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One Proud Owner of a BA (Hons)

Summer Colours

The results are out today ... I am now officially a BA (Hons) Graduate. Sadly I didn't achieve as high a grade as I feel I was capable of, but I had lost interest in the course. My priorities changed and I found the final year more stressful than the previous years. I had loved every minute of learning at Plymouth College of Art, but when I moved to Swansea Met Uni, things just weren't the same. My feeling is that moving to study in Swansea served a purpose, and that purpose was simply to allow me to come home.

Moving back home to Wales has been one of the best decisions of my life. I am happier now than I have been for many years. I am content and loving life here. I have no regrets about the move.

I achieved a 2:1 Foundation Degree at Plymouth which I am very proud of, but I wasn't able to keep up the same enthusiasm during the final year so my BA (Hons) grade reflected this, a 2:2. But I should be proud of all of my achievements and as a Mature 50 something student I did it!

Summer Flowers

After initially this morning feeling a little disappointed with myself for not achieving as high a grade as I should have, my mind set changed. I am proud of achieving the BA (Hons). I have done well. 

I want to be positive and no longer want to berate myself constantly. This is a great achievement and I am proud!

I completed another application form this afternoon. The post is a Community Tutor with Carmarthen Council. I also filled in a form to apply to study an Assessment Qualification. This would open more doors, and it would be the start of developing my Education skills and hopefully lead to further employment opportunities. I am determined to succeed and I am telling myself that I will successfully secure a teaching or assessor post by September.

I cycled to the end of the village, I needed some air and exercise and to deliver a letter to the previous tenants here.

I wanted to take some photos of The White Lion, but I confused myself pressing too many buttons on my camera and then couldn't get it to work properly! The landlady of the pub saw me and invited me in for a glass of wine! I was very hungry by this time and didn't stay very long, but I did appreciate the glass of wine.

Later I visited my neighbours garden and shot some photos of her beautiful flowers.  I am inspired at the moment to focus on the colours, so I'm moving in very close to the flowers ...I'm loving the results ... I do so love colours.

The Day after Summer

When I woke up this morning I thought I was in the middle of a storm. The wind was howling and it didn't stop all day; is this really Summer? The world's weather is going mad. I'm not complaining, India is having some horrendous floods at the moment and I send them light, it must be an incredibly frightening  and terrible time. The wind and rain here is nothing compared to that.

Here's a short video of the wind blowing the Welsh Flag ..... by the end of the day all that was left of the flag was a few threads of material..... 

I sat at my computer all morning. I felt incredibly satisfied when I sent off my third application form. There were three tutoring vacancies of the Direct.gov website that I wanted to apply for. And all three applications are written to the best of my ability and sent! I know that I have chosen the right path because I am finding more and more information, courses and vacancies in tutoring adults. I will have to study some more, but life is all about learning and my path has always been to study and learn. As I want to teach Post 16 students, it is the Certificate in Education or an Education Diploma that I will have to achieve. I haven't found the right course yet but if I am successful in one of my applications then I think it is probably best to wait until I know what my prospective employer requires. There's a GO Wales event in Carmarthen on the 3rd July that I have registered for, they may be able to help me to choose the right course. In the meantime I will keep applying for jobs and hope to start work in September.

                       A picture of the Welsh Flag and a Flower blowing in the Wind

As the weather was pretty awful today I didn't venture out at all during the day, apart to ride my bike to the shop to get some eggs! There was a Poems and Pints evening at the Yacht Club tonight and everyone takes along some food to share. I decided to make a savoury tart. My pastry was a bit of a disaster, it didn't stick together and kept falling apart while I was rolling it out but it kind of came together in the end  and actually turned out to be pretty tasty! My daughter enjoyed the small tartlets that I made for us, and the Poems and Pints revellers I think enjoyed the tart! Well they were very sweet to say they did anyway!

