Well I did it!!!

Not sure if anyone is still interested lol but I have achieved my first dream - little "old" me has graduated with a Bachelor of Psychological Science with distinction. Such a happy day - after four years of full time study I increased my education level from a year 10 high school finish to that of a University Graduate. But that is not the end of my study - I am loving it all so much that I am continuing on and am now half way through an honours program. End goal is to practice as a psychologist and help people to understand the link between their mind, their behaviour and outcomes in life.

So once I have the honours program completed I will apply for a masters program or undertake a two year supervised provisional role. Still seems like a long way to go but I have come so far and these next few years will fly by just like the last four have.

Moral of the story - reach for your dreams - because if I can do it - so can you!! Absolutely anything is possible.

End of term 1, 2nd year Psychology

Hello

Oh my goodness - where has the time gone??????

I cannot believe that it is now the end of term 1, 2nd year already!

I really must get on here and reflect more often. It has been a huge term with lots happening.

My first major news is that I now also work part time for CQU as well as studying there.

I am so excited and I absolutely love my job.

How lucky am I to be able to say that I love my job - I really cannot believe my luck. I am a widening participation assistant and my role is to go to the local schools out here in western Queensland and undertake sessions with year 11 and 12 students to introduce and teach them skills that may be required in their life long journey. It includes teaching them how to apply for scholarships, undertaking group work, keeping track of learning, along with several other important skills that can be applied to either future study or work force roles. 

I started back in April with training over in Rockhampton (which I just loved) and will really shift into high gear in the school term 3 (July and August) with sessions in Blackall, Longreach and Winton.

 

My study is going superbly - I am still loving every minute of it - even the stressful points (and believe me - there has been a few of those hehe).

2nd Year studies are definitely so much harder than 1st year - I have noticed a huge difference in the study load and the expectations. I sometimes am so busy that I don't know how I fit everything into my schedule. and I often find myself wishing for extra hours in each day. I have even found myself timing my days down to the minutes sometimes. My weekly planner is my lifesaver and I would be lost without it - absolutely everything has to be put into the plan otherwise it doesn't get done.

I have also been lucky enough to have found an absolutely fabulous study buddy - and I can tell you that she is a god send!!! Kelly is in the same year of Psychology as me and we met through the widening participation program. Kelly is also a widening participation assistant and we chat via messages and Skype all the time. We constantly talk about and throw ideas about our studies around as well as do revision sessions for exams. Having a friend to talk about study is amazingly helpful. Although Frankie (hubby) is soooo supportive and eagerly helps me with reviewing my essays and quizzes me for exam study - it is soooo nice to have someone who also talks psychology language. Kelly knows what I am on about without having to explain the concepts  and we constantly crack each other up with psychology jokes - that only psych students would get.

 

I am just so lucky - I have a great job, a fabulous study buddy, I love my study, my family is awesome - how much more could a girl want?

I am currently on three weeks break and although I was well and truly ready for a break - I am now finding myself going a bit stir crazy. hehehe  how silly is that? I have worked my way through a list of things to do - that contained all of my much neglected jobs around the house like sorting out my desk and the kitchen cupboards, scrubbing every surface possible, doing some gardening and now I am finding myself wandering aimlessly around hehehe

I think I had better get another to do list going again - that's a good idea actually. I have a huge pile of pinterest pictures that I have printed out for inspiration for card making - so I could start working my way through those.

 

Speaking of card making - I did have a wonderful day with my card making buddies last Monday and I have another one planned for next Monday. It was so funny last Monday - cause I was so excited to get card making but when I sat down to do it - I couldn't - I sat there like I had never made a card in my life before - I was soooooo out of practice - but by the end of the day - I had three cards made. So hopefully I will be quick off the mark next Monday. 

 

I will get organised and put up a post on my card making blog in the next couple of days. And then I think I will spend a little more time each term - keeping track of my journey. I do find blogging so very helpful in reflecting and looking at what areas I can improve myself in. I have also looked and I have a reflective piece due for one of next terms courses - so what better place to be reflective than here in Blogland.

Ok well I might go and grab myself a diet coke and have afternoon tea with the boys before working out what we are going to have for dinner - today has gone so fast - I can't believe it is already 3 o'clock.

 

Have a great day, doing what ever it is that you are doing!

Keep smiling, be happy, talk soon x joy

 

 

Where is the time going

Hello, Hello, Hello

Long time and no me

How naughty I am!!!!!

I have been such a bad bad blogger - but here I am better late than never

Today is officially the last day of term break with term three year one done and dusted 

and with a drum roll

dadum dadum

 

Year Two starts on Monday

can you believe it

Year Two already

I am a second year Psychology student - (it sounds so grown up hehe)

I just cannot believe it

WOW WOW WOW

It is so exciting!!

And if time continues to go so fast - I will be finished before I know it.

I did two subjects this last term  - Foundations of Psychology Research which I received a High Distinction for and Organisational Behavior that I received a Distinction for.

I was actually I little disappointed with my Distinction after achieving all High Distinctions for all of my other subjects - but that is silly really as a Distinction is still above 75% - so I have to learn not to be so hard on myself. But I must admit I did not give my usual 100% for Organisational behavior - I got a little slack and didn't push myself completely. 

So that is a lesson to learn - if I want HD's I need to put in the effort and do it.

My new desktop back ground is flashing the benefits of consistency and perseverance at me  - as I really think that is what is needed to succeed.

