Courses and kids

Tech support hell

Carriebeth — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 01:14:00 GMT

Blimey, it's been a while. My sink is still shiny though! I am currently doing two main pieces of coursework, we have a group project and are making space invaders. I have pretty much come to terms with the group project, thankfully I have been able to do the project management so I know that everything is as under control as can be expected. Space Invaders on the other hand has been hell. I always seem to get into such a state over coursework, I just hope that programming in the real world is a bit less stressful.

We have had another women's group meeting, and one person came. I am having one last attempt down the pub before I give up. I am also involved in a mentoring scheme at the moment, supposedly supporting girls in IT, this is probably the most loosely based scheme I have ever been involved in.

Sis' has just moved house, we have been doing tech support. Her pc was too far from the phone socket for broadband to work, so having explained that you can have a 1 pc network she got a router. We tried to set it up over the phone. After the first hour we finally got around to figuring out that it wasn't plugged into the phone line. After the next hour (at her house this time) we found out that she had put an extraneous capital in her internet password. Boyf' now fully understands why I barely looked at another computer for years after quitting as tecchie/tech support.

Littl'un called Boyf' "dad" for the first time this evening, he is really chuffed. Littl'un has been telling me she wants to dance for so long that I have found her a dance class, she is doing tap and modern. She really enjoyed the first class and I have promised if she is good in the next one I will get her proper tap shoes. I am not completely convinced I can trust her not to break her neck in them though.

Sink Shining

Carriebeth — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 01:35:00 GMT

My sister sent me to this website, FLYLady.net she promises to put me back in control of my life and cure me of perfectionism. The first step is shining my sink apparently, which I did, now Boyf' thinks I've finally lost it. He may be right. It does look nice though...

Finally getting down to business, I have got through the OpenGL labs, I fail to see how we have enough time left to complete what we need to learn for the coursework though. AI is driving me insane at the moment, it just doesn't seem that hard, and we are going sooooo slowly. At least C++ is going well, and systems isn't too bad apart from the unbelieveably boring subject matter, I hate software engineering. I accept that it has to be done, but I figure, most of it doesn't have to be done by me. I got my ASP book through the post, it's huge, it's more a blunt instrument than a book. Went to careers fair today, got some info on GCHQ, the stuff they provide for staff is phenomenal. I have a GCHQ wristband, which I think is way cool, but then my sense of cool always was way off mark.

Back in harness

Carriebeth — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 01:59:00 GMT

We had a training day for the mentoring scheme I have signed up for, it is supposed to be supporting and encouraging girls in IT. I met some other female Computer Science students while I was there which was nice, and a useful recruiting tool. I also spoke to ARNWESS in Bradford who are trying to set up a regional network of womens' engineering student groups. I am meeting with them in December. They apparently have some funding available, but whether I can get enough people committed enough to be able to access that is yet to be seen.

I am slowly getting back into work for my course and I can feel my brain slowly returning. My sister is now in the process of moving so I can watch her sanity slowly fade instead.

Getting moving

Carriebeth — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 00:11:00 GMT

Really been suffering from lack of motivation recently. The women's group has been moving more slowly than I had expected, and lectures are going really slowly at the moment, I just don't feel I'm learning much. My pc broke again, it turns out it was the hard drive all along. So now I have a spanky new 250GB one :-) . I did manage to rescue the content off the other one after some fiddling, which made me happy, particularly as Microsoft wouldn't let me download Visual Studio again. I guess I found the first few lectures a little harsh, I was already struggling with the fact that my house will never look like a show home, just to be told that from now on everything I program will have errors. I am a perfectionist by nature so I am struggling with both these facts.

I have just found out that if I want Littl'un in school next September I need to start looking, as the application period begins in two weeks. This means my hair will have to go back to brown. Somehow I don't think it will be as easy to convince them that I am a serious person with pink hair.

