I had an immensely fun, geeky day at Greenwich Royal Observatory yesterday, wandering around the maritime museum there and of course, the astronomical bit. Also went for a planetarium show (OMG OMG I LOVE THOSE!) where we sat in reclining chairs and watched stars go nova. Due to now only being able to get an ordinary (non honours 
) degree, one of the options I was considering was dropping out and applying to do a different subject,and at the minute astronomy is right up there, and this visit just reinforced just how fucking awesome it is.
I also found, in the gift shop, a small travelling compass that is pretty much exactly what I was planning to make back in this entry. So I did what any good engineer does: take photos of it, and plan to copy it. No point in wasting effort working this shit out for myself when somebody else has done the hard work!
Seriously, though, if my version falls through, I can buy one of these and give it to my mate, or cut it down a bit (80mm diameter base with 3 mounting screw extensions every 120 degrees protruding 10mm) and plonk it in the case I was planning.
In other news, today Im going to work on my ridiculously bad tan by lazing around in the garden, and studying a chunk of maths for going back to uni in about three/four weeks time. Ive kinda got it planned out to tutor people for cash in my spare time, and I think ive got a reasonable chance of succeeding with this since theres quite a culture in the UK as being ok to be shit at maths. Obviously this can fly while at A level but at degree level you really cant fuck about and studying is the only way to pass unless you are savant-like. Anyhow, its a day filled with sigmas and deltas for me.
) degree, one of the options I was considering was dropping out and applying to do a different subject,and at the minute astronomy is right up there, and this visit just reinforced just how fucking awesome it is.
I also found, in the gift shop, a small travelling compass that is pretty much exactly what I was planning to make back in this entry. So I did what any good engineer does: take photos of it, and plan to copy it. No point in wasting effort working this shit out for myself when somebody else has done the hard work!
Seriously, though, if my version falls through, I can buy one of these and give it to my mate, or cut it down a bit (80mm diameter base with 3 mounting screw extensions every 120 degrees protruding 10mm) and plonk it in the case I was planning.
In other news, today Im going to work on my ridiculously bad tan by lazing around in the garden, and studying a chunk of maths for going back to uni in about three/four weeks time. Ive kinda got it planned out to tutor people for cash in my spare time, and I think ive got a reasonable chance of succeeding with this since theres quite a culture in the UK as being ok to be shit at maths. Obviously this can fly while at A level but at degree level you really cant fuck about and studying is the only way to pass unless you are savant-like. Anyhow, its a day filled with sigmas and deltas for me.
BTW I know that my first question sounds like what your parents said or will say when you tell them. I am old get over it.
Uncalled for mocking of the cousins from across the pond
1 - Brits do not tan! During the whole building of the empire not a single Brit got a tan. Give up on it.
2- Instead of astronomy you could work on that whole ice issue and why ice cannot be made in your land.
Because retakes of modules count as modules towards a degree, i have effectively taken something like 15 modules. An honours degree is awarded so long as no more than 22 modules are taken over three years, and the minimum number of modules I need per year to stay a full time student is 6, which takes me over the limit.
Frustrating barely begins to cover it. And yes, the above paragraphs do sound rehearsed because ive had to explain to so many people, including parents, or parent. Ive told dad, but he and i have yet to actually have a conversation in which I say, " you know for the last fifteen years youve been a pretty shitty parent.". Van wilder jokes ceased to be funny a long time ago since he didnt graduate by choice.
When Ive actually got my head together, im a fairly good student, usually around a B average but this year I guess I dont really have any excuse for not getting A's. When it comes to other degrees, i have no idea. Im pretty much boned every way I go, but im looking into options to get grades up across the board from degree level stuff to the a level or equivalent things id need to apply to another university for astrophysics/astronomy. Money is the big problem, though, youre right. Again, its something im looking into but as with a lot of these things, there are multiple levels of bureacracy to be penetrated which is taking a bit of time.