Yeah Caz, you've rally started something now; I dunno about Wally's story thread hitting being the creative nadir of PhD life, we have a new contender. Here's my effort (of sorts):

The legend of Sir Wally

AAAaaahhh, Sir Wally of the forum,
So many Postgraduate dragons slain,
So many lonely evenings saved,
With your wit and charm,
There can never be alarm,
At the perils of PhD life,
Or the student's stress and strife,

Arise Sir Wally, Great Sir Wally of the forum,
Do not be afraid of the dark path ahead,
Of the hoary viva threesome, who may wish you dead,
Just know that you are Wally, the dragon slayer,
Whose trusty weapons are wit and a confident prayer,
With these yee will slay, and yee will conquer,
So go boldly, Sir Wally, and know you are a stonker.


In the style of Robert Browning ... for some reason dunno why hmmm.

Awwww Wally ((((((((((((((big hugs))))))))))))))) (sorry, best I can manage - I'm rubbish at rhyming ;-) )

This too shall pass my friend, in a few years you'll look back on this and laugh with joyful pleasure at being Dr Wally and no longer stuck in the pure living unmitigated hell that is being a PhD student ;-)

I'll second/third/however many it is - the other suggestions that you just take the weekend off - chill out, have some fun, watch crap tv, read a tabloid newspaper just for fun, go out, see real life breathing people who don't sit all day with their heads in books sobbing quietly and remember that there is life after this. Yes, the next 7 months may be hell, but there will be good bits too - hang onto them. You've gone through too much to quit now - besides, we'll hunt you down and pin you to your desk if you try ;-) You have 4 stars - you can do ANYTHING!!! 8-)

Seriously though, I really feel for you, its hell, pure hell at times, but I'm sure it will be worth it one day - wearing the funny hat for graduation surely has to be worth another 7 months of sh*t flying at you????

Take care, you're normally the life and soul of the forum but we are all allowed our rubbish days, you don't come across as moaning, just as tired, run down, fed up and generally argghhhhh - we all know how that feels :-) xxxx

Hey Wal,
I can't really add anymore to what the others have said. I'm not great at poetry either. But I do understand where you are coming from, I'm about half way written up at the moment and i'm really fed up. I'm struggling with chapter data that doesn't make sense aka doesn't match with the work previously done, my main sup hates me - doesn't help that I have a "golden girl" writing up at the same time as me, so all my stuff gets put to the bottom of the pile, i'm out of cash, its horrid dark and yuck outside, all my mates are away on holiday in sunny places and its my b'day tomorrow and I think it'll be spending doing data analysis as everyone else will forget/is away.
so you aren't alone -finish early today maybe and go wander round the xmas markets if you fancy. might make you feel better. I'm going to go treat myself to a coffee before attempting writing any more experimental chapters. Hope you feel better soon.

When I finished my lecture today, I had an easy afternoon - and I'm going to take it a bit easier this weekend as well. In fact, for the first time in my life, I'm going to watch Hollyoaks tonight on the recommendation of my little 3 year old niece, as she says "It's got fightin' in it". I'll see my supervisor on Monday about the problems; she's a lovely woman and she'll understand. Like Tom Hanks said in Philadelphia (glad I didn't watch that last night with the way I was feeling - death by drowning in tears!): "For every problem, there is a solution". No matter how bad things get, and I must be at the arse-end of a very big cow now, I'm not giving up. I've tidied my study den in a Feng Sui effort to focus my concentration, and so all the paper work doesn't feel as intimidating.
I'd like to thank everyone that has commented and offered advice (Sneaks, Bug, Eska, Caz, Rick, Yellowtrebble, Chrisrolinski, Keenbean and anyone else that I've forgotten); I am really moved by it, appreciative and the advice is very good too. I'm going to follow it. Oh, and the poems are excellent and very funny. Are you sure this shouldn't be closetpoetsforum.com? I think it was Bug who said that you don't put your life on hold for a PhD, it happens while you do it. And to switch to a David Brent Philosophising Mode for a minute, I'm going to say that PhD life is a helter skelter and I'm currently climbing to the top of the Big One in Blackpool, which is going to, erm, take 7 months in my analogy (for our non-native members it's a really famous roller coaster in the UK), so the ride down is going to a crazy, mad, bad, exhilarating blast that ends with me wearing a funny hat and changing my name to Dr Walminski on my Visa-Electron card.
And I'm reminded of a very special person who fought against impossible odds to become the best heavy weight boxer in the world for about 20 years in a row and is still the best at age 63 (Rocky 6), even though his a chronic arthritic and riddled with varicose veins all over his body, who united the East and West during the height of the cold war nuclear tensions in Rocky 4 and lost all his money in Rocky 5 (sleazy accountant, you see) but was still a good all-round guy: Sylvester Stallone. Anyway, he's my new personal trainer via the power of Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AemCeiuI_k

It's not just me that recognises his potential either. BUDINGkicksADRIANNE, a member of YouTube, watches this and exclaims with glee: "kick ass movie..damn i better all 6 copies of it and put it on my collection...this kind movie u? wud simply love to watch over and over again and wont get tired..." Wise words, BUDINGkicksADRIANNE! Sorry, you've got to laugh.


