Go West (Country)

I'm going to start this post with an apology. I'm sorry I haven't updated this blog for over a month. There... done!

Now on to the news of my studies over the past five weeks or so. I've finished and submitted TMA03 - the one about Dalai Lama and Plato. I also got my result for TMA02 - a rather pleasing 80%.

Even though I haven't written anything on here, I have done plenty of studying. I worked through the chapter about The Faber Book of Beasts and read most of the poems in the book. I also contributed to the OU forum (an experience I won't be repeating too often, if I can help it).

I've also managed to write a few poems and a story or two, although not as many as I would have liked. One of the poems, did however, manage to win me a box set of 'Game of Thrones' books and DVDs. To win, I had to say who my favourite character from the series was, and why. Having never read nor watched any of the series, I had absolutely no idea, but twenty minutes of research was all I needed to come up with this:

Who is my favourite character
That appears in 'Game of Thrones'
Somebody from House of Tully
Or Greyjoy, or Baratheon?
No... I think I'll have to choose
One of the Stark's instead
And who's the daddy of them all?
It's Eddard (known as Ned)
Honour and justice the noble traits
Of the Warden of the North
And best of all, on television
He's played by Bean of course!

 I have also received two read and review books (which I haven't even opened yet), so the next few weeks are going to be just as busy.

As for the next step in my study journey. I've just finished reading the chapter about Tradition and Dissent in English Christianity and am just about to start reading about Pugin, ready for TMA04 which is about St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham (the other option is Shostakovich; a chapter I don't even intend to read).  

I'll report back after my virtual visit to the 'West Country'.

The Orient and the Ancient

I've submitted my second assignment. If there's anything wrong with it, it's too late now, there's no going back!

I've also been very busy this week working through the chapters on the Dalai Lama and then Plato. While I was in the mood for studying, I thought I might as well get my third assignment written up.

I really enjoyed both chapters, although I started to falter a bit when I got to the political stuff about Tibet and China. I have always been interested in learning about all religions. I don't know whether this is because I am atheist, or whether I am atheist because of it? I can identify with many of the Buddhist ideas, as there is none of the 'we are right and you are wrong' that you get with some other religions.

I have to say though, that the Plato chapter stands head and shoulders above all the other chapters as my favourite. I don't know if this is because, like Plato and Socrates, I enjoy a good argument. I have decided I am definitely a Moral Rationalist - I like to know the reasons WHY people choose to do things; WHY they believe what they do; I like to challenge the reasons and make conclusions based purely on the evidence, not experience.


This often annoys people, as most people tend to be Moral Traditionalists - They do things because that's what they've always done; they believe things because their parents believed it... and their grandparents... and their great-grandparents...


Think of how many people you know who are like this - the bloke who comes in the pub at exactly quarter past twelve on a Sunday, has three pints, plays the fruit machine for ten minutes when he gets his second drink, then goes home at exactly ten to three because his wife will have the dinner ready... or the old lady who goes into town on the eleven o'clock bus every Tuesday, visits the same three market stalls, has fish with peas and a cup of tea for lunch, goes to the supermarket to buy the same seven items, then gets the quarter to one bus back home.


I am most definitely NOT a creature of habit. To illustrate this, I have worked extra hard this week so I can have the next couple of weeks completely study-free. I'll see you after the Easter break...

Stalling at Stalin

Over the past week, I've learnt just one thing - I'm glad I decided I'm not going to do History for my degree.

All week, I've been trying to get through Chapter 5 on Stalin. I enjoy reading about him as a person, however I soon switched off as soon as the book started talking about dates and places. While I understand it is important to know when something happened, I just find that it bores me. 

Needless to say, this was yet another chapter that I quickly skimmed over, before moving on to Chapter 6: The Diva. So far, I'm enjoying this chapter a lot more.


It hasn't been a completely wasted week though. I managed to write another chapter of my short story, as well as a couple of poems. Now i just wish my tutor would hurry up and mark my assignment so I can get on with rewriting it for TMA02.

