Can I do this?

So I am half way through the OU physics and space course (still the equivalent of 1st year undergrad). Strange course - a mixture of topics I covered in A level physics (1969) and some very tough quantum mechanics. I looked at a past paper for the exam which I will be taking in June and couldn't find any question I could fully answer. So there is a huge amount of work to do.

But the marks for my assignments so far have been very acceptable so with a big push on revision I could be OK. And I am currently on a cruise ship which is having problems docking anywhere because of covid-19. No-one is ill as far as I know and the ship is taking many precautions. But I have my work with me.

Don't they want me?

I started the registration at the OU. Yes, I bit the bullet and tried to register for 'What is Science?' Hopefully I have some idea of the answer but I want to take this one slowly. The system told me that I had been a student before. Well remembered after about 6 years. And then said I needed to contact them before I could register. Do they not want me back?

Its as if I'm on a summer holiday

I know lots of other people are on summer holiday, but this year, we will be taking a long holiday in the Autumn. So I need to get the dissertation going. But its been very hot and I feel very listless - I'll give it another couple of days and then try again with the proposal. I need to get ahead so that I have enough material on my laptop to be able to do bits and pieces whilst we are away.

We went to the Tatton flower show and really enjoyed the floral marquee. But we were disappointed with the gardens - fewer entries than we have ever seen before. That must be an effect of the recession - especially for the local authorities who have no money for flower beds any more. But we particularly liked the garden based on the Sheffield steel industry.

I had a phone call this week from a call centre trying to get me to sign up to an OU course. In 8 years of association with the OU, this is the first time this has happened. I suspect they've put the fees up so high that they are short of students. This is a terrible national shame, that such a great institution is struggling for funding. I have had my quarrel with the OU - a major one, and I won't be signing up again - but it has given fantastic opportunity to so many people.

Henry V

We saw a Propeller production of Henry V yesterday and were so impressed by the way they brought it to life. They stuck to the script but in a very physical way - running around the theatre as well as the stage itself. It was interspersed with singing and chanting - they are all very talented in lots of ways. There were smells too - incense, beer and the leek one of them ate (raw!) on stage. Shakespeare would have approved.

I have eventually drawn a line under my correspondence with the OU about my bad project result. They refuse to supply any meaningful feedback or to allow me to pay a tutor to do so. Their teaching materials and teaching methods are brilliant but it is a sausage machine and if you need to be treated like an individual you should go elsewhere.

My hair needs cutting - booked in with Old Faithful in a few days time.