New Dinosaur Extinction Theory

Carriebeth — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 01:23:00 GMT

Computer is still functional, Boyf' is complaining that I'm a bandwidth hog. First Women's group meeting had a poor turn-out but hopefully things will pick up. The freshers CS quiz went well tho, was good fun. It is nice to be back, I am looking forward to getting into project work for this year. Nursery have reccommended that I try to get Littl'un into school a year early. She has a theory on dinosaur extinction, apparently, when it got too cold they were all given woolly blankets and turned into sheep. She is struggling with the concept of death at the moment, I was hoping I had a few years before I had to deal with this one.

increased functionality

Carriebeth — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:45:00 GMT

Finally got my pc working, well, maybe, it's an intermittent fault so you can never be sure. We had a house-warming/birthday party for Boyf' at the weekend, it went really well. Boyf' seems to be coping with being a year older better than I generally do. Hopefully we should have the garden sorted soon, the guy said he should be here by Monday at the latest, and the study is just about sorted.

I have just about got the womens' group up and running, we have posters and flyers and we have the first meeting tomorrow. I am now terrified of sitting in a room all alone for two hours looking like a prat. Boyf' kindly pointed out that if I am alone there is no way I can look like a prat as there will be no-one to see.

Littl'un has just been put in the top group in pre-school, not bad for 3 years 2 months. She made Boyf' a picture of birthday cakes today.

Sorted

Carriebeth — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:18:00 GMT

Things are nearly sorted at home, I finally have all my stuff here, (Boyf' has just realised how many pairs of shoes I actually own!). We have got someone coming to finish off the garden next week, then we are pretty much there, just a few pictures to hang. We have got the christmas cake and puddings made, so I am obviously more organised than I think. We are having a party on Saturday, a housewarming/Boyfs' birthday. I have got the women's group moving, we have a first meeting on 27th, I am hoping plenty of people come, so I don't look totally foolish. Littl'un is finally beginning to settle down after the move. Will be good to be back at uni.

A&E

Carriebeth — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:18:00 GMT

Had meeting about imagine cup for next year, with Tom and Matt, who Rob linked me up with. They liked my idea and we are going with that, beyond that I really don't know what we are doing. I am going to have to do some pretty fast learning, I only understood about a quarter of what they were saying. It's hard to believe I will know that much in two years time. It should be good fun, once I get up to speed, and definately good experience. At least they seem to think I'll keep up with them.

We got our shed today, we got about a third of the way through putting it together when Boyf' sliced his knuckle open and we had to go to A&E. So the rest is in pieces in the kitchen and the bits that are together are chained to the fence. We got a metal one so we could bolt it down when it's done. Sadly now Boyf's finger is all bandaged up, I think I may be lumbered with the washing up for the next week :-( I may now have to smile nicely at my brother-in-law to get some help putting the rest together. Littl'un has told him to be more careful.

I am getting moving on the women's group, I now have a website, temporarily at www.carriebeth.squarespace.com, hopefully I will get some funding for a domain. Going to start chasing people up about it this week. I have also been asked to help with the start of year quiz, so life is getting busy.

Yay wardrobes

Carriebeth — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 22:01:00 GMT

Well, we have bedroom furniture, still no clothes yet, it took 9 hours to get them all up. Took Littl'un swimming and into town for shoes on Sat, where she met Fizz from the Tweenies. I was surprised, I thought it was a pretty poor costume, but Littl'un was totally gone, has been talking about it ever since. Boyf's exams are all over so I have him back to help get the house sorted, we are getting the garden done this week (there go my nails), hopefully we will get done but I am not holding my breath. Back to uni in a month, I have so much to get sorted for then. I have got a plan for the next imagine cup, but my programming is going to have to come on at one hell of a pace if I'm gonna be able to implement it. Had our first dinner party on Friday, has Sis' her husband and his kids for dinner, it went really well. Managed to impress with my vegan cheesecake. Boyf' was a star and did most of the rest of the cooking, he stresses less than I do, actually I mostly stress for both of us.

Getting sorted

Carriebeth — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 20:05:00 GMT

I didn't feel too bad whilst shovelling, the next day I really hurt tho. (Boyf' felt guilty) Have been slowly getting the house in order, we get wardrobes on tuesday!! I will be able to bring my clothes over!! Well, after we put them together. I think Boyf' will appreciate it when I stop nicking his as well. Littl'un has taken to writing songs, they are quite sweet, today's was "blah blah blah, all through my life, antidisestablishmentarianism, I wonder what it's made of". I managed to fix my arcade machine, with nail varnish remover, oh yes, see girls are naturally set up to be decent engineers. lol. It took a few hours and two of my carts still don't have sound, but it's always been a bit temperamental. Boyf' wants a big sign saying it's not his, but then he suggested pot pourri the other day, so looks like thats two signs needed....

