Outcome

Whatever I did on Monday it seems to have worked. I had a letter from Ruskin on Thursday accepting me for their one year access course for a history degree. I don't know whether it was the outfit, my babbling about Anglo Saxons or my overall air of intelligence and determination but they are having me. Needless to say, I am tickled pink. It was nice that all the children were here because we settled down with family and a few friends and we celebrated. I owe a lot to Nancy and Nigel both of whom wrote references for me which I'm sure played a big part in the acceptance. The only possible hitch now is finances. If I can tell them I have been resident for three years, I pay very little. If I can't say or prove that, it will cost a great deal for this first year. I don't know how much but when I asked the people who were interviewing me for a ballpark figure, all they would say was, "It's prohibitive."

Interview

I have been invited for a second interview. This one is on Monday afternoon so very little time to be nervous and anxious. I'm still counting on the Anglo Saxons which I'm reading and very happily. Now I just have to worry about what to wear. Zoe suggests a JoJo outfit but I'm afraid it might be too colourful and flamboyant. On the other hand, I don't want to look like some blue stocking frump or some older woman trying too hard. Any suggestions gratefully received.

P.S. I am serious about the course but one has only one chance to make a first impression!

Branching Out

I've been going along now for two years living as a single person. It has been quite rough at times but I'm doing pretty well. However, my activities fall into the niche of older retired woman; taking things quite easy and doing many things outside the house that I've always done. Lovely though it is, I had begun to realize that it wasn't enough. I need to try something that will take up all of my time and energy and clog up my mind. So guess what I'm trying to do? A proper first degree at University. It turns out that in order to be considered, I have to do an Access/Foundation Course. I haven't been a student for about a hundred years and I need to get back in the groove and prove to the College that I'm serious and that I can do it. I have applied for a few different preliminary courses and I'm waiting to hear if any of them will have me. I have actually got one interview for a history access course on 4th September. Apparently I have to be ready to discuss the period of history in which I'm most interested and books that I have read. Oh Oh! I knew there was going to be a catch. Never mind. I started last night reading a book on AngloSaxons and I have historian friends who will help me with vocabulary. I had coffee this morning with some of them and already they suggest that I start learning Old English. This is a precursor to Middle English and then Modern English. It is like a totally foreign language so I had better get busy. When I start writing this blog in Old English you will know that I have succeeded.

Enter, The Fox

I spent three days in Brighton last weekend looking after The Fox while his parents went away overnight for a much needed break. It was Sian's birthday. I was slightly nervous but I needn't have been. He slept all through the night and woke up happy in the morning. They had put him to bed the night before so having me appear beside the crib was a surprise. I was treated to a big smile. We breakfasted together and then he went back to bed. His Mummies came home at lunchtime. Everyone was glad to see everyone else.

Here he is smiling, pursing and looking like a stud.

Mummy Ali and me

My Mummy reads me a story every time I put my head down for a nap or a good night's sleep. I'm getting the hang of it and pretty soon I'll be able to read to her. Oh! I forgot. I can't talk yet.

On the Upswing

I appear to have recovered from my last bout of flu. At least I'm up and about and doing things. It was my birthday on Sunday. I was 67!!! I don't feel a day over 65. On Friday evening I went out for a meal with Diana, Zoe, Nancy and Amanda. We went to the Black Boy and I enjoyed a large plate of fish and chips. Nancy insisted on drawing the attention of the staff and other patrons to the event taking place "a la table moi" so they put a tea lite in the middle of a bowl of strawberries and sang Happy Birthday. I pretended to be embarrassed but I was secretly pleased.

On Sunday (actual birthday) I went down to the farm for a Birthday Tea. The children had made a cake and decorated it with strawberries and cream and candles. Once again, we sang, we blew, and we ate. Adam was a considerable help with all three. I had a lovely birthday. Thank you everyone.

I had my final photography class last evening. It was an excellent series, pitched at just the right level. I feel much more competent now with Photoshop but I still need hours of practice. I rushed from the class to a meeting of the Book Club. We read "Readings in the Dark" by Seamus Deane. Set in Northern Ireland in the 50's, it is an excellent book. It is interesting how, no matter where I go, there are always a few people with a Catholic background.

I'm going to Brighton on Thursday to have my first overnight session with the Fox (without his parents). I was thinking of taking him to Revenge. That's the gay nightclub in Brighton that I love and I haven't been there since 2002 when we were all super groovy! I had better be careful since his parents might be going there and I don't want me and the Fox to have our style cramped by a couple of middle aged ladies.