Ahh, what a lovely day!

Thursday is not a traditional day of pleasure but today has been lovely!!

Meeting with my Sup was very pleasant indeed. I have to remember that he isn't my teacher or even my supervisor really, he is more like my mentor, and exists just to makes sure I am on the right path. The supervisor relationship differs from person-to-person for sure (I am going to add a piece about the Sup relationship in my advice section soon - watch this space!!) but I work best not being stressed out or harrassed or told off, and he is brilliant at this. I know that I work ten times harder with no pressure. I tend to rebel if someone is bossing me about - childish I know. Hard to have a job challenging heirarchy though, when you easily and unquestioningly slot into it?! What do we think?

So the sup meeting was great and actually my concern about whether to spend two or three weeks mooching about and sniffing out TN when I arrive was a valid one and he advised spending three. Hurray! Three weeks of happy mooching and eating curry and getting over the shock and learning some language. My idea of focus groups raised some concern, as did my idea of swapping postmodern ideology for critical realism for this part of the research, although he said both could work together if I was careful, and he tends to prefer work that is ideologically eclectic, else it can get boring. !! I appreciate that it may be like being a Buddhist with some Christianity thrown in and will have to be rigorous and very honest about my decisions. That's easy enough though... I reckon it will work. All in all though my work seems to be on track or I am sure he would have brought it up. I thanked him for his reading and responses of my last chapter and admitted that I thought it was a bit weak at the moment, to which he didn't really say anything (sometimes I don't give much time for an answer!!), but he did say 'but you are doing it!' as in, the work. This is what he appreciates most, the fact that I am writing and producing. He cares not whether it is a Final Draft, but likes that the ideas exist on paper to be tweaked another day. And I see his point, considering it isn't even very good and it took me three months of hard work to research and write!! So take heed people! Writing is the key! Write! Write like there is no tomorrow... (There is though. Always tomorrow...!!).

So in conclusion, I have come away from uni with some confidence to continue working, a feeling of independence (because my Sup didn't tell me what to do or anything, just popped in suggestions if I wanted them), a lot of books about social research, a risk assessment form, an insurance form and a 'Bysey! I am off on fieldwork' form. Wooty! I am really going!

Having sorted all that out then, I then popped into the hairdressers on the way back and have a lovely new haircut. Well, it is a bit perfunctory. But that is because I am going to TN and asked for a haircut that isn't too short and will grow out well. Am being sensible. Boyish hair in TN won't go down well methinks. The lady told me what she was going to do and set about it, just like that. I really wasn't bothered at all today, I would have gone in and come out with my eyes shut if need be. SOOOOO not bothered. Very strange change from my normal psycho, control-freaky hairdressing self.

I have a twitch in my eye again! Ug.

And then I went for my swim (sort of, not much) and sauna and steam room and my skin is soooo happy! It has been so lovely and sunny today too for all my walking around. Walking in the sun.. (for miles. I have walked for MILES today - with a massive backpack full of textbooks. Yaya.)

Now, I am aware that I have a lot of forms to fill in so shall set about that... and wait for DB to come home with some wine. Yes, yes, it is too early for wine. I respect your opinion. But for me, it is Wine Time. (Start early and finish early, that is the key.) Undoubtedly I shall be made to wait, chomping at the boozy-bit, while DB does 'work'. Ug, shoving his perfect work-ethic in my skiving, student face. That in itself is enough to turn me to drink.

Must fill in forms.

Ta ta!!!!

x J