Tuesday, May 26, 2009

I'm taking a blogging holiday

It's becoming clear to me that I am indeed my own worst enemy. I'm not revising for my exam as diligently as I should be doing and I am messing about in Blogland a bit too much. There are now 20 days to go before I sit in last year's large hotel room in Paris with four other examinees and two invigilators. It is just like school exams - the paper face down on the desk, a huge clock  showing the three hours counting down, a heart racing like thunder  and waiting to hear those words - when I say NOW then please turn over the paper and begin your examination. That is after we have produced our passports to prove that we are indeed who we say we are. 

Now I really need all my concentration to cram a lot of stuff inside my brain. I've not got a very good memory for facts and quotes. I've done very well with my essay marks - I'm still awaiting the final one but initial feedback from my tutor said it was very good indeed (her exact words), so I'm confident it will be around the low to mid-80 percentile. However, to get a good end of course overall result,  my exam must be good. I've decided not to return here until  June 16th when this will all be done and dusted.

I will miss you and your blogs and hope to catch up on all your activities when I return. Of course my comeback post will be huge so it's best you have a little rest from me in the meantime.

Toodlepip

44 comments:

Titian red said...

Very best of luck with the exams, that pit of stomach emptiness can still get me. Look forward to seeing you back here soon xx

Kathy said...

Good luck and best wishes with the exams from me too FF, I know you will do good, I will miss you and will be looking for that HUGE comeback post. take care and again VERY BEST OF LUCK my friend :-), (((((big, very proud of you, hugs)))))Kathy. TTFN.

marc aurel said...

The very best of British luck to you. I bet you will do really well. Two examiners for four examinees? Did I read that right?

Lane Mathias said...

Very sensible. I'm sure you'll get loads crammed without the distractions of the blogs.
Take care and all the very best with those exams. I look forward to hearing all about it!

Dumdad said...

Missing you already!

Bonne chance and break a leg and merde and all that. Look forward to hearing that you are the only candidate ever to record 100% in the exams...

Lulu LaBonne said...

Good luck with the exams - you are quite right, blogging can consume far too much time and I am already in hot water on this issue.

Elizabeth said...

GOOD LUCK!
I quite understand why you will be taking a blogging break.
I'm sure you will do wonderfully well in your exams.
Really, it is what you have taken in that is important to you, not just in order to spit it out again.

Blogging is too, too utterly addictive and serious cuts into my reading/writing time.

Reasons said...

Best of BRITISH with the exams!
:-))We gotta do what we gotta do.x

Jennysmith said...

Will think of you during this difficult and stressful time, FF and will miss you dreadfully.

love xxxx

Steve said...

I know exactly what you mean. I'm sitting my final on Saturday and I should be revising - not sat here reading blogs! Good luck - look forward to your return!

claire p said...

Oh good luck hon. I remember it well. I used to take sweets in to chew, take my mind off what I was doing. I'll miss you loads, you've been great, as always. Hugs all round when you get back!

Eleonora Baldwin said...

Very wise. I wish you the best of luck with your exams, and I'll look forward to seeing you back here soon. In bocca al lupo! (Italian for "break a leg")

A Super Dilettante said...

Good luck with the exams! I have every faith in you that you'll pass with flying colours!! Thinking of you x

Ann said...

FF, you are doing the best thing, you need to keep away, and concentrate.
I am so proud of you, I know you will do well, I wish you all the luck in the world my friend.
Ann
+++

Rosaria Williams said...

Your passion and flare will prevail over any question they might pose. Enjoy and gloat.

French Fancy... said...

Thanks everyone for your kind messages - sorry not to reply individually - I allow myself 30 mins every morning to catch up on emails and 'bits'.

x

LadyFi said...

Good luck! I'll be waiting for your huge comeback post!

Until then - have fun and hope the facts stick.

Carol said...

You will be missed but I know that your time will be better spent studying!!

Good luck hon...I'm sure you will do brilliantly so try not to worry too much!!

Looking forward to reading that HUGE post already :-)

Love and hugs

C x

Brother Tobias said...

Best of luck - although I don't believe you need to rely on luck. It'll be a joy to relax and chillout afterwards.

Lola said...

Thought you might like to know - after all the exams (good luck!)- there’s a special, limited offer over at my place!
Hope you’re having a good week,
Take care & best of luck!
Nora:)

Larry M. Brow said...

THAT'S what's been missing from my life, Toodlepips! All this searching, and doubting, and middle aged angst, and all for the lack of Toodlepips. Well, Toodlepips, indeed, and I hope after your (dangerously close to 28 day) absence, that you return glowing with exhausted accomplishment, and something nice from Paris. Really.

All the best, always,

Larry

French Fancy... said...

Thanks to all you commenters. In case anyone is interested - I've changed the second text I'm revising from Goethe's Faust to Sir John Soane and his mix of Enlightenment/Romantic designs. - much less reading required - although I do have to study blueprints and the basics of architectural design - oh well!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Best of luck with the exams.

