CARRICKDRIVE

Calling it retired my way of saying OU finished and now time to move onto something different. Since I started back in 2005 I had no idea what was in front of me. The degree I opted for was an open one which allowed me to pick and choose my modules (that is what they call them now not courses etc).

The foundation course was just that a mix of a number of different subjects to get the grey matter thinking again. Next up was Globalisation which I found interesting followed by Governing Europe which I got my best grade for. That gave me 180 points a  further 180 to go for honours my ultimate goal.

Two level three modules were needed Ichose Religion:Modernity, Tradition and Change, this was a module looking into how religion fitted into today’s society and of some religions that were developing as well as traditional forms of religion such as C of E, muslim etc. Final module in the level three was Understanding Cities which looked at six cities (mega) and how each has impacted on the global reach of commerce and immigration etc. The typical mega city is one over 10 million inhabitants and growing daily with influx of the farming population hence the problem. Thankfully I passed all those to have my BSc awarded last December.

To complete the honours I chose Information Computer Technology which has now concluded and I am not sorry to see it go. What did I learn some TCP/IP protocols and what the layers meant (never need). a bit on Wi-FI, a wasted month on WordPress and  a website collaboration with six other students, another wasted period on AVS a programming language (Script) for manipulation of pictures and placing a commentary with it (never use again) and finally two questions:-

Final Examinable element

WiMAX installation in a remote village of 100 residents, report for a committee to consider as they proposed to hook in with a village 10km away.

Six pages of a mockup website in word on the subject of BOTNETS, What are they?, How do they get into your system, Mitigation both as an individual and in the corporate environment, I followed that with a case study of how a firm got shut down by a hacker and three other companies including TUCOWS, finally we needed to provide a question with five possible answers with only one correct. Each of the incorrect as well as the correct one required a comment  to assist students who would study this subject.

I found the botnets fascinating with so much to read and listen to (TED.Com) and to sum up botnets we are in trouble as no system is 100% and the criminals out there are one or two steps ahead of all the security and OS software developers finding those vulnerabilities.

Well that is it till the result in December and the ceremony in Glasgow next May will it be BSc open or BSc Open Hons watch this space.

TTFN  big update re PC coming soon

Just found this on the system from word press so thought give it a go. Seems simple enough but most likely basic. Need to investigate more re albums etc. One week to go before I have to send in the final paper for Hons. Module. It has been quite boring at times but it is now completed I retire from end of the month and concentrate in the garden etc. I am sure I will come up with something else to do soon enough.

Just a test so see how it is received typing on IPad so here goes send button here I come.

TTFN

It is some time since I last posted and a lot has happened since April. We made a visit to Philip & Jaks and Steven & Yvonne in Northampton and Nottingham. It was great to have a break from the OU studies and see the family. Then Matthew was married just a couple of weeks ago on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond to Fiona. It was one of the hottest days of the year which added to that special occasion and now offically extends our family to the Alexanders, Frank & Catherine as well as Pauline and husband Derek we say hi.

Photos well just some of hundreds that were posted so that Matthew & Fiona could see them while they were away on honeymoon in Mexico.Dropbox now full. We picked up the video footage from my friend Alistair on Thursday about 2.5 hrs worth as well as the first dance that has a number of viewings on YouTube.
Only one more TMA to do and that is is it from studying as I must spend more time in the garden next year.
I will try not leave it so long till the next posting.

I actually stated this on the IPad but it did not work as well as I had hoped so an edit done on the PC

Will try to add the first dance qwhen I have a chance. Bye all.

Can’t believe it is over a month since I last posted. The excuse is that I have been busy completing my latest TMA for the course and completing some work at the church. I never find the time really so I thought go for it today before I need to make Sunday dinner.

The church  east corner has been on the go for about a year but on my own with the OU studies and the vagaries of the weather I never found the time to get it done. See for yourself the finished area.

That is that bit done next I am on to getting a network around the church which is connected but a router switch is needed. One arrived via my colleague on sound but no PSU so will go up tomorrow and check the updates are complete.  I will suggest to the summer mission that they could have an internet cafe if they wished. Total cost so far £24.00 for home plug.

Pressing on with the next part of my hons degree (Certificate for degree arrive yesterday) but finding it not very stimulating but I will crack it.

The gardening competition is well underway with potatoes planted, carrots and beetroot sown. The greenhouse is full of plug plants, tomatoes, peppers beans etc. Jaks watch this space.

TTFN I will try not to leave so long next time.

Seems an age since I wrote re the Room under the Hammer. Well the hammer was out and used to knock the odd hole here and there but thankfully it is all finished with some draw handles only to be added. It is amazing how long just a simple bedroom takes to complete. The worst problem is having to clear up after the workmen all the time.  I asked someone why they never clear up now and it is due to the cost of them visiting the local tip. The bathroom team cleared it all away – from memory it may have been included but a few carpet bits surely should not come into that category take it back to the warehouse.

