I am conscious that I have not updated the diary for a while but time just seems to disappear. I am taking two subjects this year and it seems to take up the entire week. I have not had time for hill walking or tennis so I may consider in the next academic year only taking one subject. Since the purpose is to study as a hobby, I am in no hurry to graduate and I am enjoying being a student.

On the question of time, I don't know how most students fit in three subjects, a job and a social life. Is it because they are young? I really don't know the answer. Maybe, they are just bright and don't need to spend so much time studying. I am constantly surprised at how bright and perceptive my young colleagues are as I don't remember being like that at their age. Yet they say there is 'dumbing down' in education. I can't believe it from what I see at University but then I have been lucky enough to study in very high demand subjects where possibly I am meeting the cream of the school leavers. You can disagree with me if you like and I would like to hear your views.

On a lighter note, the refurbishment at the Mature Students Association (MSA) is completed with only the window blinds to be installed. It has taken a year to reach this stage but I am pleased my tenacity and determination has paid off and we now have a light, clean, airy facility to study and relax in.

The MSA continues to attract new members and we have lots of people from overseas. We have had a few international lunches in the kitchen at Oakfield Avenue to sample dishes from the different countries. We also had a great Xmas Party with a glamorous Santa and recently, a night out at the Grand Ol Opry.

Despite all this socialising I am still very committed to my studies. I still do better in exams than essays as I am good at cramming but I sometimes learn too much for essays resulting in burnout when I finally put pen to paper, or finger to key as it is now. You can imagine my dismay when I heard that level two Film and TV Studies this semester did not have an exam but an essay!

Anyway, I refuse to be beaten and I will get down to doing these essays. I love the subjects passionately and look forward to each block. Film and Television Studies has certainly stretched me with the concentration of academic readings relating to the weekly film screening and Theatre Studies continues to fascinate me.

There is so much support at the University and I cannot praise enough the Service for Disabled Students where the staff are so sympathetic and helpful and also Computing Services where they even sort out computer problems for technophobes like me

If you want to study part time at Glasgow University from September, now is the time to go and see the Faculty Adviser of Studies. They are extremely helpful and you won't regret the decision to study. My brain is much sharper than it was 18 months ago!

Summer 2007 is over and what a memorable one it has been. I finished climbing all 284 Munros. It has taken me fourteen years in rain, hail, snow and sometimes sunshine with high winds thrown in for good measure. So much for that achievement but it is now back to the new semester at University.

As the Secretary of the Mature Students' Association, I have been battling to have our premises upgraded as they do look a bit worn and shabby. The University Court have agreed on the upgrading and the work needed has been fully costed so hopefully most of the work will be done this year. Fingers crossed.

The other news is that the Herald featured me in an article on 9 August as a mature student studying as a hobby and not as an entry to a career. I hope this has inspired others to consider studying for a degree of their choice. The journalist remarked on my looking ten years younger than my actual age but I am not sure if she meant that studying keeps you young. Maybe I have found the secret of eternal youth at Glasgow University!

On to academic matters, I have decided to study two subjects this year as I know my way around the campus and the computer now. I am on level 2 Film and TV Studies and continue to find the subject fascinating. Already, I have ideas for the essay due next month and I certainly don't have the fear and trepidation of essay writing that I had this time last year.

My new subject is Theatre Studies which I love. The fellow students are so friendly and many have a background in drama at school and in the community so we are all bonding very quickly. We need to see lots of productions so already I am starting to appreciate theatre more.

I am thoroughly enjoying this year studying subjects I am interested in and are in fact my hobbies. It looks like this is going to be a good Semester.

I passed my exam in May and I am now in the summer vacation. I did a lot of reading and revision but I realise much of it was unnecessary and I would actually have got a better mark by doing a bit more researched reading to put in some original thought to the exam questions. Being at University has been a huge learning curve and every aspect of the work has to be considered to find the best way of doing things to pass essays and exams. Although the discipline for writing essays and sitting exams is important, it is only a part of learning and I hope the test of memory will stave off the dementia!

I enjoyed my first year as a part time student immensely and I hope that with all the foundation work I have done, I will be relatively relaxed next year into the routine and enjoy the learning even more. I have to see my Adviser of Studies in early September to discuss the subjects for next year when I hope to push the boat out and study two subjects. My choices are Level Two Film and TV Studies and Level One Theatre Studies. I think this includes an element of acting so should suit my exuberant personality well.

I won tickets at the Students' Union for T in the Park and had a great day at Balado singing and dancing to Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys (takes me back!), Arcade Fire, My Chemical Romance and Seonaid O'Connor. We even managed a dance in the ceilidh tent despite the mud. It was my first outdoor music Festival so University has certainly opened up a whole new life for me. I can see me yet down at the Students' Union dancing Saturday night away!

During the vacation, I have been down at the University being involved with the Mature Students' Association. It has become something of a crusade for me fighting to have the premises upgraded and modernised. Last week, I was interviewed by Ihe Herald for an article on being a mature student part time and today I had my photo taken at the Gilbert Scott building so keep your eyes peeled for the feature.

I am off now to enjoy the rest of the vacation and bag some Munros if the weather holds. Don’t forget, if you want to register as a part time student for the Academic year 2007/08, you need to make contact with the appropriate Faculty Adviser of Studies by early September. Information is on the University of Glasgow website at www.gla.ac.uk .