Hello to the angry/inpatient driver, driving too fast in my lovely village high street last night without any consideration for other drivers…especially learners.

Luckily you didn’t do the whole macho thing and get out of the car…my instructor is also a Karate instructor. Not that he would use it or behave badly we don’t need any more morons in Redbourn.

Maybe you should retake your test as well as some anger management.

I managed at last for a re-visit of Hendon Museum recently, great boys day out…

An amazing collection of aircraft and information of the history of air travel, military and commercial including an aircraft salvaged from the sea.

I also visited the Battle of Britain exhibition remembering the 75 year anniversary, which includes some may say a long overdue named tribute to all those RAF pilots who gave their life.   To quote Sir Winston Churchill-

‘Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few...’

To all fellow students, please help your Student Union in their efforts to lobby against the government’s cuts on maintenance grants. Log on and have your say in their petition (link contained in this week’s NUS email alert)

Young people are the country’s future…an obvious statement but the younger generation are so often  missed off the agenda of those who are sadly placed in power and making decisions which will affect your choices and opportunities.

There are other areas of financial wastage that they could turn their attention to rather than hamper opportunities for students with parents on lower incomes. People find themselves in life, at times, on lower income for many reasons and these grants are to ensure that their children do not miss out on opportunities they deserve and for which they have worked and studied hard for to secure places at our UK universities.

The government continue to invest in and support overseas problems and forget that ‘charity begins at home…first’.

Please ensure you make your voice heard by filling in the NUS petition asap before the 18th September.

Annie -Mature Student

Continuing through my fab NLP course, my current lesson is on time management and ironically my time normally set aside for home studying has been short in supply! My blog has also been neglected..just not good enough!

Couldn’t make this one up…however, back on track and in answering the assignment questions I am reminded how effective we can all be when we set our mind…and indeed our heart on achieving our personal and professional goals.

I was even comforted by the fact that material within the course echoes how I feel about wasting time too. The old cliche ‘want something doing then ask a busy person!’ I never lose my appetite for living, learning and squeezing something extra into every day.

Being grateful and acknowledging what we have achieved instead of moaning and fretting about the things on today’s list that didn’t get done. There is always tomorrow, so come back refreshed and carry on the good work.

Fellow learner drivers..and those yet to start driving. If you live Harpenden/St Albans area definitely learn to drive with Nigel Smart. His style is second to none.

This man has a brilliant positive attitude, really cares about his learner clients and works with you to bring out the best in your driving.

Having had a fab lesson Saturday, passed my theory test yesterday today’s lesson was a test of endurance for this patient man…but we have to bite the bullet and go out in rush hour it’s the only way we gain confidence and prepare to pass the practical test.

In thank you for his superb instructing these past months I really cannot recommend this guy enough..great with teenagers as well as re-cycled teenagers like myself. lol.

Thanks Nigel!!

But hey will the rain ever stop? To all my friends with kids who are doing a staycation or holiday in this country you picked the wrong week.

Fooled into a wrong sense of security by the heatwave last Saturday but weather getting ready for bank holiday eh?

At least, we can catch up with those indoor jobs…no thanks back to studying and the Sage accounts joys of being freelance and a mature student.

Thanks NUS for the condom offers..seriously what a brilliant initiative for the young though. Discounted pizza and discounted afters!!

Fellow parents, the list of things to buy just grows daily and the past few days I’ve been carefully exploring what’s out there…aside of the obvious trip to Ikea where quilt covers for as low as £3.00 exist!

First off, ensure you make use of the NUS discounts, i.e. Matalan has got some pretty good colour ranges of bed linen, throws cushions etc., and the kitchen utensils priced 2 for £3.00 so we mums can afford to hang onto our own cork scres and tin openers without breaking the bank. (Dare I quote a friend their style seems to reflect a more affordable NEXT style!)

BHS are offering discounts to students too, and on the NUS website today I noticed Argos have some brilliant offers including; computer, printer bundles and very reasonably priced kitchen electrical equipment, such as kettles and the all faithful sarnie maker for £5!! I even spotted a plug in steamer for £17.50 which may be a godsend when sharing the flat stove! – The best thing about Argos is there is one in every town, so one can order online and collect locally and save that space in the car for the essentials…favourite teddy bear and hair straighteners!!

Happy shopping.

To all those students who may have been disappointed at not getting their preferred option(s) and may have even had to go through the clearing process… This year it seems many of your associates have found themselves in the same position.

It might just be that  not getting your first option may in fact present you with a better opportunity. No kidding!! Yeah!

You will be looking at an alternative with a fresh pair of eyes and realise that what you are now considering is actually a much better fit.

Stay positive, continue to follow your dreams albeit maybe from a slightly different perspective on a different course but you will achieve them.

As my last blog stated life moves in mysterious ways and fate plays a hand in placing you somewhere else and that ‘somewhere’ is just perhaps where you were meant to be. Bet parents have been spouting ‘one door closes another opens’ but there is more truth in these clichés than you think.

Good luck to you as you start on life’s adventure through the university and college years where you will meet new people, work towards your goals and finally appreciate your parents. Yeah right!!

My Mother often said one’s life is mapped out for us from the start. I often wonder just how true this is as we go through life bumping into people along the way that help shape us as individuals and have huge impact on our life and choices.

Fate steps in and offers us an opportunity to meet somebody and we are not quite sure why until much later on. We make a decision to be somewhere on a certain day which is our choice but the people we meet at that place on that day also made that choice…but why?

Over the years in business I have met some amazing and interesting people, who disappear then re-enter my life and suddenly become a driving force.

Everything happens for a reason it’s just a case of being the right reason for you.

Life is short so what is the answer? To grasp each opportunity as it presents itself and the reason may become very clear and sooner perhaps than you expect.