Well, it looks set to be another busy year.
I'm just starting my next OU Module, U216 Environments, which is my first level 2 module, so it promises to be intense.
Im also just starting to use chainsaws at the forestry course so I should be ready to begin taking the industry required certificates of competence in a few weeks, which means hopefully I can get a job as a laborer if nothing else.
On top of this I have been asked to attend the governments Work Program. I dont mind when I'm not doing anything else, but they have been consistently making the appointments for when I'm not available.
Its not that I dont want to go on these days, its just that I think that I am better served going to college or the Open University day schools as the qualifications will be more help getting a job than the interviews about what I've been doing, and would I like to come in and do an english course.
Anyway, thats what I'm upto at the moment, catch you all soon
syd.
Monday, 28 January 2013
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
National Memorial Arboretum
On the 17th December, the last day of term we went on a field trip to the national memorial arboretum
Being an Arboriculture student, our tutor group was taken on a field trip today to the national memorial arboretum near litchfield. The idea was to see how trees can be used in a public space.
Well, the whole effect is one of life, yet at the same time revering those that have fallen. Still, there is no denying the sombre feeling I had there.
So to finish I just wanted to post this little poem, for all the, protesters, and other anti government types. I agree with much of what different people say. At the same time I strongly believe that the men and women in uniform are doing a difficult job for the country, being told what to do by the government that the people elect.
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Being an Arboriculture student, our tutor group was taken on a field trip today to the national memorial arboretum near litchfield. The idea was to see how trees can be used in a public space.
Well, the whole effect is one of life, yet at the same time revering those that have fallen. Still, there is no denying the sombre feeling I had there.
So to finish I just wanted to post this little poem, for all the, protesters, and other anti government types. I agree with much of what different people say. At the same time I strongly believe that the men and women in uniform are doing a difficult job for the country, being told what to do by the government that the people elect.
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Year 1 Results
Year 1 Results
The last year has seen many changes to me, I’ve had the
results from my first OU Module(Y181, introducing environment), Finished my first fulltime college course in
15 years (Level 1 Diploma in Environment Conservation with South Nottingham
College) and start of the next(Level 2 Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture
with Derby College), and after what has felt like a lifetime my confidence has built
back up and I'm out and about on my own.
Christmas week I received the result of my second OU module.
I have passed U116, the second module I have taken, and the end of my first
year studying.
The module gives a basic history and workings of the
environment, though it has left me with a slightly doom filled view of the
world we live within. Man’s fate is not separate to that of the rest of the
ecosystem, it is tied up with it, so every species we allow to reach extinction
is another step closer to our own.
I have also received my certificate for the first years
college course, A level 1 Diploma in Environment Conservation, which gives me a
good understanding in the practical tasks involved in countryside management.
I've also received my course materials for next year’s OU
study, which should lead on nicely from the last year, though I think it will
be taxing as I do not have a science/maths background, and apparently it is
very science/maths heavy, so I'm getting started NOW.
Being halfway through my second year at college I've also
started the application process for this coming September, Countryside management
2 year course, slightly different from the Environment Conservation, and
Arboriculture and forestry I have studied last year and this year.
The new subjects studied will be "Understand the
Principles and Carry out the Practice of Wildlife Population Surveys and
control", the rest of the syllabus is just developing what I've already
learnt.
Not too sure what that will involve, but I'm fairly sure it
will include trapping &/or poisoning grey squirrels and rabbits, and
possibly shooting deer (a problem in this part of the world) and corvids (crows/
Magpies etc) & pigeon’s.
All since last Monday morning, so as you can imagine, all in
all a very hectic week, but generally with a positive outlook.
Zomby Appocalypse
28 days later, Resident evil and The walking dead.Just think, your
safely inside your house behind the barricaded doors and windows, you
have a axe and your favorite shotgun at hand, but no food, what do you
do?
OK, so maybe a little far fetched, but what do you do if flooding or snow stop your local Tesco 24hour supermarket opening?
