Interview update and Christmas preparations

As I thought, I didn't get the job... the person who was already doing it got it. Good news is that I have another interview for the same sort of job at a different school, which is on Wednesday. I'm more nervous about this one. Not really sure why - perhaps because I sort of know what to expect and I think I've already had the relatively 'easy' questions. Some feedback I got from the last interview was to think of more examples of how I would deal with certain situations whilst 'in post' - so I need to think about that. Anyway, it will all be over soon enough.

On to Christmas preparations...I am almost done with my gift shopping, just a couple of small items to get and most things are wrapped too. Cards all written and waiting to be posted. Some (well, quite a lot actually) knitting/crochet to be finished/started. Something else to be made that I can't mention here. Cake still not marzipanned or iced (marzipanned? - not a word one uses a lot). Decorations are going up tomorrow - complete with some rather odd looking things you hang from the ceiling chosen by OH.

I am almost on day 5 of the 'Journal Your Christmas' scrapbooking/journalling project - at least I would be if I'd actually begun it yet. I will get caught up in the next couple of days :) I'm not stressing yet.

We had our first touch of snow this morning (lasting about 10 mins) - I know this because my lovely neice texted me to tell me this at 8am!!! Now I know snow can be exciting and magical and looks so pretty...BUT, I do not want any snow, no thanks, not now, not any time soon. Does that sound mean spirited? Okay then, there can be a nice downfall of snow on Christmas morning - just enough to allow a snowman or two to be built, a quick ride on a sledge, and then it has to gracefully melt away without causing any traffic problems at all. That's fair, right?

In other weather-related news, it's gotten a lot colder here. We shouldn't be surprised of course, but it's been so mild up until now that it has taken me a bit unawares. Time to dig out warmer clothes and hunt out those gloves and scarves!

Progress of sorts

So, I had the interview for the little job - it was as a Support Assistant in a primary school. It was actually a lot better than I had anticipated. I worried that my first interview for over 20 years would be absolutely dreadful but it wasn't so bad and I think I actually did reasonably well (and for me to say that about myself is a big deal!). However, I haven't heard anything and I really don't expect to get the post but I am just really thrilled that I got as far as the interview, so yay for me...there's hope left ;-)

What else to chat about? Hmmm, can't even post a pic of what I've been up to in the knitting/crochet department because they have mainly been secret Christmas projects. Well, I could show you the dalek inspired gloves I knitted for Mr A from a pattern on Ravelry, he doesn't read my blog. Here they are...they look better in real life, believe me - really 'daleky'!



Now that I have looked through some photos, I see I have got a few pics to show after all. These below are some fingerless gloves I knitted for myself from a ball of Noro yarn that I had been meaning to 'do something with' for several years.



And these are 'ninja' fingerless gloves for Mr A (crocheted).



...and fingerless gloves for Miss L (crocheted). Bit of a theme here...



Ah, this was a lacey-ish scarf knitted from sock weight yarn. I'm not that keen on it, so will probably re-use the wool for something else.



Oh, and my ripple blanket is coming on. It's bigger than it was in this pic and much more vibrant in the flesh. I love the ripple blanket...it's growing on me lol.



Oh yes, and my first ever crocheted 'garment'. A little cardi for my new niece.



That turned into quite a few pics! And I'm not the only one to have had the needles out - Miss L knitted a lovely scarf for her great gran who is 91 (we call her Nana) and she is going to give her it at Christmas.

It's a lovely colour and so cosy. Nana will love it :)



I hope you are all having a lovely Friday xxx

It's been a while...

Yes, it's been a while since I've blogged with any great regularity (or enthusiasm for that matter) but I thought perhaps it was time to try. Of course it's been sooooo long that there may not be anyone apart from my 12 year old still visiting here, but I'll give it a go!

So...what's been happening? Well, the biggest news I suppose is related to my last post and that is that I am now in possession of a BA (Hons) Humanities with Literature! Yes, I finally got the certificate and everything, and get this - I got a First!! My graduation ceremony will be in April in Glasgow Concert Hall.

I also took a maths qualification with the OU (MU123 if you're interested) and a Digital Photography course (T189), and passed both of them!

Other news is :-

I have applied (again) for the PGDE at Edinburgh University for 2012 and am on tenterhooks waiting to see if I've got an interview for that.

I'm still volunteering in the local primary school and loving it.

I've been knitting a bit.

I've been crocheting a bit too.

Hmmm, can't think of anything else really. I've been looking for a job, applying for lots and getting nowhere mainly. However, I've got a little secret...shhhhh...I have an interview this week! It's only a little job and I'm not saying any more in case I jinx it, but I'll keep you posted.

Ah, it feels strange to be blogging, my words are all rusty. But it's nice to be back :)

I'm going to be working on this. Last time I did any Christmas scrapbooking/journalling was back in 2005. Time to do some again methinks.

Degree Done

Well, that's my degree done. Finally. So come August sometime I should have an Honours Degree of some description - which degree depends on the pass mark I get (won't bore you with the details). So I'm free...and bored! I've only been done two weeks - the first week I had a horrible lurgy and now I don't know what to do with myself. Well, that's not strictly true - there is another teeny tiny OU course I'm doing at the moment - digital photography - but that's for fun and it's just for 10 weeks and I'm almost through that. It just feels weird without study, that's all :(

And now I have to look for a job!

You Never Know...

I sometimes think it will be a miracle if I ever manage to blog on a regular basis again. OU work and life in general has been so busy and stressful this past year that there has been little time for anything else. Even my procrastinating whilst assignment-writing has been drastically reduced ;-) However, soon my courses will be over and hopefully I will have an honours degree in something. I will be relieved it's all over but I know I'll be at a loss for a while. I won't be able to rest on my laurels though as I'll have to find some work. Unfortunately, I didn't get any interviews for a place on the postgraduate teacher training PGDE for this Autumn. There is a small chance I may get something in the 'clearing' in the Summer, but I won't hold my breath. In any case, there are only two places I can realistically go and I'm pretty sure they will not have many places, if any. I'm sad because my dream of teaching is probably not going to happen now for several reasons.

Still, perhaps when the courses are done and dusted I will get back to crafting and blogging and some guilt-free pursuits (I can't really imagine that yet). It will be wonderful just to browse through all the lovely blogs that I just don't get to nowadays and send emails that don't relate to assignments. And maybe, just maybe I'll have a chance to finally complete a pair of socks knitted with four needles instead of having not even finished one sock of the two different pairs I've started! Whoa there...maybe I'll just start with blog browsing :)