ED209 TMA03 Results

The results are back am I am uber happy with them. I think they are my highest so far, in fact pretty certain. Great feedback to improve further but at least I now know the framework that gives me the highest grades.

Official DD101 TMA07 submission day today so it is the start of the 14 day wait for results assuming that this one does go by those rules. Once I have the result I will post a 'reflections' post.

ED209 TMA04 has been barely started so I suppose that I am a little behind with ED209 but I think I have the capacity to blast it out once I get started, it's still only 2,000 words but is a little more involved. After the tutorial I understand why they suggest DSE212 first as you would already have experience of project work and it is a lot slower pace.

I think I have a little crush on The Tech...... I know that I can't keep him but I feel like i'm a teenager again. Ah bless.

Long required update

It's been a while since I blogged, this is mainly down to the fact that I can no longer do it from work which is a pain.

ED209 TMA03 has been submitted, the more I re-read it, the more annoying it was so just submitted it to be done. Relief.

DD101 TMA07 is virtually in note form and as it is 'no boss' day tomorrow at work, the notes will be finished and I plan to have my first draft finished too.

ED209 TMA04 - Have looked at it and will wait till I submit DD101 TMA07 before actually starting it.

SD226 - Registered and confirmed

DSE212 - Applied for financial support and waiting to hear back

New job - I am back where I started when I first started this course which is nice and familiar. Sold a few cars, one to a VIP. Love getting up 45 minutes later than before.

Boy Toy - Dumped him yesterday but he is okay and we are remaining friends. I feel sorry for him a lot but I think I am stuck with him one way or another for a while.

The One - Saw him Sunday night whilst I was sober and he was wasted. All very confusing but have a feeling it will become clear pretty soon.

Voluntary Work - FINALLY have heard back and have interview on the 13th. I am actually rather nervous but quite excited.

Brief update but far too much to go in to on one post so thought that something was better than nothing. The next update will be on the progress of DD101 TMA07 which is groovy as it will be the last time I press the submit button for DD101. Gonna miss it but glad it's almost behind me.

ED209 TMA03 nearly there

I currently have 1,400 words not including references, intro and conclusion which I am now finding that if I write after the main body tend to sound better. Have emailed it to myself at work to get on with tomorrow. They are making me stay till Sunday although told old/new that it's till Tuesday so that I get a few days of peace and quiet or sleep and study. I am starting to link in what I am reading for ED209 to my area of interest which is investigative psychology (if I haven't already bored you senseless by now about this) and would possibly like to study attachment theory further with regards to the criminal aspect that seems to appear.

I have purchased my first David Canter book with is extremely well written after the first chapter that I read in the bath earlier.......... I suspect I'll be purchasing more including possibly the Investigative Psychology text book at £95 although maybe I should wait as there will probably be a revised version before October 2015.

Going to take a break from TMA03 and 'current study' and read and highlight the stuff for the seen question. It's interesting and it feels like a study break even though it isn't. Hmmmm, interesting bedtime reading............ my life has been taken over by the OU. darn those slave drivers.

3rd resignation since November

Well I have to say this was probably the most amusing resignation in the 3 that I've done since November. Still hoping there will be no further ones till September 2015!!

The plan was to resign after everyone had gone so that I didn't have to do the 'walk of shame' due to going to primary competitor however not all plans go to plan as such......

...... At 6pm 3 of us were called in to a meeting which wasn't helping the fact that I was bricking it big style. Boss tells us that unless £10k profit in the dealership is seen by Monday, overheads may need to be cut..... this was his way of saying that people could loose jobs although I firmly believe this is a scare tactic as he has been interviewing to replace the 5th team member. The only person that knew I was resigning sniggered at this point which didn't help. After the meeting I went in to the office, appologised a lot and handed over my resignation notice, fuel card and keys. My stepdad is waiting up the hill to collect me however........... due to shortage of staff I was told to take keys and fuel card back and that I will be staying till at least Friday......... so that is why I am not writting up ED209 TMA03 today and why I am blogging from work. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Went to the pub last night and met up with some friends......... we have decided to be sheep and follow the crazy people in 'planking'......... before you worry, we have no plans to do anything dangerous however the picket fence yesterday looking tempting but painful. Best friend has decided to leave the current era and go back to the 80's......... this was all very well till I reminded him that the mobile phones of the 80s couldn't text!!!! So we have decided to embrace both eras for a while..... now where did I put those leg warmers??????

