After much pulling of hair and wailing, a decision has been made.
I am taking a suspension of my studies in September and I have applied for an internship at Falmouth University for the year, then I will continue the masters in 2013.
Hopefully, hanging about with inspiring young minds and playing with photography equipment will spur me on next year. And I will get paid, so be able to save for next years costs.
Such a relief to have a plan again.
Now cross fingers and toes that I get this internship!
Showing posts with label degree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label degree. Show all posts
Monday, 25 June 2012
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Don't know what I'm doing any more
The lull has turned into a standstill.
Don't know what my question is any more.
Don't know if I can be bothered to do this for another year.
Don't know if I can afford to.
Mojo, drive and inspiration have gone out the window ( I hope they are all having a lovely time with each other on their holidays).
I could be working and earning pennies right now, but instead I'm staring at the screen of my laptop wondering where I stepped off the path into the wild woods.
Don't know what my question is any more.
Don't know if I can be bothered to do this for another year.
Don't know if I can afford to.
Mojo, drive and inspiration have gone out the window ( I hope they are all having a lovely time with each other on their holidays).
I could be working and earning pennies right now, but instead I'm staring at the screen of my laptop wondering where I stepped off the path into the wild woods.
Thursday, 24 May 2012
A lull in proceedings
So I had a wonderful tutorial the other week. Fully inspired, I came away from it all fired up and brimming with enthusiasm.
But then a strange thing happened. I started to think about what had been suggested as a way forward. These suggestions included visiting London monthly, visiting the National Media Museum in Bradford and perhaps some visits to explore the possibilities of Scottish archives. These all sound fabulous and very relevant to my research, however Jon has taken a pay freeze, and we're struggling to pay to get me to London once every six months, let alone once a month. The course fees are coming up again in September (double last years) and money is getting harder and harder to squeeze out of the budget for my studies.
So, what did I do? Well....I went and had a small nervy b (to quote Georgia Nicholson). I considered the possibility of maybe having to give up my studies and get a job. You must understand that's the last thing I want. I LOVE my studies. It makes me feel worthwhile, and I know it will get me a great job (hopefully) when I'm done, so Jon can give up work and I can bring in the pennies for him.
But still, I have all this guilt. Everyone else in the family is suffering and going without, just so I can get what I want. I know that's not realistic, but that's what my inner guilt is telling me.
But I don't want to submit a sub-standard Masters degree thesis because I haven't had the funds to complete the required research. I'd rather quit than do that.
So, after emailing my tutors and explaining the situation, they gave me a few suggestions. Namely, contact the uni funding dept (the answer there was there is no funding for post-grad), or change the parameters of my research question so that I am covering something I can research closer to home.
I've recently discovered the Cornish Studies Library in Redruth, who have a wealth of lovely information and some fabulous old family albums and archives. I spent a lovely day down there last week, just browsing and taking notes. I also have feeders out to Morrab library, Royal Cornwall Museum and the National Trust.
One of the questions I could ask is regarding how libraries and museums will improve online accessibility to their Family Album collections in the future?
The other possibility is to completely re-define the Family Album. This interests me quite a bit as it links to where I started and takes in everything from social, political and cultural changes since the 1850's. (I've done a lot of research on this already, be a shame to waste it!).
Subsequently though, I have come to a standstill. I cannot continue until I have decided what I'm doing, but I cannot decide until I start working on it. Catch 22.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated lovely blog reader.
But then a strange thing happened. I started to think about what had been suggested as a way forward. These suggestions included visiting London monthly, visiting the National Media Museum in Bradford and perhaps some visits to explore the possibilities of Scottish archives. These all sound fabulous and very relevant to my research, however Jon has taken a pay freeze, and we're struggling to pay to get me to London once every six months, let alone once a month. The course fees are coming up again in September (double last years) and money is getting harder and harder to squeeze out of the budget for my studies.