Road Block

For almost a week now I've not been able to write anything, unless you count the umpteen Facebook statuses and replies to other people's posts. I've also managed to revise my CV, but that was more of a chore than a pleasure. I haven't written any poems, stories, or even this blog!

It isn't just writing either - I've hardly done any reading. I've attempted to start reading several books, but got no further than half a dozen pages in each. I do have one of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels sat on the shelf, which I haven't read yet, so I'll have a go at that tonight and see how it goes.

I have managed to do a lot of 'not very much at all', as well as watching a lot of TV and films. I have managed to get out of the house a few times as well.


I really need to get back into the habit of reading and writing again, so that I can continue with my studies as I haven't managed anything since sending off my first assignment. OK then... here goes... Chapter 5: Stalin, here we come!

Missed Opportunity

Saturday was the first Day School for my OU course at Leeds Rose Bowl, but I didn't go. I intended to, but only had a few pounds left and had to decide between bus fares or food... I chose food!


What was really annoying though (and also a lovely surprise), was when, out of habit, I checked the balance of my bank account at the ATM - my grant money had been paid in (although I didn't get the letter until today).


So, with my wallet now full of cash, I headed off to Leeds anyway, although sadly too late for the Day School. Instead, I went straight to Waterstones to purchase the rest of my set books for the course: The Faber Book of Beasts (ed. Muldoon, P.), The Burial at Thebes (by Seamus Heaney) and A World of Difference: An anthology of short stories from five continents (ed. Prescott, L.).


I also decided to buy myself a few writers' magazines and pay a few months broadband in advance, so that after last week's fiasco, at least I know I can stay online.


That wasn't my only surprise on Saturday. When I returned home, I had received a small parcel through the post from Waterstones - a proof copy of a new book which I need to review. The book is called 'Toxic Treacle' by a Yorkshire born author called Echo Freer. It is a young adults' novel, set in a world where there are clear but complicated laws regarding the mixing of males and females; where everyone has specific roles to play; where relationships between male and female are purely for breeding. I'm only on page 70 at the moment, but am enjoying it so far. When I finish, I will post a link to the review.

Change of Route

Yesterday evening, I was sat watching TV with my 'Stepdad' (he isn't really my Stepdad, but there is no word for 'the fiancé my Mum never got round to marrying before she passed away even though they'd been engaged for fifteen years' so until I finish my degree and submit new words to the OED, this will have to do).


We were watching the 1999 film 'The Mummy' starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz and John Hannah. When the Mummy first spoke, my Stepdad said to me, "I preferred it in the old days when the Ancient Egyptian Muumies in films all spoke in English. I can't keep up with all these subtitles!"


After a brief discussion about how EVERYONE should speak English ALL the time, he asked me to find out how many people actually DO speak English, and whether more people speak Mandarin. He also wanted to know when English as WE know it now was first widely spoken. I won't spoil it for you here - if YOU are interested, you'll have to do your own research!


After about an hour of searching and reading, I was hooked. I immediately went to the OU's Qualification Planner and changed my study route.  I am still concentrating on Creative Writing, but now instead of History I will be doing English Language.


I now have my next four years of study planned out: After I finish AA100, I will start A215 Creative Writing and U214 Worlds of English in October of this year. They will both finish in June 2013, giving me the Summer off. In October 2013 I will start my level 3 studies with E301 The Art of English. I will then have an overlap when I start E303 in February 2014. Iwill then finish my degree with A363 Advanced Creative Writing starting in October 2014, hopefully finishing in June 2015.


So, now all I need to do is find a job as a writer, proof reader, editor, librarian or any other job which will complement my studies...

 

My Mum and her log term Fiancé, Kevin - This is the last photo I have of her, taken three days before she passed away

Ee bah gum - it's West Yorkshire

I'm really enjoying the discussions on the AA100 February 2012 and A215 October 2012 Facebook groups. There's always something interesting to talk about whether it is study related (Cleopatra, Faustus, assignments), computer related (open Office vs Microsoft, Evernote vs One Note) or food related (Marmite, Jaffa Cakes, Monster Munch, Coffee, Vodka, Marmite Vodka!).


