Quite Random

Mumbo jumbo

A regime of accumulation, it has to be said, ‘describes the stablization over a long period of the allocation of the net product between the transformation of the conditions of both the conditions of production and the conditions of reproduction of wage-earners’.

What?

This OU course is very interesting, but sometimes I’m not sure if I’m having difficulty undertstanding what I’m reading, or if the person who wrote it is simply incapable of expressing themselves clearly. It really isn’t that difficult to articulate complex ideas in a reasonably straightforward fashion - sometimes it takes longer, sometimes it just takes less words, sometimes a picture would be nice.

But a picture would be too easy. Rule one of studying with the OU – read a chapter of a book and then as an activity draw a picture that demonstrates that you understood what the chuff the book was on about.

Whoosh

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
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It’s time for my monthly panic. My next TMA is due and somehow I managed to leave it until now to get started. It’ll be a miracle if I pass this course.

On the plus side, I have put together a great playlist on Finetune.com, fiddled with a website here, chatted to someone there, done the washing up, made tea, opened my course work, shut it again, done some wwilfing, had a chocolate biscuit, opened my coursework again, and then got up because I think I was hyper-ventilating a bit.

I could be the least academic person ever. Ever.

Give me strength!

I really want to do this course. I really do find it interesting. I really, really want a change of direction in my life, away from making pointless bloody websites and indulging the every whim of lunatics, and towards doing something exciting and worthwhile. This matters to me, and apart from anything else I’ve paid good money to do this course and spent a lot of time on it already.

So why the chuffing hell can’t I concentrate on college work? Here I am blogging about it, no problem at all typing out how pissed off I am about being unable to concentrate, and yet all I have to actually do today is type something about the effects of excess plant nutrients on a watercourse ecosystem.

Of course, it doesn’t help that the shit seems to hit the fan whenever I have an assignment due. Last time – moving house, succession of friends experiencing personal turmoil, bout of minor depression. This time, close relative breaking an ankle and a stinking cold. Next time, who knows – war with Iran, hepatitis and an alien invasion?

As if that’s not bad enough, a cat just ricoched off the desk. I think it was after attention, however it landed on an item of my course material which acted as a non-stick device, and the cat slid off backwards as quickly as it appeared.

So, a new idea. Reverse psychology. I’m going to blog about the effects of excess plant nutrients on a watercourse ecosystem. Ha! brain, not so sodding clever now, are we?

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The best way to get stuff done

Housework not happening? Paperwork overwhelming you? Lots of those awkward jobs you’ve been putting off for ages?

Hi, I’m Barry Scott! No. That’s not it.

The solution is simple. Start a correspondence course. Since I’ve started my course my kitchen floor has been mopped, all of my washing up done, surfaces wiped, bath scrubbed, sink plughole unblocked, old receipts shredded, light bulb replaced, shoes tidied, all episodes of the Sopranos caught up with, tea drunk, mug washed, correspondence caught up with, bank account opened, cushions rearranged, course materials prepared, lamp put in just the right place, pens arranged, notepad opened, course book opened, hole punch emptied, floor swept because I missed the bin and the hole punch holes went everywhere, another cup of tea made, mug washed.

I’m starting to wander if doing this course will be like when Arthur Dent learnt to fly - the trick, he discovered, was to throw yourself at the ground… and miss. That may not make any sense, but I (think I) mean I’m wandering if the best way for me to get studying done is to take myself by surprise. Because as soon as I think about it, everything else I need to do pops in to my head.

Advice to self when studying, based on advice programmes and online discussion:

• Make a plan, set time slots to work in
• Have a space specifically designed for study - make sure it is well-lit and warm
• Talk to your tutor if in trouble or strife
• Break projects up into manageable pieces
• Read your assessment before starting, so you know what information you need to gather

Extra advice to self, based on sheer common sense

• Don’t have a drink and watch Monk first, ‘just to take a short break before I start’
• Remove all distractions (Internet, TV and most music, classical’s OK)
• Do the washing up, it will only sit there looking reproachfully at you
• If you catch yourself reading a cereal packet because you’re still trying to procrastinate, give yourself a slap.

Slap

I have no idea where all my time is going at the moment. I seem to be losing all grip on the basics of organisation, household cleaning, cooking food that isn’t pasta, and concentrating on anything, but now is the time to give myself a sharp slap and get it together, as my course has started. Now I have paperwork coming out of my ears, an assessment due in some time now, research to do, a scientific calculator to find, and telly to ignore. And here I am blogging, and something possessed me to set up another new website to act as an online study diary. Tsk.

[Rips self away from computer]