I wake up, sweating, heart pounding. Thank god for these cool metal bars I can press my face against. What actually happened? I was dreaming, yeah dreaming, that was it. But what about? I’m breathing too hard to think clearly. I need to calm down. Calm down…
Calm…
There was a woman; I think it was a woman anyway. She was… like a… a hag. Yeah, a hag, but her face was covered by a heavy hood. What was she doing? I can’t quite remember. Why is it you instantly forget a dream when you wake up? She was in a gloomy room, a kitchen I think, although not a standard one. No ovens or fridges, just… a cauldron of some kind? It seemed normal at the time. She was mumbling something too, but I couldn’t make out the words. No, I can’t think what they were. She was moving round the cauldron. She knocked a birdcage that was hanging from the ceiling and left it swinging while she collected strange items from the shelves in the room. Colourful bottles, full of thick viscous liquid; odd plants I had never seen before, dried and curled like talons; and rabbit feet? Something small and furry anyway. Each one produced a new puff of smoke and different smell as it was added to the concoction being created in the cauldron.
So where was I in all of this? Certainly not helping, so what then? I must have been in the room, I was watching. But I didn’t move, no… I couldn’t move. I was tied up in the corner of the room, on the floor. I remember because I had to look up to see what she was doing, even though she was hunched over, almost in half. She never looked my way. Not once, until…
What happened? She stared at me. I can’t remember her face, just her eyes. They weren’t human. They felt like they were piercing my soul. Then I saw nothing. Only a swirling vortex of colours - red, blue, purple, black - spinning round me faster and faster. I felt myself lift from the ground, seeming to compress as I flew higher and higher. I didn’t feel right in my own body. Everything felt… smaller. How could that be? How…
I’m not in my bed.
I’m not… I’m not in my bed. Where…?
Cool metal bars…
I’m in the birdcage.
Thursday, 31 July 2014
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Work Experience - Forton Nursery
My boyfriend's mum owns a nursery. It is a cute little place near Newport, which achieved outstanding in their latest Ofsted inspection, and over the last few years I have helped out at various summer fayres and things outside of school time. Now you know that I have been looking for things to push me outside my comfort zone and to gain a little work experience, so when she asked if anyone was available to help out for a couple of days, I volunteered.
I may not know what I want to do with my future career, but I am pretty sure that I don't want to be a teacher. I don't think I'd be very good at it, and to be honest, Liberty has kind of put me off! So I didn't volunteer with the thought of "I'll get some experience working in a school to help me be a teacher". I just thought that experience is experience, even if it is not what I want to do in the future.
The first day I was there, I helped to set up the tables with different activities for the day. I spent most of the time trying to build a zoo out of duplo, which was harder than it sounds as there were more blocks and animals than table surface! As the kids arrived a few helped me out a bit, although most just looked at me rather warily. I think they know the boyfriend's sisters quite well as they are around more, but they had never met me.
Throughout the day I mostly just picked up toys from the floor to keep it from getting too messy (and to stop the ukulele from being trashed!) At one point I was helping one boy to cut out pictures to stick into his story book about moving to primary school. He spent most of the time nearly cutting off my fingers and gluing my hand to the paper. He kept getting distracted too, but I managed to keep his attention on his book until he finished it.
I was shown where the outdoor toys were kept and how to choose what should be brought out so that when I came later on in the week, if I needed to I could get the toys out by myself while the teachers were busy with the kids indoors. When we did go outside, I pushed the swings and chatted with some of the kids about random things like trying to guess my age and how many sisters I have.
On the first day, I mostly felt like I was just playing, but the boyfriend's mum said I was big help. I think it was because while I was keeping an eye on things, she could get on with some important things in preparation for a trip later on in the week without distraction.
When I came back later in the week, I was in charge of making popcorn for the "cinema room" where the kids were watching Frozen as an end of year treat. Of course, you give a child a cup of popcorn, they eat it too quickly and immediately start hassling you for more. Multiple that by 15 and that's what I had! I had to make them a fruit pot, then make sure they ate that before they could have more popcorn. When they know there is popcorn, fruit doesn't seem like a good option, so that was interesting! I managed to convince most of them to at least try the fruit.
While they all went outside to play, I washed up the dishes from snack time. As it was a hot day, they kept coming back in, asking me to fill a watering can so they could cool off.
I had brought my guitar in that day so that we could do a little music session. I was expecting some of the teachers to lead and me to just play guitar like I had done one other time when I came in just to play guitar, but the boyfriend's mum told me to take the chair and to lead the group while they did other stuff. I had never done something like that before, so I didn't really know what to do. I found a few songs that I knew in the songbook, and got the kids to sing along with me (the teachers sang along to get them started thankfully!) and then I tried turning it into more of a game. I got them to do the actions, and to sing as fast as they could to race me, and things like that. I think they enjoyed it. Most of them joined in, a few were even quite enthusiastic, especially when we were singing really fast.