So as of Monday I start with

Life Span Human Development - this always fascinates me - so super excited to do this subject

Personality - also fascinating and exciting to be doing

and last but not least

Research Methods for Psychology - a little daunting but I am determined to get to it and get my brain wrapped around the subject.

I have all my term planner done up and ready to go

I am also raring to get back into it

I even started my readings ahead of time - to keep me ahead of schedule - I like being in front and in control

It makes the whole process flow much more smoothly.

Ok well I promise that I will keep you more up to date on this term studies

and not be a terrible blogger

I have taken control of my life and am now not only eating a healthy diet and exercising but I am also trying my hardest to be more organised - and I am loving it!

I was kinda organised before but have ramped up the energy in this part of my life - so that I can fit in all that I want to fit in.

I am feeling so much more healthy - I sleep better, feel better and have more energy

So look out I might end up being dangerous hehe

Ok well take care

talk soon

x joy

EXAM WEEK

Hello and happy Thursday to you,

I have just sat my first big exam for the term and thought that I would come here and reflect and in the process cleanse the mind so that I can get stuck into study for my second exam next Wednesday.

 

I am so glad that I got this exam out of the way first - Professional Practice and if you remember from my last post - I did not really enjoy the course at all. It was very content heavy and required so much time to try and get my head around everything that you had to learn for the exam. Sooooooo very glad it is over!!!!!!!!

Not sure how I went - I felt like I was brain dead, so I will have to wait and see.

 

Anyway I now have to knuckle down and get stuck into study for Social Foundations of Psychology - I really enjoyed that content, so will find study much easier.

 

I have the boys on school holidays, so it has been fun trying to juggle them being home as well as study but we have managed ok. Although Benji is bored silly!!!!!! It is his birthday on Monday, so we are taking him over to Emerald for a couple of days tomorrow as a birthday treat. We will get to go to the movies and eat at Macca's , which is always fun to do when you don't get to do it very often.

 

My plan is to take my study gear with me and study at night, or while the boys are in the pool. So that I don't fall behind. I want to re watch all lectures and undertake practise quizzes before Wednesday, so it might be a tight schedule.

 

Then I have a couple of weeks off before term 3 starts. I am doing two subjects over the Christmas term. So I won't be so bogged down. Looking forward to that. Although I have my lovely sisters wedding at the beginning of November so really should start thinking about organising getting down to Brisbane for that - I haven't even had a chance to think that far in advance yet.

 

Ok well I am going to clear off my desk and start the study role again all afresh. I will need to download the lectures that I want to watch while we are away, so I have them on hand and don't have to use up precious mega bites of my portable wifi .

 

I hope you have a happy day, talk soon

x joy 

Mid term reflection

WOW - it's mid term already!

Well actually its after mid term, cause this is now week 6 and time to get back to the grind stone.

I thought I would start off this second half of term with a mighty big reflection which is always good for the soul and very helpful in getting back on track and heading in the right direction.

This term has been huge again - although I really think all terms will be huge, so I had better get used to it. I really do love the vacation week at the six week mark cause I really start to unravel a bit and things start to build up. It is great to just catch up and reassess everything and kind of clear the slate and start afresh.

 

Professional practice is huge, I am finding that this course is taking way more of the required 12 hours to complete each week. There are videos to watch, tutorials to sit, readings to do, assessments to get done along with the lectures to watch!!!!!

 I can't tell you how much I will be glad when this course is over! It involves a very big group work assessment and I must say that I am not enjoying that at all. I realise that the whole point of it is to learn to work with others but I am a bit of a control freak and really only feel comfortable relying on myself. It is frustrating to say the least when you are wanting to get stuck into the work load but no-one else in your group is as keen as you are - Urgh!!!!! Anyway I just have to learn to compromise and do things a little differently than I am used to - I just want to get it done and then we could spend the last couple of weeks fine tuning but I have the feeling that the others would rather just fly by the seat of their pants and get it done just before it is due. So to solve my uncomfortableness with this situation I am trying really hard to be less stressed and relaxing a bit and just working on my bits and then I can just spend time fine tuning my own stuff, while we work as a group on the group portion. Everyone I am working with seems really nice, it is just that they work differently to me (and I guess that is the whole point to the exercise) .

 

I am loving my other two subjects!! They are the psychology subjects and are much more comfortable for me. I sat my mid term exam week 5 and got 29/30 hence I am a happy girl with that.

Mind you it did take quite a bit of hard work to get that 29 - I studied for that exam for nearly the solid week before the test and let the other two subjects lapse into break week to do so. Anyway it all worked out - I am now all up to date and raring to go again.

 

On the home front I have two of my three boys off sick at the moment. My biggest boy has had a very hard time at work during the last week and a bit. Being on call 24 hours a day takes it toll after awhile especially when he doesn't get a proper nights sleep for many of those nights and then has to cancel days off when others call in sick. Some times it is very hard and I don't know how he does it - I cannot cope without sleep or food and sometimes he goes hours and hours without both. Then adding chest pain into the picture - it is not good and I finally convinced him to go to the doctor. Who took one look at him and sent him off on sick leave - sometimes you just have to stop and look after yourself first no matter who you have to let down. Its better to stop and take a break instead of fall over in a heap and not be able to get back up. He has been told to relax and not do anything stressful for at least two weeks. Then I also have my littlest boy down with one of these rotten fluey coldy things that everyone is getting - I know he is sick when he doesn't move all day. He has had raging temperatures and bright rosy cheeks. We are just trying to keep temps down and fluids up - he does seem a little brighter today, so fingers crossed. He and the big fella are currently watching an old western on tv - nothing soothes the soul like an old western hehehe. Luckily boy number three is healthy - although he is very much a teenager again but that is a whole other story!!!!!!

