Tom, Caroline and Chris saying Auf Wiedersehen.

I can’t believe it’s been five weeks already. How the time has flown! I find it quite hilarious that the most amount of comments I’ve ever had has been on the blog in which I’m telling everyone off for not reading. Cheers guys! You were all quite indignant, but I’m not going to apologise hehe.

Last week was a bit slow in terms of telling you what I did. I *finally* finished my literature review, and got set on a task designing a test-piece to take some measurements that it’s currently impossible to get. It is really interesting – I’m working on SolidWorks, a Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) programme which is similar to the one we use in college (ProEngineer). SolidWorks is so much easier to use though! Saying that, it has taken me from Wednesday to today to produce a drawing, which still isn’t finished. The stupid thing is, the only thing slowing me down is the annotations that are n0t necessary to use the drawing; they’re required to follow protocol, and I’m finding them difficult.

The pottery from my 21st after glazing.

My relationships with people at Finsbury have taken a turn for the better, as I’ve gone from being ignored to suddenly being the person everyone consults on which books they should read. It turns out that for a 21-year old (I still haven’t got used to saying that) I’ve read quite a lot more than the people in this office. Someone was asking me about the Twilight Saga on Friday, then another came up to me asking about the Millenium Trilogy this morning. I had a conversation about The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe last week, and someone wants to ask me about Sense and Sensibility later. Who would have thought it! My love for cooking is also being appreciated, with one of my cookbooks being passed around the office and everyone coming and asking for advice on a couple of the recipes. I feel so necessary all of a sudden! It’s nice, I’m not the outsider anymore.

Toby and me, with Pumpkin in the middle being squashed by Tobes' FAT HEAD.

Tomorrow I’m looking after a 16 year old girl on work-experience. She wants to do BioEng, so obviously I’m the first person everyone turns to (despite having no clue what the course is about…any help anyone?!) and will be shadowing me. Lucky old me!

Chris and Caroline came round for dinner this week, as Chris is going to Germany for a year. He banned me from ever quoting his drunk quote again (“Smeagol on a horse, that’d be the death of me”). Caroline made me drink far too much wine. Jean also came to dinner. This weekend I went to Devon with John, who is back from Europe and now on MTSoc Tour. I met up with Fred, who is now 21 (old man) and we played Nintendo Wii a lot, and played with bubbles. I drove 600 miles and am absolutely shattered, with achy right leg from adjusting the fuel on the motorway. I love my car to pieces (the leopardile as my mum calls it) but overtaking anything on M-roads is not a fun experience.

A cute little puppy!!!

Scaring Pickle with bubbles.

Toby surrounded by the carnage of unwrapped pressies.

Getting to grips with the Wii (want)

That’s all for now. Tune in next week!

Matt and Tom watching Finding Nemo

So it’s been a month of literature reviews for me. My supervisor read the first draft, thought it was good, let the director of the company read it, and now they want me to write another one. Oh joy of joys. And the things I left out were the statistics which I was too lazy to look up, and thought they wouldn’t notice. Teaches me, I got set on that on Monday, and that was me for the week.

Or so I thought.

On Tuesday one of the girls I work with came up to me and said ‘do you want to go through to the labs and help me?’

Hell yes!

Twitchy watches Finding Nemo while getting to grips with the new pad.

So Tuesday and Thursday found me in the labs, having fun and enjoying myself. I can’t say too much about it – but I did get to play with bone cement! Friday found me writing up the lab report, which was not that massive production that comes with a college one. It was very easy to do, and I got to use Excel to do all my calculations!! It was amazing. I ended up with 10 graphs, which all have proper actual context in the real world, and my report will allow a shipment of things to be sent off next week on my authorisation. Woot!

The more observant will have noticed that I missed out Wednesday. This is because orthopaedic registrars came to Finsbury to learn about the implants, a very important consideration, because the surgeons are the ones who take the decision on which implant goes in the patient. This can have a massive impact on everything. I got to sit in on the day, which was very lucky cos it’s quite an exclusive thing. It was my first chance to learn about the implants in the context of Finsbury, and about materials in the context of industry orthopaedics applied to a clinical setting. It was really interesting and I took 15 pages of notes. I’m a massive nerd.

I’ve spent the free-time this week with Matt watching Finding Nemo, cooking stuff, writing stories (haha) and with Ross and Kim today. We have broadband finally. I suspect nobody is reading this anyway, so it doesn’t make much difference!

Sunflower update! They are actual flowers now.

They attract bumblies and everything.

Maxy. Want.

Celebrating the 21st with Ross, Kim, and a very mature Nikki.

Ciao for now.

My 21st party - cake!!

Last week was much of the same as the second week of the lovely internship. I spent the week reading through journals and writing up my literature review. I gave my supervisor a first draft so she can check through it and while I wait for her feedback have got started on the market review. The aim is to look at all the products that are out there that are similar to the one we are developing, and work out where ours is going to fit into the market. I’m still loving it, but reading through journals is starting to get a bit painful!

A massive platter that Tom and I painted.

I had to take another day off last week due to illness, which I was most upset about. I did get to sleep for a day, which was quite nice. On Friday I was supposed to go to a 21st party, but I was still feeling ill so I did some laundry and went to sleep nice and early!

This weekend was my 21st. I’m now officially old (and able to teach people to drive…hahaha). We went down to the Shoire on Saturday morning, got picked up by my parents and went and painted pottery. It’s unconventional, but it was fun. I discovered artistic skill in my dad and gran, which I had never suspected existed! I get to pick it all up when it’s fired in a couple of weeks, and will post photos then.

The three 'kids' with BALLOONS!!

Don't you have a lounge suite in your garden? Weirdo.

I <3 this photo.

Bubbly

One of my birthday pressies. Ashton and me when we were ickle.

Mummy pulling up lettuces.

Casey with armfuls of rhubarb.

Tobes digging potatoes in the allotment.

I drove back to London on Sunday, the day itself, after a big breakfast and collecting Tom in a backhanded transaction in a lonely carpark. We had an evening in, which was nice. I got lots of lovely pressies and had a good day, which is always good.

We are still awaiting internets. Next weeks blog will be longer – I’m doing more interesting stuff at work this week, which shall require reporting!

Ciao.