3 days to go...

3 days to go until my OU Module website is open. Although it is also only 2 days until I go on holiday.

Slightly more excited about the latter!

Although, still looking forward to going on the Module Website, getting my tutor's details, etc. I have heard that a few people's first tutorials are on the 6th October, which is the Saturday I come back from holiday. And also the night of my boyfriend's best mate's wedding (who is marrying my half-cousin, coincidentally!), but I wont be attending until the night time anyway.

Studying last week was fairly good, if tiring. I managed 6 1/2 hours in total. I could've squeezed in more on the weekend, but I ended up going out on Saturday night and having quite a big hangover on Sunday! Also, Warren was out on a stag do in Edinburgh all weekend, and came home on Sunday, so I was quite excited about seeing him for the first time in about 5 days.

I had a chat with Mum on Thursday night and she said that she thinks I have taken on too much, with all this babysitting, working and studying. I can see her point, and to be honest, I don't think I could keep it all up for much longer. We had a lengthy discussion and came to the conclusion that something will have to give sooner or later. I really don't want it to be babysitting, because I really enjoy it, and I get money for it. On the other hand, it does take up a large chunk of my time and does involve a lot of travelling. My main point was that I didn't want to give up babysitting Gabe, because I just simply couldn't. I'm far too attached, and I'd feel like I was letting Emma down. However, I also don't want to give up with William and Oliver because I've only just started, so it would feel like quite a cop out, and I love being around them. Plus it puts an  extra £36 a week in my pocket.

In the end, mum said she'd have a chat with Dad to see if I could get my hours cut on a Friday afternoon, which is normally never very busy, from 9am-1pm. This would be SO INCREDIBLY HELPFUL, because it's the only night I don't babysit, so I can come home and just concentrate solely on studying for as many hours as I need to catch up.

I don't think she's had a chat to Dad about it yet, so I'll wait to hear.

Am currently sitting with a face-mask on. Feeling my face get tighter and tighter and more cement-like by the minute.

Best go scrub it off...

Brilliant start to the week!

 Really proud of myself so far today- I sacrificed my usual catch-up of Jeremy Kyle before work this morning for a very valuable half an hour study of the Making Social Lives DVD to begin Week 2 of my studies. Although I am technically one day behind, I think I can defiinitely make up for this, as I've also crammed in another half an hour slot during my lunch break.

I also recieved a text from Alison earlier asking if I could be at hers for 4pm today to babysit William and Oliver, instead of 3.30pm. This means I can finish work as usual at 3.00pm and go and hibernate for another half an hour slot of studying before scampering off at 3.30pm. Overall, this takes my daily total of study hours today up to 1 1/2, which I am thrilled at! It doesn't sound like much, but it's three times the time I had predicted I would be able to spend today, which is a massive bonus.

I am finding it already much easier to get my teeth into Week 2 of study. I found Week 1 quite wishy-washy and fairly simple, to be frank. I understand that the OU has to cater for many levels of academic competence, confidence and commitment, but I found that Week 1 was a slight overlap of things that I had already picked up in my A-Level studies of Psychology and Sociology in particular.

Having said this, just reading through and highlighting the first few pages of Week 2 and taking some notes from the DVD, I am already finding this second part much more stimulating!

I would be able to do some more study after babysitting, but I am off to Tesco with my boyfriend to get some last minute  holiday supplies for next week, when we are jetting off to Lanzarote with my parents, brother and his girlfriend. SO looking forward to it- we haven't had a family holiday in 6 years, and I have a feeling this will be one of the last, as at the ripe old age of 19, and with my brother closely following at 18, and with our respecitve other halves, we will probably be exploring the world on our own holidays from now on. Plus, it's very expensive for my parents to pay for us all to go on holiday together!

So, the checklist for Tesco will consist of suncream, lots of cute mini toiletries that are ridiculously overprices, but everyone still insists on buying, and a few clothes if I can find anything appropraite and cheap!

Update soon!
xox

Week One- Complete!

So, I finished Week One of my OU studies today- albeit a day late, but hey- it's done! I'm also very proud to say that I managed to fit in 2 hours of studying today, which is quite a feat when you consider that I've only had 1 hour of spare time so far! I managed to squish an hour or so in at work, as it was a pretty slow day and no one was really around, then I had another hour after work before coming to babysitting, where I am now. I'm sitting Gabriel tonight, who is currently watching The Simpsons in the living room, as I type.
I'm beginning to get a little concerned about this whole fitting-OU-into-my-life thing. This is a rough schedule for my average week, as it stands;

Monday
Work 9-3
Lunchtime Study 1.30-2.00
Study at home 3.30-5
Leave for babysitting at 5.20 to arrive at 5.50
Leave Gabe's at 8.00 to arrive home at 8.30
CHILLLLLLL for a while before bed! Potentially cram in a bit more studying, if possible!