Personally I'm trying to get as much tinned and long life food in now, because last year and the year before we had about a week where we couldn't get to the shops, and they didn't get any deliveries.
Cereal and long life milk, along with tinned food and dried food like pasta and rice etc, along with a months worth of house hold chemicals and bottled gas would be nice.
Why dried food and not frozen? Well its simple, dried food can be stored in cupboards, where as frozen food needs to be stored in a freezer, doesn't have as long before the use by date, and is expensive to keep. Let alone the fact that without power your food will soon thaw and spoil.
The problem I'm having is that the moment something interesting gets brought into the house, someone eats it. Tinned spaghetti, chilli etc lasts about a week before its snaffled by our version of Mr Creosote.
Is anyone else trying to get set for winter, or am I alone in trying to build up a reserve while living hand to mouth?
link [blogs.cdc.gov]
http://syds-prepping.blogspot.co.uk/
OK, so maybe a little far fetched, but what do you do if flooding or snow stop your local Tesco 24hour supermarket opening?
Personally I'm trying to get as much tinned and long life food in now, because last year and the year before we had about a week where we couldn't get to the shops, and they didn't get any deliveries.
Cereal and long life milk, along with tinned food and dried food like pasta and rice etc, along with a months worth of house hold chemicals and bottled gas would be nice.
Why dried food and not frozen? Well its simple, dried food can be stored in cupboards, where as frozen food needs to be stored in a freezer, doesn't have as long before the use by date, and is expensive to keep. Let alone the fact that without power your food will soon thaw and spoil.
The problem I'm having is that the moment something interesting gets brought into the house, someone eats it. Tinned spaghetti, chilli etc lasts about a week before its snaffled by our version of Mr Creosote.
Is anyone else trying to get set for winter, or am I alone in trying to build up a reserve while living hand to mouth?
link [blogs.cdc.gov]
http://syds-prepping.blogspot.co.uk/
Thoughts on well being
Thoughts on well being. Enjoy.
For quite a while now I have been learning as much about self improvement as I can, and developing my own ideas.
Self improvement is about a great deal more than just reading books on confidence and how to become more attractive to the opposite sex.
My physical appearance requires work, as does my emotional development and my intellectual development.
In order to achieve your full potential you have to feel comfortable and confident in yourself.
Personally I feel that in order for me to fulfill my potential I need to work on my fitness and appearance. Please do not mistake this for vanity. As well as boosting confidence there are obvious benefits of being fitter, such as less likely hood of heart & liver disease, more energy, less risk of joint illnesses for the lower limbs such as Arthritis.
I'm not a fan of Invasive procedures, but if you need to have a gastric band or staples then you should, I have managed to lose weight with exercise and diets, yet I know others are not that lucky, or just have a large amount to lose. Normally these work by restricting the amount of food that will fit in your stomach, therefore lowering you appetite and intake, so that your body burns up its fat reserves instead of the fat in any food.
Tablets. block your bodies ability to digest fats, or raise your metabolic rate so that you use more energy, consequently either eating more or burning the bodies fat reserves, eating more will not help you to lose weight, but if you can ignore the urge to eat the extra food you are craving then you will lose weight.
Diets. These are probably the most common, but also the hardest, method of losing weight. Personally I have only tried the slim fast and Special K diets available commercially, but it is just as effective to plan your meals so that you only eat so many calories per day, and linit the amounts of certain types of food.
Exercise. For me going to the gym, and Climbing/ walking in the peak district are more than just losing weight and keeping it off. The feeling you get when you have finished is great, the endorphins and adrenaline flooding your system make you feel almost euphoric. If you are able I would strongly urge everyone to get more exercise, it doesn't matter what level of fitness you are there will be something that you can do. Just raise your heartbeat so that it is working slightly harder than normal for 30 mins a day 5 days a week and that will be good for a start.
Appearance(cont.)
If you do not feel comfortable with any aspect of your appearance such as wearing glasses, or having wonky teeth, change it. Nowadays you can get pretty much anything worked on, for a price. Personally I feel that my glasses and stained teeth make me look less attractive than I have the potential to be, so whitening and Lasek would be in order, but if you are unhappy with any part of yourself, whatever you feel you need changing do it. Even if all that you do is spend half an hour a week under a tanning bed, the boost it gives to you is worth it.