When we ran out of songs to sing, we still had a few minutes before lunch, so the teachers said to just play anything. I don't normally remember chords for songs, but I do know Stand By Me (it has 4 chords in the same progression all the way through!) so I sang that. I have never had a group of people listen to me singing so intently before. They liked it so much that when I finished, they asked me to do it again!
I really enjoyed helping out at the nursery. A couple of the girls became rather attached to me, one of them said "I'll miss you!" as I left on what was supposed to be my last day. The next day was the last day of term and I asked the boyfriend's mum if she wanted me and Ivy to come in a play guitar at the picnic they were having. My idea was to get the kids to sing Let It Go from Frozen with me as a surprise for her (they made her cry when they sang along with the film) but she kind of ruined it by asking if we could practise it with them to sing for the parents. Never mind!
We went in the next day and basically did the same as I had the day before and distracted the kids with singing and singing races while the teachers set up for the picnic. We sang through Let It Go so many times that my already sore throat was barely working, but it was a lot of fun. When it came to the actual performance the kids were great. It was very funny because it was obvious where they didn't know the words. "LET IT GOOO, LET IT GOOOO, ..... LET IT GOOOOO" One of the parents came and told us that having the guitar and the song made the day a little bit more special, which felt really good. That day was also good because one of the girls came up to me specifically to say goodbye (and give me a hug :)) and another (the one who said she would miss me) told me I was the best teacher.
Although I had a lot of fun, I don't think working in a nursery is something I could do all the time. Handling kids is much easier if you are only doing it in short bursts. I would be more than happy to go back and help out at Forton Nursery again though!
I may not know what I want to do with my future career, but I am pretty sure that I don't want to be a teacher. I don't think I'd be very good at it, and to be honest, Liberty has kind of put me off! So I didn't volunteer with the thought of "I'll get some experience working in a school to help me be a teacher". I just thought that experience is experience, even if it is not what I want to do in the future.
The first day I was there, I helped to set up the tables with different activities for the day. I spent most of the time trying to build a zoo out of duplo, which was harder than it sounds as there were more blocks and animals than table surface! As the kids arrived a few helped me out a bit, although most just looked at me rather warily. I think they know the boyfriend's sisters quite well as they are around more, but they had never met me.
Throughout the day I mostly just picked up toys from the floor to keep it from getting too messy (and to stop the ukulele from being trashed!) At one point I was helping one boy to cut out pictures to stick into his story book about moving to primary school. He spent most of the time nearly cutting off my fingers and gluing my hand to the paper. He kept getting distracted too, but I managed to keep his attention on his book until he finished it.
I was shown where the outdoor toys were kept and how to choose what should be brought out so that when I came later on in the week, if I needed to I could get the toys out by myself while the teachers were busy with the kids indoors. When we did go outside, I pushed the swings and chatted with some of the kids about random things like trying to guess my age and how many sisters I have.
On the first day, I mostly felt like I was just playing, but the boyfriend's mum said I was big help. I think it was because while I was keeping an eye on things, she could get on with some important things in preparation for a trip later on in the week without distraction.
When I came back later in the week, I was in charge of making popcorn for the "cinema room" where the kids were watching Frozen as an end of year treat. Of course, you give a child a cup of popcorn, they eat it too quickly and immediately start hassling you for more. Multiple that by 15 and that's what I had! I had to make them a fruit pot, then make sure they ate that before they could have more popcorn. When they know there is popcorn, fruit doesn't seem like a good option, so that was interesting! I managed to convince most of them to at least try the fruit.
While they all went outside to play, I washed up the dishes from snack time. As it was a hot day, they kept coming back in, asking me to fill a watering can so they could cool off.
I had brought my guitar in that day so that we could do a little music session. I was expecting some of the teachers to lead and me to just play guitar like I had done one other time when I came in just to play guitar, but the boyfriend's mum told me to take the chair and to lead the group while they did other stuff. I had never done something like that before, so I didn't really know what to do. I found a few songs that I knew in the songbook, and got the kids to sing along with me (the teachers sang along to get them started thankfully!) and then I tried turning it into more of a game. I got them to do the actions, and to sing as fast as they could to race me, and things like that. I think they enjoyed it. Most of them joined in, a few were even quite enthusiastic, especially when we were singing really fast.
When we ran out of songs to sing, we still had a few minutes before lunch, so the teachers said to just play anything. I don't normally remember chords for songs, but I do know Stand By Me (it has 4 chords in the same progression all the way through!) so I sang that. I have never had a group of people listen to me singing so intently before. They liked it so much that when I finished, they asked me to do it again!
