Merry Christmas – now get back to work.

I haven’t been into this blog for a while, been a bit busy with work and a whole heap of other things happening. Just checked out the WordPress Reader and really interested to see that my former student colleagues are back onto the blog as part of their current unit. When procrastination strikes I will have a quick read and see how things are going.

And that is in fact the root of my problem at the moment, procrastination! This term is not going as well as the first two, for a number of reasons. Studying has become a challenge, we have friends living the in ground floor of our house, a family of 5. Previously I had an area down there as my study space, where I could just get stuff done, without interruption or distraction. Now that’s not the case and all I have is kitchen table upstairs, where I try and get stuff done while the general chaos of family life continues around me. The other factor is that I’m just not into the units this term and there’s reasons for that as well.

LAWS20058 is practically identical to LAWS11030, which I did in term 1 when I was on the bachelor course. It is interesting, but there’s nothing new (apart from the textbook), so it’s not grabbing my focus as much. I’m most of the way through the assignment and getting my notes in order for the exam and not much else at the moment. All is this probably just as well as STAT20029 is driving me insane.

This is a unit I am finding a series challenge and making me regret my choices. I can do the functional maths that I need for work, not a problem. But if you want me to work out the probability of “woman aged 28 – 55 in the workforce who are married”, sorry I haven’t a clue! I last did statistics over 25 years ago, and while I understood it enough then, I’m struggling now. It may just be week 4’s probability section, and I really hope it is, either way it’s been bringing me down.

Which brings me back to procrastination. I’ve one unit I’m not fully engaged with and one unit I’m finding hard and no real study space, which means I procrastinate. I write my running blog, I go for runs, suddenly I really need to sort out my sock drawer. I know I shouldn’t, I know what I’ve got to do, I’m just not doing it as well as I should. To overcome this though I have been spending entire days at the CQU library in Bundy. The sad thing is even spending eight hours on a subject it doesn’t feel like it’s sinking in. Which compounds the issue. Fortunately they are both open book exams and P’s make degrees so all is not lost.

I spent the day in the library on Sunday and slacked off the last three days, obviously it’s been Christmas, and as smallest childs birthday is Christmas Eve time needed to be spent getting ready for all that and then enjoying the day. Now that’s all over it’s time to get my act together and get on with it. After all it’s not going to learn itself.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas. I going to read my law text book and do some calcs as long as I don’t get distracted….

hey look a squirrel!

Making the grade

Term 1 is officially closed with the release of grades today. I am astounded to say that I did rather well. A HD in both ACCT11059 and LAWS11030. I am really pleased to hear from a number of my fellows that they have achieved good grades as well.

Going to put in here a thank you to Martin Turner, Maria Tyler and Ronald Farran (Law) who have been most excellent in their support, feedback and incredible marking speed this term.

What I am more pleased about is that my daughter Alice, who has just completed her first term at CQU Rockhampton, has achieved three HD’s and a distinction in her Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy degree. She’s done this while being a Resident Associate and dealing with other peoples drama’s. My daughter is amazing. Must take after her mother, who is also amazing.

As for me I have never in any study ever achieved this well. Quite possibly due to a number of factors that are different to my original student days

I’m 45 years old and don’t have the stamina to spend all day in the pub
I’m paying for my education (no course fees in ’90’s UK universities)
I’m “slightly” more mature in my approach to learning
I have an example to set to my children
I want to learn and put the effort in. (I was very lazy the first time)
I LISTENED TO MY WIFE WHEN SHE SAID MY WORK WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!! and took her advice and made the appropriate changes, (she did say the same thing at Uni the first time, I should’ve listened then too)

If you speak to my Uni friends they will tell you that back then I was a terrible student and I really shouldn’t have achieved. It is surprising how things change as you get older. What this term has taught me is that I can manage all of my commitments, I can learn new things and I enjoy learning, sharing what I know and helping others (though I do a lot of that at work anyway). I’ve really enjoyed the interactions with my fellow wannabe accountants through the Facebook page, through the PASS sessions and made some friends along the way.

The only thing I haven’t enjoyed is that as I run less, I’ve actually put on a kilo and a half in weight over the last three months. Need to work on building in more activity into the study plan.

