My Open University Experience

For the past 3 years I have been studying with the open university, those who aren't from the UK though it is in many countries around the world its where you get your degree online but also have classes in actual universities too once a month.

I am studying a BA honours in business studies its this time next year I will be graduating, in total I'm doing 9 modules ranging from level one which is entry level then level 2 and the final level 3.

I have been doing 2-3 modules a year usually starting in October and April time modules range in price with each level from £450-£1125 at the higher levels. they also change price depending which country you live in even though England and Wales are in the UK both may pay different amounts
.
As I earn under £16000 I get to have most of my modules paid for me and I get a course grant on top of that which is around £1000 for the year.

How it works a few weeks before the modules start you get the text books delivered to you, you get a online student account are given a tutor and a group of students that you will be interacting with on your module. there are several tutor groups for the module you do and you can interact with other student tutor groups in the student online cafe as they call it asking questions etc on several of the modules I have done there's been a facebook group setup nothing to do with the OU them selves just students who want to chat more and get a better understanding of the module its been really helpful every ones really supportive of each other and you can ask the  dumb questions you may not feel like asking on the OU site its self.

On the modules I've been doing I've done 2-6 TMA tutor marked assessments over the 6 months which are essays and reports based on the book you have been studying and then you either have an EMA end of module assessment online they give you questions you do an essay or report and then email it your tutor and other people mark it or you do an exam in person at a location closet to you.

Tutors have been hit and miss for me they don't do it as a full time job so some of mine have been hard to contact they don't really have an interest in how students do and there's not much interaction with them and others have been really helpful at the end of the phone when you need them and encouraging.


Pros

* If your earning under 16kyou can get most of your degree paid for you no debt when you leave that's a big plus for me.

* Great online support from other students

* You cant fit it around work so earning at the same time

Cons

* Tutors are hit and miss some are great some not so much

* With studying at home on your own it is hard to find the motivation and time

I  hope this has given you a little insight to the open university I will pop their link below so you can go check it out if you are interested and if you have any questions for me pop them in the comments below and I will answer them.

Thanks for stopping by

Peanut xx


http://www.open.ac.uk/

Book Review: Me Before You By Jojo Moyes

 

This is a tremendously heart wrenching, eye opening book that is a must read. The book follows two characters Will Traynor who had this amazing life he was a lawyer, loved adventures and throwing himself out of and off of things, traveller, ladies man he loved his life.
Will gets hit by a motor bike on his way to work and that's where Louisa comes into it two years later she's employed to perk Will up with her chatty personality and wacky out their fashion choices.
In all of Louisa 26 years she hadn't left here little town and hasn't got any ambition to, she doesn't no what she wanted from life and never really gave it a thought until she meet will.

At first Will tested her wondering if she was going to stick around he had been through may of helpers, Will hated it he hated that his choices had been taken away from him, he hated his life and had previously tried to take his own life, Louisa saw the scars awhile into caring for him. Mrs Traynor was scary hard faced didn't like Louisa but she wanted Louisa to show him he could have a full life and that there was still a point to life though it wasn't the life he new Louisa came up with a plan to get him to do many activities holidays to make him want to live.

For two people who came together from a not normal situation and from different backgrounds they found a connection they got each other they pushed each other to see things in a different way. Louisa didn't see wills chair she saw Will the man the funny, rude, smart man who just happened to be in a chair. Louisa had hidden her self away all her life helping her parents, her sister and her nephew she never thought of the future but Will pushed her to try new things that she thought weren't her like going to hear a classical music which she sobbed at the emotions it made her feel that she didn't think was possible. Louisa had closed her self off to the possibilities that her life could be and Will made her see the amazing, beautiful, smart, strong person she was they saw each other the way the other couldn't see and got each other.

The book gets you to see both views from those who can live a full life after that kind of injury, those who don't feel their lives are full as they cant be the person they want to be. Will was such an adventure yes he could do some of those things but he was also living a life in constant pain in and out of hospital having no control of his life and the fear what his life maybe like weeks, months, years down the line it was the scary true for him he was only going to get worse.
Then from their loved ones you don't want to loss your child, brother, love of your life you want them to see the good things that their life can be better. Louisa showed that to will he started to smile he found someone that saw him even though he thought he was broken and not the man he used to be he said himself he was an arse before she saw the will she had only known and she loved him and she brought part of him back to life.

These two people would never of met if it weren't for Wills accident, though he wishes he had his old life back I think he's glad it happened otherwise he would never of met Louisa found true love and I think the biggest adventure Will had was being able to show Louisa that there is a whole world out there for her and that she can dream, try new things and she is the type of person to live.

It is such a great topic for a book, its relevant to now with those wanting to change the laws to be able to kill themselves without their loved ones being prosecuted. I am for this though I saw Louisa side of wanting to keep  the man she loved from killing himself. though I would want to do the same. if I were Will being an active person I wouldn't want to rely on others,  not to be able to get up and dance not to have a full life that I would want to live. the book shows the story from different sides and gets you thinking what if it were you or your loved one.