Fitness is only one aspect of overall welbeing, you also have to be mentally agile. Reading, solving puzzles etc are all good traditional ways of honing ones mind, but you can also take up a distance learning course in a subject that interests you, yet you know little about, or you can use one of the many "Brain Training" games, they are even available on phones so you can do it in your lunch break or while you wait for the bus to work.
Confidence is very important, if you have a problem with it try working your way through a few different confidence books, there are literally thousands available, from experience Paul Mc Kenna Books and CD's are good places to start.
Spiritual development. I don't mean that you should grab the first religion that you come across and embrace for no other reason than it is there, what I mean is your inner spirit. Meditation has many forms, Yoga and Tia Chi are forms of meditation just as Buddhist meditation techniques are forms of meditation. Meditation is good for your inner self as it allows your mind to attune to your body in a way that normal life and work does not. Again, start with a few basic books and then visit youe nearest practitioner of the type that appeals to you the most.
Martial arts of any type, even boxercise and body combat, and dieting clubs are good for your health, but they also allow you to meet people with similar goals, depending on the specific club but some have frankly draconian methods of promoting your health, such as the weekly weigh in(These dont show a true reading as your body can vary as much as 4lb naturally, so it wont show a weight loss accurately, and a weight gain can be false AND demoralizing). For this is is the support structure of the others in the class that is the important thing, not the fitness or dieting skills from the course itself.
Oh, and my overall daily regimen consists of a minimum of 3 hour open university courses per day, aprox 4 miles walking the dog, a further hour with self help books of one type or another, varying meditation and personal reflection and family interaction.
Indulgencecan be a good thing, but if you find that you are spending all your money then this may be a warning sign that you have other issues that you need examining, go and chat with your doctor, the sooner the better.
For quite a while now I have been learning as much about self improvement as I can, and developing my own ideas.
Self improvement is about a great deal more than just reading books on confidence and how to become more attractive to the opposite sex.
My physical appearance requires work, as does my emotional development and my intellectual development.
In order to achieve your full potential you have to feel comfortable and confident in yourself.
Personally I feel that in order for me to fulfill my potential I need to work on my fitness and appearance. Please do not mistake this for vanity. As well as boosting confidence there are obvious benefits of being fitter, such as less likely hood of heart & liver disease, more energy, less risk of joint illnesses for the lower limbs such as Arthritis.
I'm not a fan of Invasive procedures, but if you need to have a gastric band or staples then you should, I have managed to lose weight with exercise and diets, yet I know others are not that lucky, or just have a large amount to lose. Normally these work by restricting the amount of food that will fit in your stomach, therefore lowering you appetite and intake, so that your body burns up its fat reserves instead of the fat in any food.
Tablets. block your bodies ability to digest fats, or raise your metabolic rate so that you use more energy, consequently either eating more or burning the bodies fat reserves, eating more will not help you to lose weight, but if you can ignore the urge to eat the extra food you are craving then you will lose weight.
Diets. These are probably the most common, but also the hardest, method of losing weight. Personally I have only tried the slim fast and Special K diets available commercially, but it is just as effective to plan your meals so that you only eat so many calories per day, and linit the amounts of certain types of food.
Exercise. For me going to the gym, and Climbing/ walking in the peak district are more than just losing weight and keeping it off. The feeling you get when you have finished is great, the endorphins and adrenaline flooding your system make you feel almost euphoric. If you are able I would strongly urge everyone to get more exercise, it doesn't matter what level of fitness you are there will be something that you can do. Just raise your heartbeat so that it is working slightly harder than normal for 30 mins a day 5 days a week and that will be good for a start.
Appearance(cont.)
