Definitely Dragoning!

That's it!

Decision made!

UCAS screen filled in!!





I'm going to George's!!

(subject to a B in the Human bio)

Got my first project back last night with feedback. The word "superb" was used numerous times. A couple of tips for improving it, but they can be done in 15 minutes and were "the only they they could possibly knock marks off for". Okay - there's a theory paper to handle for that module too, but essentially I'm scoring as well as I possibly can.

I handed in the first draft of the A2 practical last night as well. I'm sure there's weaknesses there, but I think I'll pick up a lot of the marks just because I'm good at reading exam board documents and spotting hoops that need jumping through. A theory paper to go with that as well.

Mass confusion over when the results are out - anything from 7th March (on the interweb) to 15th March. Nearest date is eight days away!! It's only delaying the inevtiable, hopefully - I predict some good marks. There's always a resit in June if I desperately need to, but fingers crossed I won't :oD

A2 Coursework

Been busy lately - writing up my A2 coursework. It's about the effects of penicillin on bacteria, and how the strength of the penicillin affects the amount of bacteria killed.

It's an interesting story. Pencillin was basically discovered by Alexander Fleming, who was growing bacteria on petri dishes, and one day he'd finished work and left the dishes, covered in bacterial growth, in the sink, to be dealt with after the weekend. During that time however, some penicillium notatum spores blew in throught he window, landed on a petri dish, and killed the bacteria.

Some work later, and penicillin was isolated as the effective ingedient, and from this came the first anti-biotics, and countless other anti-biotics over the years. It's led to countless lives being saved, so it's a fun one to do as a coursework.

...and of course, if Alexander Fleming had been a woman, he'd have done the washing up before going home and we'd never have anti-biotics. So please stop nagging about not washing up - not doing the washing up saves lives!!! ;o)

Nice Problem to Have

So – today was an Open Day at King’s.

Y’know – that place in London where they did a lot of the work that led to the discovery of DNA. Nothing major at all. Oh – and four other nobel prize winners! Have to say I liked the place – wider mix of students than George’s so perhaps wasn’t quite so good in that respect (not that I mind a wide mix but then again I like the purely healthcare thing at George’s. Probably more facilities in terms of sports and stuff. Not as near to home, but then again not too far at all – direct train line and accessible via the motor bike. So which do I chose?

They reckoned they were probably a bit more into the underlying research, particularly with new stuff than George’s, which I’d like in one way but in another way perhaps the practical side is more relevant. Both have dissection rooms. Both have great reputations. Okay – it’s a tough decision, but whichever I go for I think I could be very happy, so it’s a nice problem to have.

Been doing a fair bit of spin, ran with Heather on Sunday which was fun – good to see her again even if she did have her knee go ping after she got home. Other than that it’s mainly been working (covering for my replacement at wuk) who’s off for a few days, as well as the usual. Oh – and a new one-to-one starting next week. The hours are picking up, although a few more per week would be nice.

The A2 coursework is well under way, still got the stats and discussion to do but overall it’s going nicely. Managed to do a chunk in a gap at work. I want to get it in for next Wednesday’s class. Still glad I didn’t take the work at Bale’s!

Tried a Run...

Well that was an odd weekend! Felt somewhat wobbly all weekend about the possible new work, and even though I'd turned them down I was waiting for a pleading phone call. Also feeling like I should have done more. Guess I have to learn that some things just aren't my responsibility! I'm also peed off that I came away from the interview without realising just how much work was involved and how dangerous that was - it was like I temporarily blocked it out of my mind for some reason - not a good thing for my own sake! "Be aware of my own needs" should be added to the Bear list of mantras for 2007!

I haven't run for over a month (New Year's Day was the last time), so when Heather (GymFreak) suggested a run I thought that I may as well give it a go. I hadn't seen her for a bit and we planned it so that I kept her company for the middle section of her eighteen miler - ruddy nutters training for FLM - I'm really glad I'm not doing it this year - quite apart from injury I need the time and the routine of long runs starts to pi55 me off around now!

