Laura's Last Day

So, from the first week of my summer placement, to now, almost six weeks later and just three weeks left. It was an eight-week placement, but I've had the last two out to resit exams. And wasn't that a thrill.

My first week of placement was for finding my way around - learning the ropes, and also the names and faces and characters who shaped my working environment. I had a small project for that week to put together information for the new activity tables, as well as adding new activities where old ones were missing or not very exciting. It was a nice way to get started there, having something to work on that was mine, where I knew what I was supposed to be doing, but also being able to help other people out.

I took Monday 29th July off, for my birthday, and that weekend my parents and younger brothers came down to visit, and we had a brilliant day at Marwell Zoo. It was nice to be able to relax.

By the third week, I was pretty comfortable. I had spreadsheet work for when I was in the office. I was doing summer shows and putting together new ones along with Laura, and we had some fun with that. Summer students turned up who were working on a rota of four days on: four days off. I had seen most of the planetarium shows at least once. 

Week four was Laura's week off, and my week in charge of the shows. Exciting stuff! Equally exciting, I met my friend at the train station one morning as she was on her way to an interview at Marwell, for the same Masters course Laura had applied for, and happened to be interviewing for on the same day, as I found out on the Monday of the next week when she came over with a big grin and whispered excitedly that she'd got in :D

End of week five and I felt really settled in and was enjoying gathering around watching youtube clips in the office, taking photos in the planetarium and jumping out of my skin when we tested our alka seltzer tablet demo, much to the delight of Laura. However, I was heading into exam resit period.

Despite the stress and anxiety that that caused, it's behind me now, and I could write reams about the feelings of worthlessness that like to consume me when I'm scared and trying to revise, but I'm sure there'll be plenty of opportunities in the future, unfortunately :P
On the Saturday in the middle of my exam weeks, I went to BBC Children in Need Car-fest (for work!) to do planetarium shows in the mobile dome we borrowed from the guys at RAL. I got paid, to go to a festival with gorgeous cars and air displays and music, and do what I love - tell people about space and physics. My life is awesome.

And now it's the end of those two weeks. My last exam was on Thursday, and I was back at work on Friday, which was Laura's last day at Intech. Thursday night we went to the pub down the road from the science centre for dinner and drinks, and I knew just how much I appreciate working with such brilliant people. So, the only thing I really have left to say is good luck Laura! (And see you soon) x

Day one

It must be something about trains. And maybe cappuccino. When I read blogs, the people who write them seem to catch a lot of trains.

I walked in to work yesterday and announced my decision: I love trains, but I hate buses. This morning reinforced my conclusions. At the train station, I spoke to the same really nice girl who I buy my coffee from seemingly every day, whose name I still have yet to learn. And on the train, I got my pad out and started scribbling illegibly (I had forgotten my glasses) and envisioning a future of catching trains and drinking coffee and writing for the Daily Planet. At the bus station however, the seats are uncomfortable and the buses are late. And the bus today was being driven by a learner bus driver. I didn't have a problem with that at all, every bus driver's got to learn somehow, but that doesn't mean it didn't still make me nervous, especially with the tight bend out of the bus station and the roads full of parked vehicles in Winchester. Thankfully, it's only a short bus journey. Which also means I'm still full of that initial coffee when I get in to work.

So, where do I work? Well, at the moment, at INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium just outside of Winchester, Hampshire, UK. I say at the moment because I'm on a summer placement. The rest of the year I'm a student in Southampton, studying physics. And as I have work tomorrow, I'm going to call it a night and get some rest so i can actually be on time for the 0743 that I miss every morning. Catch up soon. :] 

Jen