ErUpNorth

I was over the moon to pass my OU maths course especially with a 72% overall mark. I now have an Open University Certificate in Mathematics and when this is conferred I will be entitled to use letters after my name, CertMaths(Open). Whether I do use them is a different matter as it feels a bit ostentatious but I have earned the right. Maths does not come easy to me and I spent a lot of hours sweating over these courses, the second course especially. I'm looking forward to my next course, U116 Environment: journeys through a changing world, which starts at the beginning of October. The course is an introduction to environmental studies and the issues arising from environmental change. It shows how people are seeking positive solutions to environmental challenges all around the world. If this course goes well and I enjoy it I will probably explore the possibility of continuing with this theme through my degree programme.

My other half races radio controlled cars, having decided not to continue with the series he was racing in I persuaded him to spend his budget on a mini-break for us. I had always wanted to go to Chester Zoo so we booked into the Premier Inn in the centre of Chester. On Monday we set off for my parent's home in Derby travelling via Roundhay Park in Leeds. Roundhay Park is huge and our map reading skills of the park map were not good. We had a lovely lunch when we arrived, just a soup and buns, and then we set off for Tropical World. This is where Google maps on the Blackberry came in very handy as we went completely the wrong way. As I said this park is huge and an excellent place for children to run wild and entry to Tropical World is reasonable. After spending the night at my parents we set off for Chester on Tuesday morning stopping at Hack Green Nuclear Bunker , we thoroughly enjoyed this "secret bunker"; it was really interesting and some of the equipment ...