I went along to the Poems and Pints evening and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I sat with a couple from the village and everyone was very welcoming as always. There were a few poems read, a few songs, and we all danced The Teddy Bears Picnic which was a hoot! Confusion reigned for a while as we learned the steps, the bows and the twirls but we got it in the end!

The day comes to a close and I am feeling more and more settled in the village. I feel more inspired since I finished Uni. The final year wasn't as enjoyable or productive as the first three years and I'm glad to be able to just enjoy life without stress .... at least for the moment!

Revellers at the Poems and Pints Evening!

Chocolate Cake

I seem to be rekindling my love of Baking. Last week it was Butterfly Cakes, today a Chocolate Sponge Cake! My daughter is very happy that I'm baking again.

I had relinquished many arts and crafts in the past few years. I have been focused on my University studies, but more than that, I seemed to have lost all interest in many of the things that I had previously enjoyed doing. So I'm more than happy that I am at last, enjoying again the gifts that I have been given. The joy is in the making and in the sharing :)

Summer

The Danza Class was cancelled this afternoon as not enough people turned up. I was disappointed; I had been looking forward to spending an hour exercising to music to clear my head and re-energise. I'm spending  a few hours every day trying to improve my employment prospects by constantly amending my CV and filling in numerous application forms on line. Hopefully by September I will successfully have secured myself a teaching post.

As I was in the mood to get moving as it were, I rode my bicycle to the Three Rivers Hotel at the east end of the village to pick up a leaflet about their Gym and Swimming facilities. Stella had said that the Danza Class will finish in two weeks. I want to continue with some kind of fitness regime. The hotel has good facilities, I had a look around, it's open from 10am to 10pm every day except Sundays when it closes at 8pm. So maybe next week I'll go along for a swim and use the Gym stuff.

After visiting the hotel I popped back home to pick up my camera and went for a ride on the bike to shoot some pictures of the summer flowers, I wanted to pick up the beautiful colours.

Here are some of the pictures I shot.

Colours of the Soul

Waiting ....

It was raining but the light was lovely ... I sat on the door step under the shelter of my balcony waiting for my chocolate cake sponge to bake. 

I thought about nothing except where I was at that time in that place. Content. 

A little note about Digital photography .... I've been shooting on film for the past three years, but now that I am  just a little financially embarrassed (!) I have no choice but to try and rekindle my digital skills. I'm not a fan of digital and I don't have expensive equipment, so I'm finding these images are of a mediocre quality. I'm used to the vibrant detailed quality of film. But needs must, and the great advantage of digital is the convenience of being able to upload them immediately. Oh well .... I'm sure I'll get used to it.

White Lion Darts Night

The White Lion, Ferryside

It was my second time playing darts with the local pub "The White Lion." I was a little tired as I'd been up late the previous night having a really good time at Tuesday Night Music Night but this is not an excuse! My darts playing has a lot to be desired.

I got there early thinking that I would have a practise before the match. One of the past players who was having a drink with friends, tried to show me how you should throw the darts. I tend to use all of my arm and I'm getting shoulder ache! But its tricky! You have to somehow keep your shoulder still, straighten your arm and throw from the elbow I think, and throw fast. I'm not sure if this is right. The ex player ( sorry I don't recall his name now) kept telling me to keep my arm straight, not as easy as you might think, for me anyhow. After a while practising I got tired and waited until the match started.

I lost both my games! Not surprising! I can get a few good points sometimes, but ending with a double is nigh impossible. I'm hoping I will improve as time goes on.

We played at home to the Ferryside Rugby Club and won our match 6 - 5, no thanks to me of course.

CV Writing by Day ... Music by Night

All day I sat on the computer writing, amending, changing my CV ...searching for jobs...looking at different websites ...filling in application forms. It takes so long to do these things and I am far from finished. Its an on going activity that will last as long as it takes me to nail that job.

After applying for any kind of employment, I have decided that I really should use my skills to do something I enjoy, something I feel passionate about and something that will pay me a decent wage. So I've made the decision to return to teaching. It was something that I really did feel that I was suited too; and with it came a sense of satisfaction, self worth and a contentment knowing that I was helping someone to improve their chances in life.

