I am writing this blog towards the end of the month; it seems incredible that the first month of the new year is already just about behind us! As ever, it has been a busy month, after the festive break it was straight back into a very hectic period. A key point in the month was a whole Faculty teaching and learning event that I was instrumental in organising; a great deal of planning and preparation has to be put in to ensure the success of just a few hours of presentation and discussion. Anecdotally, though, it did seem as though the event was well received. Through the month I have also been very active in moving forward the recruitment process for the SCOTs project , this has largely been about responding to potential applicants and co-ordinating people’s diaries to arrange interviews and to plan for the induction training in early February. I am really excited about this small pilot which seems as though, at last, it is going to come to fruition. Another exciting project that has moved forward considerably this month is the CPD framework development project for the institution. I have been working closely with the newly appointed project manager and we now have a realistic developing action plan. January has been a busy month marking student assessment work, teaching and preparing teaching materials for modules that I am responsible for over the coming weeks. I also had a one-day trip to London to attend the Practice: Social Work in Action editorial board meeting where I am involved in work to plan for a symposium, supported by the journal, to be held in Hong Kong in April. My doctoral thesis has moved forward a little over the month as I am now working simultaneously on three chapters, writing across the themes, rather than ‘down’ the chapters, if that makes sense! I am also attending, right at the end of the month, two days of training on ‘surviving your viva’ which seems a little premature when I haven’t finished writing, but I want to be as prepared as possible!
At home, it was quite good to put the christmas decorations away as the kittens were perpetually interested in the baubles and ribbons! Early in the month we treated ourselves to a spa-weekend away; a couple of days of sort of ‘detox’ with lots of swimming and relaxation, the perfect start to 2009!
