Very very long time sinc I posted anything - but here we are the graduate interns playing that funky music (the second half)
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Driving Number 10
Slight delay in posting about driving - apologies - finishing my degree has
taken over my brain!
So, we've been doing reversing round corners and into bay parking spaces. Interesting phenomena, not entirely sure I'll ever get it!
But on a plus, I am now driving from my home and back again and negotiating roundabouts :D
taken over my brain!
So, we've been doing reversing round corners and into bay parking spaces. Interesting phenomena, not entirely sure I'll ever get it!
But on a plus, I am now driving from my home and back again and negotiating roundabouts :D
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Driving Numbers 6 and 7
Apologies for the delay in writing - been trying a new healthy eating plan and it's taken over my mind!!!
There's not much to tell from Week 6 - just an overview of left and right turns and learning to signal the right way and move around the first 3 gears. All of which I think I managed pretty well!
It's last week that the problems began!
Last week was my introduction to reversing. Slightly unnerved by this concept, largely due to the amount of wobbling that occurs when I look behind me when cycling, and I could only conceive that the same would happen if I stopped looking forward in a car. Thankfully this was not the case as the steering wheel is a lot more stable than the handlebars of a bike. Funny that.
So it was not the actually moving that was the problem. It was competent at getting into the right gear, and I was quite capable of moving backwards (or rather the car was) and controlling this movement with the clutch. My problem came in the looking. It seems that part of reversing involves rather a lot of swinging your head round and round looking everywhere. Now I can understand the reasoning of this looking, seeing as though it's always good not to hit things, but would somebody please like to explain this to my body? This swinging head motion produced nothing but a feeling of nausea for me!
I would be deeply grateful to anyone who could relieve me of this nausea. I do indeed get travel/motion sick, but so far in my lessons this has not been a problem. Everyone says that once you're the driver you don't feel sick. Although there was a large part of me that didn't believe this, my experience until this point had proved it.
So now what do I do? Clearly feeling nauseous is not a great way to be in charge of a car. My doctor says they can't give me anything for it because they make you drowsy. My only hope is that the slight infection I had last week was the cause for my increased nausea, not just the head motions. Although I find that moving my head from side to side when not in a car still makes me feel sick to a certain extent! Hmm...
Other problems this week included not being able to tell whether we were coming in at too steep an angle when reversing round a corner. Although how you're supposed to tell this when your movement is very stop starty is beyond me. It became clearer as we moved faster. But all in all, I didn't enjoy this lesson, and am not looking forward to the next!
There's not much to tell from Week 6 - just an overview of left and right turns and learning to signal the right way and move around the first 3 gears. All of which I think I managed pretty well!
It's last week that the problems began!
Last week was my introduction to reversing. Slightly unnerved by this concept, largely due to the amount of wobbling that occurs when I look behind me when cycling, and I could only conceive that the same would happen if I stopped looking forward in a car. Thankfully this was not the case as the steering wheel is a lot more stable than the handlebars of a bike. Funny that.
So it was not the actually moving that was the problem. It was competent at getting into the right gear, and I was quite capable of moving backwards (or rather the car was) and controlling this movement with the clutch. My problem came in the looking. It seems that part of reversing involves rather a lot of swinging your head round and round looking everywhere. Now I can understand the reasoning of this looking, seeing as though it's always good not to hit things, but would somebody please like to explain this to my body? This swinging head motion produced nothing but a feeling of nausea for me!
I would be deeply grateful to anyone who could relieve me of this nausea. I do indeed get travel/motion sick, but so far in my lessons this has not been a problem. Everyone says that once you're the driver you don't feel sick. Although there was a large part of me that didn't believe this, my experience until this point had proved it.
So now what do I do? Clearly feeling nauseous is not a great way to be in charge of a car. My doctor says they can't give me anything for it because they make you drowsy. My only hope is that the slight infection I had last week was the cause for my increased nausea, not just the head motions. Although I find that moving my head from side to side when not in a car still makes me feel sick to a certain extent! Hmm...
Other problems this week included not being able to tell whether we were coming in at too steep an angle when reversing round a corner. Although how you're supposed to tell this when your movement is very stop starty is beyond me. It became clearer as we moved faster. But all in all, I didn't enjoy this lesson, and am not looking forward to the next!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Driving Number 5
Bit late this week, so I apologise if I've forgotten most of it!
After a quick circuit of left hand turns, making it up into third gear, we went on to right hand turns. A little more to think about here, especially which way to flick the signal switch, which on numerous occasions I seemed to manage to signal left for right hand turns. Hmm... must work on that!
