Ok, so here’s the deal. I think it may be working out.

I had an email yesterday, outlining the possibility of a project, working on a sand dune system at Whiteford (at the very northwest tip of the Gower Peninsula). This system is one of the few remaining locations where certain European protected species, such as the Fen Orchid, are found, because the particular sand dune habitat they require is declining. Management has been instigated to prevent this.

The main idea for the project at the moment is therefore to examine the effect of management at the site, by comparing the managed and non-managed areas, and also possibly comparing with another site for the Fen Orchid in South Wales, at Kenfig. While many of you may read this and think either ’so what?’ or ‘I’ve no idea what she’s talking about’, to me this is great news. Not only is it a project, which I didn’t think I had, but it’s something that (to me) is extremely interesting and exactly matches what I’d like to go and do long term!!!

But, don’t uncross those fingers yet… There are a few hurdles to overcome still.

1. I need to be able to get there and back quite frequently. Which, to someone accustomed to using buses is not a big ask, but the Gower is not particularly well served by public transport (which is kind of good cos it keeps it from being spoilt).

2. Since I am obviously a freak of nature (no comments, please) and alone in wanting to spend my time looking at plants, I’d be the only one working on this project. This is not a particular problem, except that I’d be working out there on my own. As much as I am not entirely keen on this, I’d be willing to accept it. My mum is less keen. I have yet to broach this with the University. Hmm.

But, there we are, it’s kinda coming together. I think. Still talking to convice Him upstairs about the above hitches, so we’ll see.

Oh, and another amusing episode in the ongoing drama of the ‘organisation’ of this course. I went to see coordinator guy today (which I’ve been putting off till I had something concrete in the project line) to get some help with what to do next (yes, bad idea I know), and guess what? He’s gone! Not forever, I’m not that lucky. But gone on holiday. To Italy. Will be back next wednesday. How nice for him. Would have been even nicer if he’d told us. Or not gone, given that at this time all the students on the course he is supposedly coordinating are trying to sort out their projects, exams are being marked, etc. Sounds like a perfect time to take a holiday to me! No? Hmm. Anyway, I guess I’ll just sort out this bit myself too, like I have everything else. I just wish you could put things like this on your CV, under organisational skills. “Invented, chased up and organised own MSc project because the person being paid to do it was a waste of space”. I think not.

Well, at least its amusing. Its one of those laugh or cry situations, and though I sometimes pick the latter, this time I refuse.

Now all I need is some nice weather tomorrow…

Just a quick one, I can’t stop long. I don’t like to get my hopes up, or say this too loud, but…

*whispers*

There may be a project. I’ve heard from my friend at CCW, and there are possibilities. I’m going to chat to her tomorrow, so you never know. Fingers still very much crossed.

Oh, and the slight hitch is that I’d have to make my way from Swansea to Whiteford at the end of Gower, but that’s only a minor detail

Officially.

Hmm, I may have finished exams, but since then I don’t think I’ve had a day where I didn’t set my alarm for one reason or another. This isn’t good. Adding to the tiredness (and entirely self-inflicted) was a v late night last night, socialising with the lovely members of the university hiking club till we were kicked out of the uni bar, and then heading back to a friends campus hall for coffee and chatting till too late (or early by then!) and sharing (and discovering) common music tastes- ooh, more folkies!!!

This would not have been a problem, had I been on normal Sunday mode (church etc), but today was the first meeting of the planning group for the new SCM theme, which I was part of. So, instead of a lie in, I was off to Birmingham, on a train. At 8.30. Hmm. No wonder I’m a little tired. No more for the moment I think!

Sleep……..is……..good….zzzzzzzzzz

Well, this no work (for the moment) thing isn’t bad. I could get used to it.

Anyway, on the project front, I’ve sent emails to my helpful CCW friend, to find out what the state of play is with projects. I’ve also emailed my friendly lecturer who has agreed to (partly) supervise the project to see if I can get some help/advice etc. Watch this space..

In his post for today, Bimbling Along mentions a rather cool quote about answers to prayer. Just cos it’s not what we expected, doesn’t mean it’s not an answer, and God is still looking out for us, he just knows better than we do whats good for us. Thank you, it helped me to remember that today

I’ve been thinking far too much recently about things, which may at some point make it here. If not, no worry. Thats all.

Oh, and tonight is the last (for the moment anyway) of my run of concert-going- we’re off to see Show of Hands ‘up close’ (ahem) at the Grand Theatre in Swansea! Should be a fab night!

