h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

when people send me their CVs.

Trouble is, if they don't mention the word 'dog' at least once, it's just a big fat waste of time.

I have no idea what most of her qualifications mean, I'd have to google. :blush: And seeing a DOB of 1991 being old enough to have a job is terrifying!

No need to google, you know there are several teachers here. We'll decode for you!

1991? That's younger than my daughters! And I can't claim to have teenagers for much longer. Moonlight is 20 next month.

I suppose you could always advertise in Horse and Hound.

BTEC National Diploma, Drama
QCA Level 2 Maths

No idea what they are! Worked out what GCSEs are, but what's a 'single award'?

I haven't been advertising, I just randomly get these sent through every now and then. The last one was just after xmas a taxi driver who'd started running for fitness wanted to run with some dogs to earn extra money but wanted me to deliver dogs to him at a time he chose as he had 'no intention of putting any dogs in my taxi'!

People have noooooooo idea.

The 20 just sank in. 20? 20!? Wasn't she 14 a few minutes ago?

The Btech and the Level 2 maths were probably done at college as 16+ courses but she might have had a year or two off. Level 2 in anything means that it's about the educational level of a GCSE - but it's not the same as a GCSE. Maybe she didn't get the GCSE at school?

Single award in what? Is it science of some kind?

And yes, 20. Shocking I know! Almost finished the second year of her degree. She made a brief overnight stop on her way somewhere else this week, first time I've seen her since January.

Yes,both science:

Add Science: single award: C
Science: single award: B

Maths, she got an E. Tch. Shouldn't be sharing these things.

The thing is, when I was at school, doing the last year of O'levels, we were told the point of merging the CSE and O'level was that every grade was a pass. It was supposed to finish C and above is a pass, or 3 and above (I got an E in an O'level but only tell people I passed the CSE as it was a joint paper). Only a U was supposed to be a fail.

So, why would she need to retake when she clearly passed with her E?

"So, why would she need to retake when she clearly passed with her E?"

I'm guessing but it may have been a pre-requisite of her FE course, that if students don't have a C or above then they continue with the Level 2.

In the new 14-19 Diploma subjects, all students must pass Functional Skills qualifications in Maths, English and ICT - even if they already have them at GCSE. So a student could have, for example a Maths GCSE grade C, fail the Functional Skills Level 2 and then not be able to complete their Diploma in Creative Art and Media.

Things don't seem to have got any simpler!

In a nut shell, her educational standards indicate someone of reasonable ability intellectually and a commitment to completing courses = reliable.

How good she is at controlling dogs, particularly fiesty terriers, that's your area of expertise (V. Stilwell ). We have to remember, sadly , hunting with dogs is banned under current UK law. Disturbing the peace of the countryside and 'accidently' molesting the local wild-life is frowned upon at the very least. My WFT, could be a sod if he got scent of something, then when I wanted him to tackle an univited guest (Rat) that had the audacity to wander across the back garden a couple of summers ago, the awkward devil just lay basking in the sun and thinking "Oh, luvvy, I'm far too pedigree to do the bitey stuff. Please don't pester me". I had to get my stave and do the job myself and he didn't even move I didn't realise at the time he was unwell with cancer, though he was as feisty and happy right up to the moment he dropped in the garden. The vet, very kindly, told me he was fading fast, deeply unconcious and I knew what she was going to say It'd been quicker and easier for me, had I known, just to have let him have a coup de grace with both barrels in the garden.

What's hunting with dogs got to do with Mina's business? Last time I checked she wasn't a member of the local hunt

*Imagines Mina riding out with her faithful hounds and giggles at the thought of Westies, Yorkies and greyhounds milling around under the horse*

I did wonder myself. And I think it's okay to hunt with two dogs.

or something.

I should have added when referring to Mina hunting. My mind often goes wandering off places without me
I was merely alluding to the control of packs of dogs in a manner Whether walking or exercising in the countryside with ones over and under at the ready.

BTQ It's not ok to hunt with two dogs under current legislation You couldn't make it up, or perhaps you could with Politicians involved

Your protegee, Mina, must be able to control excitable dogs and ythat is your area of expertise Tally ho!!!

Yes, you can hunt with two dogs - although I think they call it 'stalking and flushing' as long as it's below ground, and as I said, rabbits can be hunted, and rats (pest control).

And yes, I know exactly what my job involves, and thus what any assistant would have to do.

You can stalk an flush with any number of dogs, but the quarry has to be dispatched with the trusty over and under

Despite the distractions of games of late, as I said, judgement of your recruits on handling skills is most definately your remit I was a terrier man, myself, and he'd take on anything when in the mood - an uncut full pedigree male. My parents always had WFT's, I was brought up in a very rural community, our WFT's used to transform the lawns into the 'Somme' They needed very strong discipline and handling They did exactly as I told them.

On the basis of your prospective assistant's qualifications, I would judge a reasonable level of education along with commitment to complete courses. I base that on my experience having a 2:2 in Management and Business studies, I wasn't out bumping off the enemy all the time Just a lazy student, part time

The Fox Terriers do seem to be a bit sharp. I looked after one as a puppy (smooth) and he was reasonably okay, but the WFT I was walking has just been sent down for 6 weeks, and it was a WFT that pinned the puppy I look after to the floor.

That's rather sad I blame the owners, they really ought to be vetted before being allowed to purchase a puppy, presumably by some one as experienced as yourself The is a pet and needs to know it's place in the family hierachy, at the bottom!
You only have to watch episoes of "It's me or the dog" with the lovely V. Stillwell, to see how profoundly stupid some people can be, it's a pet, not a child
It's simple tricks, like feeding them after you and family have eaten that draws the firm boundries required. Though I do concede your techniques and ability would be far greater than my own. I was brought up with working hounds and family pets (WFT's) though we did go ratting with the WFT's, far more ecologically sound than putting out poison (indescriminate killer) or blowing holes in the wood work with the over and under

> it's a pet, not a child

Although, interestingly, similar discipline techniques seem to work for both. When the kids are very little, anyway - you adapt as they get better able to communicate.

Mol

You're so right, Mol. I hadn't thought of that - It's simply a matter of keeping them all in one place and stopping them from fighting

Vic Stillwell is an actress.

My son was 'trained' in a similar way to my first dog. I was told, tell him once, then make him do it. That worked with J and I loved watching my friends telling their kids three times, watching them do the naughty thing then moaning 'they never do what I tell them'.