I really enjoyed helping out at the nursery. A couple of the girls became rather attached to me, one of them said "I'll miss you!" as I left on what was supposed to be my last day. The next day was the last day of term and I asked the boyfriend's mum if she wanted me and Ivy to come in a play guitar at the picnic they were having. My idea was to get the kids to sing Let It Go from Frozen with me as a surprise for her (they made her cry when they sang along with the film) but she kind of ruined it by asking if we could practise it with them to sing for the parents. Never mind!
We went in the next day and basically did the same as I had the day before and distracted the kids with singing and singing races while the teachers set up for the picnic. We sang through Let It Go so many times that my already sore throat was barely working, but it was a lot of fun. When it came to the actual performance the kids were great. It was very funny because it was obvious where they didn't know the words. "LET IT GOOO, LET IT GOOOO, ..... LET IT GOOOOO" One of the parents came and told us that having the guitar and the song made the day a little bit more special, which felt really good. That day was also good because one of the girls came up to me specifically to say goodbye (and give me a hug :)) and another (the one who said she would miss me) told me I was the best teacher.
Although I had a lot of fun, I don't think working in a nursery is something I could do all the time. Handling kids is much easier if you are only doing it in short bursts. I would be more than happy to go back and help out at Forton Nursery again though!
Monday, 28 July 2014
Types of Numbers - Vampire Numbers
This week I thought I would write about something slightly more fun, and less hard work to understand. I came across these numbers when I was on a website about maths careers, although apparently I had read about them first in Simon Singh's book - The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets. I don't remember, but my mum has been reading it, so I will trust her! The numbers I am going to talk about are Vampire Numbers.
The Wikipedia page says that a vampire number is:
"a composite natural number v, with an even number of digits n, that can be factored into two integers x and y each with n/2 digits and not both with trailing zeroes, where v contains precisely all the digits from x and from y, in any order, counting multiplicity."
In English, this means that a vampire number is any whole number with an even number of digits (so it can be a 2 digit number, a 4 digit number, a 108 digit number, you get the idea...), call it v, such that there are two whole numbers with half the number of digits of v, call them x and y, where the digits of x and y are exactly the same as the digits of v in any order, and they multiply together to make v. We call x and y the fangs of the vampire number. The fact that the fangs do not have trailing zeroes just means that the fangs can't both be divided by a factor of 10 to give a whole number. For example, 600 and 740 have trailing zeroes because you can divide both by 10 to give 60 and 74.
I think it is easier to see what I mean with an example of a vampire number. Take v = 1260. This is actually the first vampire number. You can see that it has an even number of digits (4), so the fangs will both have 2 digits. If you have x = 21 and y = 60, you can check that 21 x 60 = 1260. Also, 21 and 60 use the exact same digits as 1260. They don't have trailing zeroes (60 can be divided by 10, but 21 cannot), so this satisfies all of the conditions for 1260 to be a vampire number.
The list of vampire numbers is infinitely long, meaning you can always find another one, your list will never be complete. I don't know how this has been proved, but I would be interested to find out. Vampire numbers are a relatively new concept in maths, only being written about for the first time in 1994 by Clifford A. Pickover.
Some vampire numbers have more than one set of fangs. For example, 125460 has two sets of fangs: 204 and 615 or 246 and 510. I will leave it to you to check that they satisfy the conditions!
There are also different types of vampire numbers, such as prime vampire numbers where the fangs are both prime numbers.
As far as I'm aware, vampire numbers have no mathematical significance, other than the fact they are rather beautiful things. Numbers are weird, and I love all the patterns, constructions and strange coincidences you can find within them.
The Wikipedia page says that a vampire number is:
"a composite natural number v, with an even number of digits n, that can be factored into two integers x and y each with n/2 digits and not both with trailing zeroes, where v contains precisely all the digits from x and from y, in any order, counting multiplicity."
In English, this means that a vampire number is any whole number with an even number of digits (so it can be a 2 digit number, a 4 digit number, a 108 digit number, you get the idea...), call it v, such that there are two whole numbers with half the number of digits of v, call them x and y, where the digits of x and y are exactly the same as the digits of v in any order, and they multiply together to make v. We call x and y the fangs of the vampire number. The fact that the fangs do not have trailing zeroes just means that the fangs can't both be divided by a factor of 10 to give a whole number. For example, 600 and 740 have trailing zeroes because you can divide both by 10 to give 60 and 74.
I think it is easier to see what I mean with an example of a vampire number. Take v = 1260. This is actually the first vampire number. You can see that it has an even number of digits (4), so the fangs will both have 2 digits. If you have x = 21 and y = 60, you can check that 21 x 60 = 1260. Also, 21 and 60 use the exact same digits as 1260. They don't have trailing zeroes (60 can be divided by 10, but 21 cannot), so this satisfies all of the conditions for 1260 to be a vampire number.
The list of vampire numbers is infinitely long, meaning you can always find another one, your list will never be complete. I don't know how this has been proved, but I would be interested to find out. Vampire numbers are a relatively new concept in maths, only being written about for the first time in 1994 by Clifford A. Pickover.