Term 2 has effectively started and fortunately for me I have two weeks off work of uninterrupted study as I recover from a hernia op. I’m sad to say goodbye to the Bachelor of Accounting and my fellow students on that course, though I’m looking forward to the continued challenge on the Master of Professional Accounting. All being well, we all come out on top at the end of it with everything we want and expect.

Let the studying commence.

And relax! But not for long.

That’s it term 1 is done. The only exam that I had this term was done this morning. To be honest I was a bit concerned. Would I be able to write for three hours, would I survive without the hourly cup of tea that I have during my work day, do I even know the subject matter?

As it happens, none of this was a problem and I rather enjoyed myself. Thanks to our PASS leader Danielle I had taken her advice and wrote up notes and cases instead of tagging my text book. This was a perfect way for me to prepare. In writing the notes I was refreshing my memory and the areas that weren’t in my notes I knew where they were in the text book, so it was easy to get to the information I needed. It turns out I do know the subject and the questions fell into the areas that I was comfortable with. Three hours went past in a blur of statutes and case law and the handwriting went a bit ragged as the time went on. My only real concern is can the marker decipher my handwriting.

With this exam done I can now relax for a week or three. Or not, as normal work continues and domestic duties and DIY is planned by Mrs F. Running will definitely be involved. All this sitting and studying is making me fat.

The other question to be considered is do I stay on the Bachelors or switch up to the Master of Professional Accounting degree? This is 14 units and would taken 2 1/2 years of two units per term, compared to the 24 of the Bachelor where I’d need to wait 4 years before having a qualification.

With the Master degree I can get interim awards at the end of each block of units, so technically I can have my Graduate Certificate Professional Accounting by Christmas, which then gives me an escape route into another career. By the end of 2020 I should achieve the Graduate Diploma and by 2021 the Master qualification. Bachelor or Master I’d still have to start at a level below my current earnings to begin my new career, unless I can engineer something. A few more things to consider before I make up my mind.

Meanwhile I’m going to enjoy the rest of my afternoon, perhaps read a book or enjoy a game on the PS4, and get back to almost normal tomorrow. Rest easy people, next term is on the horizon.

. time to relax

Exam Time

My first exam for 16 years is rapidly approaching. It’s a three hour open book exam on the Introduction to Business Law. I should be really concerned, but I’m actually feeling pretty calm at this stage.

I’ve not taken an open book exam since my last Master Brewer exam. That one was pretty easy, I simply rebuilt the London Guinness Brewery into the brewery that I wanted, changed a few figures, adjusted the manning levels and job done, with a credible B grade pass. This Law exam is a bit different. Brewing is my core skill, I have lots of experience and it’s easy to write about. This is the first time I’ve studied law and I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been a challenge in places though.

The studying process has been to read, a lot, which I have. The tutorials have been a god send, without those I would not have had a clue about the assignment or the scope of the exam. As it happens if it hadn’t been for my wife, my assignment would’ve been a dogs breakfast as well. Fortunately after a poor start in listening to her, I did do what she said and polished that turd to get one of the highest marks I’ve experienced. So all I need to do in the exam is pass to complete the unit.

It’s an open book, so I can take in as much paper as I wish. We’ve been advised to mark the text book and index against slides etc. That has proven to be a challenge as my handwriting is rubbish and it’ll be more of a hindrance than a benefit. So I’ve typed up a load of notes and put my case examples with them. I think I’ve got enough info to get me over the line. My biggest worry is my rubbish handwriting, will Ron be able to decipher what I’ve written and will I have the stamina in my right hand to last it out. We’ll see Wednesday morning.

dilber test

Onward and upward

The end of week 12 and I’m happy to say I’m now done with ACCT11059 and the final assignment of this unit is submitted. There really are only so many times you can read and polish a document. If you want to see the final submission it is here. ASS#2 Step 7 to 10 Paul Feasey GALLIFORDTRY Company Spreadsheet FEASEY

Thank you to those who gave me feedback, your eagle eyes in spotting bits I missed was most welcome.

It’s been an interesting 12 weeks in my return to Uni as a mature student and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. With this final accounting blog for this particular unit I thought I’d put down some of the things I’ve learnt about learning and about myself during this time.