Anyway - I started out too fast, got yelled at by H, and then managed to pace the next couple of miles beautifully! A couple of 8:52s (Heather wanted 8:53s, and I didn't have a Garmin on), but then sped up on a downhill. Seems fair enough to me - in terms of effort levels it hadn't increased. About mile three my left leg started its usual tricks, seizing up and feeling dead, but I kept going. All in all a nice run, shame about the leg - but it proves that there is a problem. Ortho appointment in a couple of weeks. Good to see Heather again, she's definitely shrunk (even if she doesn't agree :-P)

Today I've felt tired - did a spin class yesterday as well as the run, but have made some decent inroads into the write up of my AS biology coursework. It's going well so far, and I should have it ready to hand in after half term (or possibly before if I really get my skates on), and then I'll get some feedback on ways to improve it. I'm more worried about the A2 one, where there's statistics needed, but I'm sure I can cope :o)

Strange Week

Been a bit of an odd week - still working at DLD (old job) a few hours a week, and really enjoyigngteaching maths. I think the new challenge has really helped motivate me, plus the fact that it's just a few hours a week. Really fun though coming up with inventive ways to make the stuff clear to kids who don't intuitively find it easy.

I've been looking for more work, and found what sounded interesting. Had a chat with the place Thursday and they seemed keen, but it did sound like far more work than I wanted. I don't think it hit home at first, but there are way more groups and years and instead of being a few hours to add to that at DLD, it will potentially be two pretty full days. Add to that all the prep (it's a new syllabus), coursework marking, and the fact that the holidays don't match with those at DLD, and I really feel that I'm going to struggle to fit in the necessary biology. Plus the busiest times will be just when I need to focus on the biology, and that needs to be my priority. With much regret, I'm going to have to turn it down. Shame really, because they were nice peeps and in dire straits, and I could have helped out a lot.

Did make me realise that I wouldn't actually enjoy teaching IT much any more! Computing has a bit more meat to it, but IT is all a bit wishy-washy. All in all the maths is way more fun :oD. Plus I realised that I need to focus on priorities - sure - more money would be nice, but not at the expense of the important stuff for this year. Ultimately I can get the money at a later time or from work during the holidays or whatever, but if I blow the bioogy A level then I'm goign to have to go through the whole cycle again and miss out on physio for a whole year - always assuming I get the offers again. Seriously not worth the risk!

I'm So Excited!!

Wooo Hoooo!!

So - the new week starts and I was sitting in the bath shaving and I thought "I used this razor before I went to St George's". It really is that close! Okay - I need to get a B grade, but I simply don't see that as an issue! I also need to pass the medical, but I hopefully haven't got anything too dire to trip me up. Minor depression controlled by prozac, epilepsy well controlled for over ten years, and a few other niggles. Nothing to worry about (crosses fingers).

I went on The STudent Room last night - it's a place for (you guessed it) students! There's a thread for physios, and I got chatting to some George's peeps! It's sounding even better by the minute - can't wait for October. Eight months - grrr - really wish I could start today!

Then I pootled on over to the Computing forum - A levels in particular. The students have to do a project set by the exam board each year, and they seem to swap advice on there. Have to say that IMO not one of them was taking the right approach, so I pitched in - boy was that a mistake! Within five minutes I had several emails asking me to sort their coursework out for them! Now, I don't mind giving some help, but it was basically "What's the right answer?" It did sound like their teachers weren't giving much help though - and personally I've always thought that for this project, which is the first time they really get to use the skills they've learnt, some direction and steering is essential.

Other than that it was a bit of a poo week - my bank account got nearly two grand robbed from it, which I should get back, but it's annoying. I also managed to commit a traffic infringement - which I definitely did, the narrow entrance to a road I normally used was blocked by a car so I went up onto the pavement. If I was more sure that the narrow path I use was meant for motorbikes I might challenge it, but I suspect I'd get nowhere, so I'd rather pay it and move on. I'm annoyed at myself in a way, but it made sense at the time. Guess I can't be perfect! (memo to self - maybe I do expect too much of myself sometime - I'm bound to screw up now and then).