Some vampire numbers have more than one set of fangs. For example, 125460 has two sets of fangs: 204 and 615 or 246 and 510. I will leave it to you to check that they satisfy the conditions!
There are also different types of vampire numbers, such as prime vampire numbers where the fangs are both prime numbers.
As far as I'm aware, vampire numbers have no mathematical significance, other than the fact they are rather beautiful things. Numbers are weird, and I love all the patterns, constructions and strange coincidences you can find within them.
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Midweek Update
Here is what I've done so far this week:
1 - Write story cube story
2 - Write types of numbers post
3 - Write a post about work experience at nursery
4 - Paint the fence
5 - Work out how to use linkedin and start finding people to contact
6 - Work my way through at least the next chapter of the accountancy book
7 - Go to Festival Drayton and try to arrange some work experience
8 - Perform at open mic night at the Beer Festival
9 - Read at least one chapter of the Bedside Book of Algebra
10 - Go for a bike ride
I have painted the shed, which is a start on the fence (not sure whether the whole fence will get done this week or not, we are rather busy!) I have also started looking at chapter two of the accountancy book. I now know what double-entry bookkeeping means, and have started looking at how to record transactions. It sounds really boring, but I'm actually quite enjoying it. I know what I'm doing for my types of numbers post, and I have a slight idea for my story cube, but I haven't even thought about my work experience post. I realise that I should have done it earlier on in the week, but time just goes by so quickly. I haven't even had time to read! I have no idea when this bike ride will happen either... Maybe tomorrow afternoon, if I have time between shopping with Liberty and catching up on blog posts.
I did manage to go and talk to somebody at Festival Drayton though. I find it really hard to just go and talk to people, especially if I don't really know what I want to ask. But I went. Although they couldn't really help me with work experience particularly, I have said that they can call me if they desperately need someone to wash dishes or to usher for movies, which will throw me in with a load of new people and hopefully build my confidence a bit.
I also performed at the open mic night at the Beer Festival in a local pub that Ivy works at. Liberty and I decided to sing some duets together for some fun this summer, and we love to perform, so the open mic was a good opportunity to get back into singing a little bit. It was ridiculously hot, very crowded and the sound setup wasn't very good, but I had fun just singing with my sisters again (I did a song with Ivy too). Hopefully we will get more opportunities in the future.
2 - Write types of numbers post
3 - Write a post about work experience at nursery
4 - Paint the fence
5 - Work out how to use linkedin and start finding people to contact
6 - Work my way through at least the next chapter of the accountancy book
9 - Read at least one chapter of the Bedside Book of Algebra
10 - Go for a bike ride
I have painted the shed, which is a start on the fence (not sure whether the whole fence will get done this week or not, we are rather busy!) I have also started looking at chapter two of the accountancy book. I now know what double-entry bookkeeping means, and have started looking at how to record transactions. It sounds really boring, but I'm actually quite enjoying it. I know what I'm doing for my types of numbers post, and I have a slight idea for my story cube, but I haven't even thought about my work experience post. I realise that I should have done it earlier on in the week, but time just goes by so quickly. I haven't even had time to read! I have no idea when this bike ride will happen either... Maybe tomorrow afternoon, if I have time between shopping with Liberty and catching up on blog posts.
I did manage to go and talk to somebody at Festival Drayton though. I find it really hard to just go and talk to people, especially if I don't really know what I want to ask. But I went. Although they couldn't really help me with work experience particularly, I have said that they can call me if they desperately need someone to wash dishes or to usher for movies, which will throw me in with a load of new people and hopefully build my confidence a bit.
I also performed at the open mic night at the Beer Festival in a local pub that Ivy works at. Liberty and I decided to sing some duets together for some fun this summer, and we love to perform, so the open mic was a good opportunity to get back into singing a little bit. It was ridiculously hot, very crowded and the sound setup wasn't very good, but I had fun just singing with my sisters again (I did a song with Ivy too). Hopefully we will get more opportunities in the future.
Wednesday, 23 July 2014
Weekly Targets 23rd July - 29th July
So after the bad start this week, I managed to complete most of my targets. The only ones I missed were finishing the analysis notes, finishing the targets from last week that I didn't manage and the one about linkedin. I have actually joined, but I can't work out how to use it. Now that my stepdad is back from Brighton, I am going to ask him to have a look at it with me, so hopefully I will have more luck with that soon. I did go through some more of my notes, but it has been so warm that I've been finding it hard to concentrate on anything other than trying not to melt and just enjoying the sun. My chalkboards are nearly finished, they just need a couple more coats of paint I think. I would have trimmed the hedge at some point had my stepdad not beaten me to it...