When I first saw I had a UK construction company to focus on I was “meh” and not overly enthused about the prospect. I would have put in the same amount of work and research into any company, but on reflection I actually think that GallifordTry was to my advantage. Only a couple of years ago I’d been living back in the UK for 18 months and was well aware of the state of the UK, price of housing, the political situation and various other impacts in that once great nation. This did make understanding the financials and the company operating climate easy to understand and research. I’m calling that a win, I was able to learn the process of accounting, ratios etc, and relate that to an environment I understood.

KCQ’s and the study guide. I’m still not convinced about KCQ’s, though I appear to be reasonably proficient at them. I’ve enjoyed the study guide, though I do wish Martin would get to the point sooner and I did pine for a text book on occasion. Saying that I have been fortunate to have had two very constructive conversations with him recently and I can understand where he’s coming from and the intent of the process. I really appreciated his insights and support from these conversations. With regard to the unit, I can say though, that it did work, I have learned and my learning style has been challenged. So, thank you Martin.

This blog, I already write a blog for fun, I wasn’t certain how much value this one would have. Well I’ve enjoyed writing it and 65 other people, including people outside of the unit, are looking at it. I’m going to assume that it’s adding value to them as well.

dilbert blog

I’ve provided support (far too much according to my wife) and helped a lot of people through Facebook and through checking over spreadsheets and calculations. While this has been very time consuming, what it has done is secured my knowledge of the subject, so it is a win for me. Even though I tell my wife I’ll do less in the future I’ll still help where I can, just remember to say thank you. Through the Facebook group I’ve met some wonderful people and got some solid friendships out of it. That’s what uni is also all about.

PASS! How good are PASS sessions, I really enjoyed all of them, shared a lot and gained a lot as well. Danielle is a most excellent facilitator and will no doubt end up with a high distinction when she finishes her degree and will go far in her chosen field. I am most grateful for her support in these sessions.

When I started out with this unit I was concerned about the time required to get everything complete and manage life, the universe and everything. I am unbelievably grateful to the support of my wife and children who have given me the space to get stuff done. Though by the children leaving me alone I’m not onto them to do their chores or their gym work between their swimming training sessions. A cunning plan on their part.

The final thing and probably the most important thing I have learned and it’s what I shouldn’t have had to learn (and its not in relation to this unit either) is this. I should never, ever doubt my wife!

A true story. A week out from the due date for Laws11030, 40% assignment, I thought I’d done a really good job, I gave it a quick read and thought it was good to go. I asked Mrs F to take a look. She didn’t make it past the first paragraph, before telling me how bad it was! She was asking all sorts of questions, what’s the word count, what references are you using? I was horrified, I thought it was brilliant, how dare she! I know she’s a teacher who did her second degree by distance, but really! Long story short I got a bit cross. Fortunately for me, as we met at Uni in 1991, Mrs F has known me for a very long time and knows that while I am an idiot, I am not totally stupid and I will see sense. And sense I did see, I listened and learned, edited and re-edited and polished that turd before hitting the submit button.

Thanks to my wonderful wife I received 37/40, 92.5%! This type of result is unheard of, I’ve never got grades like that before and I couldn’t have done that without her. It really makes me wonder, not only what she sees in me and why she puts up with it, but what I would’ve got in my first degree if I’d spent less time in the pub and listened to her more then.

Moral of the story, listen to your wife, she knows more than you do, especially when she’s a teacher!

This term isn’t quite over as I’ve the Law11030 exam on the 19th. I originally had it as the 17th so I’m glad I checked again. It’s an open book so I’ve a bit over a week to get all my notes ready for the day. Thanks again to Danielle for the insight to preparing for my first open book in 15 years.

In honor of Law here’s this blogs musical interlude, Anthrax singing about one of the iconic comic book characters of the 20th Century Judge Dredd. Unfortunately the video has footage from the 1995 film staring Sylvester Stallone, not the best interpretation. The 2012 Judge Dredd staring Karl Urban is so much better.

So that’s what I’ve learned so far. Once the exam is done its onward and upward with the next two units, whatever they may be as I haven’t decided. For those of you who’ve stayed with me this far, I’m going to continue this blog and my running blog and see where it all goes.

Happy Studies folks.