Thanks again everyone for your help and the sense of community :-)(up)

Will you be giving us all stars then...? Glad u're feeling better. I'm going out on the lash tonight, apparently I don't have flu, but stress, so I have to socialise, it's been perscribed.:-)

Yes, Eska I'll nominate you for a star - if anything because of the creative nature of your poem. I'm thinking of moving on up in the world beginning an election campaign for 5 stars myself. I'm looking forward to guest appearances on Parkinson's, News Night and hosting Question Time. I should warn you that the most you can get from 4 stars is an offer to star in I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, so being a 4 star celeb is not all it's cracked up to be. Ba Humbug.

Oh dear, sorry to hear it's all witchetie grubs and kangaroo's bits on the VIP thread. Thanks for the star though; good luck with the new campaign (up)

Hello wallmins,

Great that you are feeling better now, you have very sharp mind am sure it is just a phase and it will pass, you make this forum full of life.

About loneliness, I think we just have to accept the fact that for few months or so we have to be lonely, cause sometimes the PhD gets too demanding, it is part of the process and one of the skills that you gain through PhD is to survive on your own when times get tough, I don't think it will get tougher. for example now you have the group and your writing abilities is improving everyday, well for me this is a good coping strategy, isn't it ? you met us ;-)

am a bit more positive now, because my viva will be soon, and I can not tell you how nice it feels when you finally get to finish, it is so nice, and every one around you treats you differently. There is an atmosphere of support and well done attitude ( i don't know how to describe it easily).

I guess to gain something in life you have to give up something and for PhD I think one of the most difficult things (at least for me) is to cope with loneliness and accept that when there are alot of things to do we can not afford to live like normal people, but you will come out with a PhD at the end of it and am sure there was a reason you started it and reached this far. Obviously you like something about your work and the PhD, although every one is complaining about PhD all the time but, there is something which we all secretly want and are in a geeky way proud of 8-)


Sometimes in PhD you think things are really bad, but in fact they are not that bad after all, i think because when you work so much we just get frustrated easily.

The only great thing about this place is we can cry, moan, be weak, feel sad, if we do not let it out then how we survive? isn't the whole idea of this place to support each other? never ever feel that you have to show a strong face, no body will judge you, keep that cool attitude to your work place ;)

For me, only writing my emotions down here makes a huge difference in my mentality, just knowing someone share the same fears is great stress reliever by itself.

In fact if you don't ask for help, it might harm you more ( I speak from experience).

OK about your problems, I agree with everyone, do something you like, just take a shower and try to read a funny book or something relaxing and sleep well.

then I think you need to make a plan of what is expected from you and how much you should do in the next seven months, and talking with supervisor should help you.

am sure this is not the first time you feel like that, just remember you passed through previous ones and this one also will pass, you need to use your resources to get over it and am sure you can.

Yes, I second all the suggestions of some time out! Burn out is a horrible thing, avoid it as best you can by taking some time out, destressing, etc. Besides, (grabs onto crown and title) being the posterchild of PhD Burnout is MY title and I ain't giving it up so easy. :D

So go rest and relax! Have fun!

what happened to your hat walm? is it a sign of being down?
I see you are back with your witty remarks, keep posting, this forum needs you 8-)

Hello Someone 3, I just fancied a change of avatar really. I got bored of the old man look and decided to be young and dynamic instead.;-)

Hello,

I think you are doing a hell of a lot for a phd and could break down if you dont prioritise. If you have 20 participants from intervies and 2 FGDS then why are you doing another statistical study. You may end up with a lot of data but no time to analyse and no real depth in the analysis. If you dont recruit enough participants for the quantitative part of your research, it may not be statistically significant (which could mean that the analysis you do may not be relevant). It may be easier to focus on the qualitative arm of the study and leave the quantitative for post doc. The interviews will take a lot of time to transcribe before you start thinking of doing doing the analysis and writing up. If you do have enough funding to get research assistants to help you with the second arm, that will also be feasible. You may want to discuss with your supervisor about reducing your teaching so you can focus on your research.At the end of the day you'll still get a phd with only a qualitative research though you have to argue why you have done that. All the best

K