Heavy Gardening

Carriebeth — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:51:00 GMT

I have just finished shoveling 1 ton of gravel int the front yard. Much as it made a nice opportunity to meet the neighbours, one can't help but feel that maybe feminism got it wrong somewhere. Boyf' is in uni still doing essays for the resits, otherwise I'd make him do it. I have managed to de-jungle about a third of the back garden. If I am not considerably thinner when all this is done I will be miffed. I have a sledge hammer and chisel so I can start attacking the concrete out back as well, destruction is always fun.....

My Home

Carriebeth — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 00:14:00 GMT

Been a while, got moved in two weeks ago, however we have only just got online. Things are getting settled, we got a bed, washing machine and fridge-freezer today, so it is beginning to feel less like camping. Littl'un likes it here, and is getting used to having to walk further to nursery. She was very happy this morning to find her hair is long enough for a pony tail now, she had wanted a plait but she is still gonna have to wait on that one. Having got a washing machine is great, but it does mean that I am going to be erecting a whirlie washing line in the middle of a small jungle tomorrow. Boyf' is working on essays for the re-sits at the moment, which is pretty much the only valid excuse available for not helping with the garden. I hope to get it done by the end of the week, then we will turf it. At least the front now looks like someone owns it. Had 5 days at center parcs last week, which was nice, spent most of it teaching Littl'un to swim. She is really getting the hang. I also arranged for her to have a short pony ride, which she loved. It feels so great to have my own place again.

House

Carriebeth — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 15:27:00 GMT

I should have a house by the end of today!! We have had probs with a few things, we are keeping back a retainer until the guy fits a cooker, which should be happening tomorrow. By the time we get the garden under control I should be looking well toned.

Littl'un had a good birthday. She had a party at school, I hadn't previously realised how expensive kids parties were. She seemed to have had a nice day. We had a family party at home after nursery, and she had the day off yesterday to have some quality time. She is very happy that she is "big girl three". I will post a picture of the cake at some point. She asked for a farmyard cakeso I spent many hours baking and making icing animals, it looked good, even if I do say so myself.

:-)

Carriebeth — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 14:17:00 GMT

Spoke to my supervisor today, I am 3rd in the year (will have to work harder next year). I am quite chuffed. We are also signing contracts on Thursday for the house, so we should be moved by next week (and I can shop! I have even got Boyf' to agree to pink fairy lights). Mum is looking to quit fostering to care for adults with learning disabilities. Still hot here but life is good.

Results and England Flags

Carriebeth — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 12:35:00 GMT

Got my results last night, they came out around 1. I ended up not getting to sleep till 4, so I've had 2 1/2 hours sleep. I got 75% average, so I got my 1st, which is good as I bought the champagne in a couple of days ago. So I have finally managed to pass a 1st year!! Yay!! I got 86% for programming 1, 78% for programming 2, 84% for quantatative methods,. 73% for IT and Pro skills, 70% for software engineering and HCI and 57% for computer systems (which ruins the look of it but hey). I felt a little bad when everyone else I spoke to last night was facing resits. I will probably speak to my supervisor to see if I can get a breakdown of my results, I would like to know what I got for my coursework.

I thought I may as well do my flag rant on here, everyone else has heard it. It really bugs me that as a country England only ever shows any sense of patriotism or national pride when the world cup is on. I find the concept of "we won" really annoying, I'm like "No, WE didn't, some guys on a football pitch somewhere did". I am not against national pride, I grew up in Scotland where people were truly proud of their heritage, I do see it as a positive thing. Furthermore, all these cars with england flags flying really make me cross. The fact that so many people are willing to so heavily increase their fuel consumption and pump all those excess fumes into the atmosphere out of some sort of patriotist fever really makes me mad. My brother-in-law has england flags up inside his car, that only bothers my internal snob really. He brought round two car flags for Littl'un which he had got free somewhere. I suppose she can't help being English, I just won't let her leave the house with them.