Still making progress

Database course

The topic I'm currently working on for my online courses is Relational Algebra.
The big grin you'd see on my face at the moment is because I got 100% in the quiz, and also 100% in the exercises.
I have also completed 3 of the 4 challenge level exercises, and have 75% for those. Bearing in mind I haven't started the last question, I can't complain too much about that now, can I?

Customer Services Advisor Training

We've just passed hump day on the training, 2 1/2 weeks completed, 2 1/2 weeks to go. 

The billing quiz was on Monday, and everybody in our team passed (although nobody managed 100% - spoiling my record). Getting the billing aspects right is rather important, as it will reduce the number of calls and complaints received.

Today we have been looking at setting up customer contracts, but had a minor technical hitch: the systems went down mid afternoon preventing us from using the training environment.

Other news?

My oven has packed in, I am going to try to find time to find out what is wrong either tomorrow night, or over the weekend. I suspect the heating element has failed, the fan and thermostat seems to be doing something. It would be easier just to get a new oven, but cash is rather tight at the moment.

I've not had time to play my guitar smith game this week, as I've been focussing on the coursera work. Once I've finished playing with the oven and get the next block of lectures watched and quizzes completed I think I'll be playing more.

Heron Hymn might be having a go at recording a simple song or two this weekend depending on enthusiasm (but it will be something like Home On The Range, My Grandfathers Clock or a Christmas carol or two.
Oh yes, it's 11:15pm in the uk, and I still have a 6am alarm. Sleep? Who needs it!

Some progress with the course

The JSON lectures and quiz weren't as difficult as I thought they might be.

I managed to get 4/4 for the quiz, so that's ok.

My progress so far:

XML Quiz	6/6
JSON Quiz	4/4
DTD Exercises	3/3

Sitting at 100% overall at the early stages of the course is a good place to be I think.

But first, I have a 6am alarm and it's 11:25 in the UK so I think it would be a good time to get some sleep.

Bad week for learning

The post title more or less says it all.

I have made absolutely no progress with the Database course I am signed up for this week. I only have two quizzes and some practical work to complete for tomorrow.

If they weren't all online, I'd log off the net to avoid distractions - like email, facebook and twitter.

A cuppa, a bacon sarnie then time to do the work.

A nice treat

I was taken out last night for an early birthday meal, always a very nice treat.

We went to Thai Central on Ocean Road in South Shields.

The only regret I have about the meal is that I didn't take a picture of the food before we piled in and demolished it.

The food was extremely well presented, and very, very tasty.  We'll definitely be coming back for another visit.

Busy night

For some time Heron and Hymn have been saying we should have a night a week to practice something.

The main problem is my lack of guitar skills (we're not going to comment on my singing tonight).

On my other blog I have started commenting on my progress with the Guitar Smith game. Lynn was singing along to the track I'm trying to earn enough points to qualify (and although there is an option to reduce the qualification barrier, I'm refusing to use it).

As well as singing, Lynn has been quite productive and has written a short story based on an earlier discussion, and is well underway with a second one.

I was going to head to bed (it's just passed midnight here in the UK), but don't want to disturb the creative juices.

I've just realised I haven't finished my glass of wine either. So no driving for me before 9am then. Not that I was even planning on getting out of bed before then.

23 Things in 2013

I've just been reading John Anealio's blog entry 'Will you take the “23 in '13”Challange?'.

I have decided to give it a go, but instead of 23 items in a single theme, I am going to do a bit of a mix and match on the challenge.

I do have some specific things in mind, though.

• Spend more time learning the guitar (sorry neighbours!) and get to the point where I can reliably play a number of songs
• To do a public performance of my guitar work as part of Heron Hymn (with North East Live first, because I promised Angie she'd get our first public performance)
• To record and publish on Soundcloud some of the songs I have learned
• To plan and write at least the outline of a novel (and I have started on this, but only just)
• To complete my laser fence prototype, and create a custom PCB and have a permanent version of the game
• To get at least three dynamic SaaS style websites to an operational level
• To blog at least once a month for the year (but this will only count as one of the 23 items)

I was tempted to have read more, but as I have already finished half a dozen books this year already and finishing 23 books this year would not be a significant challenge!