Archive for June, 2006

The exams are over, finally. I present to you my final thoughts in tabular form!

I’m glad it’s finally over, I don’t think I could have lasted much longer following my Core 3 paper, which was the most diabolical exam ever conceived by man, or perhaps even Satan himself. The fact is, it was hideous. It seems everybody thought so too, which is a little consolation, but will mean the grade boundaries are going to be dropped down and thus make the gaps between them smaller. So, every mark I managed to gleam from it counts hugely. I can always retake next year if need be.

But, overall, things are shaping up to have a good outcome so far as my grades will be concerned - I’m quietly confident that I did well.

I’m still ill, but with only 5 more exams to go, I’m feeling a little more positive about the next 7 days. Mechanics today was a pretty easy exam, and I managed to get through it without irritating the shit out of everybody with my coughing, thanks to the power of Beechams.

Last night I started work on the aVa clansite that I and Toby have been commissioned to produce - with a nice design to work from, you’d think things would be easier. After downloading the latest version, I decided to try and code it all using the Prado PHP framework, but unfortunately I couldn’t think straight at all last night. I’m not exactly sure what happened to me, but I suffered a complete mental block and was unable to think about anything, let alone learn something new and put it into practice. With any luck I’ll be able to focus better tonight.

So, I spent yesterday morning at the computing revision session, before leaving halfway through (with Dave, Chris and Toby), because it was shit boring, and we needed some munch. We ended up in McDonalds (with Joey), then decided we should all go home and play Counter-Strike. We’re cool.

Right now I’m chatting to my darling Caley, teaching Lloyd how to use his sound card properly, and listening to Waveform, who are a great-sounding instrumental band.

It’s been a funny old week, I can certainly say that. I’m glad for having a week off from exams for half term - despite not having all that many of them, the exams certainly take a lot out of me. Most times I’ll come home after an exam feeling completely worn out, I think usually because I try so hard to concentrate (albeit often to no avail).

On the up side I’m pleased to say I got a pay rise last Saturday, along with the opportunity to work every day this half term - although today I took the day off with the intention of visiting my grandparents. Still, my mother saw the state of me this morning and said I was too ill to go and see them. At the moment I would imagine my 80 year old grandfather’s immune system is better than mine - I think I actively welcome viruses to pillage my cells or something. So instead, I spent the day in bed (with Caley) watching Black Books from under my duvet, and felt a whole lot better for it.

On Wednesday my parents received a letter from my Computing teacher, Dr. Bond, stating that he was disappointed in my failure to attend an apparently mandatory revision session last week. It seems that I am not capable of revising successfully on my own a subject which I know pretty damned well through personal interest and experience. Although I’m unlikely to be stating my feelings to him, I’m insulted that he does not feel I can get on top of the material without him to hold my hand, having been joint second score in the year (second to Chris, who breathes C++) in the last assessment.

Leila and Alex also wrote a new song - a happy one! So, in true GRK style I’ve been listening to it non-stop in the hope of learning it properly, and it has become firmly lodged in my head. Listen to it or I’ll tell your mums.

Only 50 days until Amsterdam!