…Hammond back in the driving seat!

Just found this today – Muppet Wiki – I never realised there was one – cool!! From this I have discovered that it’s Cookie-Monster’s birthday this week – he is 40 years old!

This is the proto-Cookie Monster, from a 1967 IBM training film –

But now we know him like this..

Cooooookkkkkiiiieeeeeeee!!!!! 🙂

(Yes, it *is* that time on a friday!)

It’s over. 6 years of part-time study while working full-time and it’s over. Assuming I pass (2 diplomas, a PGCE and a BA Hons) – I guess that’s worth 6 years? I have a really weird feeling that I can’t describe, it’s like the end of an era, but it’s good. I can now understand why some students suffer through the transition from 3 years at University then have to go out and get a job. Weird. I couldn’t stop smiling all last night 😀

Anyway, thanks to everyone for their good wishes and for all those who came out to meet me after the exam to help me celebrate. I’m going to spend the rest of my weekend…chilling. 😉

It’s funny the things you think about when you’re off work and you have the time to think about them. How one decision can, quite conceivably, change your direction. Being on holiday and having time to gather your thoughts can be a good thing, but also a bad thing, I guess (yup, speaking from experience on that one, also).

I had an ‘ex’ stay with me for the weekend (he had a business meeting in Newcastle) two weeks ago and we ended up having some very serious conversations. Why is that men always reveal some ‘revelation’ when it’s too late? You sit there… listening… all the while wanting to scream “Why didn’t you bl**dy tell me this at the time?” In this particular case, had I known, it might not have changed anything but it would’ve been good to hear the truth. Saying that however, the background is that he did something unforgivable and the fact that I still can’t get past it makes me think I made the right decision to end it.

I’m not going to turn this into a rant about men; it’s pointless as well as boring for those not involved. Besides – the best time to have a rant about men is when you have a girlie night with lots of wine and a chick-flick on DVD! The guys in the chick-flicks are always perfect. Sigh, I don’t know, I just wonder why men can’t seem to communicate their feelings until it’s too late – far too late, in some cases.

Hmm…what’s my point? Do I have one? I guess so… I guess the moral of this blog is that some men just can’t communicate until it’s too late.
There’s got to be some perfect men out there – after all, I’ve seen them on TV so surely they do exist? 🙂

After my jaunt (sorry, “work trip”) to Switzerland in July where, surprisingly, I remembered quite a lot of school-learned French, I decided it might be a good idea to try to develop what I can remember and learn conversational French. Therefore, I’ve signed up with the Centre for Lifelong Learning (based at Newcastle University, but now attached to Sunderland University) and I attended my first French class tonight.

It was really good, our teacher is ‘Jacques’, there was 20 of us (mostly students from Ncl Uni) and we learned how to introduce ourselves and others.

CPD? 😉

We’ll see how it goes…

..are back!

Yes, Ladies and Gents, it’s Freshers Week once again. As I type they are out on the lash in town – bumped into most of them in the Crows Nest this evening. Some all already looking like adoptive Geordies (white shoes and blotchy legs) as they were dressed for a beach-party and it’s a bit nippy outside. They are painfully young (as in they make me feel old!) and while in the Nest I saw, at least, 40% of them checked for ID at the door.

Speaking of ID, I’m on Smartcard duty all day tomorrow – I think we should have a competition to see who can get the worst hangover picture?

I have a feeling it’ll be quiet, first thing, until they make it out of bed! 🙂

Awww…little Richard’s in hospital after crashing at 280m per hour. BBC Report 🙁

Gordon’s on the rampage again – class entertainment for a monday night!

(It’s addictive)
🙂

The best news ever. Came home tonight to find that last assignment (quick turnaround!) waiting on the doormat. Got the highest mark I think I’ve ever had and as it was double-weighted, it is FANTASTIC news! Even my tutor told me to forget the wine and break out the champagne 🙂

Just the exam to go….(tick, tock)