The over all message I got from the book was we have one life live don't exist be bold in life whether its doing something you didn't think you could do, go scuba diving, do something that your scared of step out of your box because yes it will be scary but you don't no you might just wish you don't it before.

NOW GO LIVE  oh and read the book its amazing :)

Peanut xx

PARK LIFE

 

My favourite part of my day is being outdoors soaking up some sun and being in nature hearing the birds singing around me. My favourite place I Cardiff is my local park it so tranquil and peaceful I can take a few minutes out of my day to re group and have some me time.

 

 

Peanut xx

Bank Holiday Monday OOTD 25TH May 2015

 

NewLook jeans £14.99 scarf £3 boots £12

bag Oasis £6

jumper H&M £7

 

Woman Judging Woman why?

When it comes tour looks its never the men in our lives or around us that put us down saying she's fat! wow thunder thighs! she is just ugly!
the men around us don't judge us its us as woman who judge each other and so harshly but why? are we jealous of each other? are we trying to make that person feel bad about themselves? or is it we dislike our selves and put our insecurities on to others so we feel better about our selves?

Case in point last year I was having a conversation with a friend, she didn't no how another friend of hers was able to get so many guys. she was feeling bad about herself and I was saying like any friend would your beautiful you need to have more confidence as you are gorgeous (because she is). but I was then taken aback by a comment she made which went along the lines of why are WE the type of woman that cant get the guys? basically she was saying this other friend of hers is the type of pretty that all the guys flock to she draws them to her but WE aren't those woman we don't have the guys falling over themselves to want to go out with.

When she first said it I thought thanks what a rude comment to make, why aren't it he type of woman a man will fall at my feet to want to be with me? whilst the comment at first made me made at how rude it was a year later I still think of that comment and I'm ashamed that I have let it affect me all this time.   I was being a good friend bring up her self a stem, yet See thought it was OK to make me feel bad about myself along with feeling bad about herself.

As woman we need to be careful with the words we use towards each other that one comment has made me question myself on my looks and if her comment was true and that's why I'm single because I cant get attractive there so out of my league, just because you are having insecurities about yourself its not nice to put them on to others.

As woman we need to be kinder tour selves, once we love our selves even our flaws then maybe we wont be as mean and judgemental to other woman.

Has anyone put you down to make themselves feel better? or have you done it your selves because you weren't happy with yourself?


Peanut xx

Fakeness Of Facebook

Don't get me wrong I like Facebook I get to chat with family and friends who live all around the world keeping up to date on what's going on in their lives but it also comes with a down side. Facebook and social media in general has turned in to a fake world where you can post what you like pictures and statuses of your amazing lives trying to make other jealous.

People are like I have a 1000 friends but how many of those do you actually talk to and if you saw them in the street how many would come over and have a conversation with you? we have come to believe the more friends you have on social media the cooler and popular you are but its just fakeness you don't no all those people your not real FRIENDS with them they wouldn't be there in your good and bad times of you life. It's not the amount of friends you have its the quality and lets face it most of those 1000 are only your friends to snoop on what  your up to and who what's those on your friends list.

I love my REAL friends on Facebook but time to time they post pictures and statuses projecting their amazing lives they have the best family, friends partners awesome job yet behind closed doors the truth is they aren't happy, they just don't want the world to know it. I get the real story off Facebook of the sad times they are going through yet they want their life to seem perfect, life isn't perfect and I don't think its healthy to project this fake life to those on your friends list that everything is hunky doory when its not, you shouldn't have to project a unreal fake life to those around you.

Facebook is perfect for attention seekers, people post statuses saying I'm so upset, blah blah blah and then wanting people to comment what's wrong? are you OK? only to get I'm fine I don't want to talk about it so why put the status up in the first place stop seeking attention.

Facebook can be so superficial showing your FRIENDS the better parts of your like or just fake forsard of your life be yourself don't post things to make others think your life is better than it is your REAL friends don't want to see the fake part of your life they want to see the real good or bad.

What are your opinions on Facebook? Do your friends seek attention? do you only show the better parts of your life so you don't have to show how much your hurting?

Let me no

Peanut xx

OOTD 23/05/2015 plus pictures of nature walk

 

 

 

 The sun was shining (in between cloudy sky) so I went on a walk through Landaff Cardiff,I have lived in Cardiff for 12 years this November yet I haven't really explored it. I went through Sophia gardens, Penhill park and Bute park taking in the gorgeously beautiful surroundings here are a few of the pictures I took along the way.

I hope you enjoy

jacket from h&m £24.99
khaki sleevless blouse select £11.99
jeans newlook £22.99
grey stripe thin sweater h&m £7.99 bag£19.99

Peanut xx