Final notice of doom - Think from the conversations in the house that my brother is thinking of proposing to his god awful girlfriend of 11 years. This also potentially means that she will someday produce spawn which I pray turn out like my brother and not her!!!!!!!!! It will be a sad day when I hear that he's done it.

A day of dread

Ar 6.10pm today I will be resigning from my position here which means that I should be let go of on the spot for going to work for the competitor however byu the looks of it, there will only be 1 person left here tomorrow so wondering about the outcome. Am prepped and ready to be gone tonight, stepdad is preped to come collect me once the deed is done.

If the above goes to plan then it means that I will have 2 days without a car and therefore I have 2 days to blitz ED209 TMA03 (due next Tuesday (that crept up on me)) and DD101 TMA07. I am ready to see the end of DD101 now, I have really enjoyed it but now starting to see the workload involved in running 2 60 point modules together although I am doing the same again at the end of this year with SD226 & DSE212 however with no exam for SD226, I think that I might be okay.

I am stacking it about resigning today but my work buddy is going to stay with me till I've done it.

Existence of God

Now, before anyone starts a rant, I am not going to critically analyse whether or not there is a god. Instead it is purely an idea for a title which has been sparked by a comment made by Stephen Hawking in which he says that:

'There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1387478/Stephen-Hawking-Heaven-fairy-story-people-afraid-dark.html#ixzz1MWQLJ0T7

Managed to get just under 1,000 words done for TMA03 yesterday before I went out, hopefully I can get the rest done tomorrow on my day off which will be a massive sigh of relief. Been looking further at ED209 TMA04 and maybe it isn't as scarey as first thought...... I think I was freaked out by how many pages make up the assignment guide however after a little read today, a lot of it is background concepts and the report is still only 2,000 words.

Went for an Indian last night with The One who is far from perfect but is very natural company. Pretty certain there is no chance of a future between us but need to phase out Boy Toy so think he will do to hang out with.

Found out that someone I vaguely know has just finished her Psychology degree at St Andrew's and said that she will help me get my head around some of the ideas. In exchange I will be her chief revision tester which to be fair may be a win win situation for me although being in her 3rd year I think It may all go a little over my head but maybe some things will stick.

Attachment Theory

TMA03 is proving to be rather interesting, I am around 900 words in to the 2000 word assignment and have found a 'flow' with it. The first 1000 words will be from chapter 1, around 500 from chapter 2 and the rest on introduction and conclusion. I think I may have cracked it. With 3 assignments due in a 4 week period I am rather glad this is the case. I haven't looked any further in to DD101 TMA07 as would rather focus on the course that affects my final grade so will wait till I've pressed that glorious submit button for TMA03 first.

Weather seems to have taken a downturn but this is a good thing with regards to study as the temptation to be outside is not there so much.

Have decided to take the job back at my old company due to the freedom to study and go to tutorials even if they are on a Saturday which I am sure will be back for other courses. Will be resigning at 6.10pm on Wednesday after I have done 2 handovers and it will save the 'walk of shame' as the only people who will be left in the building are my boss, myself, 1 colleague and a service guy. I hate doing this but hey I should be used to it after the amount I've done it recently.

Off out to see 'The One' tonight, it's wrong I know but I have a lot of fun and can chill with the channel hopping maniac.