…well, as a rambler, you’d not be surprised to find me wandering. But this is in a completely different way. Thanks to a friend of mine (who I’ve discovered also reads this blog! Hey Rach!) I’m pleased to be able to introduce the concept of ‘wandering through my brain’. For when trying to recall facts that you know are in there somewhere… A fantastic phrase, sums it up exactly!

Anyway, after that interlude, where to start? It’s done. The exams are over. Finished. History. Finito. (Um, any more ways of saying done?) Anyway, they went ok in the end, never like to say ‘good’, cos that jinxes it, and I’m not sure they were good, but ok, could have been worse.

So, what now? Well, the project is still a work in progress, will let you know when anything materialises!! And for a couple of days I’m just enjoying not having to worry about anything, and not having to feel guilty when not doing anything!!! I’m well aware of a number of things I mean to blog about, but haven’t done yet. I’ll get round to it, I promise. Even if I have a week or so of catching up! Or I could save it for when I have nothing to blog about. I’m sure that blog-worthy events are like buses, they come along in groups!

I’ve been away. Some people may have noticed, and some knew anyway, but there we are. Anyway, I’ve been to Prague for a few days with a few good friends. It’s the sort of city that’s just impossible to describe. It’s like no other place I’ve ever been to, completely overwhelming, amazing architecture, churches and synagogues, stunning bridges and great views. The sort of place that verbal descriptions just can’t do justice to. When I have more time I will attempt a better description, and maybe investigate linking to a few pictures, but for now I really think I need to get down to some work- the exams are getting ever closer (I know, a few days holiday just before them isn’t the best of ideas, but I couldn’t pass up the oppprtunity!) and stress just isn’t the word!!!

It’s less than a week (exams are Tuesday and Wednesday morning) and then they’re over for good, but I have completely run out of motivation. I used to get so panicked about exams and failing etc, but now I just don’t seem to be bothered enough even to worry about how much more revision I should be doing. I think it’s partly to do with the uncertainty about the project (still no news, will follow it up after the exams), and also due to the confusion in my head about other completely unrelated issues (don’t ask, its messing with my head enough as it is, and I’m not sure its a good idea to post it here). Anyway, its all good fun, and helps to make life interesting.

Wish me luck!

Thank you for the messages of support etc, just leaving it up to Him upstairs to decide, since He knows more about things than me (even things about me).

Anyway, to the title of this post referrs to the white band which is the symbol of the MakePovertyHistory campaign. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting they’re a bad thing (I wear one myself, as does this site!) or that they don’t mean anything. I just hate it when things like this which mean so much get trivialised. Yesterday I was walking down the main pedestrianised street in Manchester and walked past several people holding baskets of ‘fashion wristbands’ which they were selling to passersby. These ‘fashion’ bands were the same style as the silicon white bands sold for the MPH campaign, in all different colours. I had noticed, in Swansea, that some other charitable causes were selling similar style bands of different colours- pink for breast cancer, blue for anti-bullying, etc. All good causes. But, these ‘fashion’ bands had messages on them such as ‘peace’ and ‘faith’ which undoubtedly mean nothing to those wearing them. These bands are apparently a big craze among the ‘young’ people (well, relatively speaking, school age if you like), so much so that my Mum, who had a silicon MPH band she bought at church, was asked by children at work why she was wearing one!!! People see them as a fashion accessory, along the lines of those snap bracelets which were around when I was in school, rather than as a statement of a desire to end extreme poverty. I’m not saying that the makers of these bands are in the wrong (apart from mass producing these things and pursuading kids that they have to have one to be ‘cool’, but I don’t want to get started on that one…) just that we have to be even more careful in trying to get our message across. It is naive to think that the campaign won’t come across hurdles, and maybe this is one of them. But, at the same time, it could work to our advantage. If people are aware of MPH, and that the symbol is a white band, then these kids with their fashion bands could be advertising it without realising it, just by wearing one!

Anyway, rant over, I’ll leave it there. Apart from that, yesterday was a good day. Mum had some holiday time to use up, and so we had an afternoon wandering round the shops in Manchester, before heading off to Runcorn to see Eliza Carthy, one of my favourite folkies. This was the first time I’d seen her live since my first cropredy in 2001, and it was worth the wait. Absolutely fabulous; two, sometimes three fiddles together, with a number of different accordian/melodian related whatsits, and even a tuba! Amazing, no question. Some new stuff mixed in with old favourites (well, from my point of view anyway!). Great night. Next up: Show of Hands at the Swansea Grand Theatre in a few weeks. Ooh, the excitement. And then, who knows? There’s a possibility of a few more before Croppers…