Here are my targets for this week:
1 - Write story cube story
2 - Write types of numbers post
3 - Write a post about work experience at nursery
4 - Paint the fence
5 - Work out how to use linkedin and start finding people to contact
6 - Work my way through at least the next chapter of the accountancy book
7 - Go to Festival Drayton and try to arrange some work experience
8 - Perform at open mic night at the Beer Festival
9 - Read at least one chapter of the Bedside Book of Algebra
10 - Go for a bike ride
As I'm not really sure about how well I've managed time slippage, I am going to set that as my bonus target for the week.
Here are my targets for this week:
1 - Write story cube story
2 - Write types of numbers post
3 - Write a post about work experience at nursery
4 - Paint the fence
5 - Work out how to use linkedin and start finding people to contact
6 - Work my way through at least the next chapter of the accountancy book
7 - Go to Festival Drayton and try to arrange some work experience
8 - Perform at open mic night at the Beer Festival
9 - Read at least one chapter of the Bedside Book of Algebra
10 - Go for a bike ride
As I'm not really sure about how well I've managed time slippage, I am going to set that as my bonus target for the week.
Monday, 21 July 2014
Types of Numbers - Imaginary Numbers
x^2 = -1
(You probably know x^2 means x squared, but I just thought I'd check!)
At this point you are probably thinking, "but you can't have a negative square number," which is absolutely right, if you are dealing with real numbers. So the answer to the question of how to solve the equation is to not look at real numbers. This is where imaginary numbers come in.
An imaginary number is represented by the letter i. i is equal to the square root of -1, so as you can probably guess, the answer to the above equation is in fact:
x = i
This is a very strange concept for some people, because imaginary numbers are not something that you can imagine in real life. Whole numbers, fractions and even irrational numbers are easily translated into real life problems, but imaginary numbers are an abstract concept.
There is another type of number that uses imaginary numbers. These are called complex numbers. These are simply numbers of the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers. All previous numbers I have talked about are complex numbers too. If we take a or b to be equal to zero (in maths, or usually means one or both) then we can see how real numbers and imaginary numbers are both of the same form as complex numbers.
Complex numbers can create some very beautiful things. For example, take the Mandelbrot Set.
 |
| Mandelbrot Set |
 |
| Zoomed in |
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Midweek Update
Here is what I've done so far:
1 - Write story cube story (this is a weekly thing, not the same story or cubes!)
2 - Write types of numbers post (also a weekly thing)
3 - Do my leg stretches every day
4 - Go bowling with the boyfriend
5 - Finish the targets I didn't manage last week
6 - Join linkedin and look for Warwick maths graduates to contact and get information from
7 - Finish the first week of analysis notes and start the second week
8 - Read the first chapter of the accountancy book I got from the Library
9 - Read a chapter of the Bedside Book of Algebra
10 - Try and manage my time slippage
That really doesn't look like much does it... I don't think I've been doing very well with my time slippage. I get distracted easily with everything else going on in my life: grandparents visiting, running, various other things. I did work a couple of days at the boyfriend's mother's nursery (more about that in a later blog post) so it wasn't a complete waste of time.
I have started a few things. I have nearly finished the first chapter of the accountancy book (kind of enjoying it so far), I have started writing the types of numbers post and I have been doing my leg stretches every day. Well, I might have missed one day, I can't remember if I did them in the morning or not, but Liberty and I have a new exercise regime which includes yoga and calf stretching, so I think I made up for the potential missed day.
The boyfriend and I had a really nice day when we went bowling. I absolutely suck at bowling, but we had fun and then had a game of pool (which I won!) and played in the arcade for a bit. The shooting game was ace, although it kind of made my arms ache after a while. My original plan was to make a picnic and go sit in Telford Town Park, but it was pouring with rain, so instead we went to Frankie and Benny's. The food was really good, and it was nice to do something a little bit different than we usually do.
Tomorrow I hope to get a few more things done from my list, hopefully getting back on track.
1 - Write story cube story (this is a weekly thing, not the same story or cubes!)
2 - Write types of numbers post (also a weekly thing)
3 - Do my leg stretches every day
5 - Finish the targets I didn't manage last week
6 - Join linkedin and look for Warwick maths graduates to contact and get information from
7 - Finish the first week of analysis notes and start the second week
8 - Read the first chapter of the accountancy book I got from the Library
9 - Read a chapter of the Bedside Book of Algebra
10 - Try and manage my time slippage
That really doesn't look like much does it... I don't think I've been doing very well with my time slippage. I get distracted easily with everything else going on in my life: grandparents visiting, running, various other things. I did work a couple of days at the boyfriend's mother's nursery (more about that in a later blog post) so it wasn't a complete waste of time.
I have started a few things. I have nearly finished the first chapter of the accountancy book (kind of enjoying it so far), I have started writing the types of numbers post and I have been doing my leg stretches every day. Well, I might have missed one day, I can't remember if I did them in the morning or not, but Liberty and I have a new exercise regime which includes yoga and calf stretching, so I think I made up for the potential missed day.
