The Retirement Newsletter: A mixed bag — my last set of summer exam marking, a holiday, money worries and Wi-Fi etiquette
Issue Number: -34 — Will I miss marking? Did I have a good holiday? And Wi-Fi Etiquette?
Welcome
Welcome to issue -34.
This week it is a ‘bitty’ newsletter in which I will be:
reflecting on marking my last set of summer exams
thinking back to the lovely little holiday I had last week
worrying about a data breach at my pension provider
reminiscing about a visit to Zion National Park
and wondering about Wi-Fi etiquette while staying with friends
And the photo this week is from my visit to Zion National Park, Utah — See “Travel — Nostalgia Corner” below for more information.
Summer Exam Marking
In issue -37, My last set of summer exams, I wrote about how I was about to start my last summer exam season. Well, the season has now finished for the students, and it is over to the academics to get on with the marking.
And will I miss marking? The answer is no.
Marking is one of the things I won’t miss when I retire. I struggle to put into words to say how much I dislike marking.
I have been marking student work for over twenty years and still find it a chore. Since I first did marking, marking has become more complex and time-consuming.
When I started marking, we would take the student work and mark it. We wrote on the script, annotated, commented, and wrote a summary and gave a mark. The marks went into a spreadsheet, and we sent it to admin for entry into the system.
Now, marking takes three times as long.
First, I have to download the electronic scripts to my computer to access them on an iPad. As I would in the past, I annotate and comment on the work and give it a mark. But now, I have to complete a feedback form about the work, write several hundred words of feedback and highlight how I derived the mark in a marking rubric. And I am still not done.
The final stage is to upload the feedback to the system, enter the mark and click submit.
The annotated script? Sadly, that stays on my iPad, as we don’t have to return it to the student. Hence, the students lose a lot of feedback — a shame.
Anyway, this is the last summer I can complain about this, and soon it will all be a distant memory.
Summer Holiday
It seems impossible, but I have already had my 2023 summer holiday, and it was glorious.
Due to work, and other commitments, I couldn’t do a traditional July/August holiday this year, so I decided to go away in May, and it was a great call.
I used Airbnb to find a place to rent near the New Forest in the UK.
If you are unfamiliar with the New Forest, it is a forest in southern England founded in 1079 (not a typo) and is still called the New Forest. It is a fantastic place to visit, offering great walks and beautiful landscapes. For more information, see Wikipedia.
Airbnb suggested a Shepherd’s Hut, which I booked for the week. And, unless you live in the UK or France, you may not be familiar with a Shepherd’s Hut.
As the name suggests, a Shepherd’s Hut is a hut in which shepherds would live during lambing season. The huts are small and usually on wheels to move from field to field. A typical hut would be about 16 feet (ca. 5 m) to 18 feet (ca. 5.5 m) long and 7 feet 6 inches (ca. 2.3 m) wide. They sound small, but the hut will contain a bed, seating area, fridge, sink, cooker, and bathroom (toilet and shower) and are typically for two people but can take four (well, two adults and two children).
The huts are ideal for a week-long break, particularly if the weather is fine.
In the last few years, Shepherd’s Huts have become very popular in the UK as a form of glamping. For more information on Shepherd’s Hut, see Wikipedia.
Anyway, I enjoyed my stay. It was great to get away.
Money Matters — Data Breach
After years of worrying about the leaking of my personal data online, my pension company revealed all the information in one go. Thanks, Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
If your pension is with Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), you might want to check your accounts and contact them.
I guess I will be reading How to avoid pension scams this week.
Thanks, Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) — not only have you reduced my pension benefits over the years, but now you have leaked my data.
Advice — Wi-Fi Etiquette
In the past week, I have been travelling around the UK, visiting some old friends — something I hope to spend more time doing when I am retired.
And here is a question I hope you can advise me on — what is the correct etiquette for using Wi-Fi at a friend’s house?
Should I wait until I’m offered the password for the Wi-Fi, or should I ask?
Please leave a comment below on what I should do.
Travel — Nostalgia Corner
This week, exploring Zion National Park — a magical experience as we visited in the early season before the crowds arrived.
Zion National Park, Utah — A walk in the woods — The Grotto and Emerald Pools Trail — I started my visit to Zion National Park with a stunning walk along the Grotto and Emerald Pools Trails.
Zion National Park, Utah — The drive from Zion Park to the East Exit and dinner at the Thunderbird Restaurant, Mount Carmel, Utah — I headed to a diner just outside the park for my evening meal. Visit the post to see a great piece of neon signage.
Zion National Park, Utah — Three more walks — The Riverside, The Watchman and The Archeology — I finished my stay in the park with another series of great walks and saw some incredible scenery.
Next week, I wrap up my trip to the States and return to Malaysia.
Next week
After a week of great weather in the UK and unbelievably great weather when I was on holiday, I will ask in issue -33 — Has summer arrived?
Thanks
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Until next time,
Nick
PS, If you want to contribute something to the newsletter — a story, advice, anything — please get in touch.