Thankfully I only stalled a couple of times, although it was to my dismay as I hoped to be the person that never stalled. Hey ho, just need to keep the revs up. I think it may have been a confidence issue. A cockyness issue in fact, as I sped up in my manouvers trying to seemless carry out my instructors instructions (well there's a mouthful) at the speed of a 'normal' driver. It appears I need to wait for myself to catch up.
My other problem this week (perhaps related to the over-confidence) seemed to be changing gear. Not changing gear in itself or forgetting the clutch nor going fast/slow enough, but simply grabbing the handbreak instead of the gear stick. Fatal flaw indeed. Again thankfully I managed to rectify my mistake before putting the handbreak on - which would indeed of had interesting consequences.
On a positive note, my foot/pedal control is excellent and coming on in leaps and bounds. I have control!
Next week I have been promised the delight of mixing left and right turns in our little jaunts. Looks like it would be a good plan to learn my left and right when it comes to signalling for this.
After a quick circuit of left hand turns, making it up into third gear, we went on to right hand turns. A little more to think about here, especially which way to flick the signal switch, which on numerous occasions I seemed to manage to signal left for right hand turns. Hmm... must work on that!
Thankfully I only stalled a couple of times, although it was to my dismay as I hoped to be the person that never stalled. Hey ho, just need to keep the revs up. I think it may have been a confidence issue. A cockyness issue in fact, as I sped up in my manouvers trying to seemless carry out my instructors instructions (well there's a mouthful) at the speed of a 'normal' driver. It appears I need to wait for myself to catch up.
My other problem this week (perhaps related to the over-confidence) seemed to be changing gear. Not changing gear in itself or forgetting the clutch nor going fast/slow enough, but simply grabbing the handbreak instead of the gear stick. Fatal flaw indeed. Again thankfully I managed to rectify my mistake before putting the handbreak on - which would indeed of had interesting consequences.
On a positive note, my foot/pedal control is excellent and coming on in leaps and bounds. I have control!
Next week I have been promised the delight of mixing left and right turns in our little jaunts. Looks like it would be a good plan to learn my left and right when it comes to signalling for this.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Driving Number 4
Bit of a break between posts as unfortunately I was very sick last week and had to miss my driving lesson! Disappointing.
So today was largely recap of the old left hand turns. Feeling slightly apprehensive after the break, I seemed to settle back into it quicker than I thought.
I do believe that it's a mark of my evolving maturity that I told my instructor what I needed (e.g. 'can we go round the block one more time to cement this in my mind?') rather than just meekly going along with what she said. It's almost come as a shock to me that I have my own mind, and that it's thoughts are worth listening to (at times)!
Having mastered mirror, signal, manouver and left turn in first gear, complete with handbreak stop at the junction, along with giving way behind parked cars, we decided to take it up a gear. Literally. So we set off, we get into second gear, happily go along until a car whizzes into the road forcing me to stop behind a parked car. So we carry on in first. Once we have turned we aim to speed up into second again. I manage the speed, push down the clush and the car makes an awful revving noise and jumps - horrible. I'm like, 'I don't know what I'm doing wrong!!' So we turn into a side road to discuss. Turns out you're supposed to take your foot of the accelerator as you put the clutch down. Oh. That'd explain it. D'oh.
So today I avoid my instructor squealing at me, and just squealed myself. I have to say though, I did notice a marked improvement in my confidence and reaction times. It's not taking quite as long to carry out the instructions I'm given, my feet and hands are starting to move automatically. Whoo. I started the lesson thinking I'll never get it, and left the lesson thinking, 'ah ha, here we go!'
I only hit the curb once. Guess that's good going. Especially since my clutch control of just rolling into position at junctions and when parking is so excellent! ;) he he.
Right hand turns next week me thinks.
So today was largely recap of the old left hand turns. Feeling slightly apprehensive after the break, I seemed to settle back into it quicker than I thought.
I do believe that it's a mark of my evolving maturity that I told my instructor what I needed (e.g. 'can we go round the block one more time to cement this in my mind?') rather than just meekly going along with what she said. It's almost come as a shock to me that I have my own mind, and that it's thoughts are worth listening to (at times)!
Having mastered mirror, signal, manouver and left turn in first gear, complete with handbreak stop at the junction, along with giving way behind parked cars, we decided to take it up a gear. Literally. So we set off, we get into second gear, happily go along until a car whizzes into the road forcing me to stop behind a parked car. So we carry on in first. Once we have turned we aim to speed up into second again. I manage the speed, push down the clush and the car makes an awful revving noise and jumps - horrible. I'm like, 'I don't know what I'm doing wrong!!' So we turn into a side road to discuss. Turns out you're supposed to take your foot of the accelerator as you put the clutch down. Oh. That'd explain it. D'oh.