It’s lunchtime, I’m at work and can’t think of a snappy title

dilber numbers

How we all doing? It’s Wednesday lunchtime I’m at work and have about 10 minutes to get this written and posted. Hence the crappy title. I want to get my Law assignment done so I want this out of the way today.

I finally figured out what was wrong with my spreadsheet, thank you to everyone who had a look at it. Credit for your help is in the attached word document.

I have now learnt the perils of double dipping. This exercise has also reinforced the fact that all firms report in different ways and footnotes are gold.

My restated spreadsheet is attached and my document what I have gained from this exercise. Any questions, comments etc please let me know.

ASS#2 Reflections on Step 3

GALLIFORDTRY Company Spreadsheet FEASEY

Happy studies

(now back to the spreadsheets that pay my wages!)

From desperation comes motivation

In chapter 1 of the study guide Martin makes it really clear that in order to succeed in this course you need to be spending 12.5 hours a week on the subject. I think I have spent more than that just trying to untangle Chapter 4 and that’s before I start on the restated financial statements.

In the study guides I don’t mind a bit of trivia now and again. I do have a passing knowledge of Machiavelli and GK Chesterton, but I’m not going to search out Euclid. To be honest in this chapter these nuggets I didn’t find at all helpful.

A lot of the concepts in Chapter 4 I’m familiar with through experience, having them interwoven with kinder eggs and Ryman Healthcare didn’t help me much. Especially when trying to work out how to play with my spreadsheet.

What I wanted was details of the mechanical process for the spreadsheet, what I got was somewhat different. As I may have mentioned before, if it was easy everyone would do it. So I’ll read the chapter again and watch the video and see how we go.

I’ve got a Law assignment on the go as well and wanted to get at least something on ASS#2 out so I can concentrate on that. So as the title says from desperation comes motivation. What I have attached is probably version 5 of a first draft.

I’m not happy with it. I’m sure it’s rambling, simplistic and misses a hundred points. Take a look, rip it up and tell me where you think I’ve gone wrong. It’ll be a feedback gift I’ll appreciate. I’ll what Studiosity has to say about it as well.

The output of my desperation can be found here. Paul Feasey ASS#2 Step 1

On a more positive note and speaking of motivation. It was a great parkrun this morning with two colleagues from work joining me. Dan worked for me when I was in operations and Kasey is our project accountant. I run with Kasey twice a week and have been encouraging her to get faster, usually by not telling her the pace we’re running at and she’s come a long way since starting regular running in January.

I am really pleased to say that this method of motivation and support has paid off and she ran her fastest 5k at 26:25. Something to celebrate (unlike my draft 😦 )

Happy studies folks.

The best laid plans of mice and students*

The end of week 3, though I feel that I’ve been doing this for longer than that. Must be enjoying myself.

Your correspondent is coming to you live from gate lounge number 5 at Brisbane airport. And it’s bloody grim. This really is the cupboard under the stairs of gate lounges.

It is in fact under lounges 7 to 21 and accessible only by some easily missed stairs. This lounge appears to be for those nuisance passengers who want to get to rural Australia and must be segregated from the classy folk going to the big smoke. It has no redeeming features.

And as my plane has a mechanical fault I’m here for another hour at least. The only minor benefit is for some inexplicable reason the announcer of flights is French and her accent is quite delightful and calming.

gate5

This week I have spent far too long on ACCT11059, probably as I was enjoying my research and writing about my firm. In doing so I neglected my LAWS11030 and have some catching up to do. Which I intended to do last night. Didn’t quite happen, let me tell you why and what it means.

As Helmuth von Moltke the Elder famously said “no plan of operations extends with any certainty beyond the first contact with the main hostile force” or more simply no plan survives contact with the enemy.

I wasn’t in contact with the enemy I was in contact with my company sales team and at the Treasury Hotel in Brisbane for Queensland Brewed and Batched.

The sales team had requested I play a role in the proceedings and talk about the company, Ginger Beer and Brewing to the assembled guests. Not a problem. I’m always happy to act as ambassador for the brands that I’m associated with. I also have no issues with being behind a microphone or in front of a camera or the public (though I do consider I have more of a face for radio).

