oh even more congratulations are in order then if the doldrums have been going on for that long! :-)

It's a lovely feeling when you feel you have turned a corner isn't it BilboBaggins? :-)
x

Hi Gearoid,

In your first line you say you have three supervisors - can you talk to the third about these problems? Alternatively do you have a Director of Research you could have chat to?

I think it is clear your second supervisor doesn't have enough experience to supervise on his own, but by your main supervisor taking a back seat it sounds like this is what is happening. If he thinks there is not enough mileage in your reserach, why not stroke his ego a bit and ask for his suggestions on how you can improve it in his opinion? e.g. add another study or add on another methodoloy to look at the topic from 2 angles.... is that an option for you?

Do you have joint supervisions with both supervisors? Maybe this could be the way forward? Afterwards you can email round minutes so you are all aware of the outcomes and singing of the same hymn sheet and also you can agree deadlines in the meetings for feedback return.

L x

Hello!

Often the posts on here are cries for help so thought I would post something positive!

I'm feeling really good about my PhD progress this morning (that may change this afternoon mind you!) so though I would embrace the good feeling as these can feel few and far in between! :p

I've realised that I can get the majority of my analysis chapters drafted before Christmas which will give me a much needed boost and good chance at finishing on time!! Which I'm really excited about - I am making progress!!! whoop!!

I think it's really important we acknowledge that we are doing well, that we are working hard and dammit that we have results!! :-)

Anyone else want to share something positive about their work at the moment? What are you proud of at the moment?

L xxx

Hi lilbobeep,

Please don't worry too much. My supervisor once told me that my thesis doesn't have to be perfect - just 'good enough'. Everyone will have niggling doubts aout their work, i know a friend of mine who was spotting typos on the way to their viva for example!

As Teek said your supervisor wouldn't agree to submit you if they didn't think there was a chance

Do you have a deadline for the viva? I think at our uni you have to have your viva within 3 months of submission... maybe check with your postgrad office?

xxx

i may be able to that at the end of the writing process sneaks - as i'm still writing the 'small text' could end up several pages away! I think i'm just going to have to crack on with writing and then figure it out at the end.... which doesn't sit well with my obsessive/perfectionist personality!! xx

I'm in humanties and my supervisor does comment on my work directly so LaTex may not be best. The problem I have specifically is section breaks and footnotes. I have to use continuous section breaks so that I can use line numbering for my extracts, but this messes up the footnotes.... so i have a couple of pages that just look awful!!

My IT dept. have basically said that it is an acknowledged problem with word which microsoft aren't going to fix and they can only suggest that i turn footnotes into endnotes (and actually got quite arsey with me too!). In the 200-odd page thesis I don;t think endnotes are appropriate and endnotes at the end of the chapter won't work because of the continuous section breaks.... ARGH!!

I know it is a minor problem, but it is irritating me so much!

Glad I'm not the only one who has moments of hating word!!!

Hey,

This week seems to be taken over by Word and its glitches. Problems with footnotes and section breaks means that some of my pages look ridiculous!

The IT dept. have admitted defeat and say there is nothing they can do and I'm just sick of it! :-s

I know it is only a small problem, but I have a feeling it is going to be an annoyance right until the end - ARGH!!

Anyone else wanting to throw their computers out the window today?!

L x

Hi Sheyna
I'm on target to finish for next summer (2010) - barring any disasters!! - and we'll hopefully get married in 2011. I know we have a lifetime toghter, so there is no rush. As I've said I'm just ready to move on to the next stage of my life! Have you set a date for the wedding yet?
xx

Ev - I to love doing a PhD and would never change that. It is difficult trying to balance your and your partner career/training aspirations isn't it? I sometimes feel like he is waiting for me to finish so he can move on with his career!! Has your boyfriend completely decided against going back to uni now or do you think that could change?


Clv101 - Personally we don't want to compromise on our wedding plans and would rather wait until we can afford to pay for a wedding without getting in to debt. It's different for everyone, but my priorities are different. It's not the PhD that is holding me back, but the uncertainty of jobs afterwards. If I spent several thousands on my wedding (which is what most weddings cost) then found myself unemployed for several months I would regret getting married, which is something I never want to do. Also, we didn't get engaged until winter my 1st year, which meant by the time we saved enough to pay for a wedding we would be happy with, the wedding would be during my final year which - as I've said in earlier posts - would I believe be too much stress for me while writing up. Everyone's situation is different, but we have agreed to wait after several long long conversations planning our future and have decided that waiting is best for us.

L x

barn dance sounds great!! we are planning a wedding abroad with a big party when we get back - not a chair sash or organza bag in sight!! :-)
xx

you mean you don't take cream vs. ivory chair covers to be a serious issue!?!? ;-)

oh I know I joined that forum when we first got engaged - crazy!! put me off a large 'traditional' wedding that's for sure!! ;-) x

Hey,

We have chosen to delay getting married as we will probably have to move to a new area when i get a job next year so that is our financial priority. We could afford to get maried now, but this would mean no house deposit (and a struggle to save up again in time) and the stress of planning a wedding while writing up is something i would rather avoid!! Actually buying a house is not a priority for us and as for children I would like to be secure in my career before I get pregnant. We wouldn't be able to afford to have children on just my partner's wage so a sabbatical is out of the question too. Anyway there is no way we could afford childcare as a PhD student!!

We are doing the right thing by waiting - I am positive of that - it is just hard sometimes when I'm ready to move on with the next stage of my life, but am unable too until I finish the PhD and get a job

xx

it is so difficult not knowing about jobs when plans revolve around them isn't it!? I hope you and your hubby manage to come to a decision! What about part-time work? that would at least secure some income? xx