Typecast

Yesterday I heaved a massive sigh of relief. I have had to admit that I can't carry on the way I am - work, family, study, writing, blogger extraordinaire, International Twitter Queen...  it's all very tiring, y'know.  But even I could recognise the signs of the cracks showing.  Nothing major but just that sense of feeling of always mulling stuff over, never stopping, knowing that there is no midnight oil left to burn.

My finger hovers over the pause button whilst I listen to another snippet of sound.   I click, then pick up my pen and write quickly before I forget.  Then I repeat, over and over again, sometimes going back a few seconds to make sure I have heard correctly, occasionally listening to the same three words. I have not slipped back to the 1980s, attempting to learn the lyrics of the latest pop song to impress my mates on Monday.  I am merely trying to transcript a one-minute piece of conversation for an assignment.  The principle is much the same though.  

... as Mary Poppins once said. Today marks the day that I am exactly half way through my degree with the Open University.  I began well and steadily got better at lone study.  Today, I have sat my first official exam in 22 years ( apart from the Health & Safety course I did earlier this year ) and have spent the last few weeks worrying about it all .

I am dreading this week.  Friday is exam day.  The first exam I have taken in 22 years.  I am crap at revising and retaining information so it is also an exam that I am convinced I am going to fail. Before I continue, I have to say that, in two years of lone study with the OU, this is my first negative experience.  Up until now I have championed the system and I have enjoyed studying for my degree.  This is my fourth module.  It is also the last presentation of this particular module.  The course has been updated and rewritten.  That doesn't excuse the lackadaisical attitude of my tutor.

Lone study is hard.  Really bloody hard.  I have been slogging away at this Open University degree now for two years, as well as working full time and dealing with all the pressures that come with everyday family life.  For the first time in recent years I have just had to admit that I can't do something and it makes me want to cry.  I have emailed my tutor to ask if I can substitute an assignment.  It's the final assignment of this course and I have a four hour exam looming ( I may be asking you to join hands and send collective positive thoughts on the 15th October ).  I have used the online calculator to see if I can substitute this assignment and still pass the course and * drum roll * yes I can.  I need a minimum of 40% in the exam.  As soon as I clicked " send " on that email I heaved a sigh of relief.

Welcome to my world (at work). This is my desk at work and where I spend the majority of my waking hours.  It is also what has defined me over the past few years since returning to the high-flying world of administration - I shall try and introduce you to everything. My official job title is "Senior Administrator".  The unofficial job title is " Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None " or " NICKIE... WHY DOESN'T THIS WORK?  HELP!! " Starting from the bottom left of the photo you have: Work needing my managers attention. The invoice file - part of my job is to demand money.  I try and do it without menaces. Certificates that need destroying after the machine at Royal Mail chewed them up . The patterned spiral notebook is the office Bible.  It holds all the costings for the current year and other relevant information.  I control this book.  My BOAT. My Book Of All Things is my saviour.  I record more or less all of my work notes in here a...