As I know we’ve got lots to do on in our studies my plan was simple. I had every intention of saying my piece, eating the (very nice) food and doing the Harold Holt to get some study in. Yeah, nah!

The as well as the sales team the other folk on my table were great company and the alcohol was free! There was Bundy Rum to be mixed with Bundaberg Brewed Drinks and Eumundi beer available. I also got to catch up with the Eumundi head brewer, Chris. Chris used to work for me at the Swan Brewery in Perth 10 years ago and it was great to catch up and compliment him on his career and his brewing skills. I also met the team from Bundy Rum and though we hadn’t met before, we know the same people. The brewing industry is small and incestuous.

I also happened to meet a footy legend Trevor Gillmeister. A very entertaining chap indeed. I have terrible selfie skills, sorry.

Brewed and Batched

I didn’t drink much as I’m well out of practice, but obviously enough to say that when it wrapped up about 9:30, further study was not happening. I should feel bad about this, but I don’t and here’s for why.

There is a point to this blog, not just for me to name drop and show you what a glamorous career I have, though I might share my pic of me and Jennifer Hawkins, former Miss World in the future, and here it ~~is.~~

The point is this and it is for all of us; for young students still in year 12, or just started at Uni or for the more mature, juggling careers and family and trying something different or the ones who don’t quite know what they want in the future and see this as a means to wherever, here’s the point of this blog (finally you cry, we thought you’d never get there!)

The point is that no matter what plans we make or how we think it’s going to turn out reality always comes along and has it’s say in those plans. It’s what we make of it and the circumstances that counts.

I’d planned to do my piece and leave early last night, on reflection that might not have been a good look. In changing my plan and staying on I had a really good night, did a great job for the company and reinforced a positive relationship with the sales team. That relationship build with my colleagues and the guests at the dinner is priceless and worth an evening off. I didn’t get my studies done, but I had a great time and added value.

The message is don’t be afraid to make plans, just be prepared to adapt those plans. Don’t be afraid to try new things or get out there and just see what happens. You’ll probably surprise yourself when you do.

And do try to have some fun while you do it!

Oh, and the other odd thing I did this week was be part of an interview panel for the position of high school principle. It took all day from 8 to 4 before we could agree on an outcome. Never thought I’d be doing that, but I did it anyway.

Now I really must do some LAWS11030!

Happy Studies

*apologies to Robert Bruce “To a mouse”

Being resourceful

Yesterday I attended a PASS session and got stuck in to my ASS#1 step 3 on my company. I was enjoying myself so much I didn’t consider stopping until it hit 11pm. When I got up at 4:30 to carry on I started to think about the process I’ve now become accustomed to.

I originally went to university in Grimsby in 1991, highly likely well before some of my fellow students were even contemplated. The learning experience back then was very different and how I planned and learnt was also very different.

Now at three weeks in with CQU and doing two units with very different expectations I’m appreciating how much easier it is to learn now than it was then.

I didn’t go to a classic university site. The main campus was across the river in Hull.

In Grimsby we were an annex on the side of the technical college. Our facilitates comprised of a couple of food chemistry labs, a micro lab, a very good food manufacturing facility, a few lectures rooms, two computer rooms (Windows 3.1, Word 2 and 3.5 and 6 inch floppy drives, so you needed two types of disks to back up each time to be sure) and a library.

As this was way before internet, the library was the only resource. It was the study center and the only place to find out information on the necessary science, technology and companies. It was pretty good for what it was, but nowhere as comprehensive as we would’ve liked. Put it simply, if a book was there, great! If it wasn’t put you’re name down on the list to get it and move onto another part of the course.

This was always a challenge, which is why I can honestly say learning now is so much easier. If I don’t know something I can go onto the web and look it up. Don’t want to hand write out a quote, just cut and paste from the source. Need to know more about the industry, Google it.

So much information at the click of a mouse. Got a problem? Put it on Facebook, someone will take a look and help you out. In the past if I wanted feedback I’d likely have to pass over my only handwritten copy of my work and wait until I physically got it back before I could continue. Now I can edit, while someone reads it.

To be honest it couldn’t be easier. There’s still the time taken to collate it and do the assignment, but the amount of time saved is incredible. This has made my life so much easier when doing my ASS#1.