 

Ok well I am off to go read chapter 13 Social Development for this weeks readings for social foundations of Psychology. Then I have my 50 000 pages to read for Professional practice (hehe maybe not 50 000 but the readings are huge for the week - I will go add up how many pages I have to read for you - 100 plus pages- urgh - makes it so hard to try and retain it all!!!! (in the time it took me to count them I could of just read a few pages -  couldn't I))

  

This will be me this week!!!!

In between taking temperatures and fluffing pillows for the sick ones in the house hehe

Hopefully I will be back in the next couple of weeks with the luxury of time to reflect on the next half of the term - it is so good for re-evaluating and refocusing. 

Talk soon

x joy

 

WOW - where has the time gone

Hello and a super happy Thursday to you!
You may have noticed that I have not been around for awhile.
Well I have been super duper busy, with my head down and my bum up, working very hard.
It is now week 1 of term two.
I have been very slack with keeping you up to date on my progress, but I will start now with a quick run down on what I have been doing.

I sat all three of my exams in the first week of June. It was a huge week because of having three exams to study for. I tried very hard to stay relaxed and calm but I will admit that I ended up getting a little stressed a few times.
I was actually surprised at just how much information that I had retained when it came to the exams and I was confident that I had done kinda ok in all three.

Anyway I sat the last of the three on Thursday 6th June and that afternoon we headed off on our family vacation. However what was meant to be a relaxing time for the family ended up being 'a running around like chickens with their heads cut off' two and a half weeks. Hehehehe.

We arrived in Brisbane at my lovely Nieces place on the Friday and then I left for a weekend get away with my Niece and my lovely Sister on the Saturday. We treated ourselves to a day at the Brisbane Paper crafting Show, followed by our version of a night on the town in Brisbane, staying at a lovely hotel in town. It was funny cause we ended up back at the hotel and in our pj's by 9.30 at night. Gone are the days when I can party all night hehehe. We did have dinner at the Pancake Manor, where I used to frequent when I was much younger (27 years ago - to be exact - oh boy I am getting old). It was a lovely trip down memory lane. We had lots of giggles during the evening and I really enjoyed every aspect of the getaway.

We stayed at my nieces place for just over a week, which involved a whole lot of shopping for stuff that we needed and couldn't get a home. We also took the boys ice skating, bowling and to an indoor skate park - lots of fun! And then of the Sunday we headed off to the Gold Coast for 4 days. I thought that we would be able to have a relax while we where down on the coast - but that didn't happen. We took the boys to Dream world and SeaWorld while we where there - and had a fabulous time. We treated the boys and let Ashley sign up for  being a trainer for the day and Benji got to do a deep water swim with the dolphins at Sea world. They loved every minute of it!!!!!!! I will try and add some photos for you to see soon.

Anyway after a lovely, very busy holiday we returned to Blackall and started getting stuck into our renovating again while I awaited my end of term results. Finally on Friday the 28th June I got my results and am very pleased to say that I  not only passed all three courses but achieved:

1. High Distinction
2. High Distinction
3. High Distinction

Yay Yay Yay
how happy am I!!!!!!!!
I am over the moon - all the hard work and stress paid off.
I had done really well in my exams as well as my mid term assessments - what a relief!!!!!!

Anyway now term 2 started on Monday and I am now well and truly into the first week of study.
My Three subjects this term are:

Social Foundations of Psychology
Current Trends in Psychology
and
Professional Practice
So far, so good - I have got my head around the course profiles and assessments, so now I just have to get cracking and do the hard yards.
Ok well speaking of hard work I had better go and get into it.
I will pop those photos up as soon as I get a moment.
Have a great and happy day,
talk soon
x joy






Week 11

Hello there, and a happy Wednesday to you,

Can you believe that it is week 11 already.

Oh my - I don't know where the time is going.

It feels like I wake up each day only to feel like the next minute I am going to bed again.

This week is the final week containing assessable content for two of my courses, the other has a non compulsory subject which is Intro into behaviour modification (which I am looking forward to).

Then next week has some more non compulsory subjects and review for all three courses.

Then the first week of June I sit my three exams - so much study to do before that gets here - URGH.

I have sat some moch exams and they made me realise that I need a lot more work in the revision department.

Anyway I am taking one step at a time and plodding along, I am trying to do my best and have a variety of strategies for study.

There is sooooo much information to take in, I am worried that I will not get it all. Each week my head is swirling with new information still and sometimes when I reread something I cannot recall anything at all.

Ok well it is just a quick post today as I still have a bit to get through before I can call it a day.

So I had better go and get into it.

Have a great day

talk soon

x joy

Week 7, with week 8 popping its head round the corner

Good Morning,

a hearty, healthy, happy hello to you all.

It's Thursday in Smithville today - where is the time going?

It seems I start one week and before I have had a blink of an eye, it is the next week already.

The time is flying by

and if it continues the way that it is I will be finished this degree before I know it.

 

Not that I want it to hurry up and end or anything, cause I  am enjoying it sooooo much.

The human brain would have to be the most amazing thing on earth.

It is fascinating and the more you think about it the more fascinating it becomes.

 

I am finding all the study so far rather easy in that I am loving it so much, it is not a chore to sit down and do it.

