I received a letter from Southampton yesterday saying my interview's on 11th February. That's quite a way off - 8 weeks tomorrow - but it means that I'll have spent 6 afternoons volunteering in KS1 by then, which is definitely a good thing. It's exciting.

I also told my mum I am applying for a PGCE last night. I wanted to wait until I was really sure what i wasnt to do, and had an interview, before I told anyone - very few people knew up to now. She was very supportive of me - a little shocked, but that's understandable, as I haven't talked about doing a PGCE since I was at school. But she and my Dad are both teachers, so I'm sure they're secretly pleased I'm following in their footsteps. I'm pleased I've told them - I'm sure they'll be able to give me some good advice and support me through it.

Well, I think I can be a little more coherent now. :) Monday night was rather cool - I checked the gttr site at 7.52pm, and it still said the same old "your application is being considered"... then an hour and a half later I decided to go back, and had to double take when I saw "interview requested" on the page! I just said: "Ben, I've got an interview!" and he, immersed in a tense moment in 'Spooks' on BBC1, said "ooh good!"

There were no details as to when it is, so I strill don't know as it looks like the letter has been delayed by the Christmas post - really hoping it's there when I get home tonight as I'd like to have it confirmed in writing.

Also, talked to my boss today and she's fine about me taking an hour and a half off each Tuesday to volunteer at the local school, as long as I make it up during the rest of the week - yay! 3 weeks yesterday will be my first day - I'm really looking forward to it.

All the people on the TES forum who have got into Soton seem really nice - I am so hoping I can join them on the course. It's all very exciting. :)

yessssssss!! :D

I found out at the weekend that the 4 people I've 'met' through the TES board who had interviews at soton on Tuesday ALL got in! Well done guys!

However, it makes me even more frustrated at not having heard a peep from Southampton yet. I'm thinking about it more and more, running over everything in my head, and I keep worrying that I won't get an interview. Then I tell myself not to be silly - I have a good degree in an NC subject, loads of school experience, a good personal statement - surely they'll at least interview me?!

Every day when we arrive home from work I rish to the front door to see if there's a letter waiting for me. On Saturday I even woke up at 8.15am (not by choice!) to wait for the postman - and nothing...

I only hope that they put me out of my misery before Christmas - I don't think I can last much longer!!

All a bit crazy at the moment - just found out that one of my uni friends has quite her job (as an estate agent) and is applying for a primary PGCE - blimey, everyone's at it!

And I just read on the Tes staffroom that one of the people I've been chatting to, who's applied to soton, has just found out she got rejected without interview. I've heard that the gttr site can default to 'rejected' after a certain time, so i've suggested she calls the uni to find out more, and get some feedback. Fingers crossed it's just a mistake.

I just want to find out if I have an interview... every day that passes makes me more nervous...

It's now 2 weeks since my form was sent on to Southampton (and 6 weeks since I submitted it to the gttr, amazing!) and I still haven't heard anything. I'm telling myself I'm just being eager/impatient, but one of the people who had an interview at Soton yesterday said she heard within 2 weeks of submitting her form... so that's got me into panic mode.

Well, panic mode as far as I ever panic - I'm generally quite a calm perosn, so I'm feeling ok about it... I just want to know!

Really looking forward to starting my voluntary work in KS1 after Christmas - fingers crossed it should be really good.

The only good thing about my applocation having been delayed for a while before of the reference stuff is it's given me a while to research anything and everything about primary education. Even though I haven't got an interview yet, I've been religiously reading the Guardian Education Section, and the TES, and whenever I have a moment free at work, I'm right there finding out more about every 'educational issue' under the sun. I think my brain may burst soon...!

On a personal front - we've got our survey back on the house we've had an offer accepted on, and it's pretty ok, so it's all systems go now...

Before work this morning, I headed to the aforementioned local primary school to meet with the headteacher... and from 4th January I'm going to be helping out in a year 1/2 class for one afternoon a week! I am so excited... but I have to wait 4 weeks until I start!

Now I'm hoping that if I get an interview (please please please) that it's not for a while - would be annoying to get one before I've actually started my 'recent experience'. Luckily I have loads of experience from a few years ago, but I really want to have some recent stuff before I go into interview. *Fingers crossed*

About 6 people who i've 'met' on the TES website have Primary interviews at Soton tomorrow, and I'm really excited for them... also feeling a little left out, as out of all the prospective soton people posting on the TES forum, only 2 of us don't have an interview tomorrow. Ah well, I'm sure our time will come...

Still nothing... no surprise there!

About 6 people on the TES board now have interviews on Tuesday, but at least I'm not alone - one other person hasn't heard back yet. My form's been with them for 8 days now, so hopefully I should hear next week...

On Monday I'm meeting with the headteacher of a local primary school to see if I can volunteer in the school for one afternoon a week for the next few months. I've got loads of infant and junior experience from a few years ago, but really want to get some more. Fingers crossed it works out... it's made me all happy thinking about it, and would really give me something to look forward to each week. :)

*sends interviewing sarah vibes to the university of southapton school of education*