Quiet

[the_leander]

Sorry for being away, been rather busy setting up (and now currently going through) a course so as to get my SIA licence.

Passed both my Maths and English preliminary exams today, having a crack at a tougher version of the English one tomorrow for fun as the SIA practical stuff doesn't start till next week. Should be interesting.

I guess it'll mean that I'll be buying in the next curry, eh lads?

[the_leander]

Good luck mate!

Ta! I only needed to pass one of the two I did today to get through to the next section, so everything beyond that is purely for the fun of it now (which is a far cry from this morning - was sweating like Gary Glitter at an airport waiting for the results for the first exam).

:lol:

:afro:

Yeah, I think once this is all done, a visit to a certain mile in Manchester might well be on the cards

[the_leander]

Well I can relate to the business. I'm currently on my last clinical placement, 11 weeks away from submitting my dissertation (and not much done on it yet :nervous:), and also need to write a case study and carry out a research project. If I make it through the next 3 months without having some kind of breakdown it will be a miracle :-/

Heh, kinda puts my concerns about passing my tests into perspective...

Passed the advanced English comfortably, btw. Also squeaked through the advanced maths, which was a shocker.

To answer your question, the SIA licence is what you need in order to work as either static security or as a doorman.

I wish you luck on your placement and all the stuff that goes with it.

Perhaps you might wish to join myself, Karlos, Gadget and Nick for a curry once you're done?

[the_leander]

Damn right!

There's only so many curry nights we can attend with you absent before we start plotting to kidnap you and force you to attend again.

Good look with the course.

Yes, being kidnapped and force fed curry would be a tragedy

Thanks

Sorry for the absenteeism guys.

I have been too busy recently to be able to post here regularly.

Apart from work, family life, a bit of volunteering for friends that keep me busy, I also have dozens of web project ideas that keep me busy. Once I have one completed one which I think is worth sharing I'll let you have a look.

Still alive and kicking.

Hope it's all sorted soon mate, good luck and good to hear from you again

[the_leander]

Well, stress is relative to whatever else you've got going on. I find that with everything I've got to think about with my degree I can't cope with simple things like returning library books or putting fuel in my car - they're like the straw that breaks the camel's back. So you're perfectly justified in being stressed about your exams too

Next week should be a little more of a breeze - an IT course

Congrats What kind of stuff was in the advanced maths?

Essentially what you'd find in the high end GCSE (one which would allow you to get an A-C grade). Being number dyslexic has always made it very difficult to deal with a lot of the more complex (from my point of view) things in maths. However, those few things I can deal with I'm fierce with. Apparently there was enough I could do to get through. If I'm honest though I would have to concede that exam pressed me to the limits. I know I wouldn't get an A or even an AS level in maths without some serious extra tuition as well as access to a calculator at all times.

So what do you plan to do once you're qualified?

Static security, I'm a bit too short to make for a convincing doorman, well that and my look of "menace with a smile" merely comes off as looking more like I'm constipated

Thanks You can be sure of an update in May once it's all over...

Good man!

Yes! I would love to. At the moment I can't spare the time to travel up, but it would be great to meet you guys once I have fewer commitments.

I don't think the lads will mind in the slightest when I say that it's an open invitation. In Manchester, there is always more curry

[the_leander]

Ahhh, you'll walk it


I can relate - I'm dyslexic and dyspraxic. Don't be afraid to take advantage of any extra support which is available (such as that extra tuition or access to a calculator). For me, having extra time and being allowed to use a laptop in exams has made the difference between 50% and 80% - something I never thought I was capable of prior to my diagnosis because I just thought I was too thick.

Well unfortunately the course I'm on offers neither the next level course nor any extra tuition facilities. So either way I've gone as far as I can with this lot. I'm grateful for the opportunity however to have gone as far as I have.

I know what you mean about feeling thick. I didn't get diagnosed until several years after I left school.

What's that? Making sure people touch a radiator before handling electronics? :p

You jest, that's serious business!

In all seriousness, doesn't it feel good to be doing what you want with your life?

These past two weeks have been like waking up after a nightmare. That nightmare beginning with my divorce, the continuing hell that was working in call centres, ending with me on the streets. Since then I've made a few painful, but necessary (for my sanity) decisions that I can live with, but mostly I've been trying to put my life back in order. This is simply one of the final steps toward that goal.

So yes, it really does feel rather good at the moment.

Lets hope you're right - it's about time I showed my face, but the last 3 years have just been manic!

Of course I'm right, and even if I'm wrong, I'm still right!