Introduce yourself!

Hello.

I started my first OU course in 1992 (S102) and finished my degree in 1998. Although I was awarded a BSc it is made up of a mixed bag of courses including a Diploma in French. I enjoyed studying with the OU but was glad when I had enough points for a degree.

I've recently registered for the short course A179 - Start Listening to Music. Doing a course online will be a new experience for me. It was textbooks and telephones the last time I studied.

Hi all I am from SE London and originally studied with the OU during the nineties gaining a BSc mainly in maths and computing area. Now in the late noughties and in the sunset of my life I have embarked on a Law Degree just finished W100 and moving on to W200. I hope to have LLB after my name before I hit 60.

Hi
I'm Pauline from Berkshire. I'm struggling through A219 and enjoying it. Hope to meet and chat with you all.

Hi I'm Linda Am in region 11 and am waiting to start SD329 in Feb - have just passed K311! Looking forward to getting back into the study lol!

Linda

Hi i am studying A210 Approaching Literature and last year I did the A103 course. I am enjoying getting back into studying but the workload for this new course is immense!!

When I a not studying I work full time in insurance but I studying because I want to be a teacher.

If you want to chat feel free

Hi I'm J. just about to start studying W100 on the first leg towards the law degree I want. I'm basically quite terrified about the whole thing as I haven't studied for over 10 years and am working out where to start! I'm married with one child and the next one due in May - good luck everyone on the W100 this year!

Hi everyone, I'm Debs, I work at a local school as a Faculty Support Assistant and I'm currently studying the A219.

I mainly study for pleasure so I have crossed over into all kinds of course subjects(maths, computing, human biology, science, humanities, fiction writing and now classical studies).

I am not the best at staying motivated when it comes to study, I find it quite hard knuckling down to work but somehow I seem to get it all done in the end.

I'm on facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1434278680#/home.php?ref=home

Come along and have a chat if you like.

Hi all, I'm Pamela, I live in Darlington, Co. Durham but originally from Aberdeenshire. I work for a large Fostering Agency in Chester le Street as a Referrals Administrator.

I have just passed my first year of study doing the KZX100 'Understanding Health & Social Care' and am now beginning K272 'Challenging Ideas in Mental Health'.

I am very interested in Mental Health for older people particularly and am so glad that I plucked up the courage to study as I'm thoroghly enjoying it.

If there's anyone else interested in the same then please feel free to get in touch and we can chat.

hi all!
My name is Ally and I am currently studying towards a degree in science. I would love to be a geologist one day. I have just finished S186 - which was totally fab! - and now just starting S104. It's real hard work - as I work full-time in the aerospace industry - but so worth it.

Hi. My name is Peter and I live in the North West. Just completed the beginners spanish course LZX194 - Portales. Achieved a distinction. I will be starting the next level L140 - En Rumbo next February. Also signed up for the one week Spanish Intensives course in Alicante next August. Good luck to everyone with their studies.

Hi, I'm Emma, 25, married with 2 very young sons and I live in Somerset. I am new to the OU and I will be starting DD100 in February.

I work part time behind the bar but its only really so I get a bit of 'me' time and feel like me instead of mum for a bit. I hoping that my course will also help with that as its something I am doing for me.

I love studying but I haven't done anything in ages so I have very mixed emotions at the moment, I am so excited I could burst but so nervous aswell!!

Hi everyone,

I'm Sabina, I'm 25, married with no kids and I live in Hertfordshire near St. Albans. Currently doing DSE212 (psychology). Thats my second course with OU.Enjoying it very much. English is my second language and OU courses help me improving it. I'm self-employed endermologie therapist. Looking forward to chat with some of you. Anybody living in Herts.?

Hi everyone my name is Beth i'm 21 and from Grantham in Lincolnshire. I started my first OU course in November which is B120 An Introductionn to Business Studies which i am enjoying. My aim is to gain a Business Degree but not really sure what i want to do with it yet. Anywho anyone fancy a chat i'm here.

Beth

hi im Stacie from Burnley in Lancashire. Im starting the first module of the BA honours history in February 2009. I work full time so studying could be an interesting idea but ill give it my best shot.
looking forward to talking with some of you soon

Hi,

I'm Victoria from West Yorkshire. I'm about to start DD100 in February to work towards my Psychology degree. I hope to gain my degree by the time my son is 5, so 4 years to go!