The boyfriend and I had a really nice day when we went bowling. I absolutely suck at bowling, but we had fun and then had a game of pool (which I won!) and played in the arcade for a bit. The shooting game was ace, although it kind of made my arms ache after a while. My original plan was to make a picnic and go sit in Telford Town Park, but it was pouring with rain, so instead we went to Frankie and Benny's. The food was really good, and it was nice to do something a little bit different than we usually do.
Tomorrow I hope to get a few more things done from my list, hopefully getting back on track.
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Weekly Targets 16th July - 22nd July
Of the ten targets I set myself last week, I completed six, I started two, one was changed, then changed back, and sort of done, and only one didn't get started because we didn't find a good moment for it. So I think that was pretty good.
In case you are wondering, I didn't trim the hedge, and the one that got changed was to send out the cover letter to at least 2 local companies. This got changed around because I was meant to be going to Portugal, so there wasn't any point in doing it, but now Portugal isn't happening, so it is relevant again. I went to the Job Centre today, and the lady there gave me some suggestions of who would possibly give me work experience, so I have emailed those (which is why the target was sort of completed).
The two I started were to go through my notes and to finish my chalkboards, which I can hopefully do this week. So my new targets are:
1 - Write story cube story (this is a weekly thing, not the same story or cubes!)
2 - Write types of numbers post (also a weekly thing)
3 - Do my leg stretches every day
4 - Go bowling with the boyfriend
5 - Finish the targets I didn't manage last week
6 - Join linkedin and look for Warwick maths graduates to contact and get information from
7 - Finish the first week of analysis notes and start the second week
8 - Read the first chapter of the accountancy book I got from the Library
9 - Read a chapter of the Bedside Book of Algebra
10 - Try and manage my time slippage
In case you are wondering, I didn't trim the hedge, and the one that got changed was to send out the cover letter to at least 2 local companies. This got changed around because I was meant to be going to Portugal, so there wasn't any point in doing it, but now Portugal isn't happening, so it is relevant again. I went to the Job Centre today, and the lady there gave me some suggestions of who would possibly give me work experience, so I have emailed those (which is why the target was sort of completed).
The two I started were to go through my notes and to finish my chalkboards, which I can hopefully do this week. So my new targets are:
1 - Write story cube story (this is a weekly thing, not the same story or cubes!)
2 - Write types of numbers post (also a weekly thing)
3 - Do my leg stretches every day
4 - Go bowling with the boyfriend
5 - Finish the targets I didn't manage last week
6 - Join linkedin and look for Warwick maths graduates to contact and get information from
7 - Finish the first week of analysis notes and start the second week
8 - Read the first chapter of the accountancy book I got from the Library
9 - Read a chapter of the Bedside Book of Algebra
10 - Try and manage my time slippage
Monday, 14 July 2014
Types of Numbers - The Number Line
There are so many different types of numbers with amazing properties that make them just beautiful, but I wouldn't be able to talk about these numbers without the most basic of numbers. So I am going to talk through the different numbers that make up the number line. (I said number a lot in that paragraph didn't I?)
First of all, we have the natural numbers or counting numbers. These are, as the name suggests, the numbers used to count things: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
Next, we have the integers. These are the negative whole numbers along with the natural numbers: ...-5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
Next are the rational numbers. These are numbers that are quotients of integers. In other words, numbers of the form a/b, where a and b are integers. There is an additional restriction where b cannot equal 0, since dividing by 0 causes all sorts of problems! Basically, rational numbers are just fractions: 1/2, 37/90, 3/4, -4/2 etc.
Next are the real numbers. These are the rational numbers along with numbers called the irrationals. These are numbers that cannot be written as a quotient of integers. They are numbers where the decimals don't terminate or repeat (in other words they go on forever without repeating). Any number that isn't rational is irrational. The most famous examples are: pi, e, the golden ratio and the square root of 2.
So these are the numbers that make up the number line. However, these numbers are not sufficient to be able to solve every equation. But more on that next time!
First of all, we have the natural numbers or counting numbers. These are, as the name suggests, the numbers used to count things: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
Next, we have the integers. These are the negative whole numbers along with the natural numbers: ...-5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
Next are the rational numbers. These are numbers that are quotients of integers. In other words, numbers of the form a/b, where a and b are integers. There is an additional restriction where b cannot equal 0, since dividing by 0 causes all sorts of problems! Basically, rational numbers are just fractions: 1/2, 37/90, 3/4, -4/2 etc.
Next are the real numbers. These are the rational numbers along with numbers called the irrationals. These are numbers that cannot be written as a quotient of integers. They are numbers where the decimals don't terminate or repeat (in other words they go on forever without repeating). Any number that isn't rational is irrational. The most famous examples are: pi, e, the golden ratio and the square root of 2.