The boy is back in town now after a couple of days at LEUCHIE House with Margaret and made it for a run this morning despite a cold from last week. Played badminton last night as well only 4 more weeks and then it is the bowling season till September – oh! for some warm evenings – it is snowing heavy here just now.

Managed to start on my seed sowing yesterday following a guide in Garden News so see what transpires.  Daffodils made an appearance two weeks ago as did some Irises down the back wall – so all systems go will think about the competition potatoes in a couple of weeks.

TTFN

No not the Tv programme but it does show that some of the people on it must tell a few porkies.

One room  – strip paper on walls and ceiling 2 days – palsterer to do walls and ceiling 2 days (3 or more days to dry-out) – painting walls 2 days – wardrobe fit is scheduled for 3 days and new skirting boards – further painting 2 days – 14 days just one room. A whole house in 6 months just might make it.

Margaret away to respite next week so complete when she returns on 11 March.

Course nearing the completion of block 1 and TMA in by next week. What a difference between academic type course and the technical ones. I am now thinking I might have been better to do an other academic one for my honours. The module (not course) as it is to be called does have some interesting stuff of what is in the black box or card re networking  packets and the like thenwe move on to audio and video editing etc later on so there is a good mix.

I am following a schedule in garden news for cropping vegetables written by the guy on friday mornings radio Terry Walton who hails from South Wales so we will see – also in competition with Jaks to grow potatoes in bags – bring it on.

Off to get paint and make my first trip to empty the garage of paper and plaster and a further 4 to go with wood and wardrobe.

TTFN

Busy day yesterday – Matthew over to help strip wardrobe out from our bedroom – strip wall paper. Managed just about a half of the ceiling and bit of the walls. Plasterer in by end of week if I can get the room fully cleared – skirting to come off as well. New coving to be added after the new fitments are put in whilst Margaret is away at respite on Feb 28. Will do a bit more today.

Still having problems with PC. More BSOD’s today random reasons (driver_power_state_failure) failed to come out of hibernation. I suspect after some updates from Seattle. A number have failed I notice.

Did a trawl around the net and found a couple of updates for the motherboard and gfx card which updated this week.  Really have no clue what the problem is whether it is a function of 64, the board is not up to it or there may be problem somewhere else.

New HD installed eventually as a straight copy from the old disk.

Went into John Lewis today to try and get wedding outfit for Margaret sadly nothing suitable, we are not surprised with the lack of styles etc that were offered. We will keep looking and the right outfit will fall into place.

Need to put the keyboard into operational mode and get the TMA’s done and the computer marked assignments. The remainder of the books arrived to day they get bigger each time a lot of reading about bluetooth, mobile phones, collaboration software etc.

We have decided the bedroom is getting done whilst Margaret is away at respite -Matthew is coming over on Saturday to take out current fittings and strip the walls for a plasterer to start in the next couple of weeks ready for the fitters.

And not as it is too late HAPPY Birthday to Yvonne.

TTFN

The rain is battering down now so it cannot get any more gloomier. Then maybe it can.

PC is still a little sick – having spoken with desktop guru we came to a similar conclusion that the HD may be on its way if not already gone.  It has managed to work OK all day so far.

Did a purchase of Acronis 11 and managed to do a clone of my 32 bit onto an external drive. It wouldn’t do a clone from my 64 drive – it kept breaking down – I was expecting it to clone any disk no matter where it was in the system – the one I did manage did the reboot and did it all before windows loaded..  A bit more research I found ACTIVE (http://www.disk-image.net/) and loaded the trial version (21Days) and did an image from 64 to a space which I did not have to think about on another drive on my system.

Anyway I have ordered a 500g drive to put in and see if this cures the problem of BSOD. The only thing that has been playing up today is windows explorer  taking an age to red DVD’s etc. and deciding to close when it felt like it.

Tutorial 1 on Saturday to see what the grey matter has taken in so far.

TTFN

I feel today has been wasted. Went to PC this morning and all was not well. It had rebooted for some reason and wiped the dual boot of the 64 version log on. This is provided by easy-bcd v2 and has been there since I built the machines. So onto the 32 and reinstated the boot details and onwards I went. Alas no good as the PC continually crashed first with pen_list_corrupt and then mem_management that was after trying to boot in safe mode. Eventually managed to get it to work without crashing. Initially thought it was a problem with Microsoft security software so uninstalled and tried Bull-Guard but I cannot get it to install as it shuts down the LAN so no connection. Back now with Microsoft essentials so no idea of problem. I just suspect some update that I do not know about. Will shut off tonight to give it a rest.

Other than that it is now raining in Glasgow.