If you do not feel comfortable with any aspect of your appearance such as wearing glasses, or having wonky teeth, change it. Nowadays you can get pretty much anything worked on, for a price. Personally I feel that my glasses and stained teeth make me look less attractive than I have the potential to be, so whitening and Lasek would be in order, but if you are unhappy with any part of yourself, whatever you feel you need changing do it. Even if all that you do is spend half an hour a week under a tanning bed, the boost it gives to you is worth it.
Fitness is only one aspect of overall welbeing, you also have to be mentally agile. Reading, solving puzzles etc are all good traditional ways of honing ones mind, but you can also take up a distance learning course in a subject that interests you, yet you know little about, or you can use one of the many "Brain Training" games, they are even available on phones so you can do it in your lunch break or while you wait for the bus to work.
Confidence is very important, if you have a problem with it try working your way through a few different confidence books, there are literally thousands available, from experience Paul Mc Kenna Books and CD's are good places to start.
Spiritual development. I don't mean that you should grab the first religion that you come across and embrace for no other reason than it is there, what I mean is your inner spirit. Meditation has many forms, Yoga and Tia Chi are forms of meditation just as Buddhist meditation techniques are forms of meditation. Meditation is good for your inner self as it allows your mind to attune to your body in a way that normal life and work does not. Again, start with a few basic books and then visit youe nearest practitioner of the type that appeals to you the most.
Martial arts of any type, even boxercise and body combat, and dieting clubs are good for your health, but they also allow you to meet people with similar goals, depending on the specific club but some have frankly draconian methods of promoting your health, such as the weekly weigh in(These dont show a true reading as your body can vary as much as 4lb naturally, so it wont show a weight loss accurately, and a weight gain can be false AND demoralizing). For this is is the support structure of the others in the class that is the important thing, not the fitness or dieting skills from the course itself.
Oh, and my overall daily regimen consists of a minimum of 3 hour open university courses per day, aprox 4 miles walking the dog, a further hour with self help books of one type or another, varying meditation and personal reflection and family interaction.
Indulgencecan be a good thing, but if you find that you are spending all your money then this may be a warning sign that you have other issues that you need examining, go and chat with your doctor, the sooner the better.
Interview Techniques and "The Game"
Interview techniques and "The Game"
The use of pick up routines, for getting a job.
This is a quick run down of what I did this morning, and an
explanation of why. As a first stage interview I was selected to go through to
the next round, that's the top 8 applicants out of 40 interviewed and 200
applications.
When I say "The Game", I don't want it to sound
like I'm denigrating women, Its the title of one of the books that I have read
on picking up women, because like most geeks, I am shockingly poor at talking
to women in social settings such as clubs and pubs.
PLAN do your homework, what is the company looking for, what
can you offer, how do the two differ? In pick up this would be what are your
approaches and counters to snubs.
SMILE First impressions count, and you cannot appear to be
miserable or unhappy. Smile not just with your mouth but your eyes as well.
Women seldom choose a surly partner, even if you are built like Adonis,
interviewers seldom choose miserable applicants because you probably not last
long or you may change the mood of the work space.
CONFIDENCE along with smiling this is another key, don't
build any barriers with your body language, have squared shoulders and open
gestures. DO NOT cross anything in front of your body such as arms, legs,
hands. It is a barrier and will be seen as a block to good communication subconsciously.
Tell yourself that you all ready have the job or girl, even
if the odds are slim, especially in pick up it is the person with the strongest
self reality that will prevail.
When asked why you should be offered the job state why you
think you are the most suitable applicant. These two feed off each other, if
you do not believe that you are you will have a very hard time persuading the
interviewer that you are.
When asked where you see yourself in x years, give them
THEIR job title, and then say why that job is ace, similar with a girl, tell
her that she could have worn more makeup, but then say that what she is wearing
is really nice with her complexion.
That's it really, just to say though that I got through to
the next round of interviews in 3 weeks so I will see how my self belief works
out then, but it will probably be just enough time for the nerves to set in.
Another Step Closer
Another step closer
I finished a Diploma in Environmental Conservation on July 11, 201y, its a fancy name for an NVQ, but its all there on the CV to give me the practical skills to back up the degree I'm working towards via the Open University. I am actually glad its finished and I can get on with me OU work for a few months before college starts again in September.