So these are the numbers that make up the number line. However, these numbers are not sufficient to be able to solve every equation. But more on that next time!
Sunday, 13 July 2014
Midweek update
One week in, and I'm already going to have to change my plans. But that is the way of life. If you are busy enough, things change. So here is how I've done so far.
1 - Write story cube story (for Writer's club)
2 - Write up 25 things I like about me post
3 - Write types of numbers post
4 - Read as much of the accountancy book as I can (especially chapter 6)
5 - Finish writing the generic cover letter
6 - Send out the cover letter to at least 2 local companies
7 - Go through the first week of Analysis notes
8 - Run the Dearnford relays
9 - Finish making my chalkboards
10 - Trim the hedge
I've actually only written a first draft of the story cube, but the main thing is done, so I'm counting that. I've also actually started the chalkboards too, but we ran out of time before the weather got too gloomy to paint outside. I am slowly reading some of the accountancy book, but it is kind of heavy going. I did borrow another book, more about how accountancy actually works than how to get a job in accountancy, because the boyfriend's mum said I could have a look at how she does her accounts, and let me have a go (she was very keen to hand it over!)
On Thursday, I went with my family to a race at Dearnford lake. It was a 2 mile relay in teams of three. My running had been suffering recently due to problems with my knee, and after epically failing to do parkrun the Saturday before, I was worried about doing this run. Luckily, the boyfriend's sister was more than willing to run with me, so even though I was going reeeeeally slow (coming 3rd to last and completing it only 2 minutes faster than a 70 year old lady), I did manage to make it round. I had to walk quite a lot, but I made it to a mile before the first bit of walking, so I was very pleased. It has taken until today for my knee to feel normal again, but I have found some leg stretches to hopefully help with my knee problems.
I managed to write my cover letter with the help of Liberty, but I have decided not to send it out, at least not yet. The reason for this is because I am possibly going to be doing some work experience in Portugal at the company my father works for. It is a terrifying thought, but would be really good for me. It would take me right out of my comfort zone, and that is what I need to try and build my confidence. I'm also going to work at the boyfriend's mum's nursery tomorrow and on Thursday, so that should be fun.
3 - Write types of numbers post
4 - Read as much of the accountancy book as I can (especially chapter 6)
6 - Send out the cover letter to at least 2 local companies
7 - Go through the first week of Analysis notes
9 - Finish making my chalkboards
10 - Trim the hedge
I've actually only written a first draft of the story cube, but the main thing is done, so I'm counting that. I've also actually started the chalkboards too, but we ran out of time before the weather got too gloomy to paint outside. I am slowly reading some of the accountancy book, but it is kind of heavy going. I did borrow another book, more about how accountancy actually works than how to get a job in accountancy, because the boyfriend's mum said I could have a look at how she does her accounts, and let me have a go (she was very keen to hand it over!)
On Thursday, I went with my family to a race at Dearnford lake. It was a 2 mile relay in teams of three. My running had been suffering recently due to problems with my knee, and after epically failing to do parkrun the Saturday before, I was worried about doing this run. Luckily, the boyfriend's sister was more than willing to run with me, so even though I was going reeeeeally slow (coming 3rd to last and completing it only 2 minutes faster than a 70 year old lady), I did manage to make it round. I had to walk quite a lot, but I made it to a mile before the first bit of walking, so I was very pleased. It has taken until today for my knee to feel normal again, but I have found some leg stretches to hopefully help with my knee problems.
I managed to write my cover letter with the help of Liberty, but I have decided not to send it out, at least not yet. The reason for this is because I am possibly going to be doing some work experience in Portugal at the company my father works for. It is a terrifying thought, but would be really good for me. It would take me right out of my comfort zone, and that is what I need to try and build my confidence. I'm also going to work at the boyfriend's mum's nursery tomorrow and on Thursday, so that should be fun.
Thursday, 10 July 2014
Weekly Targets 10th July - 15th July
I am going to try an experiment. I really need to stay motivated this summer to be productive and make the most of the time I have over the holidays. The first thing I'm going to try is to publish a weekly list of targets every Wednesday on my blog, and to give a midweek update on my progress at the weekend. There will be different types of targets, designed to help me achieve the different challenges I want to face. Hopefully breaking it down like this, and having it out there on the internet will make me feel more accountable and more likely to stay motivated and productive. Also, it could help me when I go back to Uni to work the best that I can and get a good grade in my final year!
