I have met people who have had a really good experience here - just not very many....

Many people roll over their MPhil into a PhD so they will have had course work and exams in their first year.

That is a good point badhaircut. There are a lot of jobs that are at least as much work and stress (I've had one). The difference is though, that people do generally realise that those jobs involve certain amounts of work and stress - whereas many people think a PhD is a 3-year pre-job holiday.

My cats drive me crazy when I'm working. There's no peace from about 2 hours before they get fed - scratching on my (open) door, jumping on my papers, sitting on my keyboard....

The diet totally died

''I have a first class undergradute degree , on course for a distinction in my current masters.
So if its accademics i may not be all that bad.''

Hmmm - well I have to tell you that that is far from rare in these parts! Not sure what the criteria tbh.

look into accommodation with a parking - but I still think you should get a bike for town. It's flat here - you can do it really you can. If I can cycle here - anyone can.

Lyra - you are a bit closer to my field. But I don't have any revelry to put up with unless you count my 2.5 year-old who can get pretty bumptious. Nice old colleges - very central.

Few people actually live literally 'in' college for more than a year or two (if that). Then you are in college digs around town.

When you keep printing off 'lost' articles that turn up soon after complete with repeated annotations....

And what happens to all my decent pens? There must be a pen goblin in my house.

Olivia - My official deadline is Jan 09 but I REALLY want to submit by Xmas. I'll race you - loser buys the champers!

Hey Olivia when are you due to submit? We're both in our final year right? Maybe we should have some champagne

Misery loves company - and I'm sure I've done a lot of that in my time. I still like to compalin a lot (in case you hadn't noticed!).

Well I can't say I planned to be doing either the baby thing or the grad school thing this late in life but I'm not ready to be put out to pasture just yet TYVM!

Xeno - I have a very good friend in particular that I am finding hard going - I really don't know how many more veiled put-downs I can weather. I do weather them though, because I know she is unhappy with her own life but I just so wish I could basically put a rocket up her and get her to really deal with that.

My parents were always completely baffled by my life choices. It's funny isn't it - to think that some kids are pushed and pushed and we are just left, unacknowledged.

Yup - the baby and the PhD both confound people. I like to tell people my age in case they think I'm just a badly worn 35 year-old!

Xeno - I think it is sometimes. Some people seem to be personally aggrieved if you don't knuckly down and accept unsatisfying, boring work. I remember trying to explain (many years ago) to my mother that I was bored with my job. She replied:'Do you think I like my job? Do you think your father likes his job? Who are you that you should like your job?' I used to think it was just my family but I'm astonished at how pervasive this miserable attitude is.

Jojo - fortunately my husband isn't the problem - but I'm surprised at the people who do seem to think like this. People I wouldn't always expect.

Are you going to celebrate?

Wow Martha - congratulations on being about to submit.

Xeno - I often feel it is an elephant in the room too. It's interesting how differently some people react. Some people are really interested and excited about it - and some people definitely have some sort of problem with it (and treat my husband like he's a saint for 'allowing' it grrrrrrrrr).