Nice People Thread No. 15, a Cyber Summer

silvercar

CK wrote:

I owe you guys a huge apology, I've been meaning to catch up properly for the last few weeks and life's got in the way. It's actually made me realise how much of a mess life is at the moment.

No need to apologise.

Sounds like business is going well even if their are cash flow implications. Shame you don't have much time to yourself, maybe you need to schedule in some breaks?

vivatifosi

Just back from a lovely night out. Went to see Rumer in concert. Am feeling very relaxed after an hour and a half of very laid back, mostly Bacharach and David songs.

Somehow, you know that she'll never do a cover version of I predict a riot.

bugslet

CKhalvashi wrote: »

I've put out a request for any contract work with a March/April start, and whilst I was expecting about £x in turnover terms initially it's looking like it could be 3-4x this.



Only way is up

And I'm sure you are the man to make it happen. Good news on the extra work, even if it is causing you temporary problems.:T

SingleSue wrote: »

We're still living and breathing uni decisions.....this week it is personal statement angst.

I dson't really know what those are exactly, but I'm guessing they are hard work to do.

vivatifosi wrote: »

Just back from a lovely night out. Went to see Rumer in concert. Am feeling very relaxed after an hour and a half of very laid back, mostly Bacharach and David songs.

Somehow, you know that she'll never do a cover version of I predict a riot.

I'd like to hear it if she did!:rotfl: Beautiful voice, I still listen an awful lot - and sing along badly - to her first CD.

silvercar

bugslet wrote:

I dson't really know what those are exactly, but I'm guessing they are hard work to do.

Personal statements.

Few university courses now interview applicants, so offers are made based purely on the application form. This application form, called UCAS, is where you show your academic achievements. The only place where you can show your individuality is the 'personal statement' section where you have less than 50 lines to persuade a university that you are their ideal student.

It's a major headache as you want to show yourself as a rounded individual with as many life experiences as an 18 yr old can gather at the same time as tailoring it to show a specific interest in the courses you are applying for.

bugslet

I'd thought that must be broadly what it was.

That isn't much space to promote yourself and difficult to achieve for the less outgoing. Can't imagine impressing anyone when I was 18.:(

The scene from Legally Blonde has just sprung to mind where they all try to outcompete each other by their charitable efforts in far flung corners of the globe. I'm not remotely highbrow when it comes to films:D

GDB2222

The uni admissions officers must be so completely fed up with personal statements that start:

"Since the age of 5, I have been passionate about wanting to study accountancy at university."

silvercar

GDB2222 wrote: »

The uni admissions officers must be so completely fed up with personal statements that start:

"Since the age of 5, I have been passionate about wanting to study accountancy at university."

Agree. I think most base their offers on likely grades that the students will achieve in their A levels.

Apparently you can now buy personal statements! Chat with a professional writer and they send you a personal statement that's guaranteed to impress.

chris_m

silvercar wrote: »

Agree. I think most base their offers on likely grades that the students will achieve in their A levels.

True - but since the governments (of various flavours) have encouraged an expectation that practically "everyone" should go to uni. and A-level results have generally improved, even if they decide in advance to only sift in those with predicted top grades, they still need something to further sift that subset.

michaels

I suddenly had to help with our ks2 science homework on filtration - we dashed something off in a couple of minutes via reading the back of the fridge water filter cartridge box and googling BBC bitesize and when it was marked apparently is was 'GCSE level' work. I must admit this makes me despair about the GCSE science standard

Should I move house because there is a potential money making opportunity? Is the hassle worth 300k?

Conrad

Exam excellence isn't everything - so many traders I've known have done very nicely for themselves. Just talking at the weekend to a scaffolder I know, he's built a large company in 10 years and also invested in a new enterprise building swimming pools - his lifestyle resembles that of a Premier footballer.


Had a beer with one of my Brothers Saturday and you always get these middle aged guys out on the town that own skip hire firms / suppliers of decking (from the yard they own) and what not, well known for their wealth - 'dolly birds' halve their age in tow, black Range Rover on their drive, seem to spend much of their time sunning themselves in Spain.


Talking to my Accountant this morning - he was moaning about all these' wide boys' wanting to fiddle the tax, and put pressure on him to go along with it. He says the HMRC are using a super computer to tap into the lifestyles these people lead and comparing to their supposed low income levels. They are apparently tapping into Facebook etc to establish if the lifestyle is at odds with the tax return


A lot of these guys laugh at pen pushers slaving away for a 30th of what they make. They scoff at the whole 'graduates earn more' thang, knowing full well they keep their self emplyed 'official' incomes far lower than the reality