Good luck Pam! Thinking of you. And hoping the minutes go slow today to give all the time for binding.....Fingers crossed ;-)

Hi Pam. It won't be crap. You'll get it done. Besides, there will be time to make corrections ( I know that's maybe not motivating) but I'm having trouble with my intro with discussion/concl still to write and I'm thinking it's crap too. At least external tells you whats wrong and how to correct it, at least, that's what I'm led to believe and that's what I'm thinking at the mo. At this stage, probably like you, energy is low. low. low.

You've done loads of work. It will be just fine. I'm sure. Now, just get the damn thing printed, be done with it and treat yourself.. Good luck and well done in advance.:-)

Yup! Definitely number 5 as well, although would add round several layers of fat have additionally been added to butt too!

Good luck Pam. So close. Just think, this is the last weekend of the slog. Deep breath. You can do it and then on Tueday. FREEDOM!!!! :-)

Hi Bella,

That is frustrating. I managed to get a mortgage when I started my PhD, in fairness just before the crash which was lucky because I'm sure even a few weeks later I don't think it would have been approved. My financial adviser was dubious about the stipend. It reduced the potential lenders a great deal and the only reason I was able to proceed was because my mum acted as guarantor for the mortgage. The flat is in my name but she's the one who shares the financial responsibility if mortgage not paid. Perhaps this could be an option? Good luck. It is tricky. I'd like to change my mortgage so full responsibility is mine but until I secure a 'proper' job I'm looking at continuing on my present 'bad' deal. The guarantor arrangement often makes interest payments higher.

Hello all,

Pam, I agree with Ribenagirl.. You'll get going, don't worry and in 5 days time. It'll be done. A dip is natural. Submission for me in 2 weeks. I had an overwhelming urge to leave my flat yesterday, to not be in front of computer, even though I've got quite a bit still to do. I also had comments back from supervisor who was pleased with recent chapters. Maybe the pressure off a bit with this type of validation and this slows things down a bit. Breaks are necessary though and as the weather was sunny here (for a change), a bit of Vitamin D can't but help.

I'm having an odd, cocooned feeling at the mo. I feel a combination of tiredness, feeling wired, not sleeping great, procrastination and stress. It's a very odd feeling. I'll be glad when I can shed my PhD skin in a fortnight, blink, and step back into the world again and start saying 'yes' to things. Roll on. Nearly there everybody....Good luck (up) ;-)

Dalmatian,

Thank you very much for your post. I'll take your advice and have a try. I hope it works. I have a tendency to poison formatting for some reason. I appreciate your offer of further help too and if I can't figure it out, I'll be back in touch. Thank a lot. :)

Good luck Pam and other fellow pushers! I've less than 3 weeks to go. Re-writing lit review which needs to be done today and sent to supervisors but I'm not feeling too confident about it. Oh well. Rest of week to re-jig a few bits, write intro and then the dreaded discussion/conclusion chapter which will no doubt take longer than I think as I'll have to go through the thesis to refresh what I've done and what I've found. Finding it hard to figure out my 'contribution' as I'm at the 'can't see the woods for the trees' stage. Had a total floopy last week about my appendices. How on earth do I put page numbers on pdf's and jpegs and how do I manage to put these into the 'final' doc???? Anyway, a bit clueless with stuff like that and additionally have little patience to 'figure it out'. Must find computer savvy admin person asap to assist I think. As I can see that taking way way longer than I have time for. Let's not even talk about the printing..... Also, laptop overuse has resulted in my left hand mouse button malfunctioning. It is now broken and this is proving rather annoying but no time to fix it so......SIGH!!! The joys. Roll on 11th August when the only thing I'll be worried about is that I drank one too many cocktails after submitting ;-) Good luck everybody....(up)

Hello again,

Stressed, my viva is in September, just under a month after submission. It'll be good to get it done. Weekend not been hugely productive I might add. Not sure why I'm in 2nd gear when so much to do still. Hoping today is more productive this end. Good luck to you and all the final pushers....:)

Hi all,

So, had meeting with supervisors to discuss re-writes of empirical chapters and mercifully it went really well. They were pleased with them. Phe- yew!! That was Thursday and since then, I feel as if I'm done!! Have been so procrastinating hence why on Saturday night I am on laptop til silly o'clock. Been editing/re-structuring a chapter that is just not behaving but it's done, well, abandoned. Can't spend any more time on it. Re-structure/edit methodology chapter tomorrow, re-write aims and plan re-write of literature review which I am NOT looking forward to. I'm giving myself 5 days for that, til Friday. Then 8 days to write intro and re-write discussion. That will take me to 28th July. Then all the pernikity stuff and editing/references (yuck!) the following week. I will also be hopefully waiting for comments from supervisors. I still have no title either? ! Jings! I am feeling a bit dis-organised in a sort of organised chaos way... I'm still waiting for the 'it'll come together' eureka moment.... Good luck everyone. Nearly there. I'm finding red wine in modest daily amounts is helping no end ;) ;-) have also just booked a trip away the day after viva. Come what may, I am getting on a plane. I have to say, that felt good. Thank goodness for credit cards.....

