Mid-course slump

Help, I seem to have hit a brick wall on my OU course :-(  

I'm finding the content interesting still, but I seem to have completely forgotten how to start, let alone complete an essay. In this case it's one evaluating claims and we are bombarded with warnings about what we must include.  I keep procrastinating but I hope once I make a start (tonight) things will start to fall into place.

For the first time this week I felt as though this is all too much hard work and wanted to give it up.  That must be a sign that I'm feeling generally down and not 100% because I'm not a quitter.  I suppose there have been times things have 'faded away' out of my interest boundaries, but that's not quite the same.  And it's not as though I'm not getting the marks, so it's just my own lack of ... something!!

Illustration by Neil Slorance

I'm really hoping things bounce back a bit soon, otherwise I'll start getting behind with the work, and that will just perpetuate the negative feelings. 

Right, on with starting an essay plan about memory being a constructive and dynamic system.   Hmm, mine is isn't feeling very dynamic at the moment!!

TP 134 : Strangers

Windswept stranger

for Thematic Photographic

Do you want to go to the seaside?

Do you want to go to the seaside?

I'm not trying to say that everybody wants to go

I fell in love at the seaside

I handled my charm with time and slight of hand.

Do you want to go to the seaside?

I'm not trying to say that everybody wants to go

I fell in love at the seaside

She handled her charm with time and slight of hand, and oh

But I'm just trying to love you

In any kind of way

But I find it hard to love you girl

When you're far away

Away

Do you want to go to the seaside?

I'm not trying to say that everybody wants to go

But I fell in love on the seaside

On the seaside

In the seaside

Pictures by me

Words by The Kooks

The Great Kindle Debate

I generated a large number of comments on Facebook the other day when I said I was considering buying a Kindle electronic book-reader (is that what you call them?). 

Picture from Amazon

Most of the comments were in favour of them, people saying that they read more now they have one, and how useful they are for travelling.    The screen is clear and not like reading off a back-lit computer screen, the books are free or cheap and it holds 3,500 books at a time.  

However, I (and Rosie) can't get away from the fact that nothing compares with reading a real book. The look, feel, turning of the pages, smell of the paper. And what about lending/borrowing books from friends?

For myself, I can think of times where it would be useful not to have to carry bulky novels, but really it is a 'one hand' number of times a year.  Deep down I know that the attraction is that of having something new to play with, which will get put a way in a drawer and used once a year.

What do you think about books in general, or the Kindle or other equivalent electronic book-readers?

Shorts: still here

I have succombed to my first cold since before the crash, so that's about 8 months. I reckon that's good in anybody's book, especially as everyone around me seems to have suffered from colds/flu/nasty things over the last couple of months.  I guess my immune system (built up by never using any of those things that Kill 99% of All Germs) is still as strong as ever, but taking flights is the worst thing for catching stuff isn't it.

I've got a load more photos from the weekend, some of which I will share with you, but they aren't downloaded onto this computer yet. And right now I'm going to *** off and curl up with Oscar Wilde (well, his book, not him) and have an early night. Because I can.

Be back soon....

A precis of events

Dear diary,

Thursday:
Waved goodbye to Django. Lift to the train to the airport. Awful flight up, 70mph winds in Glasgow necessitated aborted landing and diversion to Newcastle. Four hour coach trip back to Glasgow to be picked up by Mr H. at 10pm who had spent four hours window shopping. Nerves shattered. Considered that if it's still blowing dogs off chains on Monday I can catch the train home. Much needed cup of tea followed swiftly by bed.

Friday:
Windy again!  braved the seafront in Ayr for wind, spume and photo opportunities.  Selected cafe for lunch which served over-priced toasties which we ate while watching hoardes of school children file past... and back with Cokes and MacDonalds.  Drooled over books in Waterstones but escaped with only four.

Saturday:
A homebody day. Walked by the in-spate River Doon in misty drizzle, missed having a dog beside us.  Back to the flat for tea, home-baked biscuits, novel-absorbing and job-application-proof-reading. In the evening back into Ayr for a live-music gig at Mr H's local pub.

Sunday:
A day out to the North!   Drove past familiar yet normally distant regatta venues to catch the little red ferry to Dunoon.   A reccy for the potential job including checking out rental cottages and the potential of Dunoon as a place to live.  It got a positive score of supermarket, pharmacy and real shops.  I drove the 'new' van so that Mr H could do the Looking Out of the Window bit. Lunch and awe-inspired gasps next to Loch Eck, more photo opportunities.  Home on the 3.20 ferry and roast beef for dinner.

Monday:
Woke to windy weather, but forecast said calm by late afternoon.  Popped across the courtyard for a cuppa with Mr H's neighbour and half her family who were staying. A jovial gathering which mainly consisted of conversation about speed traps and driving.   After lunch and packing departed for Silverburn shopping centre for more window and real shopping before being dropped at the airport. Goodbye Scotland for another time.

Uneventful flight home on a half-empty plane, to be met by my colleague who imparted all the office gossip on the way home. 

Tuesday:
Picked up Django from his 'grandparents', who had throroughly enjoyed his company.  He is now snoring in his basket in the kitchen.

A Grand Weekend.

Comfort

You to me are as comfortable as that favourite old boot.

You know who you are.

xx

And now for a short break....

Hello, just to let you know not to worry about me if I'm not around for a few days. It's time for my visit to see Mr H, I'm flying up tomorrow and can't wait! 

Django is going to stay with my parents for the first time; hopefully not the last. I guess that will depend on how much he whines during the night, right below their bedroom....

The work 'crisis' is sorted.  Not in the way we expected, but at least I had time to get some work done today before going away.

So, bye for now. Backson.

'Owl looked at the notice again. To one of his education the reading of it was easy.
"Gon out, Backson. Bisy, Backson" -- just the sort of thing you'd expect to see on a notice.
"It is quite clear what has happened , my dear Rabbit," he said.
"Christopher Robin has gone out somehwere with Backson. He and Backson are busy together.
Have you seen a Backson anywhere about in the Forest lately."'
 
from here