So, what did I do? Well....I went and had a small nervy b (to quote Georgia Nicholson). I considered the possibility of maybe having to give up my studies and get a job. You must understand that's the last thing I want. I LOVE my studies. It makes me feel worthwhile, and I know it will get me a great job (hopefully) when I'm done, so Jon can give up work and I can bring in the pennies for him.
But still, I have all this guilt. Everyone else in the family is suffering and going without, just so I can get what I want. I know that's not realistic, but that's what my inner guilt is telling me.
But I don't want to submit a sub-standard Masters degree thesis because I haven't had the funds to complete the required research. I'd rather quit than do that.
So, after emailing my tutors and explaining the situation, they gave me a few suggestions. Namely, contact the uni funding dept (the answer there was there is no funding for post-grad), or change the parameters of my research question so that I am covering something I can research closer to home.
I've recently discovered the Cornish Studies Library in Redruth, who have a wealth of lovely information and some fabulous old family albums and archives. I spent a lovely day down there last week, just browsing and taking notes. I also have feeders out to Morrab library, Royal Cornwall Museum and the National Trust.
One of the questions I could ask is regarding how libraries and museums will improve online accessibility to their Family Album collections in the future?
The other possibility is to completely re-define the Family Album. This interests me quite a bit as it links to where I started and takes in everything from social, political and cultural changes since the 1850's. (I've done a lot of research on this already, be a shame to waste it!).
Subsequently though, I have come to a standstill. I cannot continue until I have decided what I'm doing, but I cannot decide until I start working on it. Catch 22.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated lovely blog reader.
Until then, I need one of these....
Or a winning one of these..........
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Struggling along
Well here I am, fighting to find time to do everything I have to do.
Lists are my saviour. I now, however have 5 lists. And they grow faster than they shrink!
1. Research list- divided into Workbook and Writing
2. Case study list
3. Reading list
4. Ongoing jobs list
5. Critical Journal list- consisting of 7 tasks
I have found a lovely post-it note app on Google Chrome Store though. I now have post-its on my homepage that I add to and subtract from regularly. And they are right there when I fire up my laptop, so no more coming into the study to work and not knowing what to do. There are always a choice of tasks depending on my state of mind.
I'm still struggling with family life and work. The kids (and husband) have had the law laid down. If I'm in my study and the door is closed, I AM NOT TO BE DISTURBED. Not offered cups of tea, food, regaled with sob stories of teenage trauma, or any other distraction. If I want tea, I'll come and make it. When I emerge from the study, then you can engage me in conversation. Otherwise.....NOTHING. I do not exist to my family whilst in study mode!
It seems to be working. I wrote 6000 words on The History of The Victorian Album the other day. And now, I'm actually finding time to edit it! Oh the sense of achievement at the end of each working day.
When I've edited my 'History', I shall post it here.
On another topic, I started Slimming World 5 weeks ago and have lost 8lbs. Not that you're interested, but I'm quite pleased.
Lists are my saviour. I now, however have 5 lists. And they grow faster than they shrink!
1. Research list- divided into Workbook and Writing
2. Case study list
3. Reading list
4. Ongoing jobs list
5. Critical Journal list- consisting of 7 tasks
I have found a lovely post-it note app on Google Chrome Store though. I now have post-its on my homepage that I add to and subtract from regularly. And they are right there when I fire up my laptop, so no more coming into the study to work and not knowing what to do. There are always a choice of tasks depending on my state of mind.
I'm still struggling with family life and work. The kids (and husband) have had the law laid down. If I'm in my study and the door is closed, I AM NOT TO BE DISTURBED. Not offered cups of tea, food, regaled with sob stories of teenage trauma, or any other distraction. If I want tea, I'll come and make it. When I emerge from the study, then you can engage me in conversation. Otherwise.....NOTHING. I do not exist to my family whilst in study mode!
It seems to be working. I wrote 6000 words on The History of The Victorian Album the other day. And now, I'm actually finding time to edit it! Oh the sense of achievement at the end of each working day.
When I've edited my 'History', I shall post it here.