Today though, one of the conversations was quite civilised and cultural, turning to artists and galleries. This of course allowed me to talk of the many wonderful artists and the fantastic FREE museums and galleries in West Yorkshire, all within about ten miles of my home, and more important to me they are easily accessible by bus.

West Yorkshire has produced some of the greatest artists, writers, actors and broadcasters the World has ever seen. I'd be shocked if you haven't heard MOST (if not all) of these names:

• Henry Moore (Sculptor), Leeds
• Barbara Hepworth (Sculptor), Wakefield
• David Hockney (Artist), Bradford
• Andy Goldsworthy (Artist), raised in Leeds
• Damien Hirst (Artist), raised in Leeds
• The Bronte Sisters (Novelists), Thornton/Haworth/Birstall/Mirfield/Dewsbury
• Barbara Taylor Bradford (Novelist), Leeds 
• Helen Fielding (Novelist), Leeds
• J B Priestley (Novelist/Playwright/Broadcaster), Bradford
• Alan Bennett (Playwright/Broadcaster), Leeds
• Ted Hughes (Novelist/Poet Laureate), Mytholmroyd
• Alan Titchmarsh (Novelist/Broadcaster), Ilkley
• Michael Parkinson (Broadcaster), Cudworth
• John Craven (Broadcaster), Leeds
• Jeremy Paxman (Broadcaster), Leeds
• Chris Moyles (Broadcaster), Leeds
• Patrick Stewart (Actor), Mirfield
• James Mason (Actor), Huddersfield
• Malcolm MacDowell (Actor), Leeds
• Leigh Francis (Actor/Broadcaster), Leeds {Avid Merrion/Bo Selecta/Keith Lemon}
• Thomas Chippendale (Furniture Maker), Otley

 I could go on with a few dozen more names (as well as sports personalities, politicians, scientists, musicians etc) but you're probably bored already, so instead let me tell you about those wonderful museums and galleries that I mentioned.

• National Media Museum, Bradford - Several galleries exploring the history and future of photography, film, television, the Internet and digital media. Two special exhibition galleries
• 1853 Gallery, Salt's Mill, Saltaire - This gallery has a large collection of works by David Hockney. The mill is at the heart of a model workers' village which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site 
•  The Henry Moore Institute, Leeds - Collection of works by Henry Moore
• The Hepworth, Wakefield - Collection of works by Barbara Hepworth
• Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield - Open air gallery of works by Hepworth, Moore and others set in  the grounds of Bretton Hall

Again I could carry on telling you details of dozens more museums (Royal Armouries, National Coal Mining Museum, Eureka Children's Museum...) and art galleries in every town but if you ARE interested then I don't mind helping you to plan a visit to GOD'S OWN COUNTY!

As a treat, and considering today's date, here's a video of former Poet Laureate, Ted Hughes reading one of his poems...

Different Directions

As I have decided to take a short break from studying, I needed something else to keep my brain busy. After conversations on the A215 Creative Writing (October 2012) Facebook Page, I've decided to write the occasional short story. This is in addition to the poetry I'm already writing. To view my efforts, use the links to the left of this post, and please bookmark them so you can pop back later...

Take a Break

I've done it! I've finally managed to write Part 2 of my Assignment. After reading Faustus's Last Soliloquy about a hundred times, listening to the CD track about twenty times and watching Richard Burton in the 1967 film version three times, I've managed to get something down in my own words.


The tricky part here wasn't understanding the play or deciphering the language; nor was it a case of not knowing the character of Doctor Faustus and figuring out why he did what he did or said what he said. No - the hard part was trying to put this into my OWN words when the books were making such a good job of explaining it all to me.