So, here are my targets for this week:
1 - Write story cube story (for Writer's club)
2 - Write up 25 things I like about me post
3 - Write types of numbers post
4 - Read as much of the accountancy book as I can (especially chapter 6)
5 - Finish writing the generic cover letter
6 - Send out the cover letter to at least 2 local companies
7 - Go through the first week of Analysis notes
8 - Run the Dearnford relays
9 - Finish making my chalkboards
10 - Trim the hedge
I know I've already done one of those things, but I'm a little bit late publishing the list! Will update at the weekend :)
So, here are my targets for this week:
1 - Write story cube story (for Writer's club)
2 - Write up 25 things I like about me post
3 - Write types of numbers post
4 - Read as much of the accountancy book as I can (especially chapter 6)
5 - Finish writing the generic cover letter
6 - Send out the cover letter to at least 2 local companies
7 - Go through the first week of Analysis notes
8 - Run the Dearnford relays
9 - Finish making my chalkboards
10 - Trim the hedge
I know I've already done one of those things, but I'm a little bit late publishing the list! Will update at the weekend :)
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
25 Things I Like About Me
Recently, I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do in the future. Having just found out that I have to stay on the 3 year course, rather than the 4 year course at my Uni has really made me realise that I don't have all that long left before I have to go out into the big wide world of work. It also made me realise that I have absolutely no idea what I want to do, what I might be good at, nor how to go about finding out.
I know that I need to get more work experience, and while talking to my mum about it, it quickly became apparent that I have pretty much zero confidence in myself or when it comes to talking to people. I couldn't even ask my sister's boyfriend (who I have known for like, 10 years) if he knows if the police would take on someone for work experience because I didn't know exactly what I had to ask, nor how to go about starting that conversation. Every time there was a lull, mum would say "you could ask him now! I'm worried that you can't ask him" and stuff like that. But I just physically couldn't, and I don't know why.
Liberty is going through a similar thing as she is part way through changing jobs (fingers crossed she gets the one she wants!), so she is very keen on helping me out. My family got together and have started compiling a list of challenges for me to complete over the summer to help build my confidence so that I might be less pathetic when it comes to just talking to people, and hopefully along the way maybe get some ideas about what I want to do.
Yesterday, I completed one of the items on the list, which was, as the title of this post suggests, to write a list of 25 things I like about myself. I would like to share that here.
1) My eyes
2) My hair
3) I love my family
4) They love me
5) I love to sing
6) I started running
7) I have nearly overcome my weird eating problem
8) I'm smart
9) My smile
10) I play piano
11) I play drums
12) I play guitar
13) My sense of humour
14) I'm good at logic puzzles
15) I got a 2:1 in my first year of Uni
16) I got 74% for my second year essay
17) I ran all the way round 10k in 1 hour 10 minutes and 4 seconds
18) I have 31:01 PB on the Telford parkrun
19) I won performance of the year in my first year of Glee for singing I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift on elections night
20) I'm interested in magic - especially card tricks
21) I own at monopoly
22) I'm good at maths
23) I got a C in Art GCSE, even though I suck at Art
24) I try writing songs that aren't just cheesy lyrics
25) After 5 years, I still find more ways to be in love with my boyfriend
So there you have it, 25 things I like about me. Sorry about the mega cheese factor in the last one, he was complaining I hadn't written anything about him yet, so I thought I'd make it a good one!
I know that I need to get more work experience, and while talking to my mum about it, it quickly became apparent that I have pretty much zero confidence in myself or when it comes to talking to people. I couldn't even ask my sister's boyfriend (who I have known for like, 10 years) if he knows if the police would take on someone for work experience because I didn't know exactly what I had to ask, nor how to go about starting that conversation. Every time there was a lull, mum would say "you could ask him now! I'm worried that you can't ask him" and stuff like that. But I just physically couldn't, and I don't know why.
Liberty is going through a similar thing as she is part way through changing jobs (fingers crossed she gets the one she wants!), so she is very keen on helping me out. My family got together and have started compiling a list of challenges for me to complete over the summer to help build my confidence so that I might be less pathetic when it comes to just talking to people, and hopefully along the way maybe get some ideas about what I want to do.
Yesterday, I completed one of the items on the list, which was, as the title of this post suggests, to write a list of 25 things I like about myself. I would like to share that here.
1) My eyes
2) My hair
3) I love my family
4) They love me
5) I love to sing
6) I started running
7) I have nearly overcome my weird eating problem
8) I'm smart
9) My smile
10) I play piano
11) I play drums
12) I play guitar
13) My sense of humour
14) I'm good at logic puzzles
15) I got a 2:1 in my first year of Uni
16) I got 74% for my second year essay
17) I ran all the way round 10k in 1 hour 10 minutes and 4 seconds
18) I have 31:01 PB on the Telford parkrun
19) I won performance of the year in my first year of Glee for singing I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift on elections night
20) I'm interested in magic - especially card tricks
21) I own at monopoly
22) I'm good at maths
23) I got a C in Art GCSE, even though I suck at Art
24) I try writing songs that aren't just cheesy lyrics
25) After 5 years, I still find more ways to be in love with my boyfriend
So there you have it, 25 things I like about me. Sorry about the mega cheese factor in the last one, he was complaining I hadn't written anything about him yet, so I thought I'd make it a good one!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)