On another topic, I started Slimming World 5 weeks ago and have lost 8lbs. Not that you're interested, but I'm quite pleased.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
A little background about me.
All these posts are very researchy aren't they?
I thought it might be an idea to place all this research against the background of my life, why I'm doing all this and how.
I am 42. I live in Cornwall with my husband Jon of 11 years and my three girls, Rhiannon (18), Shannon (16) and Ilona (9).
After a turbulent first marriage to Shannon's dad in Coventry, I returned to Cornwall in 1998. I met Jon in July '99 and soon after decided to return to education. I took Art A-level, then began Art and Design Foundation, during which I decided that Photography was my true love and left the course halfway through, had Ilona, and then returned to do Photography A-level in 2005. After that I stayed on to take Photography National Diploma.
That led to my University offer at Falmouth.
Just after learning of my University place Jon was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease. He was 37. We considered me declining the place, but decided that if I was going to do it, now was the only time I would be able to. He continued working to support me for the 3 years it took to get my degree.
My work at Uni centred around self portraiture and the family album and memory.
During the three years at Falmouth I used to dread essay writing and presenting my work. However, about a year after graduating, I realised that it was the thing I missed the most about my work.
So, I decided, after consideration for Jon (he was still working and doing well health wise) to apply to do a Masters degree at Plymouth University.
After the realisation that I loved writing, I decided that a research Masters was the way to go.
And you pretty much know the rest of the story!
Alongside my research work, I run the house and kids, and i have recently become involved with a charity, agreeing to have my head shaved on the 25th Feb. Yikes! Anyway, a little boy's health and happiness is far more important than my vanity. I can wear a hat!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Well-Wishers-Fundraising/242829942459022
I'm also in the process of assembling my own PROPER family album (actually more a cross between photo album and scrapbook). It gives me plenty to think about while I'm reading and writing about it! I hope to be putting together some case studies for my thesis work.
Finally......here are some of my old family photos that will be going in my album.
Me and my sister 1975
My Mum and Dad. 1969
The family. 1976
My little sis. 1977
Family Christmas. 1971
My and my Daddy. 1974
I thought it might be an idea to place all this research against the background of my life, why I'm doing all this and how.
I am 42. I live in Cornwall with my husband Jon of 11 years and my three girls, Rhiannon (18), Shannon (16) and Ilona (9).
After a turbulent first marriage to Shannon's dad in Coventry, I returned to Cornwall in 1998. I met Jon in July '99 and soon after decided to return to education. I took Art A-level, then began Art and Design Foundation, during which I decided that Photography was my true love and left the course halfway through, had Ilona, and then returned to do Photography A-level in 2005. After that I stayed on to take Photography National Diploma.
That led to my University offer at Falmouth.
Just after learning of my University place Jon was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease. He was 37. We considered me declining the place, but decided that if I was going to do it, now was the only time I would be able to. He continued working to support me for the 3 years it took to get my degree.
My work at Uni centred around self portraiture and the family album and memory.
During the three years at Falmouth I used to dread essay writing and presenting my work. However, about a year after graduating, I realised that it was the thing I missed the most about my work.
So, I decided, after consideration for Jon (he was still working and doing well health wise) to apply to do a Masters degree at Plymouth University.
After the realisation that I loved writing, I decided that a research Masters was the way to go.
And you pretty much know the rest of the story!
Alongside my research work, I run the house and kids, and i have recently become involved with a charity, agreeing to have my head shaved on the 25th Feb. Yikes! Anyway, a little boy's health and happiness is far more important than my vanity. I can wear a hat!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Well-Wishers-Fundraising/242829942459022
I'm also in the process of assembling my own PROPER family album (actually more a cross between photo album and scrapbook). It gives me plenty to think about while I'm reading and writing about it! I hope to be putting together some case studies for my thesis work.
Finally......here are some of my old family photos that will be going in my album.
Me and my sister 1975
My Mum and Dad. 1969
The family. 1976
My little sis. 1977
Family Christmas. 1971
My and my Daddy. 1974
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