About me

[Tangliss]

Argh, today is the day! As I write this Carter is in his uniform, Lauren is still in her cot snoring away and Martin is getting ready. As for me I'm sitting here is my nighty looking a mess. Even though I am not properly graduating, I mean I'm only getting a certificate, I'm quite nervous about today as I do not know what exactly to expect. I scared that I won't get there in time, my graduation outfit wont be ready to pick up, that I will fall arse over tit on the stage when collecting my certificate and I wont get back in time to pick the kids up!!!!! So thinking the worst, I'm hoping the day will go smoothly.

I better get off this thing and start getting ready as I have a long day ahead of me.

[Tangliss]

Yesterday went really well, I arrived in plenty of time, I did not fall over, the weather was nice and there was free wine afterwards The ceremony lasted about two hours, the first half seemed to drag somewhat and consdering that us Cert Sci people were the last to go up on stage, lots of us were yawning. It was very traditional, as expected, and we all looked like we were graduating from Hogwarts as supposed to Lincoln. It was great seeing everyone again and we all had a good natter. Here is a piccy of me on the day, the best of a bad bunch admitly:



When I arrived home and logged onto my computer, I found out that I passed the short OU course I studied in the summer and my LEA have finally sorted out my finances, well for now. It appears that I am now getting the tuition fee grant and the £1000 higher education grant, so I am happy. What a day!

[Tangliss]

Four days until I start uni and I can't wait! The past four months has really dragged and now I just want to get started. Next year I am getting my application in early for a job as there is no way on earth that I want to be this bored again, plus I will really need the money judging on how this year has got me into debt, more so then I anticipated but I think that has something to do with Martin being made redudent in July.

I am not happy with Carter's school, so much so that Martin and I are going to meet with the headteacher next week. Firstly, we was told by the LEA in April that Carter had got his first place at his choosen local primary school. For months we heard nothing from them, then late August I received a telephone call from the school saying that they only just found out that Carter was attending in September! Secondly, we were then invited to a parents evening to find out what Carter will be doing in his first year, and what was expected of us parents, however the letter arrived two days after the event took place! Thirdly, as Carter's nursery drop him off and collect him, one of the teachers moaned asking where his P.E bag was, but how the **** would we know what days he had P.E considering we have had no correspondence from them! But the icing on the cake came on Monday, where one of the helpers belittled him infront of all his classmates when one of the nursery staff was collecting him. As most of the kids there had attended the free nursery place prior to coming to school they knew what a reading bag was and where to find it. However, Carter attended full-time private nursery so did not know the setup. I was informed that she shouted at him, which made Carter really upset, the dragged him over to a drawer where the book bag is kept and told him to get it. Then she shouted at the member to the nursery staff, implying that he was stupid for not knowing, but if no-one gives you instructions how the hell would he know what to do! So now it's war, and if the cow ever speaks to my son in that manner again, she won't know what hit her!

Apart from that and lack of money, everything seems to be ok. Although, I'm still awaiting on my Payment Schedule letter which was posted to me over a week ago. If it does not arrive in time I won't get my loan and other grants through when I need them, which takes the piss somewhat considering I applied for assitance early May!

Rant over.

[Tangliss]

One rant over at least, finally my Payment Schedule letter has arrived so I will get my loan in time, which will enable me to pay off a debt and nursery fees

3 days to go before I start Nottingham, and I'm starting to get excited about the prospect of finally becomming a fully fledged medical student! Although, I bet that feeling is short-lived when I actually get into the course and have to sit the exams.

That's my boring news for today, so I might leave my blog for a bit until I have something interesting to say, which is seldom.

[Tangliss]

Without jinxing things, so far so good. I started Nottingham on Monday, where I handed in my CRB form, had a lot of talks and a major prank pulled on me which almost gave me a heart attack. I met my medic mum, who is very nice and knows everyone, who took me for a drink at the Ark Bar and helped my understand me timetable. She had to leave early as she had lectures to attend, but we are hopefully meeting later this week as she has some books which she can sell to me and loads more info.

Yesterday I had my photo taken, met my tutor who is lovely and registered, however if you know me you know that something has to go wrong, which it did. When I arrived at the Sports Centre, which is miles away from the QMC, I was given two forms. One had all my details on, such as address, d.o.b and nationality which stated I was British. The other form was a single piece of paper containing details of my tuition fees which I had to sign and date. To my horror it stated that I am an overseas student having to pay a massive £12,770 tuition fees, WTF! When I went to the enquiry stand the woman refused to change the error, even though my first form had the correct info, I had my driving licence which states I'm UK born and bred as well as my LEA letters. I explained that if I was indeed an overseas student that I would not be entitled to any help from the government, but she made out that I could be lying which pissed me off. So, in order to get my Payment Schedule letter scanned, I had to register as an international student, although the guy that registered me was laughing when I started making jokes at the fact I have a cockney accent and that I have only been as far as Cornwall in the past 5 years. I then collected my student card and walked very very fast to the QMC to get my student status changed.