Best of luck to everyone studying with the OU!

Hi I'm Tony (TJ) from Cornwall.
I'm working towards a Bsc (Hons) degree in social sciences with Sociology, 2 more courses to go!
I'm a full time carer for my adult daughter who has a severe learning disability and I'm a widower, so I'm a modern man who cleans cooks washes irons (yuk) and everything else connected with caring!
It can be difficult to be a carer and study and I applaud the way the OU are being proactive both in recognising carers needs and supporting us at all levels. Well done Guys!!
As to what I'm going to do with my degree besides smile like a Cheshire cat?
Who knows, I can`t see myself getting back to a new career, but, for my self esteem I'll have a lot to thank the OU for!

Hello Everyone,

Nice to see some familiar faces/names on here and to appear next to TJ...
I've just received my Cert Soc Sci after a twenty-odd year study break and am embarking on a level two literature course now.
My degree may end up as Humanities, Literature, a mixture of both or an Open BA (Hons). That's one of the great things about the OU - the choice.

Good luck everyone and speak soon,

Fernie :) x

Is there anything worse than staring at a blank dialogue box, trying to think of something sensible to write?

I'm Tony, currently in the South West. I've worked for the past 6 years towards a Post Graduate Diploma in Computing, awarded earlier this year - next stop, dissertation and MSc. Meanwhile, I'm also doing another course to keep my hand in - yes, I have the "OU bug".

Although I work in IT, I see my main role as working with people to make their work environment better and more enjoyable. (At least I try to!)

Regards to all.

Tony

Hi

My name is Jude, I am half way through BA(hons) Humanities, or maybe Art History, or maybe Philosophy, as you can see I haven't decided yet. I was at the Philosophy summer school in Bath this year, anyone else?

Jude

Hi Fern - I am also doing a level 2 lit course - I started Approaching Literature in October. Which one are you doing? If the same feel free to chat!

I'm kati, I'm married with two teenage kids, I work in childcare. I'm doing A217 Introducing Religions. I've previously done A103, A210 and (forgot the code) the one about nineteenth century literature. I tried the Latin course last year but had a bad experience and packed it in as a bad job... Hopefully better luck this year, I'm really looking forward to the course.

I'm Richard, living in East Anglia. Retired and doing OU with the hope that keeping brain active will prolong life - and if not then have an interest meanwhile. Got BSc 50 years ago so now hoping for BA. Done Making Sense of the Arts, Intro to Humanities, Art History Summer School, Doing Leonardo and Cities and Urbanisation now. Hope to start Art and its Histories in Jan.

Best wishes

Richard

I don't think it would be a crime
To do my introduction in rhyme
So a very big hello!
To all my OU fellows

I am studying 'understanding children'
Cos one never knows quite when
With two young 'uns in tow
I may need to apply what I know

I am not studying to gain a degree as such
More for fun and cos I like learning so much
I get so much help and support from the staff at the OU
I just know that I will get through

I am Fiona Johnston, a graduate with the Open University since 1999. I have been looking for work and now considering the idea of once more bringing the mountain to Mohammed for a number of reasons, the poor transport in the area as I live in a remote area of Suffolk, second I want to work that I will enjoy which is creative writing so I am looking for freelance opportunities although I have pursued the idea of doing beta testing of courses with the Open University. I am currently doing two correspondence courses in scriptwriting and reading, one with Writer's News and the other with First Draft Doctor. The third reason being that in the New Year, at least the second month, I am due to have an eye op so I won't look a pretty sight for a month as it is to correct a squint so obviously I need to get something off the ground that I can do from home so I am open to offers if interested. I am also about to embark on an article with Helium on the Founders of the Garden History Society as my uncle Raymond[my mother's brother] was one of its founding members. Initially he wrote short stories then turned to horticulture. For those who are interested, his name was P.R.S.Hunt

I recently made an interesting discovery in terms of self study with the Open University Open Learn but would obviously like to do another creative writing course with the OU sometime in the near future. It is a way to keep the little grey cells active. According to the medical profession, they say it is becoming increasingly important to ward off the danger of mental decline and Althzeimer's which is becoming increasingly common and according to the medical profession, they believe that people should keep the brain cells exercised and in trim to ward it off as a preventative measure.