For this 500 word assignment I only managed 375 words but decided if I added any more I would just be waffling. At first I was a bit worried until I read the rules about 'word lengths' which told me it is fine to be under the word count but frowned upon to go over. Still to be on the safe side, I may go back and have another go just before I send it off. For now though, it's time to take a short break from my studies...

Going the wrong way

I need to be really honest with you. This week I seem to be going the wrong way in terms of my studies. I keep attempting to do my 500 word essay about Doctor Faustus, but I always manage to find something more interesting to do.


I've read and re-read his 'last soliloquy' several times but just can't seem to get my head around the use of language, and how this contributes to the characterisation. I understand about 'blank verse' and 'Iambic Pentameter' but just can't quite connect this to what it tells us about Faustus.


I think I'm going to leave it for another couple of days and see what else I can get done...

Pin in the Map

I had a day off studying yesterday, but it didn't stop my creativity. I managed to write two poems, although I needed a bit of inspiration from friends. I also plan on doing a few more over the next week using the ideas that I was given yesterday. You can view all of my poems on my Facebook Poetry Page.

 Another obsession over the past few days has been Pinterest. It gives you the opportunity to collect pictures and videos as you surf the Internet, and 'pin' them to boards. As well as boards for weird, beautiful and interesting things that I find whilst 'Stumbling' using StumbleUpon, I also have boards for films that I've watched and books that I've read (but only since 1st February), and also my favourite places that I've ever visited. What started as 'trying it out' has quickly turned into yet another addiction, adding to my procrastination.


Whilst Stumbling yesterday, I also came across a fantastic Open Source download called Storybook. It's a novel writing tool similar to the expensive Scrivener. When writing a story or novel, it lets you organise your story in scenes, rather than writing it from start to end as you would with a normal word-processor. You can also create separate profiles for every character and setting, and manage multiple plot-lines. I think I'll be playing with this quite a lot...

And we're off...

Well today is the official start of the AA100 course. So what's different? Well... not a lot really. As far as I can see, there's my electronic notebook and tutorial forums; but I'm not sure how much I'll be using them as they seem a little 'clunky' for the 21st Century. I'll probably stick to using Evernote and the Facebook group during most of my studies.


I was planning to go to the Induction Event at Leeds University Rose Bowl this morning to meet my tutors and fellow students. Unfortunately we had a power cut at quarter past nine last night. I had no TV to watch, no internet and no light for reading so had no choice but to go out for a few drinks. They were still digging at the end of the road at two o'clock this morning when I got home and went to bed. As my only alarm is an electric radio-alarm clock, I was unable to set it. I'm NOT a morning person so didn't wake naturally until about ten (the event started at half past).


Yesterday afternoon, I managed to write a first draft of my Cleopatra assignment. I really struggled at getting it down to less than 500 words. I did plan to write about three different years, but only had space to write about two. I'm going to leave it for a week or two before I go back and look at it again. Hopefully by then I may have some ideas of how to condense it further...

Gazetteers and References

I didn't read as much as I wanted last night so I've still not moved onto Faraday (I will eventually... Honest). I was thinking about what to do on Saturday after the Induction Event at Leeds University. I've no money left (apart from the £5 I've put on one side for my bus ticket), so I won't be shopping. The event will finish around 12.15pm which leaves the rest of the day clear, and as I will have a 'Day Ticket' for the buses, I might as well get some use out of it.

I decided to start by looking at the Gazetteers on the AA100 website. They list locations around the country to see examples of works I will be studying throughout the course. After a bit of scrolling and clicking I've discovered that there is a great example of Pugin's architecture at St Anne's Catholic Church in Keighley, and examples of Benin art in the Leeds City Museum (there are others at the Leeds Discovery Centre, but this is only for pre-booked tours). I can't decide whether I should visit any of these or leave them until I'm actually studying them (possibly on the same day as a tutorial).

As I was scrolling through the coming weeks I discovered that NONE of the Ancient Sacred Sites, Roman Villa Sites or Eighteenth Century Houses listed on the website are within West Yorkshire. The nearest being in York, which although only another hour by bus would be another £6! I think a bit more research might be required to find something similar locally.


