yeah! I have been watching and the moment is upon us..they are going to meet against the time (er..clocktower) and the rest is history

listening to crowded house..dont dream it's over..hey now, hey now...
(..and I am not doing any work)

DanB, since you seem like a pretty good critic of your work and mistakes you make, wouldn't it be a sensible thing (or maybe to save your a**)to go over your jumpy report and sloppy graphs in the few days that you have until friday's viva. you know it might be a good idea..while you are hanging around the computer writing critical reviews of your work to this forum

then as the Donkey started crying this became such a joke to the Monster, it laughed and laughed so much which made the ground beneath to shake and the guards of the underworld came to see what was happening.

I have to agree with Hillyg about having comments being a positive thing. Although the red ink is an eye sore, try to read the comment and if they are not plausible, you can always get back to the sup and ask the reason for making that comment. Remember, the more mistakes or improvements that are shown is better than coming to the thesis writing point when you cannot afford to write things all over again.

oh well, I might as well join in. I have no confidence in how to get through this and sometimes it scares me and a lot of may bee's go round and round in my head..a job would have given me more sanity and others would not have hated my miserable face so much. Anyway I had a deadline for a report (7000-10,000)and the way I am going its going to be blown away. The past few days I have fooled around the flat, watched daytime TV (arrgh..) and didnt add a word to the report (but writing very nicely here..shame). Yes, thats it! My motivation, enthusaism and my good mood have all joined together on a very long holiday to sunny southern spain and since the airport delays are causing chaos, they refuse to come back! oh dear am I in big trouble, I should get a PR company to hire them back as they have aalready stopped treating me like family :-o (yawn at my moan)

Donkey..Egypt..thesis...Where am I ? nO WAY this is not the postgrad forum that I used know..Now wait a minute, maybe I went on time travelling with Dr.Who, into the far away plant of Postdoc and they attacked me with actual published papers and grant money and now I have amnesia or brain injury that imparies the past memory about this place.

Well why am I not surprised to find another 'me' on this site. Guess we are only human postgrads (and aliens to outside world) who are trying to show that we lead a normal life (..whatever that means)

i am supposed to work from home and believe me I do try my best to do that, but as you know its not exactly going to the plan and everyone thinks that you are just getting money for sitting around..

its been a while since I joined the fun..but I m in!

if you quit, before you are paid for the start of the next academic year (sep/oct) then I dont think there is any payback. But even if you do I think its better to sit the viva at the end of year, let them (the uni/grad school) know why you think you want to quit. Second point, if you have come up with few ideas before and if you can still generate more ideas, then 3 weeks for coming up with a proposal as a first year report may not be impossible since you have done your background work. It doesnt have to be grand but coherent and make some sense to a person who knows your area. I guess, if you write it and want to present it for the viva then your Supervisor cant say no to that & you are ready for the outcome either way. This is like a trial, you can argue a case with good evidence -your proposal (good or bad). My feeling is that you probably should decide "to quit or not to quit " after the viva. Let us know what happens.

Well Done so you are on the boat now! let us know what happens and how things are going.

I know that you have ruled out doing a masters. In my case it was the best thing i did for so many reasons. I was not confident to do a phd but tried applying after my degree but found that I wasn't getting there. So as a last minute decision, started a masters, then it became more easier and effective in every way. I got to know people with links to projects, supervisors, then found an opportunity to do some related voluntary work and the lecturers in my masters gave their best support in helping me to try for a phd place. This is my stroy and hope that it will help you in some way. Have you tried all the cancer charities and their links, its never too late, I hope you will find a place

Ok, The war on tumble dryers and dishwashers is officialy declared. Eventhough I said i liked the tumble dryer it was only when I was in student halls, now as a phd student I dont spend money on those rubbish electronic products :-X

I never liked those things, tumble dryers are very handy in winter but washing the dishes for me is a time for myself to think, Dont think I would enjoy it though, after a dinner party for 10 :-0