Next steps?

Further to my musings about doing a Masters after the HSW salary survey reported on the salary benefits of having this qualication, I had coffee with a friend who had been job hunting for only 6 months (compared to the 12 months I’ve been looking around). She has already been accepted to start a masters (her second) in May. It was the final push I needed. I contacted three of the universities that do an IOSH approved Occupational Health and Safety MSc. Initial responses were disappointing. For one university the 2010 intake is already full; one email was responded to by an administrator who suggested I look at the website (duh!) and visit on an open day in two months time; the third has yet to respond.

Undaunted, I telephoned the course head at the second university. We had a long conversation about the course, clarifying facts that aren’t on the website and the outcome was that I’m going to one of the lectures on the current course to see if it suits me. Much more useful than spending a whole day at some general post-graduate open day where they’ll probably spend half the time talking about student loans. This way I’ll be able to meet at least one lecturer, and ask the other students what they think of the course. Wish I’d done the same for the NEBOSH certificate course… I’ll report back in a couple of weeks.

By the way, I saw an awesome job advertised this week. Climate Change Manager. Wouldn’t that be fantastic to be able to manage climate change? I think I’d stop it, or at least slow it down. Turned out it was only about measuring greenhouse gas emissions. Disappointing.

The Snow must go on

The school run took a little longer this morning. It took nearly an hour to walk home in the snow. But quite invigorating, and the few people that are out all said good morning. And so little traffic that most of the time it was possible to walk on the road. I was so glad number two child’s school was actually open. Number one child’s school is still closed. Not because the school is inaccessible, but because the school cannot make the site completely safe. Our county council website lists dozens of schools in the same position - closed, not because teachers can’t get there, but because there is ice on the playground and the schools are terrified of what might happen if a child slips on the ice. The fact that the children walk past the schools everyday to spend their time hurtling down slopes at 15 miles per hour, stopping just short of the barbed wire fence at the bottom isn’t an issue. It seems to be about liability, not societal safety. We can’t just accept that people may fall over on the ice, whether at home, at work or at school. Last year, even when the children were allowed back to school, they weren’t allowed to play outside for a week, despite the glorious sunshine and fresh crisp air.

I’m surprised how easily people give up when they see the snow. Obviously, given the hazards of winter driving no one should risk car journeys they don’t need to make, but people have forgotten they can walk. Last night I had to convince parents that the cub meeting would still be held as the leaders can walk to the hut; the night before I persuaded those who live within walking distance of the local yoga class that walking in the snow at night was really not that threatening. We normally all make excuses about needing to drive because of blocks and mats etc. But you know, it turned out we could carry these even when walking. It wasn’t even that dark when we walked home together at 8.45pm, with the moonlight reflecting off the snow creating a shimmering glow. A glow that was mirrored by the glow of satisfaction we all had of not allowing the snow to put to a stop to normal life.

If this weather is going to become a more regular feature we need to learn to cope. They cope in the Antarctic with much more severe conditions because they plan well. So next time you can get to the shops, buy yourself some boots suitable for walking in the snow (and take a look at Clothing tips for cold weather) and get on with life.