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Wednesday 31 August 2011

OK so far

My hair is OK this morning but I still needed to use my straightners, which I was hoping not to take to Paris next week. We are going on Eurostar so we need to minimise luggage. I already have a rail up in the spare room and I'm trying to coordinate outfits, jewellery etc. And which bag? I can probably only take one. Good job I have a Kindle so I need not carry books.

My Pankhurst/Mandela analysis is pretty well finished but I need feedback from my tutor before I can finalise it. That might take some time as I will need to copy some Excel sheets into Word tables, which is the only allowable format. I am sure it will take ages to reorganise them to look smart. But Excel is so much easier if you want to add and percentage, not to mention if you add or delete rows.

I am also trying to come to terms with phonetics - which parts of the mouth you use to make different sounds. Do they sound the same when you pinch your nose? Or put your fingers in your ears? The difference between b and p is so subtle, I have no idea how young children learn it so quickly.

Tuesday 30 August 2011

I'm a traitor

I have betrayed Old Faithful.

I just had my hair cut by a new hairdresser. I have been going to Old Faithful for ten years but he is on holiday and I really needed a cut. Perhaps I was just looking for an excuse - he's  served me very well but recently I've been dissatisfied with the look. But is it his fault? Or has my hair changed? Or do I just not look young any more?

It looks fine but the big test comes tomorrow when I wash and style it myself.
And then its the big question. Do I go back to Old Faithful? Or not?

Sunday 28 August 2011

Birthday

It's today! I'm 60!

Lots of cards and presents. And e-mails and texts and Facebook greeting. As well as the 22-day cruise I had to the Far East and my holiday in England and my forthcoming trips to Paris and Spain.

Do I get a pension? Well, not yet. Bus pass? Not sure. Free prescriptions and eye tests from now on.

Day spent reading Paris guidebooks. No study or essay writing - no housework or cooking - can't remember the last time I had a day off from everything.

My 'Practical Phonetics and Phonology' textbook arrived yesterday. I need to have at least browsed it before I go to my first day at University.

Eat out at good restaurant tonight. What to wear?

Monday 22 August 2011

Another day off

Didn't get any of my essay done today - a combination of clearing up after party yesterday and sitting in the sun just because it was there!
Yesterday's party was for my extended family - cousins, mainly. Our parents were a fairly tight-knit group and used to hold the family together but over the last few years, they have all died. So the onus is on us to keep in touch if we want to and so far quite a few people want to, which is nice. I hope they all come again next year.
Back to Mandela and Pankhurst tomorrow!

Friday 19 August 2011

OU assignment

I've just submitted my latest assignment - a project proposal for a piece of work which counts for half the marks on my course. Now to get ahead with the project itself.

My latest mishap is an extremely painful and swollen wrist. I assumed it was some kind of sprain but there is a mark near it which makes me wonder if it is an insect bite. Cold compresses, ibuprofen and a compression sleeve are easing it a bit. Hope I can manage to sleep tonight - unlike last night.

TSH bought me some maltesers to cheer me up.

Thursday 18 August 2011

Its getting nearer!

The Guardian published its Guide to starting at University today. I know its written for undergraduates and I know I'm doing distance learning but its very exciting!!!!

I don't know what it says about me that the first bit I read was 'what to wear'. The outfits were all very casual and whilst they will look terrific on an 18-year old, I'm afraid I would just look like a bag lady. I think it might be a better image if I dress up properly - long skirt, sequins ..... only joking, but I might wear a jacket.

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Keeping fit

Tai Chi class today. We are better than absolute beginners but not really very good yet. We are now refining the postures we have been learning for the last 6 years. That means unlearning the simple versions at the same time as mastering more complex moves. We are getting there but TSH doesn't like not knowing exactly what he is doing.

Sunday 14 August 2011

Working on my final project for my last undergraduate course - a linguistic comparison of a speech by Emmeline Pankhurst with one by Nelson Mandela. They look very similar at first but there are some amazing differences. She is quite chatty but he does not really address his immediate audience at all - he is speaking for the the world at large, not to those in the room.

Still trying to sort out what I need to do about my eyes. I have had a posterial vitreous detachment (use wiki), which is very common in people my age. Fortunately no retinal tear so no need for surgery. I now have floaters in my eye a lot of the time. I am told I now need eye tests every 12 months instead of the normal 2 years, but there is some red tape to deal with to arrange this. When I am 60 later this month, I qualify for free eye tests. Never thought this would come - I've always paid for everything.

Thursday 11 August 2011

Good news - my comparison of the two newspapers got me an 85% - I'm pleased with that!

University have sent me details of fresher's week but I think as a distance learner I don't get to attend. Shame!!

The day I do have to attend clashes with a general 60th birthday celebration for a few people who were in my class at school. I never go out and then they all come along at once!!