I'm applying for posts teaching Essential Skills and IT, and also I'm thinking of applying for Teaching Assistant posts.

I may have to do some more studying if I'm successful in my quest to find a teaching post. I have City & Guilds Teaching Certificates, and six years experience, but I never did get around to finishing my Certificate in Education, it wasn't the right time back then. If I get a Teaching Assistant post then there will probably be other qualifications I will need to gain.

After a long day using my thinking skills (!) I headed to The White Lion this evening. I have my singing group at 7.30 and then we meander down to the lounge of the pub to enjoy the music that happens every Tuesday night. Its great, the local people bring their instruments, they have a jamming session, a few songs, a sng a long, and the atmosphere is electric.

Tonight was extra special, we had guests from Nashville who are staying not far from the village, they are doing some tour dates in the UK. They are called "dirty proper." Natalie sings and Trey plays guitar.

https://www.facebook.com/dirtyproper?fref=ts  

Image courtesy of Raw Fish Photo as seen on Facebook Page

We also had another guest at the pub, Andy Collins 

https://www.facebook.com/andycollinsbass?fref=ts 

Image courtesy of Andy Collins FaceBook page

who is the bass guitarist, song writer and singer from the very well know Welsh band The Storys. I hadn't heard of them but was sad to read when I got home that they have very recently disbanded.

It has been a fabulous evening.... music, singing, a great atmosphere, a few halves of Guinness...what more could a woman want! I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It is such a wonderful feeling to be part of a community where there are endless activities and events happening. I'm enjoying getting to know the people and the places. Great stuff.

A few Mobile pictures, they're a bit naff! I didn't take my camera ...doh! I could have left the pub for a few minutes to cycle home to fetch it, but I didn't want to miss anything!

Brooding Sky

Brooding Sky in West Wales

Its been a busy week .... today a short ride out on my bike .... too tired to write more now! Catch up in a day or so.....

Danza and Baking!

Butterfly Cakes

After my DANZA Class this afternoon at the Village Hall, I felt energised and in the mood for some Baking! A little ironic really as I am trying to cut down on sweet stuff and have joined the DANZA class to try and get myself fit! However, I really enjoyed my afternoon of baking, I haven't made cakes for years, so I was quite proud that they turned out so well! 

Butterfly cakes have always been a favourite, probably because I used to help my Mam with the baking when I was a little girl. She was a fabulous cook, she was a very gifted lady, baking and cooking were two of the many things she could turn her hand too. Music was her forte, she was foremost a Pianist, but what ever instrument you gave her she would be able to play something on it. She was a pianist for a Concert Party in Wales, they were called "Adar Y Banc" the singers and musicians would come to our home to practise. Those are such precious memories. Wonderful days, full of fun and laughter and so much talent.

Even though it has now been 28 years since we lost her, I think about her almost every day, if not every day, as I do my Dad who passed away in 2010. They smile at me from pictures in frames even as I write this. 

Should've stayed in bed ...

I was exhausted this morning after spending hours preparing for the Table Top Sale at the Village Hall today. I shouldn't have bothered. The house is now in chaos with stuff strewn all over the floor, on all available surfaces and in the way of getting from one room to another. Now I have the job of putting it all away again and I'm not doing it today.

Eight people came to the sale ... the other people there said it was the worst they had ever known it to be. I sold nothing. So it was a waste of the precious little money I have, my time and all the effort I had put into organising everything. I am very disappointed and wondering what  I have done that the universe couldn't have granted me at least one buyer, at least to make back the money I paid out.

Then my daughter and I were going to go to Carmarthen.  I need to pick up an application form from Morrison's Store, they have a job vacancy there. But the bus didn't turn up.