TOTAL 1 1/2 hours of study

Tuesday
Work 9-3
Lunchtime Study 1.30-2.00
Leave work and head straight to babysitting for William and Oliver to arrive at 3.30
Leave William and Oliver's at 6.00 to arrive home at 6.30
EAT.
See boyfriend for the evening (I've got to fit him in somewhere!), although if needs be, I could do a quick bit of studying...

TOTAL 1/2 hour of study :(

Wednesday

Work 9-3

Lunchtime Study 1.30-2.00

Leave work and head straight to babysitting for William and Oliver to arrive at 3.30

Leave William and Oliver's at 6.00 to arrive home at 6.30

EAT.

Unlimited studying for the evening, but I would guestimate about 1 1/2 hours

TOTAL 2 hours of study

Thursday

Work 9-3

Lunchtime Study 1.30-2.00

Leave work and head straight to babysitting for William and Oliver to arrive at 3.30

Leave William and Oliver's at 6.00 to arrive home at 6.30

EAT.

Unlimited studying for the evening, but I would guestimate about 1 1/2 hours

TOTAL 2 hours of study

Friday

Work 9-3

Lunchtime Study 1.30-2.00

Leave work and head straight to babysitting for William and Oliver to arrive at 3.30

Leave William and Oliver's at 6.00 to arrive home at 6.30

EAT.

Unlimited studying for the evening, but I would guestimate about 1 1/2 hours (although this may be subject to change if I am going out or actually having a social life GOD FORBID!)

TOTAL 2 hours of study

WEEKLY TOTAL 8 HOURS OF STUDY A WEEK.

That sounds absolutely pitiful, but I can always catch up on weekends, and like today, I managed to catch an extra hour at work, which was really helpful. 

Also, with the purchase of ma iMac on the weekend (EEEE!) I got a cloud programme, which means that I can access my documents from any computer in the world, which makes things alot easier.

I guessI just need to stop stressing about this and just see how it goes, but studying is my top priority, and if I can't make it work, then something will have to give. That will most probably have to be babysitting with Gabriel, as much as it pains me to say it. I have looked after him for 5 years now, and have become so attached to him, and his mother has also become a good friend, and I would feel absolutely abhorrent letting them down, but I suppose there just comes a time. I would much rather not sit for William and Oliver and carry on with Gabriel, but the thing is that I will have much more work with them, and therefore more money. Alison already pays me more than Emma (Gabe's mum), and it takes me half an hour to travel to Emma's, whereas Alison's is just on the way home from work. 

I dont know, it's a dilemma!

But, we will see what happens, and I will keep you updated!

xox

iMAC!

SO excited! Went laptop shopping with my Dad today, and came home with a new iMac! I have never used anything like it- So easy to use, brilliant quality, fun and even the keyboard is brilliant! It's such a sexy computer! My Boyfriend is so jealous, hahaaaa!

I have no doubt that it will help me no end with my OU studies. I really feel like I have a proper studying base now that I have a desk, folders, drawer space, a computer, pinboard, and a lamp (all the essentials in life!)

Ahhhh, my life is COMPLETE!

Birthday Cake, Trampoline Tantrums and City Road

KEY; Red = Open University Section  Blue = Everyday life

As I signed off Blogger yesterday, I was about to go to see William and Oliver for a couple of hours. I arrived at their house at 3.30pm and immediately I was ordered by them to close my eyes, and they led me by hand, stubbing toes and bumping into walls, into the Playroom. As I was allowed to open my eyes, I could see that Alison and Steve (their parents) had filled their fishtank with some new arrivals! I was introduced formally by William to Bop, Bonnie, Twinkle, Venga, Ceebie and the like, whilst Oliver was in the kitchen with Alison helping to make Steve's Birthday Cake.

During my introduction and a lengthy finger-chasing session with  the fish and William, I could hear Oliver crying and whinging in the kitchen with Alison, and he eventually emerged at the door frame, eyes red, with a bowl of cake (Cherry Bakewell- his favourite). I thought that perhaps Oliver had felt left out because I had immediately given all of my attention to William (which is a rare occurance, since due to his Autism he usually enjoys his own space), so I asked them whether they would like to go on the trampoline outside. They both jumped at the chance (no punn intended), and we were in the garden in no time.

