Man of Leisure....Engage

My week of 5 exams in 4 days has finished. As of now, I am a man of leisure. Until a week monday when I start work out in Ibiza.

The exams came, they went. If I learnt anything from this week, it is that next year I must be more organised. Revise earlier, prepare. As my old psychotic lesbian boss used to say...The 6 P's. Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.  Aint that the truth.

So, I think I did good this week, passed them all anyway. I hope, as I am not in the country during resit period. Never mind eh...

Right, I am going for a walk on a lovely beach (photos later) and then having a BBQ with friends, getting awfully drunk and smoking some lovely cigars.

Bring on the Summer!!!!

2 down!

Today I had 2 of my 5 exams. The first, "Principles of Biomonitoring" was fine...whilst I was answering the questions. Then came the moment I spoke to the lecturer about it afterwards. "I did this...."   "You did? why did you not draw a graph" "uhhh... exact answers are not provided with a graph".

Still, wait and see on that one.

Second exam "Coastal Conservation". Was much better, 1 hour long and threw in a few references, discussed New Jerseys methods of coastal management and also mozambiques, along with a couple of studies from Europe. I feel it went well.

Next up...Environmental Technology. I have 15 questions. 6 of them Might come up. 3 of the six have to be answered....Do I play the percentages and go for the risky minimal revision, or do I push on and learn it all?

It is sunny again today, I was sat next to the window in my exam...I was melting.

That is all.

Love and Peace

The week of doom

This week started as most weeks do, on a monday. However, today was the first day of my 5exams in 4 days week. Luckily, the first 2 are tomorrow. So today was just a strengthen in the old revision sector. I am fairly confident so far, I feel I am well prepared for the first 3 exams. the last 2 I am yet to really think much about, but I figure I have a day on each to get ready. Plenty.

I read today on Janjans blog about a award of challenge to post the 8th picture from the 8th folder in 'my pictures' and explain the story behind it. So here goes...

There we have it,  not as interesting as you might have hoped. I was walking around the cliffs from Langland to Caswell (beaches) and spied a large container ship out on the water, I was trying to get it so the ship was within the moonlight, but couldn't get the angle without jumping off the cliff. So I settled for this delightful little thing.

So, like I say, I have 5 exams this week, finishing on friday then I have finished university for the summer and can start preparing for my summer on the party island...Ibiza! Not that I will be partying, just working, scuba diving and relaxing in the suns. Beautiful.

I probably won't be on for the rest of the week. Depends how bored of revising I get I suppose.

May the wind always be at your back, and the sun upon your face, and may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars

Revision

It has been a couple of days since I last wrote here. I have been keeping busy, I have been revising a lot for my upcoming exams. It has been going OK, swings and roundabouts. 5 exams in 4 days starting tuesday, should be exciting.

Elsewhere, I went climbing twice this week, my arms feel like they have cement blocks tied to them. But it was good fun.

Below are some pictures of the walk I mentioned in my previous post.

This one is not very clear, but there are 6 balances across the bottom.

Hungover Sunday

Last night, the bald Matt had his leaving/birthday bash. He is going to Ibiza next weekend for the summer. So he had a leaving celebration, and early birthday thing. I didn't need to go really, as I will be in Ibiza with him come June. However, I did my duty and turned up. I ended up quite drunk. But it was good fun.

Today has been hungover, watched two films (Bridge to Terebithia and Good Luck Chuck). Both enjoyable films, one is a comedy, one is a bit emotional. I will let you work out which one was which. I also did some revision, and then went for a walk on a beach and did some pebble balancing.

After we were finished on the beach, we walked back to the car, to discover that the car park was being locked up. This, we felt, was bad news for us. Luckily, we were not the only ones locked in, and someone else had a good idea of digging up the wooden bollards on the grassy fence to the car park to allow escape. We did put them back afterwards, Let no-one think we are mindless vandals. Locking the car park when there is still an hour of daylight left is crazy.

Pictures of balancing to follow.

Self-Stalking

Well, it turns out, that through a random assortment of clicks and link followings that I managed to follow my own blog. I am not sure if it will have any benefits to me, I very much doubt it will. I imagine it will be similar to having myself added as a friend on windows live messenger...nothing happened then either...just incase you were wondering.

I really should be revising, this is just a time-wasting post. Did you know that New Jersey has its coastline doubled, due to coastal management techniques such as groynes and sea walls. Also, the US government spend A huge sum of money to keep the urban area protected from the ocean processes.

Just a little something I revised....check me out.

Friday Feeling

Fridays are bad days for me. They never used to be, but since I have been with the lovely Sabina. Fridays seem to have taken a turn for the worst. It all began (we believe) because of Sabinas 'not eating meat on a friday' thing that she does. Every now and then, she eats meat, and something bad happens. Then she didn't eat meat, but I did...and bad things still happened.

Like the time I was stopped at traffic lights (red) then ... without the lights changing...just started driving.
today has been a bit of a miserable day, rain mixed with revision = crap.

Still, 3 weeks time and I will be in Ibiza with Sabina again, and I am sure things will be better then. Almost 2 years out of 3 completed for University. Hoooorah!

