My shiny new course materials have arrived and I am ready to study!!

I am lying on my bed typing this as I have been feeling quite unwell for the last few days.My post on my holidays was a bit pathetic as I was feeling so rough, but I wanted to get something up there!

Yesterday I received my shiny new box of course materials for this year's Open University course. I am going to be studying AA316 The Nineteenth Century Novel and the box contained plans, calendars, books, specimen exam papers, essay questions.... oh goodness me!!

I am proud to say that I have been reading and taking notes on my set books since my last course finished. I even did between 2 and 3 hours most days around the pool in Turkey. I know this sounds a bit geekish, but I know how hard this course will be and I want to do well.

So far I have read Dombey and Son, Middlemarch, Northanger Abbey, Jane Eyre and have nearly finished Germinal. Next is Far from the Madding Crowd. I have loved all of these books and would highly recommend them as just damn good stories if nothing else. I sat by the pool with tears coursing down my cheeks as I read Jane Eyre - trying to look as unlike a complete nutter as I could!!

I am also proud to say that my blog has been chosen by this website as one of the Top 40 Adult Educational blogs !! How cool is that? I am certainly pleased if a little bemused!!

I have a busy year ahead of me and I know that I am going to have to be very organised, with 2 to 3 hours study each day. Where I will fit that in, working 21 hours a week, running a house and looking after 2 children, will be interesting. I will keep you posted!! I am not alone in my endeavours though. I am putting a link to other students and their blogs on my right handside column.If you are a mature student and would like to be included, let me know... especially if you are doing AA316 or A210.