19 Mar 09 March results
Last week I got my results for my AS & A2 levels, and I was quite disappointed by what I got…
I resat 2 AS Chemistry modules, and each module went up by 1 mark – and, happily, each module went up by an entire grade. Unfortunately, that didn’t help my overall grade, which stayed at a C. My A2 Chemistry module, Chains Rings& Spectroscopy, was graded a C, so I’ve already handed my resit form.
At this particular moment in time, I need another 213 marks to get an overall A, from a possible 210, so some marks need to come from somewhere…
I also took an AS Mathematics module, Core 1, and got 71%, which is a B. I’m happy with that, it’s only 9 marks dropped from an A, which I hope to pickup from the next two exams in May/June – Core 2 and Stats 1.
So, I’m on track to do Biomedical Sciences, and I can easily make the offer, but I want more, if you know what I mean…
Tags: education, New Year's Resolutions
01 Jan 09 New Year’s Resolutions
Let’s try again this year.
Same plan as last year, I’m going to set three resolutions, and try to stick to them. Last year, I succeeded with one, came close to another, and did the opposite of the third!
I will update this blog at least 3 times every calendar month
It’s simply too much for me to be updating every week. I can barely even keep my own personal website up-to-date, and that one has my name, diary, cv and stuff on it. So I think 3 times a months is about right – so I’m aiming to get 36 posts before 31st December 2009.
I will attain the grades necessary for my conditional offer, and enrol at university.
Everybody around me says I’m “academically very able,” so it’s about time that I proved it. I have an offer to study a BSc (hons) in Biomedical Sciences at Northumbria University. The offer means that I need to get a ‘Merit’ (50%) in HEFC Human Biology and 80 UCAS points from this year’s examinations.
I will clear the debt from my credit card and aim to save money
Considering I managed to rack up as much debt as I said I’d save, I think I’d better do something about that… Credit cards are only useful when you can pay them back quickly, or for genuine emergencies – there again, my laptop did die completely, so I did need a new computer! I should be able to pay off the outstanding
Tags: New Year's Resolutions
21 Nov 08 So what went wrong?
I remember at the start of the year, I posted some New Year’s Resolutions, and I promised to keep to them. As 2008 draws to a close, let’s revisit them, and see the progress I’ve made.
I will update this blog often, I hope to post at least twice per week.
Well, for a lot of this year, I didn’t post at all on many weeks, so I though I’d done really badly with this one! But, I’ve been and looked at the stats, and it seems that so far, this is my 53rd post! So, I’ll have at least averaged more than 1 per week.
In terms of software updating, I’m now more than on top of things. Thanks to the guys over at WordPress, I’m running WP2.7b3, with a theme that can handle all of the new features!
I will learn to drive, I hope to pass both tests before the end of May.
Well, I didn’t pass the test before May, like the original plan was. But, I did pass the theory test in March! Then, after 3 attempts, I passed the practical test (with 9 minors). Thank-you very much Tony P & Phil from BSM for the many hours of lessons (and also thanks to Kelly in the office for managing to fit some lessons into my instuctor’s diary before the 3rd test)! In October, I also did 6 hours of Pass Plus training, which should lower my insurance for whenever I decide to go out and buy a car…
I will save at least a grand, I intend to go to university after my time in a specialist college, and would like to make life easier on myself.
Yeah, erm, maybe not! I haven’t so much as saved a grand as have a grand on my credit card. Oops. Things happened, like needing the best part of
Tags: Driving, Money, New Year's Resolutions
18 Jul 08 Driving test 2
Today, I took my driving test again, hoping to do better than the last! Again, it was 0917, and at the test centre that was just across the road from college.
Again, my instructor took me for a short lesson before the test, practicing manoeuvres and a short drive. Then we spent about 15 minutes just chilling out listening to the radio where it announced that one of the local major roads had been closed due to a fatality.
This time, my overall speed and approach speeds for junctions was under control, just taking into account the weather conditions. I had a perfect drive, getting my reverse just right, handling meeting situations well, and only forgetting a couple of things (an indicator, and a blind-spot check). Then I done my turn in the road, and just bumped up onto the kerb.
And that was failure number two.
Next test already booked, and 60 quid on the credit card…
22 Jun 08 Driving Test 1
On Friday, I took my driving test at 0917. I was relaxed, because I got up nice and early, took a shower, and had a good breakfast and a cup of tea. Then, my instructor took me for a short lesson before the test, practicing manoeuvres and a short drive. Then we spend about 20 minutes just chilling out listening to my CD before driving the short distance to the test centre.
The test centre that falls between my hall of residence and college. Literally 50 yards from each. Needless to say there was a few students and staff wandering around, some of who actually noticed me! It was only when I walked into the waiting room of the test centre that I started feeling nervous. But, within a couple of minutes the examiner had entered the room and called my name; his was Russell.
I passed the eyesight test with ease (not that my instructor had got me to read out the plates of the car behind me, of course), and flew through the safety questions quite quickly. Things went downhill from here (and not just the road away from the test centre), because whilst pulling away, I stalled the car. Unfortunately, I also have a habit of coming into junctions rather fast, as the examiner commented at the end, “Can you remember The Hollymere, where I almost joined you in the driving seat!” That was one serious, and the other was for hitting about 35mph in a 30mph limit – I forgot about Ryhope Road, and whilst I did remember quite quickly, it was too late.
However, my manoeuvres were excellent, not a single fault for my controlled stop, turn in the road, or left reverse.
“I’m sorry to tell you that you not passed the driving test today,” come the examiners words at the end of the test. A short debrief with my instructor in the back, and I was finished. Within 6 hours the next test had been booked and paid for. Thankfully I had the “Pass Promise” to cover the cost of the actual test!
Tags: Driving, New Year's Resolutions