However the stressful part comes into play when it comes to remembering all that I have to remember - my brain is swimming!

There is a whole new language to learn - the language of psychology and it is not simple.

 

Yesterday I was having a conversation with someone and they asked me about my OP or rank and I was trying to tell them that I have received a Grade Point Average (GPA) but do you think I could recall what it was called - hahahaha I musta looked a bit dumb hehehehe.

Here I am studying a university undergraduate program but I can't remember the term GPA .

 

Anyway I gotta laugh and I am sure my brain will settle the more I do.

 

That reminds me of something that I have found during this past year.

When I first started studying I had trouble concentrating, reading and focusing.

But I have discovered that the more I do, the better I get.

hahaha go figure!!!! Isn't that what I was told at school all those years ago.

 

I can now sit for hours reading, note taking and concentrating.

I still have trouble focusing in that I sense way too many distractions within my environment. It drives me nutters, I can be studying away and then something will drive me to distraction. Yesterday Hubby was home and  he knew that I had to spend the day studying and he tried really hard to not be annoying but he drove me crazy hehehehe, firstly sneaking into my study area to find his wallet, then something else, then something else ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!

He is very supportive and I am very lucky but as much as he wants me to study he also wants me to be there to do all the fun things we did. So I have to major focus on study while still paying my main man some attention. It has to be a balancing act.

 

So here we are nearly week 8 - only four weeks of teaching left before exam period is upon us.

Each week I submit answers to 3 lots of focus questions and on Sunday (or was it Monday - I can't remember what day of the week it is anymore) I submitted my first larger assessment piece and now I am starting to get heavier into my next one. That is going to be my major focus for the next few days.

 

Although before I get into anything today I need a coffee!

And for those of you that know me well - will go COFFEE what the ????????

Joy never drinks coffee!

Well times are a changin' here in Smithville hehehe

After suffering with a horrendous headache for three days that laid me up in bed for two, I have decided I need to take a much more active approach in my health and well being.

The headache all began Friday when I consumed 7 (yes I said 7) coke zero's along with hardly any water. I could feel the head ache coming on but I just ignored it and carried on chatting and going about life as normal. But by Saturday morning my head felt like a freight train was chugging straight through my frontal lobes. URGH - I carried on but ended up out for the count - it dropped me on my bum.

So I started thinking about what I had done on Friday that could of caused such a beauty of a headache. I started thinking about some MSG that I had consumed via some very tasty morsels, then was it being in the sun with no hat but in the end I admitted that perhaps the 7 coke zeros had something to do with it hehehehe

So to cut a rather long winded story short I am now adding giving up caffeine to my healthy eating and walking lifestyle. Hence the coffee drinking - I am switching to coffee for my caffeine hit and then (because I don't find having a hot drink as much fun as a nice cold, icy drink) I will cut it down to nil caffeine intake.

Wish me luck!!!!!

 

Ok well you have a great day 

I sure intend to - my day is all about consciousness today

Not my consciousness directly (I will be awake hehehe) but consciousness in general and it's altered states - fascinating!

talk soon

x joy

End of week 4, start of week 5

A big hearty

HELLO

to you all.

I hope you are happy and healthy in whatever you are doing and where ever you may be at the moment.

I am this morning feeling a little brain dead and fragile hehehe

perhaps I will need three cans of diet coke to get me through the day instead of my usual two cans.

I worked very late into the night last night to finish off one of week 4 focus questions

I didn't have to - it was my choice, but I was on a roll so just kept going. And for those of you that know me, you know that I am usually an early to bed kinda girl - I luv my zzzzzzzzzzz's

So I may need a Nana nap this after noon as well as 3 cans of diet coke

 

Well there is no point moaning, I came here to say hello and tell you where I am at.

I am just loving my studies at the moment, my brain is buzzing with so much amazingly interesting stuff . WOW, how our brain and body functions is just a miracle!!!!!!! And to say every function begins at the level of a neuron (well lower if you want to go that low, but I am just amazed at the neuron level) is just mind boggling.

 

This week has been very sad though as one of my lovely lecturers had a devastating, family tragedy. My heart just goes out to her, I cannot even begin to imagine how she is coping. It certainly has added a heavy heart to this weeks study. I do hope she is ok. My other lecturer is this ladies good friend so she is also having a hard time. Just all so sad.

 

But amazingly everything that was supposed to happen for study purposes still went ahead this week.

Everything has been handled so professionally, despite the sadness that must be being felt in the uni. I take my hats off to them.

 

And in comparison my tiredness today is nothing to what these people are going through, so I should not complain at all. So I need to shake myself and just get on with the day.

I have the last of my focus questions to complete today, well actually it is a stop and reflect question, not an overly hard one, just one that needs attention to detail.

 

I think my one major concern with everything that I am studying is "Am I going to remember it all"

Oh by crikey, there is information overload - big time. My head is just swimming most of the time.

Yesterday I went and looked at one focus question and the main term in it seemed as if I had never seen it before. But once I reviewed the week, I found it and of course I knew what it was but my brain must have filed it away. Anyway I will take it one step at a time and see how I go. The week between week 5 and 6 is vacation week and although I have my darling little rug rats home on school holidays, I intend to spend the week refreshing and re watching all of my lectures again. Hopefully that will help reinforce the main concepts. 

 

Ok well I think I may go and have some sugar and a diet coke to help kick start my day.

