I guess it's not too late to post about the past year, which isn't something I recall doing before but I want to point out to myself for later how the year 2006 was probably the 2nd worst for me, though it did include a few high points.
The year started out with a marked increase in demoralizing and draining office politics, which culminated in April with my being publicly chastised for standing up for a friend and for pointing out improvements which could be made in the unit's retention and recruitment. I can't overstate how much that set of events knocked out any sense of initiative or drive to do any more than the bare minimum my job requires.
This wasn't balanced out by the offer by my employer to pay my fees for a 2yr Masters degree, (about which I have had serious doubts about the benefits of completing) as I'm tied in to working with them for 18 months past the completion date & have to make up the work time I miss for the classes (which are held in another town).
I got a minimal salary increase and yet my monthly expenses went up by about 15%.
People who I thought were friends have completely disappeared.
I've been to London only once this past year for fun (the last time in Feb.), but had a very nice day trip to Bournemouth with AA in June.
In 2006, I saw four films, one play, one stand-up comic, and one concert. I didn't travel anywhere other than Bournemouth, inside our outside the UK.
After nearly three months of evening and weekend tuition and nearly $1100 in fees, I was able to obtain my UK driving license. However, I still don't own a car, and haven't driven since the day of the exam.
I enjoyed my mom's fortnight-long visit in September, but my father was just about banned from conducting his yearly visit during the Gran's birthday weekend. And I spent the holidays away from the family for the first time ever.
My condition seems to have taken a turn for the worse and I've missed some classes, work and social plans --even some of my favourite activities-- because of it. Very often I spend one whole day of a weekend in bed.
Already 2007 has seen some changes, but in other areas change doesn't appear to be on the horizon. We'll see....
I'm just back from seeing Happy Feet with ex-colleague AA in Reading's Vue cinema. If I'm counting correctly it's the fourth film I've seen this year.
The cinema was nice but there were far too many crying munchkins and the film was not the sort of thing I'd have taken my 2 or three year old to see: far too many scary bits.
I had a very nice Xmas at CM's with her son and her son's fiancee. We exchanged a few gifts and had turkey with trimmings and watched two banal episodes of Deal or No Deal which I will never watch again. We'd had our Christmas quiz at work the Wednesday before at work which was a laugh, so I had my fill of Xmas spirit.
I took the day off Wednesday to train up to Banbury to see the Gran. Unfortunately Virgin only saw fit to put on a 4 carriage train (one reserved for 1st class) for the 832 passengers and their assorted suitcases, christmas gifts, children and other unimportant items, so it was a tight fit. Gran was in good form though and we had a nice chat.
I took of Thursday as well and did nothing. Work is slow with the lady boss away in Greece for 3 weeks. I still have my final exam coming up next Tuesday so that's this week's plan.
I found out yesterday that I wasn't short-listed for the £5000 bursaries that are being given away by my school this year. I wasn't too disappointed, but it just seemed odd that it took so long and that none of the other students whom I thought would have made the list did so either. I guess I'll just have to stick with my original plan to pay for this particular degree.
Speaking of, my prof emailed a preliminary evaluation of my second and third projects, which I'd turned in a fortnight ago. It seems to ensure fair grading it's marked by the prof and then by another university prof and then by an independent scorer. I wasn't looking forward to reading the evaluation as I didn't want it to throw me into a funk, and I knew I could have done a better job.
I got a D. There are only three grades: Fail, Pass, and Distinction.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
That was the fortnight that was
A week ago Friday (the 17th) I was in London for the day for a work-sponsored "Computer Systems Validation" course. The content was very dry but the tag-team lecturers and the lunch/facitlities were quite good. After, I stayed to wander around Regent St. & Oxford St. to take in some of the christmas lights and holiday displays. Unfortunately the trains from Paddington back to Oxford were hosed & I had to travel via Reading on the slow service, not getting home until after 9.
Then next day was the Gran's 97th, and though it had only been two weeks since my last visit, I made the trek up there to throw a card and some gifts at her. I think she liked the sack of spuds best.
My pain from my RSI has largely resolved itselft after only 2-3 days of anti-inflammatories; I need to email my GP to see whether I should continue or keep my physio appointment next week. I've also been given the opportunity to make any required adjustments at work that are necessary to alleviate the symptoms.
This past week went by in a blur as I rushed to finish the last 2 projects of my course work. I regret not having spent more time on them, but on the other hand factored that they will contribute only 20% towards my final grade in the class. Only six weeks to go until the 3+ hour final exam....
I was off Thursday doing the last of the projects, not really aware it was Thanksgiving too until my next door neighbour brought over a slice of pumpkin cheesecake.