When I arrived at the medical school office, I explained everything to a very nice lady, although by this point I was out of breath and sweating like mad. I showed her my LEA letters and ID, and she kindly changed it for me, although she could not understand why the woman at the Sports Centre could not change it considering all it is is a drop-down menu!! So, I'm hoping that I won't get a letter in the next few weeks asking for the remaining £11,570, lol!

Today I was meant to be in for 8:30, but our QMC passes are not ready for collection until next week, so I'm going in for 1:00 for my OH check.

Tomorrow my lectures begin and it looks like a full day. Fingers crossed everything runs smoothly.

[Tangliss]

Well it's been a while since I posted on this thing, so I thought I would update it.

Uni is going well *touches wood* so far. I am enjoying the lectures and have made some new pals who also post on this forum. The lectures are getting progressively harder, but I suppose that is to be expected. Today, I have been trying to write up notes for one of my modules on, Excitable Tissues, but it's not going too well at the moment. I think it's because I am not in the right frame of mind to be studying.

Tuesday, I finally bit the bullet and purchaed two text books, which set me back nearly £70! But as my Medic Mum, recommended them and the books are never in the library, I thought why not.

Next Wednesday is my first GP visit! To be honest I have mixed feelings about it as I'm not sure what to expect, well I do but you know what I mean. I managed to change my surgery from one in Mansfield, which would have involved me getting to the QMC for 7:30am, to one in Ilkeston. The uni were really great about it when I explained my home situation, and I am really pleased they managed to get one in the town I live. I'm just hoping that Martin's family don't pop in, that would be my worst nightmare!

Tomorrow, I have the day off, so I have decided to give myself a kick up the backside and do some work. I think that if I don't start soon then I will be up the creek by the time Jan's exams start.

Well that's my news, exciting or what. *Thinks to herself about as exciting as Excitable Tissues*

[Tangliss]

My GP visit was today and it was fab! I got to see all sorts of patients, from very small children to the elderly and even went on a home visit! My GP tutor is very nice, and told me loads of medical stuff once each patient left the surgery, I think I will definitely learn a lot from him. He even gave me a lift home, how nice was that! I don't even know why I was nervous now.

Today, I am feeling very tired, but because I drank loads of coffee can't sleep, argh! I also received two letters from Nottingham, saying that I won't be getting any help from either of their Access Funds, WTF!?! Last year, I was paying out less, Martin was earning more, and I had a slighty larger income from the LEA, and was awarded a little over £850 from the Access to Learning Fund at Lincoln, so I'm miffed as to why I get **** all now! I'm not going to let it lie though, I'm expecting someone to return my call....maybe that explains why I can't sleep.

Right, things to do...

[Tangliss]

Well I am sitting in the library at the med school, with a little over 10 mins to go until my clinical skills session. We are learning about how to deal with burns and fractures which should be fun. It's only for an hour and a half, and the great thing is I also was able to have a much needed lie in today.

I have not got anything planned for the weekend. Probably just the usual Tesco shop and tidy on Saturday, followed by a royal visit from my Mum on Sunday.

Well that was worth the post

[Tangliss]

Today I received my Enhanced Disclourse form back, and all is good. I am even considering taking it along to Ilkeston Tesco, as the security guards there always seem to follow people about as if we are all criminals, hence why I tend to do my shopping in another town.

Yesterday, was a pretty full on day for a Thursday. I had a 9am start, on histology, followed by a two hour microscope lab, which was a blur to me as it went so fast. In the afternoon, I had a lecture on metabolism of fatty acids, followed by a two hour Clinical Skills sesh which I was dreading....Basically, we had to get into groups of three and go into a pretend GP office where we had to interview a patient, while others outside the room was watching us live on camera. They then had to analyse us, where the video was then played back for us to see, which is cringe worthy non-the-less. Before I actually attended the practical, I was talking to another girl in my group, who was also dreading it, and I remember saying that a) I did not want to go first, and b) I did not want to be a patient. Guess what! I was handed a sheet of paper from the Dr taking our practical, and a) I was first and b) I also had to play a patient with a potential sexually transimitted diease, oh what joy. However, the irony was, I loved it! I think it's probably one of the best things, aside from my GP visit, that I have done so far at uni. Although, it was mad watching yourself back, and listening to your own voice. So the moral of the story is, not everything is as bad as it seems.

Today, I have the day off as my Library Skills session was cancelled. So I am going to spend most of it doing chores and catching up on some work. So on that note, ta ta.

[Tangliss]

Whoot, I have just been interviewed by my local newspaper about the Cert Sci course, and they are going to take my piccy at the medical school tomorrow! They even want me to wear a lab coat and stethoscope, so doctory! I am famous, well will be....Eat your heart out Kate Moss!

Today is my day off, and so far I have done no work. Instead, I have been on the internet looking at forums.

This week has been pretty good, we started our first PBL seminar yesterday, and my group voted me to Chair it, so I better get my butt in gear and start allocating the work.

That's my news...