Pamw,

I hear you! Had a wedding last friday and was working like a fiend to get two chapters to supervisors. I kind of abandoned them as I just couldn't look at them anymore and didn't have time what with wedding stuff to get sorted. Had a few days off over weekend - lots of sleeping and blink! Today is Wednesday and I've hardly done a thing. I've been feeling a bit unwell and like you, just keep sleeping. Meeting tomorrow with sups so today have 2 chapters to edit/re-structure. Will be a late one. 30 days til submission.....OMG! Still lit review to re-draft, intro to write from scratch and discussion/conclusion to re-draft after all the other bits and bobs have been done. I'm just hoping no printer problems happen on the penultimate day but knowing my luck, it will be a huge rush at the end... Good luck. Sleep is good but I can't wait for guilt free snoozing.......30 days to go!!!

Pamw, that sounds knackering. I'm concentrating only doing the PhD at the mo but about a year and half ago I took leave of absence when I was working full-time although I still was dedicating 2 days a week to the PhD - I had loads of transcribing to do. It was very, very tiring. You must have loads of stamina!
I'm shattered all the time at the mo. Having loads of sleepless nights filled with worry! I've still loads to do. Finishing off re-writes of 2 empirical chapters today to send to supervisors tonight. Two chapters to re-structure and edit next week and a lit review to re-write as well as intro and discussion. 5 weeks til submission - eek! The thing is, I'm at that stage where I actually can't stand this horrible anxiety jumpy feeling about whether 'it's good enough' and the amount of hours I'm working is totally unsustainable. So why does it still feel like I'm not getting anywhere with it!!! 5 weeks it'll be in but in some ways would like another month! Even though I don't. Hmmmm. I feel that after all these years of work that it should be better. Not that I know what 'better' would look like. Perhaps that's a normal feeling at this stage....Hope everyone in the final push has productive day today.

BB(up)

I agree wholeheartedly about the 'killing time, waiting for life to begin.' I'm beginning to think 'no' is my middle name as anything remotely social and fun (which steers me away from laptop and just induces guilt) is met with 'no, can't.' I'm beginning to doubt I'll have any friends at this rate.

I've also begun to rename the PhD as the Persistent happiness Detractor! ! I mean, that is what I do for fun these days - rename things. OMG! I got to get out more.

After this I too vow to do the following:
Eat and drink lots and not feel at all guilty about it.
Have some damn fun! Go to gigs, theatre, art shows - get a bit of culture. Meet up with chums. Vow to not spend another weekend at home for at least 2 months!!
Exercise - anything will be more energetic that sitting on lardy bum doing PhD.
Have a holiday. Anywhere. Or maybe several.
The list of 'things to do after PhD' is getting pretty big this end......seems to be the only carrot which is keeping me going.

So, 6 weeks today til final submission. Still soooooo much to do. Grrr.
Good luck all....

hi all,
6 weeks til submission for me. Every time I look at my calendar the looming date makes me feel sick! I've sort of finished one of the empirical chapters I was re-writing for ages it seems. On to the next chapter re-write but hoping this one won't be quite so arduous. Then edit and reference check and off to supervisors for final thoughts by middle of next week. I have a wedding next Friday so want them to have a read before supervisory meeting the week after. Still soooooooooooooo much to do. Working hours have been stupid lately and it just feels like Groundhog day, everyday at the mo. Very tiring. Anyone else feel like they're turning into a blob sitting for so long?? I certainly do....
Good luck to us finalists!! (up)

Hi there,

Do you mind if I join? I'm in the final push although feel as though I've been there for some time. Also, still feel like there's loads to do. Got my external sorted and final, final submission date is in 7 weeks which is making me feel a bit sick!
Battling away re-writing empirical chapters at the mo. Have to re-write lit review, discussion, intro from scratch and amendments to methodology and incorporate supervisor points in some of the chapters too! Why then with so much to do, do I have writer's block today, yet I've been sitting at computer for hoursssssssssss :-s

Good luck to all who are pushing......My thoughts are with you.

Bb