I'm scared. I have a 3 hour lecture to give tomorrow, I am being observed and now I've developed a 'throat tickle' - I've sniffed a load of 'vicks first defence' and am 'revising' the content like mad. eeeek

Three hours Sneaks, wow! I've given a good few one hours but three! I have given some two hour classes but they have been computer workshops so not actual lectures. I hate been observed. Any amount of students is fine but somebody actually observing you makes it hard to remain 'natural'. Hope your throat improves. Good luck with it (up)


Dunni, you are doing it for us mothers of multiples! You'll be submitting before me and I take my inspiration from you so no pressure then!! De-motivation I hear is pretty normal at the end so just work through it and you'll be submitted, done and dusted before you know it. Good luck with the editing process :-)

yep, there's a 20 min break in between and we have to make it like 20 min lecture sections and the 20 min seminar sections if that makes sense, so its not me standing there (although the content is VERY theory based, so scared I'll get some negative marks for not enough fun stuff :-( )

Done goal 1. I'll be doing it at least twice more today to feel happier about it.

It is normal to be scared Sneaks. I feel like my whole life as someone beginning a career in academia is about 'feeling the fear and doing it anyway'. But I'm sure you'll do great!

I have now emailed everything to my Postdoc mentor. I forgot I had to write a work plan so that was a bit of a pain in the ass. There are a few loose ends which need to be tied up but I will have time to think about those tomorrow.

My next goal is to finish the application form to send to my current supervisor. Hopefully before I meet with the research group for a 2 hour data session at 2pm. And after THAT I need to draft out the pathways to impact document.

well my meeting didn't materialised, but I did get other things sorted while in uni so that was good. Also it was a lovely walk there and back, so nice to see sunlight!

for this afternoon:
Goal 1: finish writing up study 1
Goal 2: finish writing up study 2
Goal 3: draft study 3
Goal 4: add endnote refs to my current chapter <-- for when I am fed up as it's a brainless task.

Star-shaped, well done for getting it all done :)

Sneaks - three hours? OUCH! I feel for you. hope it goes well, if you blind them with enough theory, hopefully, they won't have any brain cells left to give any negative feedback!

I absolutely admire anyone doing a PhD and be a mum, I don't know how you guys do it. I'm a mum to two cats and that's enough for me!!

Right. I opened up my application form document and felt like I just couldn't face it as it needs more work than I thought. So I sorted out the Pathways to Impact instead. My sup already did a lot of work on it so I just needed to add some bits.

I emailed my sup and told her I can't make the data session this afternoon. I was determined to make it but its just not possible.

My next goal is now to finish the application form.

Last night I managed to finish selecting cited refs in refworks and download them in Harvard style for Word format. Just need to add any extras that are incorporated into the final thesis.

Tonight I shall try to edit ch 5 and 6 discussion - looking to remove 500 words!

Damn I haven't even had time to start on the application form yet! I got sidetracked with listing the resources for one project and then kept getting emails from the research office regarding projecting the costs for the other.

I am starting to feel really stressed out.

Right. Now I WILL finish the application form.

Still bashing away at my questionnaire draft. It is improving but is way way too long. Oh well. I want to send it to supervisors tonight so they have time to look at it before our meeting on Friday. That may mean staying on campus later than I want.... Gah!

Glad to hear I'm not the only one working later than I'd like. I am still working away at the application form. I have been distracted by yet more emails regarding projecting costs which needed to be responded to ASAP.

Just 2 more sections to go...

Well done Batfink and Star-shaped for putting the hours in. Hopefully the distractions will quieten down for you and you'll be more productive.

I shall hopefully start editing in about an hour once bambinos are bathed and put to bed. Feeling motivated for it at the moment lol.

One more section to go (and one more email which needs to be responded to).

Morale and energy low....

Keep going Star-shaped, just think of the relief when it's done!

I have one more section of questions to refine, and then I need to go back and add in sources for most of the questions, which is just copying from an earlier draft really, and then I'll be done. These questions are a bugger though!

I'm giving up for the day. Turns out that my brand spanking new Microsoft 2011 for mac won't talk to my EndNote and the only way to deal with the issue is to go back to Microsoft 2008.

*SIGH*

Have done all the other goals for today, just not the citations *cries*

Glad to see that everyone else is getting on well with their work though :)

Pink Numbers - I thought Refworks was a pain but at least it did provide an Office 2008 compatable file. I can imagine your frustration as ref software is not the most user friendly.

I have now edited ch 5 discussion and am emailing it to my supervisor tonight. I have done some formatting corrections to the contents page and ref corrections.

Off to bed now I think, very tiring day!