I have been for a number of walks this week. Here are a couple of pictures of the last couple of days walking.

George and Willit having a break in their playtime on the beach (Pwll Du, Swansea)

King Arthur's Stone at Sunset, Cefn Bryn, Swansea

Pebble Balancing at Pwll Du Bay, Swansea

PADI Instructor

Sabina just passed the instructors course to become a fully fledged SCUBA instructor

HOOOORAY

Regrets + Politics

So, those of you who are still unaware, the UK has got a new Prime Minister. Mr David Cameron of the Conservative party has taken occupancy of Number 10 and will start to slowly degrade the quality of life for all in the country. He and his party made a deal with the Lib Dem's to work together for the good of the country.

hmmmm.


Different note, I was sat on a bus today, on the way back from a materials recycling firm (Incinerator plant), and I heard someone mention 'regrets'. It got me thinking, what, if anything do people regret in their lives? Is it better to have tried something and gained experience, should failed attempts be regretted, or appreciated?

I came to the conclusion that I myself, do not regret anything that I can remember. Obviously, there are situations where I have wondered what might have happened had I made a different choice. Primarily was my dropping out of Portsmouth University a few years ago, in my second year. At the time, I was miserable and smoking too much and generally not doing as well as I am capable. I have often wondered where I would be now, had I stuck at it and carried on with the course. It was a similar course to the one I am currently attending, so still in a similar direction.

However, I do not regret my decision to leave portsmouth. I gained experiences from my time there, and met some amazing people, however, I believe (I suppose believe is the word) that the choice I made then, and the choices I have made since, have led me to where I am now. Which though I still have the ups and downs, I am very happy.

I am not saying I believe in 'fate'. I believe it was due to my choices, and the people in my life that have made me what I am, and put me where I am. And as such, it would be wrong of me to regret any of the choices or mistakes I have made.

I am not sure if it makes sense. I suppose there should always be an aspect of regret in ones life, missed opportunities and experiences. However, can you really regret something you never did? After all, we are all just dust in the wind....or something.....right?


Anyway, here is a picture...

It hasn't shown up in my draft, I hope it shows in the real post. This is a picture (if it worked) of some pebble balancing. My friend Andrew constructed the pile, I just took a picture.

Walks and Dives

Today has been a pleasant day indeed. I woke up with the sun shining and the temperature warm. A lovely day to be outside (and not revising....never mind).
It had been prearranged that I would join Pippa, Adam, Sebastian, Willit and Indy for a dog walk today (Willit and Indy both being dogs). Indy had never met Willit or George before, so we were unsure how it would go. But fairly confident it would be fine.

George is the lovely golden retriever on the left, whilst Willit is the bear-like beast at the back on the right. Indy, the newcomer to the gang...is the one being chased. They will all become super friends I am sure. Indy was gorgeous. She is (like Willit) a cross between a Husky and Mallamoot. Though she has the build of a husky, unlike the bear.


I also went diving today (as mentioned about yesterday). The waters were a lovely greeny blue, with a lovely 10degrees C temperature. We did 2 dives, both shallow, as the OW course was still being run. But we saw a lovely starfish, a number of large edible crabs (no, I didn't eat them), 2 baby dogfish and a number of anemones.

It was very pleasant, I am now tired and feeling guilty due to lack of work being done for exams. I am sure everything will turn out OK...it will....won't it?

Elections, Diving and grounded boats

So, the election came and went, as I mentioned previously. We voted, but the country could not decide who we wanted to lead the country, so we have ourselves a 'hung' government. I am not sure entirely what this means. Something to do with the parties having to make deals to agree a majority leadership...or something. I dunno.

The conservatives had the most votes, but not enough, so maybe the lib dems and the labour will combinate to create a new team or Liberal Labour. or something. who knows. Stupid though really.

Today is Saturday, and I was down the beach doing shore duties for a local dive centre. I was going to dive with them, as my friend was doing his open water dive. But the weather was grey, cold and wet. So I decided to sit in the car with my hangover and be warm and watch, make sure no one drowned. However, tomorrow I am going to join them within the sea for a splish splash around. Hopefully the visibility will be good, if not, I can look forward to an hour or two of looking at greenness. 

I was not alone on the beach, there were a number of families and dog walkers strolling along the beach, many of whom were stopping to admire the grounded lifeboat that was on the shore, due to failed engine or something. 

As you can see, it was quite cloudy, though this picture doesn't do it justice. 

Sabina called this evening, it was lovely to speak to her, I do miss her terribly. She is doing much better in the IDC, and is now an assistant instructor in SCUBA Diving, with the final instructor exams on Tuesday and Wednesday. My thoughts are with her, and I wish her lots of luck.

Voted

Well....I voted.

Got a bit confused over the voting slip, it took me ages to find the party names, I could only see the Surnames of candidates in big letters. I didn't know the guys surname. Found it in the end though.

Now, do I stay up until 1am to find out the victor? I think not.

Dream

I had a weird dream last night, well, it was more a collection of dreams interweaving and getting all complicated. Maybe this is why I am always tired, does have dreams make you more tired? I wonder. hmmm?

