Today And Tomorrow

So far all is not well.

The course officially started yesterday but I have been reading the first part of the module since it arrived, in the middle of last month, and attempting to answer some of the questions.

Part of it involves sending back to the university four TMA’s, short for Tutor Marked Assignments. All four have a set time to be sent back to be assessed.

With the first part that came through the post, a paper TMA arrived. This was just a dummy TMA to send in to practice using the system of completing it in good time and showing your tutor you could do this ‘simple’ task.

As instructed I scanned it, in truth my granddaughter scanned it, and I sent it in by using the links that were posted. Then I sat back, congratulated myself and travelled on with my studies.

Some time last week my tutor introduced himself and informed me I had sent the dummy TMA back in the wrong format. I had sent it as a PDF, the only format a scanned paper document is converted into. No good! Word doc or Word docx.

Three or four times over Friday and Saturday he and I swapped emails about the problem of turning a paper document into a Word doc. all to no avail. I am now waiting for Monday to come and he tells me how on earth I do this. 

Several times I have questioned my judgement over the decision to take on the challenge of a psychology course at my age, not just because of the complexity of what it will entail, but the time needed to qualify.

It could take me up six years during which time I must stop writing. I cannot do both. Now it seems I have to learn how to work with technology that is utterly alien to me and nor really do I want to understand how a paper document gets on the computer as a document that can be written on.

I have never given up on anything without a fight, but some fights are not worth the fighting. I will give this one some serious thought today and tomorrow.

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About Daniel Kemp

At the age of seventy-six, Daniel Kemp has started his second year of studying the science of Psychology at the Open University. He is a member of The Society of Authors and also a bestselling writer. However, in early September 2025, he was diagnosed with cancer. He is now in palliative care at home, being looked after by his ex-wife. When he was writing his novels, he enjoyed writing stories that appealed to those who liked challenging themselves to solve mysteries that were set out before their eyes, but they couldn't. His introduction to the world of espionage and mystery happened at an early age when his father was employed by the War Office in Whitehall, London, at the end of WWII. However, it wasn’t until after his father died that he showed any interest in anything other than himself! On leaving academia he took on many roles in his working life: a London police officer, mini-cab business owner, pub tenant and licensed London taxi driver, but never did he plan to become a writer. Nevertheless, after a road traffic incident left him suffering from PTSD and effectively—out of paid work for four years, he wrote and self-published his first novel —The Desolate Garden. Within three months of publication, that book was under a paid option to become a $30 million film. The option lasted for six years until distribution became an insurmountable problem for the production company. All ten of his novels are now published by Next Chapter Publishing Company which has added an edition titled The Heirs And Descendants Collection, which holds all four books of that series, alongside an edition titled The Lies And Consequences Collection which contains all four volumes of that series. He is the recipient of rave reviews from a prestigious Manhattan publication and described as—the new Graham Green—by a highly placed executive of Waterstones Books, for whom he did a countrywide tour of book signing events. He has also appeared on 'live' television in the UK publicising his first novel. Less
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6 Responses to Today And Tomorrow

  1. beth's avatar beth says:

    this so reminds me of me.

  2. I see from your comment about that you have solved the problem, Danny. If you find the content interesting and stimulating, you must not let these small issues put you off. You must be like Patrick West and just keep moving forward – smile!

  3. Daniel Kemp's avatar Daniel Kemp says:

    I shall try, Robbie, but hope for fewer technical issues on the way. 🙂

  4. Daniel Kemp's avatar Daniel Kemp says:

    Thanks, Onisha

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