I've been suffering from pains in my right arm and wrist and hand for the past three weeks. While I was off from work earlier this month the pain wasn't so bad, but after returning on Monday I was in terrible pain; the one in my forearm felt like a knife slicing into bone. It's difficult to grasp a pen to write and/or move a mouse.
I made an appointment with my GP and was diagnosed Friday with RSI, and am schedule for physiotherapy starting Dec 4 (the earliest available appointment). I'm also on anti-inflammatory painkillers. I'll be speaking with my lady boss tomorrow about having Occupational Health do an evaluation of my desk space.
I also went back to the opticians on Saturday as my glasses had been given me headaches. I was retested and my prescription slightly reduced, and new lenses made, for no additional fee. Good deal.
I've not had such a good week. Last week's work drama fizzled into nothing on Monday but the time change and other stuff must have caught up with me. I hadn't printed my course notes for Tuesday's classes and for other reasons wasn't feeling well and didn't go to Uni - spent the day under the duvet. Which turned into four days under the duvet as I called in sick from work as well. From Monay night until Thursday afternoon I slept one 22 hour stretch and about 50 hours total. By then I was just tired of being in bed and forced myself to get up and take a shower and check the mail and fold some laundry. I was up at 4am Friday watching The Comback season one on DVD. I wish I had been motivated enough to look at my coursework, as the 2nd and 3rd/last projects are both due in 3 weeks.
To be honest I could go back to bed right now. And I can only imagine how many email and phone messages will be waiting for me at work tomorrow.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
I’d like to see you after class
A good week at uni - I've been able to keep up with the content of the lectures and even the maths seem fun and interesting because the Prof knows how to get the information across in an entertaining way. Plus, I've made some good contacts with fellow students.
I "volunteered" to become a student union rep for my particular degree this week, as I thought it might put me in good stead and because we were told one of the 8 of us would be forced to otherwise.
I also turned in an application for one of two very generous bursaries that the Big Oxford Computing Company is offering --again, only to students in my particular degree. I could use a bit of extra dosh, and £2500 is nothing to sneeze at.
Monday, October 16, 2006
10 Half Days = 5 Full Days
I'm having difficulties with the class schedule.
Specifically, I had thought (until earlier this year) that a part time program like the one I am in would offer classes outside of work hours, but that is not the case. Nevertheless, my employer has been flexible and is allowing me to work the time that I miss by staying late or coming in early on the days I don't have class.
Then I thought I'd just be out of the office one morning a week, but during enrolment I found out that there are actually three classes a student in my particular programme should be taking this semester. Later during enrolment we were told a change in schedule required one of the 3 to be on a different day of the week than the other two. I had to drop that one; perhaps I'll be able to take it next year.
The two remaining classes are on Tuesdays; the first is from 9 to 1 and the second is from 5 to 6. My line manager has asked me to return to the office in between them in case there is something that needs my attention. I tried this the first week and because of the over-crowded buses and road construction, I spent a total of four and half hours on the bus that day and missed the evening class. I can't keep doing that.
Perhaps I should just break down and get a car. Today I looked up the web site of a company that advertises auto insurance on the TV, and plugged in details for a fictional 8 y.o. VW Golf. They only wanted £127/month (~$240) for 3rd party (not comprehensive) insurance.
I decided, since I have annual leave to use or lose, to ask for the next two weeks' mornings off, to catch up on reading and coursework and domestic issues. It was lovely sleeping in until 9 this morning.
I passed my practical driving exam, on the first try, despite a strike by the examiners the day before. I felt confident and relatively relaxed, and only had to do the two least-difficult maneuvers out of the four. It was a huge weight off my mind, as I didn’t want to have to spend the money or time on more lessons.
Mom has arrived and returned back to the US already, squeezing as much entertainment into her yearly fortnight-long holiday as humanly possible. We had a nice day out in Oxford last weekend which included Sunday Roast at the Head of the River and a welcoming garden tea party hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes.
I enrolled in my courses this week, which kept me out of the office more days than I’d anticipated. A bit chaotic, but at least I have an idea what will be expected of me. This semester will be dipping the toes in the water, and next semester will be twice as busy.
Eleven months after first discussing the idea of doing an MSc under the auspices of my employer, and over 60 days after having been notified of my acceptance into the part-time program beginning this September, I received a hand-delivered letter from my line manager today letting me know their decision to sponsor me, and delineating the terms and conditions under which they will pay my course fees.
To be frank, considering recent goings-on, I hadn't believed they would agree to cover the fees; at best I thought they would require some absurd amount of time for me to remain in their employment after, in order to make it worth their while.
I was surprised, then, to see that I'll have to remain for 18 months after completing the degree. If I leave six or twelve months after completion (or before finishing), I'll have to pay a pro-rated percentage back. And they'll allow me to work flexible hours for the morning classes, and five study days' leave for exams. Not a bad deal.
