Thanks, smrh. *grin* I guess I have about a year left... mostly writing up, so maybe the river is a timely option. I'm part-time, so running out of money should hopefully not be too much of a problem... Actually, advancing the kayak promise seems to have done the trick and I feel much better now. *chuckle*

Well, I've just made a decision after a manic month of mayhem, before the month is out, I'll be buying my kayak. It's a bit premature since I wasn't supposed to buy one until I finish my PhD but I think I need that river now.

My supe always tells me you've got to get used to uncertainty in your PhD life... well, I think I prefer this quote for now:

What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt - it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.

:-)

www.conferencealerts.com

You were nearly there, Olivia. Hope you find something of interest. :)

In terms of part-time work... it's a hard road a-ho, but an interesting one. Expect tension as you try to juggle mumhood and academia... but if you go into things with your eyes open (read this forum) it's not so bad. A good supervisor, someone who has a real interest in your work and time to work with you, especially in the early days is a must. Good supervisors make all the difference in the long run (read this forum). What makes a good supervisor? Someone who listens, who cares, who answers your queries and ocasionally points you in some interesting directions, who challenges and encourages and gives credit where its due. *grin* Good luck.

Hi beadabook

I was self-funded part-time and in non-science/engineering. I'm in education and technology. The advice you've been given by misspacey and smilodon is pretty much spot on. Advertised posts usually come with a topic, self-funded you can choose your own. I pretty much did what misspacey suggests... found a university, found a supervisor, sent a preliminary proposal (loose ideas) and went for a visit and a chat. Supervisor was happy to take me on on that basis, I then submitted a more formal proposal following university guidelines (again, it doesn't have to be 'complete'... it just has to have the potential to be an original contribution... you'll get into it more in your first year anyway).

I love my PhD too, three years in, part-time. It's one of my better decisions. Sure, it has its ups and downs but, having done other jobs in my time, this is the first one that has really challenged me. I've moved into a paid research post now, so that at least my current job now complements my PhD, and wouldn't change things for the world. That said, I'm on the homeward trek... all data collected and in the process of being analysed. Other than that, just writing up to do... three chapters to go and have allowed myself until April next year to submit a first full draft.

Oh yeah, and in between all that manic mayhem... recommend that you do take tomorrow night off... it'll help you recharge you're batteries and a few hours of rest will do you good. Honest!

And once you submit, don't stop... keep going and work on the bits that are missing. You're sup is going to take a couple of days to get round to reading through what you've submitted... that's a few extra days for you to keep working on anything not finished. After all, you do have until Sept. However, what you do submit must make some kind of sense to your sup and, unfortunately, chapters 1 and 2 are what frame the rest of the thesis... 1 says what you're going to talk about and 2 explains how you worked the thesis... so whatever follows (data analysis, etc) all hinges on those first chapters. So, take a deep breath, a drink of water, and keep at it... we're all rallying for you.

Hi Lara

You've made good progress these last few weeks and worked hard. It's natural to feel stressed as the deadline looms. A suggestion. Focus on finishing chapter 5 since it seems that's nearly there. Then try to work on at least an outline for Chapters 1 and 2 (they're pretty formally structured anyway so shouldn't be too mammoth a task and doing that will allow you a kick start for later). Don't worry about chapter 6 too much - try to get to it if you can, even if it's rought draft but don't stress too much on it. That way, you'll have three completed chapters, 2 outlines and a possibility. I know you need to hand in a finished draft but you can do what you can do... You have, what, 3 days? Day 1 - finish chapter 5, day 2 - outline and fill for chapter 1, day 3 - outline and fill for chapter 2. Any time over... chapter 6. And try only to think of the things you've scheduled for that day, putting the others aside. And take a break during the day. Good luck. You can do this.

Like the Nils Bohr quote Juno...

liminalplace... my supervisor does that one too.. 'Stop thinking, start writing' :) Good advice in my case.

I also had 'Stop reading, start writing'.

Oh yes, and another gem from my supervisor... from the very early days (first term in)...

How many elephants do you think you can get into this thesis?



Of course, my PhD has little to do with elephants, although there have been times when it sure has felt and looked like one! *chuckle*

And from my other Upgrade examiner...

Are you sure this isn't two PhD's?

And another one, from my Upgrade examiner...

You have to ask yourself whether your guru is always right!

My supervisor, bless him, has had a few gems in his time! :)

That's why they call it a PhD.
Data is not always your friend.
You have to learn to live with the uncertainty of all this.
It's not the be all and end all...
So, that's it then, just three more chapters and you're finished.

Hi Lara

That's a 'fun' internal battle you have going on there. Vis-a-vis the results and the paper (and speaking as a journal editor as well as a PhD student)... I'd advise you to let your supervisor know about the error as soon as possible (for both your sakes) - better to own up than to risk incorrect data going out to publication.

Also, it's probably better to write down your findings/understandings as to why it went wrong whilst you're thinking about it. You can do so without recriminations/blame, just state the facts. In the publication it says 'this', it should say 'this' and this is 'why'... here is where I think it went awry... etc.