So today I avoid my instructor squealing at me, and just squealed myself. I have to say though, I did notice a marked improvement in my confidence and reaction times. It's not taking quite as long to carry out the instructions I'm given, my feet and hands are starting to move automatically. Whoo. I started the lesson thinking I'll never get it, and left the lesson thinking, 'ah ha, here we go!'
I only hit the curb once. Guess that's good going. Especially since my clutch control of just rolling into position at junctions and when parking is so excellent! ;) he he.
Right hand turns next week me thinks.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Driving Number 3
So today we were doing left-hand turns. I underestimated the difficulty of this!
After finding a suitable section in the estate (away from parked cars and other people) we sat and discussed what I was to do. Simply, we were to approach the junction (mirror, signal, manouver ma larky) and then stop at it having turned left in line with the curb. Then having looked everywhere again, turn and repeat at the next junction, going round in circles.
It seemed simple, but that wasn't counting for the parked cars, lorries, workmen, other road users who seemed to be in the mood to make me life as hard as possible! I hope that I am more considerate to learners when I pass! Didn't feel at all panicked by any situation though, as quite simply I couldn't do anything anyway! Just plod along at my slow speed!
Going round in circles was good practice, but by the end of the hour my left leg had had quite enough from all the clutch control creeping and insisted on shaking and being in spasm. Hmm.
A number of times I could sense panic in my instructors voice as she squeeked, 'not too near the parked car' and her voice became more high pitched as she grabbed the wheel. You really have to turn that thing further than you think! I also had it upside down at some point which confused me.
Truely I'm not sure how my brain is going to be able to cope with doing different things with my eyes, arms and legs. I thought being a drummer would help, but not so far!
All in all though, I do appear to be a good creeper.
After finding a suitable section in the estate (away from parked cars and other people) we sat and discussed what I was to do. Simply, we were to approach the junction (mirror, signal, manouver ma larky) and then stop at it having turned left in line with the curb. Then having looked everywhere again, turn and repeat at the next junction, going round in circles.
It seemed simple, but that wasn't counting for the parked cars, lorries, workmen, other road users who seemed to be in the mood to make me life as hard as possible! I hope that I am more considerate to learners when I pass! Didn't feel at all panicked by any situation though, as quite simply I couldn't do anything anyway! Just plod along at my slow speed!
Going round in circles was good practice, but by the end of the hour my left leg had had quite enough from all the clutch control creeping and insisted on shaking and being in spasm. Hmm.
A number of times I could sense panic in my instructors voice as she squeeked, 'not too near the parked car' and her voice became more high pitched as she grabbed the wheel. You really have to turn that thing further than you think! I also had it upside down at some point which confused me.
Truely I'm not sure how my brain is going to be able to cope with doing different things with my eyes, arms and legs. I thought being a drummer would help, but not so far!
All in all though, I do appear to be a good creeper.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Driving Number 2
Second lesson. Feeling less nervous this week and more excited - let me on that open road!!
Today we looked mainly at changing gear and creeping. It felt great to just fly along the road (making it to 25miles an hour!) and there wasn't much other traffic to deal with so it was stress free! I managed to pull over and stop the car a couple of times, only driving on the verge once!
Changing gear was entertaining. My intructor asked me to change into second and my mind malfunctioned and I went into third - oops! So she asked me to try going back into second and I ended up in forth! Lol! Following this we sat parked and practiced moving the gear stick - he he - you don't have to move it as wildly as I thought! I had no more problems after that, obviously I just needed to get used to the feeling of it.
I enjoyed creeping after making jokes about whether it meant following pedestrians along the path (which I'm not sure my instructor got). It made the whole 'biting point' on the clutch make sense, and gave me quite a good feeling of control of the car (what big beasts they are compared to bikes!).
After travelling along at my slow speed, I do find it weird then being driven home by the instructor a lot faster! Ah well, week two done!
Today we looked mainly at changing gear and creeping. It felt great to just fly along the road (making it to 25miles an hour!) and there wasn't much other traffic to deal with so it was stress free! I managed to pull over and stop the car a couple of times, only driving on the verge once!
Changing gear was entertaining. My intructor asked me to change into second and my mind malfunctioned and I went into third - oops! So she asked me to try going back into second and I ended up in forth! Lol! Following this we sat parked and practiced moving the gear stick - he he - you don't have to move it as wildly as I thought! I had no more problems after that, obviously I just needed to get used to the feeling of it.