I now have three cats, a Burmese, a pure bred Bengal and half Bengal.The Burmese is called Lucy, she is a lilac point, the Burmese is brown Tabby and the half Burmese has a faint grey tinge yet glitters. Mother was a snow leopard Bengal who got out when she was in season, no idea who Daddy was but she is beautiful. The upstairs bathroom is once more the feline nursery. I am keeping my fingers crossed for her as the cat we had last year, died in the May from kidney cancer, tumours on both of her kidneys. She was a calico cat and her name was Tabitha. The pure bred Bengal is Mystery and this one is Puffin, all with literary connections.

Great to meet you all, Richard, where abouts in East Anglia do you live? No doubt about it, it is the best place to live on the whole. In fact I was born in East Anglia, so was my paternal grandmother and also my cousin. However, I am part Scottish owing to my father and of course my surname which is Johnston. Funnily enough I want to write to New Scotland Yard as I believe there is an Ian Johnston. I know my father had a cousin by the same surname who served with the Metropolitan police so I am wondering now if that his his son. Dad's cousin certainly knew of my existence when we lived down in Hampshire as my father was serving as an Air Weapons Lecturer at Whale Island in Portsmouth as he was in the Royal Navy. Sadly Dad died in '93 so neither Mum or I know a great deal about his side of the family.

My name is Widget, a nickname given to me by my father which means 'Friendly sprite' Yes I am friendly on the whole but I have outgrown the sprite side perhaps

Well to use the expression from loony cartoons 'That's all folks', at least for now

Best wishes to all among the Platform community with compliments for the forthcoming season.

Regards

Widget

Hi everyone! My name is Shelley although most people call me Shell. I'm 21, and started studying with the OU in 2007 after leaving a full-time university course in Lancashire! I'm back home in a small town in Essex living with my parents and younger brother. I work as an 'early years assistant' in a nursery caring for children from 3 months to 4 years. In saying that, I'm not studying a course in childcare at all, and am in fact following my dream of becoming a secondary school teacher.

I started with the OU on the U211 course of 'Exploring the English Language' in Oct '07 and am about to start E301 and E303, 'The Art of English' and 'English Grammar in Context' respectively in 2009. I am fascinated by the English Langauge, it was always my 'favourite' subject in school and I hope to go on to achieve a degree followed by a PGCE in future!

Aside from working and studying, you'll find me listening to music, playing games on the Wii/360, reading, watching tv/dvds, drawing, painting, out shopping (particularly for shoes and make-up!), taking random photographs, eating out, crafting (making cards etc) or just spending time online!

I'm very chatty, so if anyone wants my email/MSN messenger address feel free to send me a message!

Hello All, my name is Amanda and I live in London. My next study will be A214 Understanding Music in February. I am a great fan of most kinds of music. I used to sing a lot as a child but not so much now, but am learning to play the piano, and will also learn the guitar some day.

I would love to hear from those that may also be studying the course, and also those that would just like to make new friends.

I wish you all well with your studies.

Best wishes

Amanda

Hi, my name is Sally, I get the name legend from my supervisors at work, why I do not know as they are all a lot younger than me. I am 47 and live near Nottingham with my husband and four grown up children. I am studying Learning Essay Writing and also World Archaeology short courses at the moment and doing A219 next year. I thoroughly enjoy studying. I hope to hear from a people as I like talking to people. Good luck with all your studies.

hello all my name is Dave and I'm studying discourse analysis - i live in northants with my partner, one son, his girlfriend, another son and 3 boxer dogs-finding a quiet spot to do studying is a challenge.

good luck with your studies and god bless the ou

Hi everyone,
Just logged in by chance and discovered you all, which is great.
My name is Lorraine and I live in the west of England in a house in dire need of renovation, with 2 teenagers and my partner, oh and 2 mad guinea pigs.
I completed LZX194 Portales, beginners Spanish, in October and am waiting to begin the next level course in Febuary. I have studied with the OU before, beginning with the Introduction to the Humanities course and going on to do 3 more history based courses. However, I decided to take a break and have only just come back to the OU. I am loving it but sometimes my good intentions and the actual amount of time I put in to my studies do not match up !!!!
Anyway hope you all had a good weekend.
Speak soon and happy Christmas.

Hi lorraine and everyone!

I have just completed LZX194 too! looking forward to the next course in feb! currently studying D271 in the meantime. hoping to complete a BA hons Modern languages and then go onto do a MA in translation
..well thats the plan anyway!!

Merry Christmas!!
Joe