I hope you have a super happy day.

talk soon

x joy

 

 



Week 2

Hello and happy Tuesday to you,

It is a rainy old day here in Blackall, perfect indoor weather,

 perfect for sitting here at my fishbowl (what I call my windows above my desk). I can work away while watching the rain come down - it is very peaceful.

 

Well I got through week 1 and now am successfully getting through week 2 schedules even when I played hooky yesterday to have a well deserved break and had moring tea with my lovely friends.

 

 It was full on getting back into 3 courses after doing only one course last term but I like being busy and it is filling each day lovely. I definately need to do all six hours each day that the boys are at school and then some more after they have settled into homework. I have been jotting down how many hours I spend each day and to complete all duties that where expected of me last week - I spent a total of 37.5 hours which is exactly 12.5 hours for each course. I realise I will probably need to spend more with assessments but if I do them as I go along - I will be fine.

 

Ok well I am off to go cook some dinner for my boys - I probably need to think about exactly what we will be having first hehehehe I hope there is something in the cupboard (or will I be like old mother Hubbard).

Have a great day.

talk soon

x joy

Day 1 Week 1 Term 1 of Psychology

Hello and a super happy Monday to you,

WOW

how excited am I!

Today is Day 1 Week 1 Term 1 and even Year 1

and I am so excited my fingers are tingling hehehehe

Three subjects this term - so I will be a busy little pumpkin but I can't wait.

My three subjects are

 Biological Foundations of Psychology

Fundamentals of Psychology

and

Introduction to Allied Health

I started doing my readings over the weekend so today I will pop onto Moodle and get sorted with this weeks to do's.

Then I want to pop onto Cyberpsych to get going on the extra activities on there - I figure that anything extra will be beneficial.

I have discovered that these courses involve a lot of reading, which is to be expected. Similar in a way to my Introductory Biology course last year. So I came up against my first challenge yesterday and that is I find it very hard to read with any distracting noises around - I need silence which in a house hold of three others is impossible. So the boys are at school today but the big fella is on holidays and is cracking away with our renovations. So do I get him to stop sanding walls and sit still while I do my reading hahahahaha not a chance (I'm not silly - I want my reno's done as well)! I worked out last year that I could concentrate with some soft study music playing - it drowns out any other distracting noises. I listen to Strauss - just perfect! I cannot have any music with singing, as me being me - I always end up singing and sometimes dancing along - not good for study. So the soft, uplifting Strauss it is. 

Oooohhhhhh Ok well I am so excited, so I had better go and get into it.

Have a great day - whatever you are doing.

Talk soon

x joy



Who's a happy little vegemite?

Hello and happy Thursday to you,

I am one happy little Vegemite today!

I have just got my end of course test results for Maths

and I got a High Distinction!!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!

I am so happy and relieved - I really thought I had stuffed up in the test and was expecting only 70%. So how amazed was I to see 85%.

I must say that the excitement that I felt when I got the results was amazing and it made all the stressing and hard work so worth every minute.

 

I have been spending some time thinking over this last week or so about my whole journey so far.

And really it has been hard work - but has been so worthwhile and rewarding. I am so happy that I have had this opportunity to begin study. And although there have been moments when the stress has got high and I have thought that it has all been too hard  - I am so glad that I am doing it. It has certainly enhanced my life and has given me back a spark that I thought has gone out a long time ago.

 

I am eager for the new term to begin and to undertake my Undergraduate Program - how exciting is it to have such a journey ahead of me. I know it will be hard work and I know I will get stressed but I want it. I have begun my prep for the term ahead, downloaded course profiles, set up my study plans, done orientation and started reading my text books.

 

I still have to do some work on juggling family life and study. As sometimes it is hard for the family to remember that I cannot just drop everything and do what needs doing. But we are getting there and I think they do realise just how important this is to me - so generally there is mostly support (just that occasional time when it all gets crazy).

 

Ok well I am off to go do some mothering duties now - I have Benji home sick today from school. Thank goodness it is not a study day as he is watching movies and it is a loud, noisy, boy movie - you know the ones with 'bang, kapow, clank, whack, sirens blarring and all with yelling and screaming. One of those ones that if you turn it down you can't hear what they are saying when they talk but the bangs and explosions are so loud the ricter scale registers them - eeekkkkk (certainly not a noise I like in the house - I do love my peace and quiet).

 

Ok have a great day

talk soon

x joy



Year one and STEPS program done and dusted!

Hello and happy Tuesday to you,

Can you believe it?

Year one done and dusted!

WOW

How happy am I!!!!

I cannot believe how fast this year has gone and if I hadn't enrolled in STEPS I would still be sitting here doing all the things I used to do and would still be bored and feeling uninspired.

 

But here I am instead feeling so proud and totally inspired to keep going. I have an excitement inside that is a great feeling.

I finished up all of my responsibilities with STEPS yesterday, completing my exit survey and evaluations and to tell you the truth - I am a little sad - everyone has been so happy and helpful throughout the whole STEPS program - it has been so amazing. I cannot thank everyone enough for all the help that I received and I would certainly recommend the program to anyone wanting to start University studies.

 

So - what now?

Well I have until the 25th Feb before I start my undergrad program and in that time I have to complete my orientation online. Which by the look of it - will all be kinda easy because it is alot of what I covered in  the STEPS prep course.