I also spent a little time today working through the online activities for using the Harvard Referencing System, and then followed this up by adding some references to my pre-prepared assignment and advising someone on the AA100 Facebook page. Now back to my reading...

Getting Ready

Well, I still haven't finished the book, so still haven't moved on to Faraday. It hasn't been a totally wasted day though. I spent an hour or so preparing my document for my assignment. I'm still trying to find my way around Open Office, as previously I've always used Microsoft Word. The free version of Word that came on my laptop though has an annoying little animated advert in the bottom corner which you can't turn off (without buying the full version), and always seems to crash my computer (obviously nothing to do with the half dozen tabs I have open on Firefox).


With a bit of playing around, customising toolbars and changing default settings, I managed to get it to do what I want, although I am disappointed that there is no option for a 'live' word-count or even just a word-count button to save me having to go to the menus. 

For my first TMA I've set up a document with a header containing my name, OU identifier and TMA number; a footer containing page number; title, question (copied and pasted from the PDF version of the Assignment Booklet) and bibliography for parts 1 and 2 (part 2 separated by a 'Page Break'); and just because the idea has been swimming around in my head for a couple of weeks - my introduction paragraph for Cleopatra. This has helped a lot because I now know that six lines of Arial 12pt, is approximately100 words.


As well as this, I've also set up a LinkedIn account to help with my job search, and following advice I received in an email, I shall be including details of LinkedIn,  my Poetry Page and my Blog on any future CVs that I send...

King of the Castle

Well today I've managed to do hell of a lot of absolutely nothing. I haven't picked up any of my books, watched any of the films, listened to any of the CDs or wrote anything (except this of course). If it wasn't for the Facebook groups I'd have had no contact with my studies at all.

In my defence I have been busy doing other things. I received a letter this morning confirming a place on a residential weekend course at Northern College near Barnsley. I have been before (several years ago) but needed to try and work out how I will get there before I accept. Obviously if there are no buses to and from the college it would mean a long walk from  Barnsley. Fortunately there ARE buses.


The course I signed up for (about a month before I signed up for OU) is 'Introduction to Creative Writing', which considering my chosen study path is ideal. Not only will it give me a good grounding for my second module, but it will also be a weekend of free food and drink and none of my electricity and gas being used. Add to that the beautiful setting of Wentworth Castle and it's a win-win situation.

Distant Horizons

Although I haven't technically started studying yet. I have already committed myself to the second part of my degree. I have just been added to the A215 Creative Writing - Oct 2012 Starters Facebook group. I haven't found one yet for A200 History so I'm not actually committed to that one... YET!


While it's great that I will be able to chat with other people who will be sharing my future journey, it does mean there will be a lot more procrastinating to be done. I have noticed though, that several of the people doing A215 also happen to be currently doing AA100, so hopefully that will be where everyone's focus is for the time being.


So, what about all those extra tasks I need to do that I identified in my previous post? Well there's always tomorrow. After all, I have more Facebook posts to read...

Backtracking

By the time I'd got myself sorted today, it was lunchtime. I sat down in the corner; turned on the laptop; clicked on Firefox; logged into my Student Homepage; clicked on the AA100 website... and then went to make a coffee.

After my coffee (and lunch... and CSI:New York on 5USA) I went back to the laptop and stared at the Study Planner. Even though I'd worked through the Study Companion and first three chapters, there was still a lot I hadn't done.


Now that I could see everything laid out in front of me, itemised week-by-week, it all seemed so much clearer... all I had left to do was to go back to the beginning and start again. Fortunately, I didn't need to do EVERYTHING again.


Just a few extra preparatory activities; an online activity about Christopher Marlowe; A few websites about Doctor Faustus; and an activity that might help me understand Cézanne's paintings. Well that's the next few days sorted. See you at the other side...

