Influencing - How To Get Out Of Your Own Way...

Today I went to the staff development course entitled "Influencing - how to get out of your own way". I've learnt a lot of how to influence people by reaching the same goal even if we had to take different route, try to stand on their shoes, because at the end of the day we all need basically the same thing. The instructor thought us different tools that we can apply depending on the situation. The most important thing in influencing other people that we must have an agreement on what will they do,how are they going to do it and when will we expect it to be delivered...

Puteri Is Now 5.88 kg ...

Puteri is now weighing 5.88 kg. Atie brought Puteri to the Cobden Children Centre this morning. It was exactly 1 month ago since her last weighing and her weight was 5.4 kg. No wonder she feels heavy nowadays ...

Staff Development Course...

Today I went to the Staff Development course entitled "Ethical Thinking in Research". This course was design to help researchers understand ethical issues that might be incorporated during research. It covers health & safety, codes & conduct as well as applying ethical policies. As my research involves participants, all of these ethical issues must be recognise and handled properly.

Loughborough University requires us to participate 30 days of these staff development programme through out our duration of studies. So far, I've manage to fulfil 10 days. So I've enrolled myself to other courses as long as it does not disturb my research process.

Past courses that I have attended:

• PGR Meeting the Skills Training Requirement
• Creative Thinking
• Influencing - how to get out of your own way
• Ethical Thinking in Research
• Outlook: Hints and Tips
• Working Effectively with Outside Organisations for PGRs and RAs
• Poster Competition for PGRs
• Postgraduate Research Students Induction
• Getting Articles Published for Researchers
• Keeping your Research Up-to-Date for Postgraduates
• Networking Skills - Attending Conferences
• Designing and Producing Conference Posters
• Boost Your Self-Confidence
• Designing and Producing Conference Posters
• Poster Competition for PGRs - Rules Clinic
• Marking for Postgraduates and RAs
  
• Teaching Skills for Postgraduates and RAs with Supervising Practical Activities
• Finding Research Information
• Managing Projects for Postgraduates and RAs
• The Enterprising Researcher
  

Penalty Charge Notice...

Today we got a parking ticket for parking on a single line in front of our house. The penalty stands at £35 if paid within 14 days and goes up to £70 if paid later than that. However, we are allowed to challenge this. The funny thing that I've put up a notice on the windscreen our house number, but the traffic warden rather wait and 'observed' our car for 5 minutes rather than just walk across the road and tell us. I know that they need to fulfil their summons quota, but come on, give some consideration towards people who live here. They should give out the parking tickets to those who are 'illegally' park their car and go to work at the town centre. Now I've just requested for a Resident Parking Scheme that will limit only residents or our street to park closer to our homes...

Unproductive Weekend...

This weekend was the most unproductive one so far. We went to the market on Saturday and just relaxing at home on Sunday watching movies and tv programme. Even though it was a nice and sunny weekend, we just wasted our time staying at home. We should take Puteri for an outing. But Atie cooked a very nice 'Nasi Kerabu' on Sunday, so it was not so wasteful after all. Yum yum...

Foggy Day Today...

Today we wake up to a foggy covered morning. That's why it's so cold last night...

Pak Su Come Visiting...

Today Pak Su come to Lboro and visited Puteri for the weekend. Pak Su took some time off from his busy schedule to come and visit Puteri. Puteri was very happy seeing a familiar face. The last time Pak Su saw Puteri was when she was 2 months old. Pak Su said that Puteri was growing bigger and rounder.

On Sunday, we went for a picnic at Beacon Hill. We had some barbecue chicken, prawn and hot dog as well as fried rice as it was a nice and sunny day. Spring had finally sprung...

Me & Pak Su

Happy 60th Birthday Papa...

Today is Papa's 60th birthday. We hope you like our little present that we ( us and Hafiz as well) sent to you. Have a good one and hope more celebrations to come...

New Television...

As the old television does not work since last 2 weeks, we finally went and bought a second hand one at Aladdin's Cave (second hand furniture shop). It's an 28 inch Bush brand tv. It was listed for £59 and after some haggling, we manage to get it for £45. Finally we can watch the news (and movies) again.

Bird Watching @ Charnwood Water...

Today we took Puteri to Charnwood Water for some birdwatching. It was a sunny day and there are many water birds took up residence here. Puteri was very exited watching these birds come so close when we give some bread to them.


From Charnwood website: "This former clay pit is situated off Tuckers Road, Loughborough, and covers an area of some 27.12 acres. It is used mainly for leisure purposes by the general public."