A bed of roses

I passed the exam - won't get a full score for a week or two but knowing I've passed is enough. The set up was a real pain. They recommend using personal devices because you have to install software that won't get through the firewall of a lot of organisations. LM got some loan laptops for us to use that didn't even need us to log on. So, there was the exam software on the laptop. Then I had to fix the settings to allow pop ups and screen sharing. Then check the camera and microphone. THEN download an app on my phone so they could record me from the side. I checked everything on Monday and then again this morning. And had to do it all 'for real' before the start of the exam. Once the phone was up and running, I had to do a 360 of the room, under my table and behind the computer, then prop it up on an open drawer so they could see me and my laptop for the duration of the exam. Some people must have got VERY creative with their methods of cheating. The last on-line exam I did was just the laptop. And the invigilator talked to me that time - this time I couldn't even wear headphones!

Anyway, it's done and out of the way. As expected, some of the questions were ridiculously simple and others had me scratching my head because NONE of the answers looked right >D

I've just run through my talk for Sunday and it feels like I'm skimming over a lot of stuff. But the point is to get everyone else talking, and there should be enough for that. I'll run through it again tomorrow.

And then it's back to the 70 x 700 stories. Only 10 left. I'm definitely feeling an overall story for Harding coming together. So far, I have 10 stories that either relate directly to Harding and Patel or could be woven in to a larger narrative.

Treated husband and son to some of my 'liked' songs tonight. LOTS of Monkees and Motown - and a load of FF tunes that I just skipped over because they wouldn't have a clue, so we went from 101 to 250. And some interesting covers - some of the ones Billie Joe did during lockdown, 'Mrs Robinson' by the Lemonheads, 'You Really Got Me' by Van Halen (son was deeply offended by that :D) and 'I Only Wanna Be With You' by The Tourists.

I've just watched a couple of episodes of The Rookie. Oh, Tim... ;(

Looking forward to a quiet Saturday tomorrow.

The air was so hot on the way home tonight and it's only got warmer since. Especially in this room, which gets stuffy at the best of times. Except in winter when it gets freezing cold. Go figure... My feet were so hot and swollen by the time I got home that I couldn't get my slippers on!

Made some really good progress with my talk on Ruth. Tomorrow, I pick hymns! I was waxing lyrical about Ruth to my chat buddy yesterday - when they came online today they greeted me with 'Morning ruth_fan' :D Have I mentioned how much I love my chat buddy?

Found myself in the middle of what could be an awkward situation at work. Party A has set up a group to prioritise BAU work on one of our major systems, which is also impacted by a lot of our projects, so they're doing a VERY high-level report on the portfolio. Party B sees the portfolio as their domain - which, yeah, it is - but they aren't involved in the group. Now, if they present on the portfolio, they could end up taking over the meeting, which I'm guessing is part of the reason they aren't involved. It only needs a light touch - really! But what's missing from the whole thing is a fully resourced timeline, which Party B has. And Party C was getting involved today, including questioning why I'm facilitating the group. Well a) it's a potential source of projects, so it gives me a heads up and b) it keeps me visible.

As for the rest, that's for parties A and B to sort out and then they can tell me what they need me to do.

For some reason, someone (the department boss...?) bought us all pizza for dinner. It was very nice.

I also read through the training slides and had another go at the first practice exam again. Even checking back with the slides I didn't get all the answers. They really make these things either ridiculously easy or twist the language so that the right answer sounds completely wrong. I'll have a go with the other paper tomorrow. There's also stuff online that I'll take a look at tomorrow.

I made a good start on my monthly report but didn't get to the end - and two of the people I need to get updates from are off, one on leave and one with Covid. *sigh* I'll finish my bits and then see if I can get the info elsewhere.

Finished the evening with an episode of Umbrella Academy. Have I mentioned how much I love Five? At least part of the reason is Delores <3

Some observations from today's graduation.

There was a large cohort of (I guessed) mostly Muslim students. The women were easy to spot in their hijabs. One of the men got down and prayed towards Mecca on the stage. The platform party doing the hand shaking were two senior members of the university, one woman, one man. One or two of the male graduands held their hand over their hearts and bowed to the woman rather than shake her hand. Quite a few of the women in hijabs did the same to the man. But others just shook any hand that was on offer :D

The female member of staff was rocking some amazing shoes. I work with her quite a lot and I've never seen her in anything like that before. But our uni is famous (infamous?) for the outfits the graduands wear under their gowns. A LOT of the women wear skirts and heels that are about the same length - 4". Although there's been a definite trend towards longer hemlines this year. Mostly the men are in suits and ties with well-polished shoes, but I noticed a few wearing VERY white trainers (with the suits). They were probably as designery and expensive as the Jimmy Choos, but I know nothing about fashion.

As usual, as soon as I'd got my row lined up, I skipped out. As I left, a guest who was waiting outside for their person said, 'They're running late, aren't they?'. I checked my phone and assured them they were on time, it was just a VERY large ceremony - about 600. Yesterday was only about 300. Having 3 ceremonies a day, and having the extra set in the spring to 'mop up' the referrals, PhDs and non-standards, really makes a difference. I remember when we used both sides, the choir and even the nave trying to cram them all in. 600 was a SMALL ceremony back then!

Then I spotted a child of about 7 or 8 sitting watching an iPad in the middle of the steps where said 600 graduates, plus maybe 50 staff were about to emerge. I located their parent and advised them of this. They shouted across the car park to the child to move to the side. Didn't trouble themselves to walk up to the child and speak to them... And didn't bring them off the steps altogether. I wasn't convinced the child would be completely out of harm's way at the side of the steps but I felt it was in the parent's hands at that point.

Skimmed through the training materials for my course next week and had a go with the practice exam (which is, thankfully, multiple choice!). I felt I did quite well with the exam without the full training, so I'm feeling OK about it.

Husband and son are watching the new series of Traitors US but I feel like it's had it's day as far as I'm concerned.

I got through the stealthy bit in BG&ER - Stealthy Jade is stealth-ay! - and saved. More of that tomorrow. There are 'full game' videos on YT that last 5.5 or 6 hours - I've been playing for 6 hours already and I'm not half-way! But I'm not here to be speedy. Also, when I watched the 25 minute speedrun of Tunic, I felt it drained all the fun out of the game. I think I said at the time how that player must have played and played and played the game for hours to be able to find so many shortcuts, and I appreciate that level of dedication - but Tunic is designed for exploration. And BG&E is also about finding your way through the obstacles and puzzles.

Finished the day off with the next episode of Psych. I do enjoy Despereux.