Another knitter here. Though I don't use it to procrastinate, more to give my hands something to do in front of the TV.

Foruming is my preferred method of procrastination.
There are a couple that I visit (and now here too!) and I always have them open.
It's such a bad habit and I'm much more productive when in an internet-less environment. But then I can't help myself.

*hangs head in shame*

I'll have a look 404 - thanks

Good luck to you too 404. I do the reading more stuff too, even though - like you - I have more than enough research already.

Today since lunch has been a bit better actually, not much written to be honest, but am being more productive towards the actual writing than just reading more stuff.

Amen to that! (also 4th year)

Good luck sue. I hope it hasn't totally ruined your experience and you can still look back and be glad and proud of the outcome, inspite of your relationship with your supervisor.

I'm really sorry to hear that sue.
I know people who don't have a particularly strong relationship with their supervisor and some of them are unhappy and some of them are thriving with it being totally formal and purely about work and not seeing their sup very often. That wouldn't work for me but it works for some.

I don't think the relationship has to be anything other than a simple functional one and isn't unsual, as long as you are getting what you need from your sup in terms of work. That shouldn't be a problem really.

I think it would be difficult to do a PhD if I didn't like my supervisor, or vice-versa, because all sorts of complications would arise with trust and confidence, and that is what is worrying about what you said.
That doesn't sound so good. Is there anything that can be done about it? Change supervisor?

Was that to me?
First of all I don't feel attacked so don't worry about that.

He doesn't have many students, just two actually, because my university and department are quite small.
His other student also has a good relationship with him (I am a friend of that student as well) but lives abroad so they don't have a lot of contact time.

Essentially I am his only PhD student so we have a lot of interaction and have built up a good relationship over the 8 years that we have known each other.

TBH, it is none of my business what his relationship with other (potential in this case) students are. It is only my business what our relationship is like and I cannot see how our interaction should have an effect on other students since I am not part of a group project.
I cannot comment on other circumstances because I am not in them.
I'm sorry if it has hit a raw nerve, but I'm happy in my relationship with my supervisor and don't feel bad about it in the slightest.

That really helps! Thank you both.

See, I know that I just need to get on with it - and it really is more of a case of having a lot to say (too much research) rather than a lack of faith, at least in my work (faith in myself is another matter entirely!).
I think I will have to try and cut the chapter up into sections (and the sections into sections).
It's the thesis mountain that is very initimidating, rather than it being just to the first check-point.

Thanks again.

I'm finding it very VERY difficult to start the writing process 'proper'. I have quite a lot written in the form of notes and sections of chapters but when I sit down to turn it into actual prose suitable for chapters I start to panic and find other things to do.

I think I'm frightened of commiting anything to a word document because then once I start that's it! If I haven't written anything I can't get it wrong but once I do it could all go horribly wrong.

I need to get over this as I have to submit very soon, but my heart starts to pound and I get all sweaty.

Am I alone?

I have a fantastic supervisor - for me!
We have a very friendly relationship (he taught me from my first year of UG) but at the same time he can give me a kick up the bum over work when I need it.
I can answer yes to most of those questions (though i don't tell him about wanting to quit as I don't want to disappoint him).

I like this kind of relationship and it works for me, though I can understand that some people would find it strange and too informal. We actually know an awful lot about each others private lives and I fully intend to maintain a friendship with him when I finish.