And so the challenge continues...

I haven't been able to update this blog as often as I'd hoped. So there's now quite a bit to catch up on.

I got 56% for TMA01; I can't say I wasn't disappointed by this bug at the same time remembering everything I'd been going through I think it was a reasonable score.

A lot of project work has been completed, as has TMA02. I received a mark of 70% for that! A great improvement. However my health, having picked up in recent weeks, has recently taken another nosedive. Half hour studying is exhausting. Some days even that isn't possible because the pain is so severe.

I'm doing little bits here and there but it doesn't feel like I'm making any real progress. I want to be organised so there isn't a massive rush come the TMA03 deadline on July 5th but I just can't seem to get motivated when I am well enough to study. The rest of the time my brain wants to get on but my body says no (well what other message can you get as pain lances through you when you move slightly?!)

I'm back to feeling rather uncertain about how I'm going to manage this module, despite the fact I have a solid idea and have already done a great deal of work towards it. I've got a whole list of requirements I need to assess companies offering potential e-commerce solutions for a business against, a bucket load of research into the benefits and risks of e-commerce solutions and how an e-commerce solution can broaden the customer base for a company. (Not just any company but the specific company I've based my project on). And there's more I don't even want to think about.

Motivation is rather low and quite honestly all I want to do is sleep; if only my illness would let me! I know things will get better again and I'll find a way to get through the work, and hopefully pass this module but right now the way doesn't seem clear, in fact it seems fraught with difficulties.

I'm constantly reminding myself why I'm doing this, that I'm just 13 months away from finishing my degree after 6 years hard work (thus far). So close to achieving what I once considered an impossible dream. I've got to keep going if only to say I tried.

A Challenging Start

The start of this module hasn't exactly been plain sailing. Not only is it different to any Open University module I have previously encountered but my health hasn't exactly been playing ball.

Virus after virus, a flare up of shingles and another virus have resulted in a 'blip' (I'm hoping not a relapse) which has meant at times an hour's study a day has led to total exhaustion for the rest of the time.

Trying to come up with a suitable project topic, then make a project plan and start on some project work has been immensely challenging to say the least. There have been times I've come ever so close to packing it all in and giving up on my degree. It's just seemed too difficult, too stressful and at times I've wondered why I'm doing this?

But with the help of my family, friends and tutor I've found a suitable topic, I'm feeling slightly less stressed about it and have decided to stick at it. After all if you never try you'll never know what you can achieve.

The trouble with having such limited energy, struggling to come up with a solid project idea until quite late in the day and generally being so unwell all the time is it leaves you very little time to start on project work and complete the first TMA. As I have discovered. I've pretty much had two of the four weeks available to actually start some work and complete the TMA; the other two were spent trying to come up with a decent idea and being too unwell to even consider studying! That's with me pushing through the tail end of viruses, something I shouldn't do as it risks delaying recovery but if I hadn't I'd have had less time to complete the work.

It's been quite a palava getting everything done in time as it is. My self-imposed time limits don't help matters either; I like my assignments in a few days early to be sure I don't miss the deadline due to losing my internet connection or whatever! As usual I've managed to submit a few days early but I'm not sure I've done enough to get a decent mark, which is why I'm relieved it's 'only' worth 5% of my overall grade for the module. However I'd rather get a decent mark since every little counts especially when you never know what's round the corner health wise!