But otherwise I am planning nothing other than relaxing, mothering, house working, a spot of crafting and some more relaxing. (ohhh guess I should add doing some wifey duties as well - but thought you might think I was being rude - but really I just mean going that extra bit to give Hubby the attention that all men seem to need) Sounds super good to me and just what I need to recover from Maths (hehehehe - it really wasn't that bad - but it just doesn't come naturally to me). So if you are looking for me - more than likely you will find me over at my crafty blog

Franjopani cards 

where I will be crafting up a storm hehehehe I wish anyway!

 

Well you enjoy what ever it is you are doing

we will talk again soon

x joy



AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

It's over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness - do I feel relieved!!!!!!

I have sat my three hour maths test today and I can finally breath again hehehe.

I have to admit that I have allowed myself to get stressed about this test. And rightfully so - it was bloody hard!!!!!!! hehehehe probably not that hard but when you are stressing everything always looks harder than it really is.

Hmmmmm so now I just have to wait for results - which will be all in before term 1 (2013) starts so I am just relaxing now. And how did I think I went hahahahaha - I don't think I went that well actually - I think I will be lucky to scrape through with 70%. I worked slowly through the first half - plodding away then when I looked at the clock - eeeeeekkkkkkk I was running out of time. So I rushed the second half and panicked a bit - so the brain just didn't want to work properly.

And I ended up getting messy - I hate getting messy - I like to work slowly and neatly.

Anyway I can relax for a few weeks now (on the study front) and catch up on the housework and Mother and Wife duties that have been neglected.

The maths books will be packed away and all my new study material will come out to play, ready for term 1 to begin.

 

Ok so I am off to go do some unwinding!

It is going to be a feet up doing absolutely nothing 'until the boys come home' afternoon.

(that will be interesting cause I usually can't do nothing - it's impossible - I always have to be doing something).

I will begin with a spot of lunch in front of the tellie.

Ok have a great day.

talk soon

x joy

I got an offer!!!!

Hello and happy Saturday to you

Just a little update to let you know that I got an offer to study Psychology at CQU.

I am super happy and have almost completed my acceptance process (just have to finish choosing my first electives). I am a very happy girl!

But I cannot take my eye off what is happening at the moment - I am in the home stretch of Maths and my hair is turning grey hehehehe my brain is whirling with functions, quadratics, permutations and the rest. I am feeling a little over whelmed and feel like nothing I am learning is sinking in. I am reviewing each night and last night I felt like I was looking at stuff that I had never even seen before let alone actually studied it and worked through it's exercises.

Anyway I think that may be stress so I will take it a little easier in the next few days and just work through it all slowly. I will watch all of the videos again as well in the next week as I find that helps to reinforce what I am reading.

 

ok well I had better go and get the house vacuumed and mopped - the boys are all out which is a rare occurrence and I am going to jump in and clean while they aren't walking around all over my clean floors. That way I can sit and enjoy it clean for a few brief moments before we return to chaos again hehehehe.

 Have a great day!

talk soon

x joy



MIA - Missing in Action

Oh my goodness,

where is this time going to?

Can you believe it is day 1 of week 10 term 3 tomorrow?

I cannot believe I have almost completed my year of the STEPS program.

The time has just flown by - particularly this last month!!!!

 I feel like I have just turned around once and the month is over already.

Last time I spoke I was running around like a chook with it's head cut off getting prepared for Christmas while studying away.

And here we are one month later with Christmas and New year over and now we are well and truly back to the grind stone of end of term preparations.

Firstly I hope everyone had as lovely a Christmas and New year as me. It was packed with all of my favourite things including family, food and festivities.

I got totally spoilt from my biggest boy who surprised me with a beautiful charm bracelet and a gorgeous ruby and diamond ring - BIG TIME NICE!!!!

 

It is always my favourite time of the year - although I did find it all a bit rushed with studying at the same time. I have been spoilt for so many years where I have just been lucky enough to just indulge myself in the festive spirit. SO this was a learning curve of how to do both, and I think I achieved it. I still managed to meet all deadlines while enjoying myself.

 

Then the last few weeks have also been a little rushed with two trips away to Emerald within 2 weeks. That equates to  5 days away within 14 days, while trying to complete 2 modules within this time. But I have nothing planned now in the next few weeks so I am just going to concentrate on my studies. Which is just as well as I have my progress test B and end of course test coming up in the next few weeks.

 

I have received my Progress Test A results - 95% which I am pleased with. Although I lost that 5% through silly basic math mistakes. So I need to pay attention to detail, work slowly and double check that I am rewriting details correctly.

 

The last two days have seen me complete my second of the additional modules VRAP - variation, ratio and proportion - I liked it - it was refreshingly easy after last weeks SEQR (Sequences and Series) which tested my grey matter a couple of times.

 

Anyway - I am gunna share a funny story with you.

I have had a headache for the last couple of days (hormonal - I get a beauty of a headache for several days at the same time each month) anyway I went and lay down for half an hour today to try and relieve it for a little while. And I was awoken by a rather loud noise - for those of you that know me know that we own a lovely old Queenslander and are slowly doing it up. Well I awoke to discover that my darling hubby had decided to start cleaning, stripping, sanding one of the lounge rooms ready for painting. He had pulled the lounge apart and moved one corner of the furniture into the middle of the room and started sanding away - NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

 

Had he covered anything up or put anything out of the way so as not to get covered in the ultra fine paint dust - NO HE HAD NOT!!!!! He is a boy and boys don't usually think of that do they!!!! There was paint dust everywhere - and I mean everywhere OMG - what was he thinking (oh I forgot sometimes that male breed of human beings don't think do they?)