ED209 TMA03 Update

After doing an awful lot of internet research on Bowlby's attachment theory I have found a lot of critisisms. I now think that I have enough stuff to go in to the essay and should be able to create a fairly comprehensive arguement and now maybe think that the word count might be more restrictive than first thought. The plan is to have a stab at writting up something this weekend however my plan to do it at work on Sunday has been scuppered by the fact that I am no longer working this one as had to swap with a poor West Ham supporter who is going to the 'West Ham Funeral' on the 22nd.

Been offered my old job back in the showroom that I was at before Christmas. I left due to wages being a bit behind industry norm however changes have been made and have commission structure coming over tonight so that I can compare to the current one. I am not a big fan of working for PLCs which I am currently so the move would put me back in my comfort zone and it has been agreed that I can do OU stuff when it's quiet without backlash and I can have days off to go to 'school days'. There are pros and cons to every decision so need to have a long hard think.

Have been working alone for the last couple of days but back to full(ish) strength today and managed 2 deals, had planned for 3 but the last customer was a little too wishy washy to commit.

Night without boy toy tonight which although I haven't updated much about him recently is starting to grind on my nerves a little. Very needy, always 'hand-to-mouth' and can't see this changing EVER, jealous of everything and everyone............... I'm not certain I see a future. The thing which may have changed things a little is that I am back in contact with 'The One' who is totally perfect for me (there is a very very long story with regards to The One so won't bore anyone).

A note on The Apprentice - The girl who is a psychologist has pretty managed to rub everybody up the wrong way - how apt.

ED209 TMA02 Results, Tutorial 3 and other Stuff

Last night was tutorial 3 for ED209 and as per usual it was a god send. A little guidance was given for TMA03 which has helped massively so really need to get a start on it especially as there is a tight one between ED209 TMA03, DD101 TMA07 and ED209 TMA (which is still freaking me out a little). My tutor is a total dude with a wealth of knowledge about all the topics. It has been suggested that I should compare and contrast but still be critical and close it down so that nobody could pick holes in my arguement. I would really struggle with my grades on ED209 without seeing him on a monthly basis.......... almost educating rita.

ED209 TMA03 results have come back and I'm not unhappy, don't think I could have done much better although my tutor comments were interesting, he really just added comments about things that I hadn't thought of with regards to fine details which hadn't even crossed my mind.

Just printed the wiki entry on Bowlby's attachment theory so hopefully it will be of help in preparation. Will do some internet research on the topic whilst at work today because I'm on my own and now a little bored.

DD101 TMA06 Submitted

Phew...... had panic attack all of yesterday thinking that the cut-off was at midday however DD101 still has midnight cut-off so managed to get it in at 7pm ish.

Time to make a start on DD101 TMA07 which after re-reading the brief, isn't going to be as problematic as first thought. It is only 1 chapter in the book which is important and not all 3. I have read through the transcript 'Citizens and the state' which has been very worthwhile as it has got my head around what the question is asking for. Now it is just a case of putting and arguement together.

ED209 TMA03 is due sooner so really need to blitz through these. I have a couple of Sunday's at work to get my head down on these but need to get some notes down first and get my head around it all. Erika Cox's booklets could prove rather invaluable for this TMA. I really want to get both these assignments done ASAP. I can't cope with the feeling of panic of leaving these things to last minute and I am looking at ED209 TMA04 with a complete blank.....................

DD101 TMA06 Completed

I managed to finish TMA06 on Sunday, it is now in the hands of my stepdad to make better English out of what I have written. I am pretty pleased with my assignment and hope tutor sees it in the same light. This is also my first critical analysis so hope I got that bit right too. I am hoping that critical analysis actually means picking a view point and finding evidence to back it up............. fingers crossed I am not way out.

Just took mum to Crazy Bear for lunch.......... expensive make-up for forgetting her birthday............. would have just been cheaper to buy a card so should teach me for next year.

Have started notes for DD101 TMA07 and ED209 TMA03......... hoping not to leave these to last minute.