What we also didn’t have was PASS sessions. We’ve had two now and I’ve really enjoyed them. The participants are all at various stages of learning and completion of their understanding, everyone has a contribution to make and everyone can get value out of one hour a week. The closest I got to PASS sessions in my youth was passing pints back from the bar or the ball on the hockey pitch.

We’ve got other great resources available. We’ve forums on the Moodle site and the ability to contact the course leaders at anytime of the day and be guaranteed a response without having to track them down on site. Also the ability to give and receive feedback on our work without having to hand over the only handwritten copy! This is brilliant.

So apart from highlighting that I am really old, what’s the message in this blog?

We have access to an amazing array of information, we have a support network, the ability to ask questions and be answered immediately, we have facilitators willing to give up their time to offer support in PASS sessions, we can get feedback without inconvenience to ourselves or the reviewer and we can write random blogs on how amazing this all is. However all of this only works if we make it work.

The message is this: use the resources, be part of PASS sessions, share information about companies, ask for help and provide that support to others. If you can explain a concept to someone who’s struggling you will reinforce your understanding.

All of this will make the learning easier and the outcome more positive. There’s always the risk of having some fun while you do it too.

Hope everyone is getting some great KCQ’s down for ASS#1. Happy Studies!

Top of the Blogs!

How’s the weekend been folks? Did we spend it locked behind closed doors frantically typing numbers into a spreadsheet while watching a YouTube instructional video, wading through the glossy brochures that are our company reports or did we get outside and get some fresh air?

If you are like me the answer is all of the above. I’ve had a splendid weekend. 10k run on Friday night after work, 8k run on Saturday morning as the sun came up over Bargara, followed by volunteering at parkrun.

Then I followed the very comprehensive YouTube video and plugged all my figures into the spreadsheet. Took longer than I anticipated, though pretty confident that I’ve nailed it. Then I started to read the annual reports in some detail.

After all these years of getting annual reports as a shareholder in some of the world biggest brewers I finally set down to read a report. The mad thing is I’m not getting any dividends off GallifordTry, yet I’m putting the most effort in to understand it.

Sunday has been a complicated day. My middle two children were awarded age champion in their age group at surf lifesaving. Completely irrelevant I know, but I don’t care. They train bloody hard and it’s great that they were recognized for their achievements. Further study of both LAWS11030 and ACCT11059 ensued at the beach this afternoon. Fantastic spot, conducive to study? Maybe not.

While I was taking a break from trying to understand statutory interpretation of legal texts (still don’t understand it BTW) I checked my student email. In there I find an email alert from Accounting With Georgia. Georgia has read the ASSIGNMENT STAGE 1 (ASS#1): GETTING STARTED, a bit more closely than I, and has posted about her top three blogs.

Which then brings me to the point of this blog, what are my top three? I actually don’t know yet. Georgia is in contention as she’s ahead of the curve and said nice things about my blog. But who else and how to work it out?

I looked on WordPress and I’ve followed over 40 blogs. To be fair I’ve been and looked at each and every one of them this evening. There’s a definite mix throughout and some of our fellows are more active than others. I’m actually thinking that we may have a few casualties who have decided that accounting, at this moment, may not be for them as they’ve been very quite since their first post.

Monday 25/03/19 08:43. A quick addition on that above paragraph. As I was swimming this morning it did dawn on me that it’s only the start of week 3. I’ve cracked on and got a bit ahead of the curve. Not everyone is like me. I really do hope there are no casualties so far and the reason for the lack of blog activity is due to the pressures of life, the universe and everything and these folk are all on track with blog posts ready to be published. My apologies for any assumptions I have made that may be considered disrespectful. Definitely not my intent.

There are some very good initial descriptors on companies and I would recommend looking at Susie Luck, Chris Apps, Lisa O’Neill, Emily Bagnall and Georgia’s blog for some pointers.

Do these make the cut into the top 3? I’m going to give it a few more days before deciding. There’s a lot of good stuff in the Accounting Blogosphere and I’ve learnt new things about companies I’ve never heard of before, which is a real benefit.

It’s now late Sunday night, #2 swimmer child needs to be up at 4:45 for training in the morning and I’m in charge, so it’s bedtime.

Have a great week. Happy studies!

Maybe 10 minutes on PeerWise first though