 

GRRRRRRRRR I could of killed him and then to top it off he got called into work (he's a paramedic) to help out on a job - so guess who had to clean up the mess he made - YES me - MEN!!!!!!! 

And now he has just got home and is wondering why I haven't got dinner ready and on the table - hmmmmmmmm did he even notice that I have cleaned everything or did he think the cleaning fairy appeared? Gotto love him cause if I didn't I would kill him hehehehehe. I am about to remind him what a wonderful wife I am hehehehehe before I get a salad happening for dinner.
I think I just earned that ruby and diamond ring - hehehehehehe!!!!

This is our gorgeous old house - I love it to bits!!!!! (except when it is covered in paint dust inside - hehehehe)

 

Oh and I forgot to mention - we are having a massive heat wave here. It reached 50 degrees here on Tuesday and is about to hit the same tomorrow. I have been hibernating in the airconditioning. I cannot bear the heat (more headaches) so the aircons have been going 24/7.

 

Ok well better go do my perfect wife duties and get that salad rustled up.

OK stay safe

talk soon

x joy

 

 

 

 

  



A quick note to let you know where I am

Hello and a happy Sunday to you,

actually with that said, I must say I had to truly stop and think exactly what day it is!!

I am just not with it at the moment.

Life is just full on at the moment and  keeping me running around like a chook with it's head cut off (which I am sure is not a pretty site)

Although today is the day that I am taking off the auto pilot and getting everything in control again!!!!

 

You see on the 15th of November I got a phone call to say my Mum had been rushed to hospital by ambulance with a suspected internal bleed. Oh my goodness! With being 1000kms from Brisbane - it was very worrying. So I booked a flight that day to travel to Brisbane on the next day's flight.

 

Mum spent 8 days in hospital with no reason for the bleed to be found. Although at this stage it appears the bleed has stopped on it's own accord (fingers, toes and everything else crossed).

Then while I was away I managed to catch one of the million fluey things going around in a big town.

It has knocked me for 6, with terrible sore throat, yukko nose and massive headaches complete with 2 days of not being able to lift my head off of the pillow when I flew back home.

 

 And hey presto - my studying has been thrown into chaos!!!!!!!

 

I have managed to get through my QUAD module and pass the end of module test (100% - yippee)and am now into the LOGS module with only the last component to do but I am still behind (hopefully I will get up to date on Monday - so I will then only be 3 days behind)

 

Then this weekend has been chaos with family activities to do as well. Bearing in mind I am still having these headaches and my head is all wishy washy with sinusy stuff (I know - some may say I am wishy washy all the time but more than normal hehe). Friday night we had a school function on.

Then on Saturday I had committed to doing some markets over in Tambo  - which I did and I ended up having a lovely day - although with the temperature soaring the way it did - I ended up with an even yukkyer headache - crikey its a real poor me blog post today isn't it!!!!

 

Then last night hubby and I had double booked us - hehehehehe (just like us).

He had accepted a birthday party invitation and I had committed Benji to preform a circus act at a town fete. OOhhh crikey we do get ourselves in bothers sometimes. Anyway a quicker than normal visit to both was the solution - then home to comfort my pounding head.

Today I have committed to markets in town this afternoon followed by our favourite thing to do at this time of the year - the local Christmas tree festival. I get to sing Christmas carols - yippee - I love Christmas carols!!!!!! 

 

And what a timely reminder - CHRISTMAS - oh my goodness again - it is just around the corner - eeeeekkkkkkkkk.

 

And for those of you that know me - know that I just LOVE Christmas and like to go all out and decorate the intire house inside and out. SO this is where the getting organised comes into action. I have got a priority list in action. This morning is going to be spent cleaning the house (somewhere in all this - the house work got forgotten) then I will clear all of my knick knacks from all around the house(that's a huge job in itself). Then I will drag all of the Christmas decorations out, put all of the knicky knacky stuff away and then slowly this week I will begin to decorate the house (in between study of course). OOOOHHHHH how exciting!!!!!

 

Last year I had 7 Christmas trees (some big, some small) and I have brought some new ones so I will let you know how many I have now.

 

 I just love Christmas.

 

So the plan is to get super organised so I can enjoy it as much this year as I do every year - wish me luck in the organisation part hehehehe it may be a bit hard to get the three boys (one big and two small) to get into the swing with me. But here I go . . . . . . . .  .

talk soon (when I have everything tickerty boo)

x joy

 

p.s. hahaha you should see how many words spell check highlights when I click on it in this post.

Obviously Mr Spell Checker doesn't speak Joy language with all my hehe and ooohhhh and the rest.
 

Monday morning note:
Ahhhhh who was I kidding - I thought I was only 3 days behind
haha that's how muddled my head is!!!
I am actually 1 week and 3 days behind - URGH
Anyway onward and upward - I am getting there - nearly finished logarithms, just have the sample and end of module test left to do
so will get ontop of that tonight or tomorrow morning. Then on to functions - luckily this is a non teaching week this week!!!!!!
high ho high ho
it's off to work I go
 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Week 3

WOW

already it is week 3 - where is this time going.

The days are going so quickly - it is hard to keep track of it.

Anyway thought I would just share a little something with you.

I sent an email off to my STEPS distance coordinator this morning to share with her some lovely news and upon reflecting I am feeling a tad pleased with myself - so thought that I would share it with you.