Trawling through the internet

Since joining up for AA100, I have spent quite an unhealthy amount of time online. My first stop, with regards this course was to look at the OU Forums. What a nightmare! Remember back in the 1990s when your browser of choice was 'Netscape' and to search you HAD to use 'AltaVista' or navigate your way through 'Yahoo'? Well it was just like that.. clunky and dated.


Thank goodness we are in the 21st Century though. A quick search on 'Google' brought up a 'Facebook' page specifically for those starting the course at the same time as me. Being an avid user of Facebook anyway (I always have it open when my laptop is switched on) it was the natural choice.


I've already met some interesting people, some local but mostly distant. However, the one thing we all have in common is this shared journey. A few of them have even friended me on Facebook, making it much easier to seek advice or just to have a quick chat to take our minds off studying.


One of the main discussion topics last night (when we weren't discussing Marmite, wine, fanciable celebrities etc...) was the forthcoming AA100 website. What would it look like? What would be on it? Would it answer all our questions? Would we all be so scared that we pack in the course, never to study again for the rest of our lives?


I decided I just HAD to stay up until it went online. I settled myself in front of the laptop, opened Facebook and my Student Homepage and waited. Midnight came around (just in the middle of American Dad on BBC3) and I got all excited... a red circle with a number one suddenly appeared next to 'Messages'. Could this be it? Sadly no, it was just a message telling me about the website.


Upon closer inspection, I discovered the website would go live just after 1am. As American Dad had now finished and I could find nothing else on TV worth watching, I decided to watch the live stream of some American bloke babbling on about American stuff. I think the gist of it was 'blah, blah, blah!'... ten minutes applause and whooping from all the other Americans... 'Bring me a Bill and I'll sign it'... further applause and whooping... etc. He managed to pad out a twenty minute speech into a couple of hours.


Anyway, by half past two, there was still no sign of the website and the American bloke was boring me to tears, so I decided to call it a night and went to bed. The website would just have to wait until later...

First impression(ist)s

From Germany at the beginning of the 17th Century we take the short hop to the South of France in the mid 19th Century. From a Doctor of Theology to a Student of Law. This particular student has a dream of being an artist, but rather than selling his soul, he simply enrols at the free school of drawing (much easier), and then moves to Paris.


We're into chapter 3 of book 1 now, and we're looking at the artist Cézanne. He was quite a determined fellow, submitting work to the Salon (THE major art exhibition of the time) for almost twenty years before he finally had a work admitted. However, it was what he did during this period that sets him apart.


Cézanne and a group of other independent artists (little known names such as Monet, Pissaro, Renoir, Degas...), unhappy with the influence of the Acadamy of Fine Arts, held their own exhibition outside the Salon. They became known as the Impressionists.


As for Cézanne's paintings? Well I'm afraid I just couldn't grasp the concept of evaluating them, so I quickly skimmed over the rest of the chapter, though if YOU want to look at them there's a link below...


http://ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/cezanne/

To Hell and back

Leaving Cleo back in 1st Century Egypt (at least until it's time to start my assignment), we now wander down the passage of time to the beginning of the 17th Century. We find ourselves in a German University, knocking on the door of one Doctor Faustus.


Never has a bloke been so clever but yet at the same time so stupid. Here he is with the perfect job, having worked his way up from a poor family to being a Doctor, but yet not satisfied. So what does he do? Look for work in a different profession? Study something different and maybe specialise in a different field? No... he does what everyone would do... sells his soul to the Devil.


After a little more heavy reading (Christopher Marlowe certainly had a way with words), we discover that Mephistopheles is a bit of a crafty sod and doesn't always give Dr F everything he hopes for. Sure he has a lot of fun and travels the world, but when it comes to paying his debt he's still got nothing to show for it.


Long story short... he waits until the last hour before he's due to go to Hell before deciding he's made the wrong choice. Well that's where I'm gonna leave you... this is the bit I've got to study for the second part of my first assignment so I'm not going to write about it here. Next stop 19th Century France...