The first dream was a normal happy scuba diving dream with lots of fish. Then it became some kind of jamesy bondy kind of shooting spy thing, then there was a hippo. and some more scuba diving.

To be honest, the Hippo was the confusing bit, possibly the hippo has some significance in dreams, maybe it means if I continue to scuba dive for a long period, I will be come a hippo? I dunno, I wouldn't like that much though.

Speaking of hippos. Does anyone know how the BBC got all those hippos to swim in a circle like they did? I was impressed.



Clever isn't it?

Election Day

The big day looms! For those of you who are not from the UK, you might not realise it, but we are voting in the 'General Election' tomorrow. A chance to use our voice to vote in some real change...Or stick with the same old safe option.

I have never been that excited about politics, infact, I was more interested in the American election with Barack 'long legged mack daddy' Obama and that other fella whose name escapes me. However, tomorrow, as an adult, I get to have an input into the future of our country.

Since I am undecided, I am likely to take the tactical vote and do what I can to keep the conservatives out, I am not a fan of David Cameron. So I shall stick with Gordon 'the smiler' Brown and see where I end up. I hope to be out of the country for much of the 5year reign anyway, so fingers crossed.

On a more comical and less political note...I saw a drunk man fall down today. It was 3:00 in the afternoon. Classy times! I also went climbing today, and now my arms feel like I pulled an elephant up a hill....actually, that makes it sound like I weigh as much as an elephant. Scrap that. Stick with I climbed up a wall a lot and my arms *really*  hurt.

Good.Times.

Where in the World Wednesday

This is my first effort at Where in the World Wednesday. Here I am in posing in the sunshine at Lands End, England.

This was taken during April this year during my visit to Cornwall. I have lived in the UK for 20something years now, and had not visited 'Lands End'. So we gave it a bash. This is what we found, It was stunning there, the water was so blue and it felt like we could see forever off the end.

Worms Head

Well, Tuesday came and went. Followed by most of today (Wednesday). I had a fairly easy-going day yesterday, played golf again, but this time on the pitch and putt. Did much better.

Went for a walk in the evening to Worms Head, Rhossili in South Gower.

This is sunset over worms head. Named because the headland (pictured) looks like a worm.... apparently. Still it was a lovely walk. Though a bit windy. Nice to walk and forget the crapp times in uni and life without Sabi. It is like reading a good book, an escape from an otherwise miserable existence.

Not that I am miserable, just missing Sabi and Ibiza.

Golf

I went to play golf today with a friend. It was our first outing to a full 18hole course in many a year. It was challenging. So challenging that we managed to start with 16 balls, found about 8 and lost every single one before we finished the 18th hole (the last one got lost teeing off on the 18th). Turns out, Golf is much more fun and enjoyable when you are doing it for free on the local pitch and putt course.

Still...I saw a pretty flower again.

Walky

Went for a walk with George and Willit today. Willit is my friends Mala moot/Husky puppy. He is almost 1 year old and massive. Today we saw a great Dane. It gave our two quite a shock, they are not used to seeing dogs bigger than them, they were not sure what to do.

Georges thoughts *Hmmm, that dog is massive...he doesn't look like he will play...he looks like he will eat me. Hmmm, maybe if i stand really still he will get bored of me. Oh goody, Neil is coming, he can distract the big brute whilst I sniff his....*

That's how I figure it was anyway.

I also saw a pretty flower.

Good Luck

I would like to wish luck to the loveliest Italian I know today as she sits the EFR instructor exam and begins the course towards SCUBA diving instructor. A more deserving applicant I do not know, her passion and desire is amazing.

Good Luck Sabi! My thoughts are, as always, with you!

xxxxxx

Sleepsies and DW

I went to bed at 21:25 last night, and though I read for a little bit (I am currently reading Harry Potter for about the 500th time), I was asleep before the parents went to bed. Which is probably a worrying sign, my dad has just retired and is staying up later than me.

On a side note, watched Doctor Who last night (BBC 1). It was very enjoyable, though got a bit confused at the end with the crack in the wall and the date of the explosion or something, who knows, I am sure they know what they are doing.

Bank Holiday tomorrow! day off uni, hoorah!

Camera

I recently bought a DSLR camera to play with and take pictures. I will undoubtedly but various pictures up from time to time, well...going on previous standards, a lot of pictures all the time. 

Introduction time, this is George. He is 2 years old and quite the trouble maker. He is gorgeous, but you can't really tell that from this picture. You will hear a lot about George as time goes by. We have various adventures, including pheasant chasing, mud bathing and barking at the scary looking plastic bag ahead.

Number 1

Well, this is my 3rd or 4th attempt at trying to keep a blog. My others are all on here somewhere, but are short and of no interest. I will just presume whomever reads this hasn't looked elsewhere.

Since this is the first post, do i introduce myself? or leave it mysterious and allow you to make your minds up about who I am as time goes by.

I will tell you that my name is Neil, I am Welsh and this blog will be used to keep you updated about goings ons in my life. Though I am not sure it will be very interesting.

Until we meet again.