 

Last night was my son's school presentation night here in Blackall. I love these nights - what a great way to reward hard work and inspire others. Anyway every year up until this year I have got myself all teary eyed and sad when it comes time for the year twelve awards and speeches. I have been so inspired by these young people who achieve success and finish year 12. I have always regretted not doing year 12 or any higher education, so every year at presentation night I am envious. Proud of all their achievements but still envious because I wanted to do it.

 

Well this year was different - this year I was still proud for all these young people but I also had  a huge welled up feeling of pride for myself (with no tears or sadness to be seen) - proud that I am achieving my dream! How good did it feel - I have never felt anything like it in my life before. And I must say that after everyone here in Smithville had gone to bed and I was having a little quiet moment to myself - I had a little smile on my face - a smile of satisfaction.

 

Now don't get me wrong - I don't want to come across as cocky or clever. Because I am neither. But it is a great feeling to be putting in the hard work to achieve something that is something that I have quietly wanted all of my adult life. And this just goes to show you that if I can achieve this for myself then absolutely anything is possible. If you have a dream - reach out and grab it with two hands and take it for yourself. It may involve some hurdles to climb or obstacles to overcome - but it is possible. If I can do it - anyone can do it.

 

I have kept this quote up on my desk in front of me everyday since term one. If I remember correctly it was my distance coordinator who sent it out in an email way back then. It helps keep my motivated and focused on my journey ahead.

 

 

Anyway that's all for me today.

I hope your day has been as good as mine.

 

Life really is wonderful - sometimes you just have to find the wonderful.

But it is always there, somewhere.

 

 

talk soon

x joy 

Week one term 3

Hello and welcome to term 3

WOW can you believe it is term 3 already - where has all these weeks gone.

And to add insult to injury it is nearly the end of week one already!!!!

Life here in Smithville has been a little hectic to say the least and I have to admit I haven't started the term in an organised mode. But as of today that is about to change. You see we went over to Rocky on Tuesday morning for a week of dentist and orthodontist appointments for Ashley who needs braces. It has been sooooo busy. He had dentist appointments everyday with a huge day on Friday having four teeth pulled out (two at 8.30am, one at 12pm and another at 2pm) and then all the wires  fitted at 2.30pm. It was very full on and he doesn't cope very well with pain - he gets cranky and won't just sit and relax he seems to need to move around trying to get rid of the pain. No matter what we say he just doesn't cope. So fun fun fun was had by all. Hahaha.

Anyway I went and saw my lecturer for last term Maths to see where I went wrong with my end of course test. So I could do some revision before this term maths. And I got a wonderful surprise - originally I had received 91% for the test but when we started going through it we discovered that I had actually gotten 94%. So I was a happy girl indeed. Still doesn't affect my HD but 3 points is 3 points. Anyway I am just pleased that I now know where I went wrong - EXPONENTS - those little rascals, they trick me all the time hehehehe. But I am going to get cracking with the revision and get them down pat. The other thing is I have to remember to include negatives - I have a habit of forgetting them when I write out my answer. It is soooo good to go back and look over where you went wrong - gives you something to focus on for next time.

Anyway I am now behind in this term Maths as I didn't get as much study done while we where away. It is nearly impossible to study with two boys in a motel room. And I forgot to take a ruler and it is a little hard to study linear equations without a ruler hahahaha you should of seen some of my hand drawn cartesian plains. So for next time I need to remember a ruler and  I have thought that if I ever find myself in the same situation - I could always pop over to the uni and study in the library or in their lovely gardens. It is so peaceful there and I could study in peace and quiet.

 

So today is get back on track day. I am ignoring the house work, even though the house looks like a tornado has swept through. It doesn't matter, I can catch up when I have caught up on Maths.

This is one of those times when you have to prioritise, so that is what I am doing.

So off I go to get into it!

talk soon

x joy

Stunned silence in Smithville

 do you hear that?

No I hear you say

 

Well that is because there is nothing to hear - because a very unusual event has happened

 

 I am gob smacked silent!!!!!!!!!!

 

And believe me - that does not happen to me very often in life

hehehehehehe

I am in shock

I got my end of course maths test results back

 hehehehehehe

wait for it

hehehehehehe

drum roll please

hehehehehehe

I got 91%

crikey blimey

can you believe it

91%

 

There is no way I thought that I would of done so well

I stressed myself out

and

got myself all in a fuddle and thought that if I was lucky I would of achieved 75%

but I got 91%

whoooo hoooooo

doing the happy dance

 (hahahahaha I have to add that I am doing the gangnam style dance hehehe - I love it)

 

Anyway just thought I would share it with you

I am one happy girl and now I am so excited about next terms intermediate maths.

Just goes to show that if you put in some effort and enthusiasm in, you can achieve things. Who would of thought that I would get 91 % in my end of course maths test hehehehe.

And now I am thinking that if I had of put in extra effort and time I could of done even better

although I was time poor last term so considering that I am super pleased hehehehehe

So I am going to leave you with my happy dance today

just imagine me doing it

hehehehe and of course giggling away at the same time

 

if you are one of the very unusual people who haven't seen it

do yourself a favour and watch it

anything that makes so many people happy has to be a good thing.

so off i go
singing and dancing

whoot whoot
opa gangnam style
whoot whoot
you have to watch it full screen with the volume up loud as well
and perhaps have a little dance as well

hehehehehe

talk soon

 x joy

Edited to add : I am now even happier - I have just spoken to my maths lecturer and he has told me that I have received a high distinction for maths yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!