http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sogKUx_q7ig

No problimo wal.

See I did win, here's the evidence: http://blog.instantcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/oscars-732859.jpg I'm off to put it on a shelf in my downstairs loo.


Someone, it's as the thread title says: the last one to post on the thread wins.

That is funny... if incredible.

I won! I won! I won! Am off to spend my winnings, hopefully I'll keep my head and won't succumb to lottery winners' syndrom, thus having a westend musical written about me. See ya!

======= Date Modified 26 Jan 2010 02:40:36 =======
I am finally going to bed after prepping my teaching, and will get only a few hours sleep before the HE boot camp begins all over again. One day I will work on my PhD again...

But at least I WON!!! YES!!!!!! I WON and nobody can take that away from me, not now, not ever.

CRICKEY, I WON TWICE: should have done the lottery today, hey it' s a new day already, amybe, just maybe...

I am finally going to bed after prepping my teaching, and will get only a few hours sleep before the HE boot camp begins all over again. One day I will work on my PhD again...

But at least I WON!!! YES!!!!!! I WON and nobody can take that away from me, not now, not ever.

mwaaaahhhaahaha, my cunning plan is working: here, have some left over turkey curry too (turkey) I'm sure it won't be rotten, mouldy or full of salmonela (he,he,he)

KKKKyyyyyyyeeeeerrrrrrrrBANG! That's what you get for falling asleep on the job - toppled from the throne in an instant.

Hiya KB, here's mine:

1. I would not have read every single book I consulted from cover to cover, but, instead, sensibly just read the bits I need (this was a mistake made on the advice of my rubbish first supervisor).
2. I would worry less (still should).
3. I would read William's book on writing style at the very beginning as part of my preparation, and taught myself to write as well as possible in the early stages.
4. I would make sure I had the best supervisor possible straight away, settling never works for me... (oh dear I hope my anonymity is still sound).
5. I would join this forum, it certainly helped me when getting out of a sticky, multi faceted mess and you can pick up all manner of brilliant info and advice.
6. I would go out and socialise as much as possible early on while I could still afford it and had the time.

Hi again, Yeah, I agree with Rick on the editing thing. There is some famous writer, whose name I forget, but whose advice to emerging/wannabe writers is to 'throw away your babies', meaning that, even some of those prescious, lovely passages have to go for the sake of a good overall piece. This is absolutely the case in my discipline, my sup calls it 'putting things in the re-cycling draw' and sees it as the foundations of my future academic output (very flattering! but not, I hope, too optimistic), so still very useful indeed, even though it doesn't go in the thesis.

It's alright someone, you don't have to be good to go on come dine with me... To be honest, I'm all turkeyed out at the minute...

Hi Angel, I got my academic Mojo back by getting a paper accepted at a top of the league conference and by, eventually, getting a place with a supa-dupa supervisor who really likes my research idea, and some of my writing - or at oeast a few paragraphs of it! The fact that I have always felt comfortable with, and happy doing, academic work and wanted it as a career helped me to push through and find it again. I think fighting them and wining helped me an awful lot, nowadays, with distance, it gives me a kind of hardbitten confidence - I know something of how the system, and some people work, and forewarned is fore-armed. I'm a fighter, so I have often been told: when my back is against the wall I come out fighting like an ally cat (even though at the time I felt suicidal). We all have our own ways of dealing with things, and perhaps this isn't yours, but I think the really important thing is to not let them take anything from you that you really want; if you wanted an academic career, then push for it, get published independently of the PhD, use the pressure positively and prove them wrong, stick two fingers up at them (and much worse if you feel like it - which I'm sure you do!). If what you wanted was a stable, interesting, reasonably well paid career, make sure you get that. I hope this makes sense; don't let them steal from you if you can possibly help it. Come here for support if you need it, I know the wreckage and hopelesseness this kind of situation can bring, and we're a supportive bunch. Also, ask for support from your friends and family, mine were life savers.

Ha ha someone, I can see through your cunning plot...

Hi Angel, I'm afraid I can't really advise you as I am nowhere near the viva stage, let alone knowledgable about the kinds of procedures you describe, but I want to offer you my moral support in this dreadful situation, and share my success story in similar dire straits. I went through a similar experience at Masters level and came out with a pass, basically because I have a family member who is a hot shot union rep at a university and, basically, slaughtered them; do you know anyone like this? Have you tried the students' union? Although when I tried them they just told me that academics at high levels have 'carte blanche' and they couldn't do anything about it - not true at all, as it happened. Keep any evidence you have: emails, all feedback notes you have ever had, records of your achievement etc because you do not know what might be useful in the furture if there is a case. There may be an educational lawyer who can help, or someone else. You can also sue for damage to your health, something I chose not to do because I just wanted to get the hell away and get on with my life. It also put me off academia for a ouple of years, maybe you'll get your mojo back too. Best of luck, Esk X