Will be submitting TMA06 later today.

DD101 TMA06 Update

Thinking back, I actually started work on this assignment back in December when I was in my last company so based on that it has taken me over 4 months and I still have left DD101 TMA06 to the last minute to complete!!! This is not a good sign however since then ED209 started which has taken a fair bit of time. To be fair it is purely the write up phase as I think I have read the chapter so many times that it is almost commited to memory.

TMA system is down on Tuesday which is a pain as the TMA is due on Wednesday and boy toy's flat doesn't have internet access but I'm sure I can work around it.

Forgot mum's birthday last week so I'm in bad books however I am making up for it by taking her to The Crazy Bear for lunch, she's been wanting to go for ages because I used to go a fair bit and all her friends have been. Set lunch £14.50 is okay, larger at £6 a bottle is less okay. I suppose it's my fault for forgetting.

Erika Cox booklets have arrived and think they are going to be very handy especially for ED209 TMA03.

Have been thinking about DD101 TMA07 and making a few notes but I have to admit that the content isn't flowing too well in my grey matter and I'm struggling to get my head around it so doing a lot of googling about legitimate authority of states.

Back to DD101 TMA06 I suppose, 400 words done, only 1,100 to go, referencing and a self refelction to go. Arghhhhhhhhh

P.S. Royal Wedding - ended up watching it, actually enjoyed it and think they are a lovely couple. Also watched the Wills & Kate Love Story (I know, I know) but although it was a little cheesy, it actually was watchable.

ED209 TMA02 Submitted

Finally at the 11th hour I have submitted ED209 TMA02 and it has been a challenge to say the least, based on this I suspect TMA04 and TMA06 which are practicals are going to be just as hellish. At least for now it's another Essay for TMA03 and in a similar format to TMA01.

I am not certain that TMA02 is my best work but I have mentioned all the key points, I just worry that it is a bit of a ramble rather than constructed well. I am relieved just to have pressed that theraputic submit button.

On to DD101 TMA06 ready to be submitted next Wednesday, at least I have most of a body for this one so it is now just a case of sorting word count, referencing and submitting. Think I will multi-task this alongside the Royal Wedding.

ED209 Update

I have now worked out that if I can finish fOCUSII - Collection 2 which I have started but keep loosing the will to live with and complete fOCUSII - collection 3 then I am free running until May 21st but as I am getting very much in to the readings, I am pretty certain I will finish Book 2 before Easter and therefore I am free running (TMAs excluded) till the 3rd June which is a great feeling.

I can get on properly with DD101 TMA06, TMA07 (which requires a fair bit of reading and note taking) and ED209 TMA02 which I really need to get done between now and Easter weekend, TMA03 (I am looking forward to this as the question is based around atatchment theory and disturbed/disturbing behaviour) and make a start on TMA04 (practical, scary).

Onwards and upwards. Really, really want to get DD101 done and dusted for 2 reasons: 1) It will feel like a huge achievement, 2) I can totally focus on ED209.

3 posts in a day

Final post of today............... I promise.

Have managed to work through fOCUSII - Coding which is actually pretty vital for ED209 TMA02. Was going to start fOCUSII - Reliability and Validity but think I will just read and highlight Book 2 as have wine but not 2.5 hours as suggested. TMA03 is about attachment theory and disturbed and disturbing behaviour so pretty happy about that as is very very interesting.

Summary fOCUSII - Coding:

Observer Drift, Observers see things differently, Categories should be mutually exclusive, 2 types - Event Sampling & Time Sampling, Event sampling requires speach, Interaction Process Analysis (IPA), Bales (1999), 2 classes - task related behaviour and socio-emotional behaviour, Positive Responses, Attempted Answers, Questions, Negative Responses, look for patterns before applying stat tests, relies on judgements, Time sampling, 2 types - One-zero sampling and instantaneous sampling, problems as to when to sample as may miss behaviour or find more than 1.