Well, another month is over, all too quickly if you ask me. Dispite most of this month being a holiday from University, it has been just as busy as every other month so far this year, possibly busier. For starters, we’ve had building contractors in all month, working like maniacs to try and get the extension finished for the 10th May completion. On top of that we’ve also had the film crew charging in and out getting their last footage for the programme. This was followed by the inevitable move back to Swansea and the endless stream of coursework that is due in, along with the build up to exams that might not be happening yet (AUT Strike). I’ve also taken the chance to refresh my site design, as much as i liked the old one, it wasnt bright enough for me! So all in all, a bloody busy month.

The house extension is almost complete now. The contractors seem on schedule for the 10th May completion date. In the past 2 months, they’ve picked up quite a bit of steam, making up for the lost time caused by the messed up windows. The extension should be completed only 40 days late, which to be fair, isn’t that bad considering we’ve had the coldest winter for god knows how many years, and the number of screw ups with the windows, and poor project management.

The film crew have visited us on two seperate occasions this month, and filmed the last of the footage just in time for delivery to Discovery Real Time. The programme is now complete and due to be aired on DRT a week today. The filming has been followed by a number of interviews and photo shoots with The Sunday Mirror and the Western Mail, with the possibility of more from the Environment Agency and some others.

I’ve been back at university for just over a week, and to be honest, i feel like i need a holiday already. I had one piece of coursework due in last Friday, another 2 (one of which is a group project) due in on Tuesday, and another 3 due in on Friday. None of them are easy and all require quite a bit of time and thought. I have a feeling i may have to sacrifice one of them to make way for the rest, can’t be helped unfortunately.

Quite a few people have been asking me how exam revision is going, and i have to keep telling them its not. There is just so much work going on, i don’t have time to get on with revision in any shape or form. I havn’t even mentioned the fact that our exams might not happen. Basically, the AUT (Association of University Teachers) are on an “Assessment Boycott”, which in its simplest terms mean that they are refusing to do anything like setting/marking coursework and setting/marking exams. Theres 3 weeks till the exam session starts, and not a single exam has yet been written. The Universities are refusing to give the lecturers the pay rise they want, and are refusing to meet with the lecturers and refusing to acknowledge that there is a problem. So May could turn out to be just as interesting and eventful as April. Keep your eyes open for updates.

On another note, I finally asked Kate out. I finally got up the nerve to do it (ok, alot of alcohol helped). Although i didn’t get the answer i was hoping for, i feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders and for some reason feel much happier. Kate and I seem to be getting on a little better as well which is a good thing.

EDIT: following on from my entry a few days ago (Dave the Chameleon), i’d like to point all of you in the direction of the webcam, featuring “Dave” the chameleon live. [Windows Media Player, Real Player]

Right, thats it for now, this is most likely the last post for April 2006, but im sure i’ll be back soon. Hope you all like the new website design.