My Latest Progress Report

I've got loads of boring school talk ahead, so you can skip to pictures of a puppy and what's tickling my pickle if you want. I won't mind.

I've gotten so much done, I must say I'm quite proud of myself! I completed my UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) application. I wrote my personal statement, which is basically why you want to do what you want to do. My good friend Kori wrote me a glowing reference. Leggo and I have been emailing back and forth. I sent him some scans of my black and white photos from my portfolio and some of my digital photos. He liked my work and said that if my application landed on his desk he would certainly consider it. He doesn't actually teach the course I was interested in, he teaches a Media & Communication course at the same university but at a different campus. He thought his course might suit my needs and asked if I wanted to apply. So I checked it out and it looks even better than the one I was going for. It includes more chemical photography and portraiture, which is right up my alley.

Leggo put me in touch with the admissions officer for BIAD. I called her yesterday and got some good news and some bad. What do you want first? I always like the bad news first so I can end on a good note. The bad news is since I've only just moved to the UK I might be considered an international student. That's pretty much the worst thing that could happen for two reasons. Mostly because the fees go from £3,000 a year to almost £9,000. That's a lot of money, that's like $18,000 a year. I might as well go to school in the states for that! And secondly there is little funding for international students. I would have to look for funding from America and that's harder to do from here. But the good news is I'm not too late to apply. In fact it's a good time since I've missed the initial rush, my application won't be in a big pile of other, lesser applications.

So my next step is to gather all the evidence I can to prove that I'm settled here and not just talking with this British twang so I can get cheap schooling. But at the end of the day (side note: I swear to god, the older you get the more crap clichés you come out with. Like "I'm busier than a ten peckered dog in a hydrant factory" or "same shit, different day". I think I'm turning into my dad) it depends on the rules. If anyone out there knows anything about college funding, share your wealth of knowledge with me, please!

Then as soon as I get my confirmation number from UCAS I'll know that my application is on it's way to Leggo and then he will make me an official offer, fingers crossed. I still have to get my college transcripts sent here and she told my to get my high school ones as well. WTF?? That was nearly 15 years ago!! They don't know exactly what high school is here, I think. But I'll still try.

I've been told that as a mature student I should have no problem getting a place in the program, and that I should be most concerned about funding. But I'm a "don't put the cart before the horse" sort of gal (there I go again) and can only put all my good worrying skills to one matter at a time. So I'm focused on getting in right now and then I'll fret over how I'm gonna pay for it all. Paul and I talked about the very real possibility that my schooling is going to cost an arm and a leg (okay, I'll stop). He was supportive and just wants me to exhaust every possibility for funding before we go into panic mode, but that no matter what it costs us, we can do it. Awww...ain't that sweet? So I'm starting to look on line and getting a rough idea of what's out there.

Everything else is going really good. We still have no car but Paul's boss Ewan let's us borrow his a lot, which really helps. Bean is well but has to go to the vet on Monday for some Frontline and to have her itchy ear checked out. The weather has improved a bit. It's your typical spring time stuff, sunny one minute and hailing the next. We've planted some potatoes, garlic, wild flowers and strawberries in the backyard. The neighbourhood cats have planted some poop trees and Bean has been kind enough to harvest them.

Bean's looking very Yorkieish these days

She enjoys a good trash mag every now and again


Here are a few examples of the photos I put in my portfolio. Please overlook the shitty black & white scan job. I'm open to any comments...as long as they're good :)

What Tickles My Pickle about England is L plates! You put these on the front and back of your car if you're just learning how to drive. L stands for learner. It's the equivalent of having a huge bumper sticker that reads "I'm Still Learning, So Back Off, Jack Off!" As a new driver myself I think these are the greatest idea and wish they were used in the states. Even after you pass your drivers test you have to have P plates put on your car for awhile, so people know that you just passed. The only experience I had with L plates was on my "Hen Night", or bachelorette party, when it's tradition to make the bride wear a big paper L on her shirt, but it really complimented my penis earrings.

Personal Note To Sam: Hi Sammy!!! So happy to see you on my blog!! Thanks for the comment, would you believe I'm still using that same ol' SLR? My plan is to take incriminating photos of someone for blackmail money and upgrade. I miss all my bugs so much, but I really miss Dave the super millipede.