and sat her in the garden pinching her nose while I finished!!! Glad I did as the rain has come along with some thunder and lightning ! I love a storm after the heat though!

Funny thing with this course - no firsts etc Distinction, merit or pass is the grading - distinction is extremely doubtful but I will be ok with a merit to be honest given the challenges of the last 2 years!

ampersand · 4 July 2015 at 5:18AM

judi, early morning call to wish you SOME me/Diss. time during this last w/e before hand-in.

I know you have Mon+Tues also, but I'll probably pop in and count you down from now 'til then...except #468 gives Tues as hand-in day???

Please check. You don't want marks docked as previously when you had a delay which made the difference between a Merit and a Distinction..

It's been the most stifling night by far this week, but looking out, all is wet.

Today's Hug here:

ampersand · 5 July 2015 at 8:03AM

Calling judi, Miss Diss-er-tay-shun, all-round Mum of Champions,
Champion among Mums [times that by 4], 24/7 judi.

Presenting today's Special Hug:
[Hold on, these guy-ropes are tricky...yep, okay, up now]

judi24 · 5 July 2015 at 9:59AM

Thank you Ampersand your cheers mean a lot! - today is 'in the study day' once I have fed the troops and fixed the vacuum so DS can vacuum his room - we seem to have had an infestation of tiny insects in his room so cleared yesterday and sprayed now just needs vacuuming but suddenly the vacuum is not working!

Had a naughty day off yesterday - DS, DD3 and I took part in this:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-shines-record-breaking-very-958853

A group of 50 of us were strutting out stuff on the catwalk for the hospice! It was a great day - and the DS and DD3 can now say they were part of a record breaking team!

We took a picnic which we ate in our holing area which was the small ball room in the Liverpool Town Hall - what an amazing building!!! and we even got our pictures taken with Lord Mayor! Amazing day!

But we did get a takeaway for tea so a little naughty - but a lot cheaper than eating out in Liverpool!

Right breakfast done so off to the study! The aim today is to get the amendments to the draft done - leaving me the whole of tomorrow to finish the references and proof read (left it too late to get anyone to proof read for me!) then all done - printing, binding and submitting on Tues! Just in the nick of time!!!

Onward and upward!!!