I love the photo of the bichons, my grandmother had one and she was so cute (the dog, well, grandmother was rather sweet too).

French Fancy... said...

Aw Deb, bichons rock - but so do grannies

Veggie Carrie said...

Good luck with your revision and exams. I'm sure you'll be fine, without the distraction of Blogland.

I've got The Hockey Cokey as the word verification ("hokeyc") - if only exams/texts were that simple!

A Woman Of No Importance said...

I love your new vibrant pink fancy, FF!

Best of best of luck with the exams and minor stress ahead - I know you'll sail through it like a true Sailor of Breton!

See you mid-June, take care, bonne chance, cherie! xox

Rob-bear said...

All the best on the exams. You've always struck me as being a person who should get mid-80s marks, so that's what'll probably happen.

Weird that so many people are signing off at this point. Something in the air?

Looking forward to your return. I'll be like the cat that ate cheese, and waited for mice with baited breath.

No, wait; I'm a Bear. What am I thinking?

Anonymous said...

Bonne chance et bon courage! Tell us all about the test when you get back.

Anonymous said...

Good luck from me too...you won't need it though, I have every confidence in you!

GG

Cynthia Pittmann said...

How exciting...wishing you a big finish and tremendous success. I think you are wise, Mrs. French Fancy. I have cut back a bit too because I have to write this summer. May everyday be and feel productive! Looking forward to your return. <3

Kathy said...

Hayley says thank you so much, hope all is going well, Kathy xx

A Super Dilettante said...

I'm thinking of you! Hope your study is going well. I'm sure you will do well. Missing you xx

French Fancy... said...

Hello everyone - I've got flash cards all round the house with my Byron and Soane quotes on. Mr FF is constantly asking me to repeat them - but tomorrow I move on to studying the (quite bizarre) topic of the Sublime. I'll have to gen up on lots of texts to cover all angles that the questions might possibly take (will it be art/buildings/nature?)

I'm naturally mentally lazy and it is really a chore to be sat inside surrounded by books - but I know I'll miss it when it is all over.

xx

cheshire wife said...

Good Luck with your exam. I am glad that it is you and not me!

Anonymous said...

I look forward to your return.

marc aurel said...

You changed your petite gourmandise. My first wife and I were driving from Geneva to Aix, when we saw that we were approaching a three star restaurant. We were too late for lunch, but were offered petites gourmandises and the local wine. A meal I shall never forget!

Deb said...

Hello ~ I just returned from my blogging break to find out that you are on a break - studying hard for those exams! I am proud of you. I look forward to hearing all about it when you return. Best of luck!

Blu said...

I have my fingers crossed for you. Good Luck, and take care. Hope it isnt too hot for you in Paris, and a gentle breeze blows.

Best wishes Blu x

French Fancy... said...

Hello again everyone - I know it is a bit 'naughty' not to address you all individually but I'm severely limiting my time online these days. In fact when I am 'immersed in revision' I take my micro notebook into another room so I don't get tempted to go online.

Yes, Marc (yr earlier comment) it is 2 invigilators to either 4 or 5 students - I'm the only one sitting my particular exam though.

I've got flash cards all over the house to help me memorise all the quotes I want to insert (I didn't do this last year - shame). Mr FF regularly test me on them and so far they still seem to be in my brain.

Next Sunday (tomorrow week) I'll be on the mid-aft train to Paris and hopefully will get a decent night's sleep, even though the hotel where the exam is (and where I'll be staying) is on a very busy main road through the suburb of Clichy.

Thanks again for all your encouragement

x

French Fancy... said...

Well, I'm strangely calm and it is a bit worrying. This time last year I was a nervous wreck - maybe it is because I know where I'm going to in Paris, I know the format of the exam process.

Even though I've done three OU courses (not counting the French one) - I've only done one exam at an outside place. The first year of any OU course you do your exam at home - on your home - and on your honour. I didn't look anything up, I did it properly and didn't do that well. Last year I did a bit better and, as long as this year's exam mark is better than last year's, I will be pleased.

I couldn't possibly be revising any harder - it is all down now to my luck with the exam questions and whether I have the right info stuffed into my brain.

Ann said...

Think about you every day FF, think your nerves have passed onto me, I am nervous for you.
Hope all goes well, you can only do what you can do, and I am very proud of you.
All my love goes with you on the day.
Ann.

Anonymous said...

I have only just reappeared myself after a break (unplanned, it just happened).. Good luck, look forward to hearing how it went.

French Fancy... said...

Bye everyone - just about to leave for the train now

x

Hadriana's Treasures said...

Hope it went well, FF, I'm sure it did. Sorry I have been away so long. I'm still sort of on a blogging break and hope to be back..beginning of July. Do tell us how it went! Hxx