So after writing my blog entry for the day, I am going to lie in bed and watch my comforting "Merlin." CD

I read Shanta's Daily Inspirations and this is what it said today ...All your feelings have a purpose. They need to be acknowledged, not pushed away. Be as compassionate with yourself as you are with others. Your feelings are telling you what you need to invite into your life. 

I'm going to think about this and try and work out what exactly it is I need to invite into my life ...What are my feelings? What am I missing in my life? What do I need to do? Why don't my efforts pay off? What is it I'm not seeing? Where exactly do I need to go to make things happen? I'm tired now......

Yesterday at Bosherston, Today getting things done ...

My sis and I had a wonderful day at Bosherston yesterday. It is a little gem in West Wales, one of many, but this one is pretty special, especially at this time of year when the Lilies of the Pond are beginning to blossom, and everywhere is so lusciously emerald green and feels like nature is really alive.

Everything about our day was perfect ... the sun shone and we bathed in its warmth, the sea was choppy and   a little too cold to swim but we paddled to our hearts delight being silly and laughing as though we were still children! We walked along the paths from pond to beach every step a sheer delight of colour. So many wild flowers species .... I have no idea what they were, I could only recognise the Bluebells and Daisies!

We walked back to the village for some lunch at Bosherston Cafe, we sat outside eating our sandwiches and delicious cake, iced cake for me and apricot sponge for my sis.We drank oodles of thirst quenching tea made from authentic tea leaves not your common ol' tea bags(!), as we listened to the birds chirping away, and in an idyllic spot watched the world to by .

It felt like a little bit of heaven and there is nothing that makes me happier than being with my sis, and enjoying the precious simple pleasures of life.

Today has been a different day altogether. Back to the real world. Having just finished university, finances need to be sorted out. So phone calls to the appropriate people for help and guidance this morning, and a last trip to the University to collect my prints this afternoon. I'm resting awhile now, but I'm doing a Table Top Sale in the Village Hall tomorrow, so I need to organise some articles to sell. I'm thinking of framing a few of my prints, I've got some lovely jewellery that I never wear, an animal print coffee set that an ex gave me which was fun at the time but now reminds me of him and I only want to look to the future, not to the past. I'll probably find lots of bits and pieces when I start to look so fingers crossed that I will make a little money to go in the pot!

Writing this blog, I'm thinking that I may return to digital photography. I've been using film for several years now while I've been studying for my Degree, but I don't have any images to post on here until I get them developed, and as funds as a little sparse right now it would make more sense to go digital again. I'm always forgetting that I have a camera on my phone ... though that is another option.

Until tomorrow dear friends ... Anon...Blessings ...

The Beginning

A new chapter in my life begins today. No longer a mature student, but a happy to be alive woman looking forward to life on the other side of University. A box in my life ticked. Its been four years of academic learning and creativity, and for the most part I have loved it. I have achieved what I set out to achieve and I'm now looking forward to life whatever it brings.

So to celebrate the end of my life of learning (within an institution that is, as life is about learning all the time), I will be catching a train to Saundersfoot to spend an evening with my sister, and a day out together tomorrow to Bosherston. Lovely!

When something in my life comes to an end, I usually feel a sense of loss, the thought of "so what am I going to do now?" but not today. Today I feel excited, glad to be alive, glad of the change, and looking forward to what life brings.

Since moving to the village in West Wales last September I haven't had the opportunity to get to know the people here, to ingratiate myself into the community, to get involved. But that is exactly what I'm going to do now. I've joined a Singing Group, we meet on a Tuesday evening, I'm going to be doing a Table Top Sale at the Village Hall on Saturday , and I'm sure I will find lots of other things to do and write about.

But for now I have to go and catch my train ...

The End

Today was the final assessment of the BA (Hons) course, so this is the end of my days as a Mature Student!

I am now looking forward to embarking on a new chapter in my life.

I have achieved what I wanted to achieve, and although this final year has not been as enjoyable as the previous three years, and I lost some of my enthusiasm ... I made it to the end!

A new life ... A new blog ....