Back to work at DLD - plus I've sent my CV to another place and hope to line up some work there to add to the hours. I have eight months to go to starting fizzio, but half of that is holidays, so I need to earn as much as I can in term time and figure out what I do to get some dosh over the summer hols. It's generally a quiet time for teachers!

I Can't Take It In...

Somehow two Imogen Heap songs (who else?) sum up my mood at the moment!

...Oh empty my heart
I've got to make room for this feeling
That's so much bigger than me...

Multi-layered breathless vocals with a velvet texture you could fall into for ever...

I must be dreaming or...
pinch me to waking

listen here!

Feel Like A Ruddy Pot of Honey

'cos I've got a lot of B's buzzing about ;o)

Yep - five B offers, from all the ruddy uni's except the one I really, really wanted to go to. Interview yesterday, and I spent yesterday evenign on edge and also this morning. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and then I thoguht - hang on - it's partly uncomfortable because there could be a bad thing happening, but it's also a reason to be happy because it means something good could happen, so the feeling isn't all bad.

Went to wuk, had a good maths class, then off to college to do my pilot practical - in preparation for next Monday. More on this another time - maybe later tonight. Got home, stuck the kettle on, hoping to see a UCAS notification saying that my status had been updated. It hadn't :o(

Thought I'd check just in case - got to the main page and it said "we are waiting for your response". It's not said that before, it normally says that the unis (or at least one) has yet to respond. Could this mean that George's had?? Gulp!

Frantic rushign round, not daring to look, having a strong cup of tea handy, and then I dared to look...



...




and...




guess...





what....?





IT's another B offer :oD

Fab - as it takes the pressure right off. Barring a major feck up, I'm going to St George's :oD

Slaying The Dragon

Today (Wednesday) was a big day - finally, the interview at my top uni choice, St George's, had come up. I have the safety net that every othbner uni I applied to wants me, but ultimately George's is both the nearest and in my opinion the place with the best reputation. I'd trade all the other offers for one from St George's!

I got there in plenty of time, grabbed a coffee (nice coffee shop!), and headed to the toilet, and then back to the reception area to report in. I was nervous and found another toilet en route!

ANyway - I met up with another interviewee at the lift, and we found our way to the holding area, and chatted nervously to the other interviewees. I did some form filling (mainly CRB checking, but also one to say we understood we'd have to get semi-nekkid as part of the course and also that we wouldn't wear a muslim stylee veil - I wasn't planning on it), and then went back to chatting nervously. People were comign back saying that they were friendly but asked some tough questions.

Anyway - my turn came - I felt well prepared but was wibbling madly. I had some things I wanted to say, but possibly chatted too much. I'm not sure - I don't think I naturally sell myself, so sometimes maybe just doing that seems like verbal diarrheoa compared to what I do normally.

There were a few tricky questions, but I think I fielded them well, re-iterating the idea that I had X, Y and Z which were all highly relevant skills to physio, and quoting plenty of examples from my work experience. I stumbled a little over "why not osteopathy?", as I hadn't really considered it, and I was somewhat flummoxed over the "How will you fit in with all the school leavers?" type question, which in some ways I thought was a bit cheeky but I think I handled it okay. They did press alittle on this and I wondered if I'd understood it right - they have a large number of mature students there so it can't exactly be an issue, and I think I'm better than most at mixing with that age group.

Looking back, as far as I'm concerned I didn't say anything that should be a stumbling block, and I did say an awful lot of good stuff. I know that interpersonal skills and communication are highly valued there. I also think my enthusiasm for the job/course should have come across. If I don't get an offer I will genuinely not know why.

All I can do now is wait though - so bervous but cautiously optimistic :o)

Wen to college, got home, went to check if I needed to transfer any cash to my current account to pay the mortgage, and discovered some w*nker has ripped me off somehow to the tune of nearly two thousand :o(

Sod it - it's a nuisance but I'll get it back, and today was about a lot more than that!