Hey chrisrolinski - my goldfish of six years died lst month. I was actually quite sad and missed his little dancing mug about my kitchen. Rubbish news about your bike too.. The chapter will work out though - I was in the doldrums with my second chapter last week and yesterday it worked itself out, ta-da! Such is the nature of this work...


Do you guys really work all night?! I need sunlight to work personally. And working into the night reminds me of the days at uni #1, being a slack undergrad and pulling 'allnighters' with pro plus (to get in a 2000 word essay where reading list was seven books long and the answer was probably in the title...). so working at night actually makes me feel naughty and unorganised.

Bad tortellini!

It was beautiful weather last night, so waaaaaarm. And today it rains.

Great.

Congratulations!

am leaving academia after the PhD. Am tired of university/education...

(I have two magpies in my garden too. I forgot to explain that similarity...)

Hmm well I used to say a rhyme every time I saw a magpie on their own to de jinx myself and it got rather tiresome so I befriended them instead. I still have to mutter my rhyme when I see one anywhere else though.

Depends how superstitious/prone to OCD tendencies one is I suppose!!

complaining directly to me that is, not in general. Am not sat here being defensive and angry. !!!

I love the weather Not really up north though, it is always cloudy... I like southern english weather aye. I don't like non-English people complaining about the weather, for some insane reason I get quite defensive.

!

GOOD LUCK! What an achievement when it's done!

generally you will always mention the weather if having a conversation with someone you don't really know. To chat about the weather is perfectly fine, if not just downright good. The weather changes continuously and is a wonderful source of fascination for us. I was watching curb your enthusiasm the other day and realised that the weather never ever changes. that would depress the life out of me...


In fact, I just had a convo about the weather with my boyfriend because I just realised I was very hot in my office. The sun is out! WOOO!

hehe smilodon

ooh yes, you could be a poor student! I didn't mean that the sup carries you through the PhD, no no. I mean it would be a bad sup that let me submit and go to viva when he knew (must know) my work/ideas were rubbish - that's their job as I see it - to let you know when you are good/bad and, yes, otherwise leave you to it...

Yes I am keen to get published - after this chapter, or maybe after the fieldwork when I am not so speculative.

Am not at all worried about the Viva part of things really and from what you guys have said it sounds similar to what I thought. I don't see how or why anyone would want to tear you apart, or even if it is possible once you have got to that stage to 'fail' a viva. If you do then WOW you have had a bad sup!!!

You seem to know exactly what you have to do - I think all you have to do now is sit down, plan it and write it out!

Am I being naive/optimistic but is the VIVA necessarily horrible and difficult? Or is it a thorough chat about your PhD - the last chat you will ever have about it? How will you not know it inside and out when you have spent three/four years thinking about it most days and the last year writing it up? Could it not be remotely enjoyable - surely if you have submitted you can be confident and proud that it is a reasonable project?

... I only hear negative things so am sure I am being terribly naive... Please put me straight!