I enjoyed creeping after making jokes about whether it meant following pedestrians along the path (which I'm not sure my instructor got). It made the whole 'biting point' on the clutch make sense, and gave me quite a good feeling of control of the car (what big beasts they are compared to bikes!).
After travelling along at my slow speed, I do find it weird then being driven home by the instructor a lot faster! Ah well, week two done!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Driving Number 1
Today I had my first driving lesson! Only 9 years since I turned 17, but better late than never! I thought it would be good to blog my experience, a) to see for myself how far I've come, b) to share my journey, and c) to entertain myself in years to come!
So, I was picked up near home by a lovely lady in a blue Toyota Yaris. We drove to Stockton Lane in York and sat and chatted for a fair while about the car and driving, adjusting my seat and all that business. Apparently this area is where the tests are taken, so good to practice there I guess!
Then before I knew it, I'd put the car in gear, checked my mirrors, signalled and set off. 'I'm driving!!!' I exclaimed to my instructor somewhat shocked by the way it happened so quickly. What a strange feeling. (I was also pretty impressed with home much you can see in the mirrors having only used them to check what I looked like or catch the driver's eye before).
We tootled along at about 9miles an hour and then came to a stop. Success! On my second little jaunt,, after making it to about 14miles an hour, we unfortunately had to stop on a hill at temporary traffic lights for road works!!! I successfully managed a hill start without stalling! Whoo. Although I suspect that my instructor had more control over the clutch than I realised. I also never realised how much thought has to go into starting and stopping a car!!
So that's it, lesson one done! Roll on next week, I'm looking forward to it!!
So, I was picked up near home by a lovely lady in a blue Toyota Yaris. We drove to Stockton Lane in York and sat and chatted for a fair while about the car and driving, adjusting my seat and all that business. Apparently this area is where the tests are taken, so good to practice there I guess!
Then before I knew it, I'd put the car in gear, checked my mirrors, signalled and set off. 'I'm driving!!!' I exclaimed to my instructor somewhat shocked by the way it happened so quickly. What a strange feeling. (I was also pretty impressed with home much you can see in the mirrors having only used them to check what I looked like or catch the driver's eye before).
We tootled along at about 9miles an hour and then came to a stop. Success! On my second little jaunt,, after making it to about 14miles an hour, we unfortunately had to stop on a hill at temporary traffic lights for road works!!! I successfully managed a hill start without stalling! Whoo. Although I suspect that my instructor had more control over the clutch than I realised. I also never realised how much thought has to go into starting and stopping a car!!
So that's it, lesson one done! Roll on next week, I'm looking forward to it!!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Tropical World
And so it was, one snowy Friday afternoon that Oliver and I visited Tropical World in Leeds...
We saw many animals...
But my favourites were the Meerkats :D
We saw many animals...
But my favourites were the Meerkats :D
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
And so it approaches...
Yesterday I met with my academic tutor and the head of BA Counselling Studies in preparation for my return to that part of my degree. Four years ago I was heading into my final year at university, apprehensive of where I would lead to and unaware of the rocky road ahead.
Today I was looking at my posts from that September, and still high from the summer's Christian festivals I posted about wanting to stand as a true woman of God. So often when we're at these events we can get caught up in the easy bubble they are, surrounded by thousands of other Christians, and we find it easy to rededicate our lives to God without thought of the consequences. I'm not saying that this is either positive or negative, just simply an observance.
In my mind at the time, I was giving my future to God AFTER my degree and perhaps this closed minded approach is partly what caused the change of plans that year to be so upsetting. In short, my tired body and mind was not prepared for this last year of uni and so it gave up on me. After two hard years of recovery I made it back to uni part time and gradually got stronger. Another two years later and a diagnosis of CFS/ME that has enabled things to make sense, I am back to where I left off. And so it approaches... my final year at university.
I have learnt to not take my relationship with God, nor what I say to Him, nor my life lightly! Who knows what is around the next corner, but I like to think that I am better prepared for it than I was four years ago.
Today I was looking at my posts from that September, and still high from the summer's Christian festivals I posted about wanting to stand as a true woman of God. So often when we're at these events we can get caught up in the easy bubble they are, surrounded by thousands of other Christians, and we find it easy to rededicate our lives to God without thought of the consequences. I'm not saying that this is either positive or negative, just simply an observance.
In my mind at the time, I was giving my future to God AFTER my degree and perhaps this closed minded approach is partly what caused the change of plans that year to be so upsetting. In short, my tired body and mind was not prepared for this last year of uni and so it gave up on me. After two hard years of recovery I made it back to uni part time and gradually got stronger. Another two years later and a diagnosis of CFS/ME that has enabled things to make sense, I am back to where I left off. And so it approaches... my final year at university.