As I unzipped the netting of the trampoline both boys were clambering at my legs, rushing to get up the ladder for a bounce. They were both playing nicely whilst I was chatting to Steve, who was catching up on a bit of gardening, about my Open University studies and the new High School where he has been working as part of his degree in a placement. He is a very nice man, and I admire him for doing what he is with his studying to get back into teaching again. Alison has told me that he usually stays at home and takes care of the boys whilst she works from home, but now the children are both not at home as much (William is in school, and Oliver in nursery), he is taking a top up course at the University of East Anglia (Norwich) so he can be a teacher again. He is very understanding of my studies as a result of this, and said that if the boys were just watching TV, then I could take a book along and read up on a few things for a while, which will no doubt be very helpful.

So, Steve was gardening, Alison was working and the boys were bouncing on the trampoline playing The Red Dinosaur game (No idea!). Oliver got fed up of this and wanted to play The Green Dinosaur Game (?!), but William was in NO way willing to play this game. So, Oliver, who I think was generally already in a grouchy mood and may have been tired from starting Nursery full time recently, began what started with a pout, and then developed into a full- blown Trampoline Tantrum Meltdown. Usually, if William and Oliver have a dispute I hardly have to intervene, as they are very loving boys that come to a truce very quickly, but today Oliver was having NONE of it. So, I suggested that we go inside and play with the fish or do a puzzle, or reading, or TV, or something... ANYTHING!

Oliver refused outright, but William got off the trampoline and for some reason, this enraged Oliver. He began to scream and shout even more, claiming through sobs and garbled cries that he wanted to get off the trampoline first! William was completely oblivious to this and was completely focused on the new task at hand (a trait of autism) and promptly began to march down the garden towards the house, completely ignoring his brother. This further angered Oliver, who was bawling after him "WILLYUM- GET BACK ON!! I WANT TO GET OFF FIRST!"

His demand was so absurd that I wanted to laugh, but managed to coax him off the trampoline in the end. He then began to stomp down the garden, towards the house in classic tantrum style; feet stamping as hard as possible, sobbing and whinging, with arms flailing in desparation, tiny chubby fists clenched in anger. Obviously as soon as he reached the house, he flew straight into Alisons' arms and blurted out William's OUTRAGEOUS act of leaving the trampoline first. Alison was on Skype to her boss, and so quickly consoled him and told him to go and play. After a little while and a quick read of The Cat in the Hat, the tensions between the brothers were resolved, and they were back to normal. PHEW!

We were then promptly called to the kitchen, where Steve's birthday cake awaited us, in its iced, jammy glory. We lit the candles and the boys blew them out after a verse of Happy Birthday, and we all tucked in. William has a very restriced diet and only eats rusks, porridge and certain yoghurts, so he didn't have a slice of cake, but Oliver did- without any icing or jam, of course (the boy doesn't know what he's missing out on!). Then he insisted on showing me how he eats a "nana". Alison handed him a banana and, with his chubby toddler fingers still covered in cake crumbs and dribble, he grappled with the fruit, trying to break the skin in order to peel it. After a breif struggle, he managed to break the skin, and proceeded to stuff the banana into his mouth like nothing had ever seen before. "He's still not worked out that he has to swallow before another mouthful goes in!" explained Steve, as he has to physically remove the "nana" from Oliver whilst he desperately tried to chew an incredible amount of it, some spilling out of his mouth, with his cheeks full to burst!

After the small celebration I left and returned home to study for the evening. I'm currently starting course DD101; Exploring the Social Sciences of my eventual Psychology BSc Degree (Hons)- all with the Open University. I recieved my study materials on Monday, and began studying on Tuesday. I've managed and hour and a half on Tuesday, as well as last night. The first two weeks of the course are designed to ease us in gently, I think, as we don't have to use a textbook, as such- we just have a documentary style DVD to watch and a "Learning Companion" to take notes from. Then, we have our first assessment due at the end of October (the course doesn't officially start until 6th October, but I'm getting ahead). The question is something along the lines of "Using what you have learned from the "Making Social Lives on City Road" DVD and "Learning Companion 1", Outline how material objects on City Road favour the lives of some people over others" (750 words). Now, this is only a short assessment at just 750 words, but it's still important, as it's the first one and I really want to make a good impression on my Tutor (who will mark it), and get back into the essay style of writing.

So far, I've watched the first couple of films on the DVD, one of which is an introduction to City Road, Cardiff. It is an urban road that is typical to many in the UK. The second film uses a local poet, Lloyd Robson, to narrate and engage in conversation with many of the locals about City Road- it's past and present. He talks to various shop owners, employees, policemen, an electric board employee, cafe owners and residents, new and old. A few themes are uncovered as we are introuced to the way in which Social Scientists observe and look at everyday life in a different way to ourselves. There are 4 main ways in which they observe;
Directly; by watching people's activites and talking to them
Differences over time; City Road is a different place in the day than it is at night e.g. Women in a cafe at lunch time have different experiences of City Road than those partygoers at night time.
Connections with other times and places; Immigration is obvious in City Road, as many of the shops are run by non-locals. The Car showrooms that dominated the street in the 1960s have been replaced by many takeaway restaurants and ethnic shops such as Sanna Silk Sari Shop and Xquisite Africa.
Relationships between people and the material objects; ie. signage, traffic, etc as well as other unseen things such as the electricity, water and other utility services.

