I'm supposed to be practising my final year talk but after going through it six times I need a break, hence this thread.

How are you going to celebrate passing your PhD? Or what did you do? (Apart from drinking yourself silly in the local watering hole) :-) For me I'm going to have a relaxing weekend in either Paris or Amsterdam with my girlfriend.

(Sorry this is a random question, but my brain is hurting and I thought I'd add a positive thread).

I'm currently based in the UK (third year), but trying to apply for a PostDoc in Australia... (Several actually, CV's flying everywhere).

Know how you feel, fed up with my PhD. Currently have the anti-rose tinted glasses and convenced that everyone else's PhD's are a lot better. You're not alone, just think about the end result, you'll get there, we all will. All the best, Andy

Don’t know if anyone else is going through this or has been in a similar situation but here goes. Currently in my third year (science PhD), with 6 months left and I’m in a state of perpetual fear. I honestly don’t believe I’ve got enough results at the moment to pass. My project has taken a long time to get sorted and although I have got some results (although I’m not keen on them), there is nowhere near enough. Colleagues of mine have papers coming out of their ears, I have 1. I’m terrified of writing up. Any advice?

Well if the Postgrad Forum team allow avatars that could be very interesting...

The artist formerly known as Mia? Does this mean she's going to be represented by a funny symbol in the future?

Put some reactions on and then thought it would be a wonderful idea to read some research papers outside. In about 2 hours read the first few lines of one abstract, so not good (Although I don't look so pasty anymore!)

Gypsy Broomfield (not the greatest of porn names...)

Going to the pub for lunch, will probably have scampi and chips, haven't had that in ages! (Although there is the possibility of a steak and ale pie...)

-Dungeons and Dragons
-Bravestar
-Transformers

Quality...

£250 pcm for a nice house in a good area (not too many chavs...).

Jewel - pretty much all of them really. Really just wondered if anyone had had any problems. The whole reason for this thread is due to the fact that myself and a postdoc were having coffee early this morning when one of the new lecturers sat down and opened the flood gates to the problems he's having at the moment with one Professor trying to stab another in the back, another moan about another lecturer who is rapidly running out of money and one final whinge about a Professor whose Science is solid, has loads of money but is such an twat that no one can work for him yet he has a lot of sway in the department.

This a just "out of interest" posting. I was wondering if anyone had encountered any problems, during their PhD, which was related, or caused by University politics?

As an undergrad I was completely oblivious to the politics in the department, and was glad to be naive, now, unfortunately, they are all too apparent now.

It's not easy but try to stay sane

If your PhD teaches anything it'll be patience and perserverance. It's not easy and even though 80 % of the time it feels like an exceptionally stressful and hard slog, you'll find that there are moments where everything becomes clear and you'll have a stint of runaway success with your results (that'll the other 20 %)