I have learnt to not take my relationship with God, nor what I say to Him, nor my life lightly! Who knows what is around the next corner, but I like to think that I am better prepared for it than I was four years ago.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Angel of Mercy
Below are the two images I created as the culmination of my module on Religion and the Visual Arts. I would appreciate feedback on your insights and so forth as I need to write about other peoples' opinions of my work.
Please click on the images to see them bigger. I will post my reasonings behind it at a later date. (Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to make the second image the proper width and you can't really get an idea of the materials - but hey ho!)
Angel of Mercy
Osama of Mercy?
Please click on the images to see them bigger. I will post my reasonings behind it at a later date. (Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to make the second image the proper width and you can't really get an idea of the materials - but hey ho!)
Angel of Mercy
Osama of Mercy?Friday, April 02, 2010
Online Dating World
So I gave in and rejoined Christian Connection.
So far things have been a bit quiet - not entirely sure how you really get much of an idea about someone from just reading a profile and looking at tiny pictures.
There is an instant chat function, but there haven't been many guys on in my age group (the site seems to cater to a large age range)
Ideally I'd rather meet a guy in a more 'natural' sense, but there seems to be little opportunity for Christians my age to meet (that I've found anyway) - the idea of telling my future children that daddy and I met on the internet doesn't greatly appeal, but I'd rather have children than none!
I intend to keep you updated, but still working out how much I feel comfortable to share! ;)
So far things have been a bit quiet - not entirely sure how you really get much of an idea about someone from just reading a profile and looking at tiny pictures.
There is an instant chat function, but there haven't been many guys on in my age group (the site seems to cater to a large age range)
Ideally I'd rather meet a guy in a more 'natural' sense, but there seems to be little opportunity for Christians my age to meet (that I've found anyway) - the idea of telling my future children that daddy and I met on the internet doesn't greatly appeal, but I'd rather have children than none!
I intend to keep you updated, but still working out how much I feel comfortable to share! ;)
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Political Stance
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Selfish Rant
Just needed a selfish rant for a mo.
Grrrrr to being tired all the time!!! Some may think that spending most of the day in bed would be a luxury, but it's just a pain when you have some much you want to do.
What's the point in God giving you passions, desires, wants etc. when you're stuck going no where further than your house? I would love to conquer the world (or at least experience as much as I can) but currently that is not a possibility and I don't know when it will be.
It's all well and good saying you can make it a mission to pray for things - but my heart wants more than that. I want to be a do-er.
Anyway, I totally acknowledge that with everything going on in the world this is a selfish rant and I lot of 'I', but I'd love to go out there and make a difference.
Rant over (for now)
Grrrrr to being tired all the time!!! Some may think that spending most of the day in bed would be a luxury, but it's just a pain when you have some much you want to do.
What's the point in God giving you passions, desires, wants etc. when you're stuck going no where further than your house? I would love to conquer the world (or at least experience as much as I can) but currently that is not a possibility and I don't know when it will be.
It's all well and good saying you can make it a mission to pray for things - but my heart wants more than that. I want to be a do-er.
Anyway, I totally acknowledge that with everything going on in the world this is a selfish rant and I lot of 'I', but I'd love to go out there and make a difference.
Rant over (for now)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Christian Ethics - Part 2
Not many responses to the first one, but here are a couple more to get your teeth into:
- Are there every any cirumstances in which a doctor should test a patient for HIV/AIDS without informing the patient that they are doing so?
- On what grounds is it legitimate to offer amnesty from prosecution to a known terrorist or criminal in return for information leading to the conviction of his/her accomplices?
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Christian Ethics - Part 1 - The Train
I'm about to start a module at uni on Christian Ethics. In preparation for this I have some questions set to discuss with friends and family. So I would much appreciate your thoughts on the following!
- A runaway carriage is hurtling down a track where it will kill five people. You are standing on a bridge above the track and, aware of the imminent disaster, you decide to jump on the track to block the carriage. Although you will die, the five people will be saved. But just before your leap, you realise that you are too light to stop the carriage. Next to you, a fat man is standing on the very edge of the bridge. He would certainly stop the carriage, although he would undoubtedly die from the impact. A small nudge and he would fall right onto the track below. No one would ever know. Should you push him? Why?
Monday, March 23, 2009
When I opened the front door this morning...
When I opened the front door this morning I was entertainingly greeted by a shopping trolley, can't say I was expecting that, but I did half expect it to talk to me! It made its merry way off this afternoon with a couple of lads.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)