These different observations were then tied in with 3 module wide questions;
How do we as Social Scientists know?; This is linked to the methods of observation above, and explains how Social Scientists go about their research.
How is Society being Made and Repaired?; This has many connections to City Road, as we saw it in the DVD. According to one of the Psychologists in the footage, society is being made and repaired constantly by immigration- something that many residents recognised as being a relatively new factor of City Road. However, in order for City Road to even come into existence, there must have been immigration in the first place, and then even more for it to have turned into the thriving place that it is today. In thise respect, Immigration is a factor that is constantly reparing and remaking society.

I haven't quite finished looking at this second Module- Wide question, and I have yet to start studying the last; How are inequalities and Differences produced? 

I aim to complete this last section in the next couple of days, and there will be an update very soon! I hope other OU students on the course DD101 will be able to look at this and find it helpful or reassuring, as I know that independent study can be quite daunting! Any questions you can find me on Facebook!

POST #1

So, first ever post!
I am currently sat at work, just finished my lunch break, but the office is pretty quiet, so I thought; Why wait until I get home?
I think the best way to do this would be to give youa quick run-down of my life as it stands- all of the important bits anyway...
My name is Ellen Friend (duh)
I am 19 years old
I live in Suffolk, England
I work full-time as a Receptionist for my Dad's glazing company (9am-3pm Mon-Fri)
I also do a fair bit of babysitting when I'm not at work (about 4 evenings a week with 2 regular families
I am about to begin a part-time Psychology degree with the Open University
I have just finished my A-Levels after 3 years of Sixth Form at my local High School
I have a lovely boyfriend called Warren, who I have been with for almost 2 years (in one month)
I live at home with my mum and dad and younger brother (Ben, 18)
I have a passion for all things Psychology, and also Art

OK, that's all I can think of at the moment! As I mentioned before, today has been a rather slow day in the office, so I have spent quite a bit of time scanning the Daily Mail webiste (a favourite boredom-busting activity of mine) and commenting like crazy, because I am one of those who likes to voice my own opinion...

This blog is going to be a running commentary on my life, with little snippets from here and there.

 I am off babysitting in about an hour, after work, with one of the aforementioned regular families. I have actually only just started with them about a month ago, but the boys are so sweet! Their name's are William (6) and Oliver (4). William is autistic, and has a major obsession with all things dinosaur! He knows all of their names, their weights, heights, which family of dinosaur they belong to, what they eat- The list is ENDLESS! Consequently, this obsession has rubbed off on his younger brother Oliver, who is also a wealth of knowledge on anything that occured in the Jurassic period- despite barely being able to pronounce the names, he certainly knows what he is talking about!

Last week he tried Wotsits for the first time and was totally delighted with his discovery of the new "crips". He was running around the play room with his bowl of the orange puffs shouting "They look like sausages! They are so colourful and BEAUTIFULLL!", all the while William remained captivated by his Walking with Dinosaurs book, that he knows from cover to cover, but still pours over everytime I visit.

This Monday night I also went to babysit Gabriel (10), who was the first child I ever babysat at the age of 15, when he was just 6 years old. He is absolutely gorgeous; bright blonde curly hair and sparkling blue eyes- he really is the image of an angel! Gabriel is a very lively young boy, and typically hates everything to do with school that isn't playtime. We have to do reading before his bedtime every week (on my Monday night visits), which he usually objects to very stongly, but eventually gives in when I tell him that his mum will be home soon! He finds reading a writing quite difficult and was actually wrongly diagnosed as dyslexic a while ago, but I think he's just suffering from low self esteem and distraction, to be quite honest! He's a perfectly able child, I just think the whole set up of school doesn't work for him. He seems such a resilient boy, but sometimes he'll come out with questions that half make me want to laugh and hal make me want to give hima cuddle. he's in his second to last year in Primary school, and will be going to the High School after (two-tier system) and he asks me "In High School, do they make you do detention AFTER SCHOOL?!" and when I confirm this, he looks at me in utter disbelief, and you can see the panic spread over his face as he blurts out "But how do they get home?! It must be ILLEGAL!"

I absolutely love babysitting, and I know many people think I'm mad, taking on my 30 hour a week job, as well as 8 hours a week babysitting and 10-12 hours studying, but I just love being busy. Since I left school, I have found it so strange coming home at 3pm and not having anything to do- it's been really dreadful!

But anyway, I'm off to William and Oliver's, so there will be an update shortly!

xox