"You can't stop progress!"

It's been a very good week in DA204 for me. The weekend after my last post I made some excellent progress with Block 4: I completed 2 chapters in 2 days. Yes, 2 big long chapters in two long hard slogs over Saturday + Sunday. Given that each chapter is normally 30+ pages long and it takes me several night time weekday sessions to complete one, this was a big boost to completing the block before the TMA5 deadline. Mind you, as my lovely wife Alison was away on a school trip I did have the advantage of a weekend to myself so I had no distractions whatsoever when I was doing it (not that I'm implying Alison is a distraction if you get my drift!). In fact, I was so buzzed by this result I ploughed on with real enthusiasm and completed Chapter 4 in just a few days as well. Now I only have the last part of Chapter 5 and the conclusion to complete the whole thing. The timing couldn't be better as a) after 2 months or so of being behind schedule I've now caught up and; b) Alison's mum and her nephew are coming over from NZ this weekend and all the legwork will have been done by the time they're here! The following week, they'll all be away on hols so I'll have a whole week by myself to work non-stop on TMA5. When that's done & sent, I'm off to join them in the Andalucian sun! Then that'll be it 'till September! Thank god he says.

By the way, I did say last time that I was desperate to hear how well I did in TMA4. Well, I got 73%. A slight disappointment for me in comparison with TMAs 1-3 but still a good mark. My cumulative overall score is now close to 60% which is not bad given that there are still 2 more essays to write. The exam still looms, though, and you need to get (I think) 30% to pass the whole course. I'm not so sure I can do that. But hey, it's not 'till October 19th and it's still summer...or is the weather just misleading me??!!

"First thing you learn is that you've always gotta waiiit..."

So, after the debacle over TMA3's delay, I finally finished TMA4 on time. Yes, you read right: on time. Don't think it's much cop but then I said that about TMA 3 (Result: 83%). Now I have 21 days to complete the rest of Book 4 and write TMA5 before my mother in law and her nephew visit us. They're coming over from NZ and will be here all summer. It's going to be a tall order to complete it before 31st July but at least I'll have no more delays after the last assignment. Actually, now I think of it, the missus and them will be off on a break the 2nd week they arrive which means I'll be alone for a few days before I join them. Mmm. This might be another one done on time too if I play my cards right!

Not much else to report, really, on the OU front. I suppose the good thing about this Block so far is how easy it has been to read in comparison with other blocks. Hence the lack of whingeing up front today. I am a bit annoyed that I have missed 2 tutorials in a row but at least the tutor has been gracious about the reasons why - getting the TMAs done. I must make a point of getting to the next one in a few weeks time.

Still, get TMA5 done and a) I'm off on hols again and b) we get a 2 month break 'till the next assignment! For now, I've just gotta wait for TMA4's result!