In September I'll be doing an Arboriculture & Forestry Diploma, again to add practical skills to my repetroir. I'm not sure what I'll be doing when this finishes, but it will be either study for another Diploma/NVQ or looking for a job where I can develop my skills & experience, like an apprenticeship.
As for my OU work, I've almost finished my second module. The other week I switched my degree as the new one has more career relevance, though it shares the same core modules, so I'm in the same place, just working towards a BSC in Environmental Management rather than a BA/BSC Environment Studies.
OK, so a few of the later modules from the BSC dont grab my imagination as much as those from the BA, but at the end of the day I can go back and study those on their own once I've finished if I want to, and be able to get a job doing what I love in the mean time.
I'm hoping that once I've finished with the OU, and I've gained the practical countryside management skills, and the experience from volunteering for the National Trust & my local County Council I will be able to get a good job either sub contracting for varius NGO's, or as a team leader for the National parks/Forestry Commission/ NGO's/ Local Authority or private estate.
Heres hoping eh.
I finished a Diploma in Environmental Conservation on July 11, 201y, its a fancy name for an NVQ, but its all there on the CV to give me the practical skills to back up the degree I'm working towards via the Open University. I am actually glad its finished and I can get on with me OU work for a few months before college starts again in September.
In September I'll be doing an Arboriculture & Forestry Diploma, again to add practical skills to my repetroir. I'm not sure what I'll be doing when this finishes, but it will be either study for another Diploma/NVQ or looking for a job where I can develop my skills & experience, like an apprenticeship.
As for my OU work, I've almost finished my second module. The other week I switched my degree as the new one has more career relevance, though it shares the same core modules, so I'm in the same place, just working towards a BSC in Environmental Management rather than a BA/BSC Environment Studies.
OK, so a few of the later modules from the BSC dont grab my imagination as much as those from the BA, but at the end of the day I can go back and study those on their own once I've finished if I want to, and be able to get a job doing what I love in the mean time.
I'm hoping that once I've finished with the OU, and I've gained the practical countryside management skills, and the experience from volunteering for the National Trust & my local County Council I will be able to get a good job either sub contracting for varius NGO's, or as a team leader for the National parks/Forestry Commission/ NGO's/ Local Authority or private estate.
Heres hoping eh.
Fuck Yeah
Fuck Yeah
I got the results for my first University module this morning (June 10) , I got a Pass, the module doesnt offer a distinction so that was the only information available, but smegging hell I passed it. Thats 15 credits towards a 360 Credit Bachelors or Science. I am mega chuffed.
I'm currently studying another module, this one is 60 Credits, and due to start two (One 15 Credits, the other 60 credits) in September and two in the spring of 2013(One 15 Credits, the other 60 credits), thats as far as I dare plan, but that means I'll be half way to the degree by this time next year.
Its supposed to be a Part time degree which means I should spend 4 years studying to achieve what full time students get in 3, but I think if I carry on at that rate I'll get it sooner.
Sorry, it is'nt that I'm bragging, I'm just well made up. If you'd have told me while I was at school that I'd be studying for a degree, I'd have thought you were a loony.
I got the results for my first University module this morning (June 10) , I got a Pass, the module doesnt offer a distinction so that was the only information available, but smegging hell I passed it. Thats 15 credits towards a 360 Credit Bachelors or Science. I am mega chuffed.
I'm currently studying another module, this one is 60 Credits, and due to start two (One 15 Credits, the other 60 credits) in September and two in the spring of 2013(One 15 Credits, the other 60 credits), thats as far as I dare plan, but that means I'll be half way to the degree by this time next year.
Its supposed to be a Part time degree which means I should spend 4 years studying to achieve what full time students get in 3, but I think if I carry on at that rate I'll get it sooner.
Sorry, it is'nt that I'm bragging, I'm just well made up. If you'd have told me while I was at school that I'd be studying for a degree, I'd have thought you were a loony.
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