Thanks both, that's how it looks to me, and I'd also heard about the optional extra six months unpaid leave. Have emailed the ESRC and someone at uni who isn't directly involved with me, so hopefully will get confirmation that that is indeed the case (up)

Hi all,

First off, I just want to point out that this is all retrospective at the moment, I'm not pregnant! However, hubby and I are considering it.

I've read the ESRC guidelines re maternity pay, which state:

"If a student becomes pregnant such that the expected date of confinement will occur during the period of their award, the ESRC will allow up to six months paid maternity leave without the level of their award being reduced"

My funding finishes in Sept 2013. So am I right in thinking that if I were to get pregnant and have a baby before this point, the ESRC would give an additional six months pay, equating to 3 years and 6 months funding? So the paid maternity leave would not count as part of my 3 years full-time PhD funding? I can't really ask my supervisor or anyone at my uni, as I don't really want anyone to know I'm thinking about it yet!

Morning all!

Just a short message to say I am still alive, just busy with non-related thesis things! Off on holiday for a couple of weeks now too so I will 'see' you all when I get back!

Keep working hard all! (up)

Hi everyone,

I've done goals 1-4 except planning my journal article; I'm not going to do this as it seems a bit silly to make a plan for it now, when I can't actually start writing it until the end of July. So I'm off to do some packing before my sup meeting later!

Morning all!

Well I got my chapter finished so don't have an awful lot to do this week (except packing my life up into lots of boxes!) But I think I'm going to do a plan for another journal article I'd like to write, and also sort work for my review in a few weeks. Sup is then phoning for a meeting this evening.

Goal 1- go to post office
Goal 2- plan journal article
Goal 3- sort work for review and print
Goal 4- prepare for supervision meeting
Goal 5- packing etc

Good luck today everyone!

Well that's me done, have a great weekend everyone! (up)

Not sure if anyone's about but morning if you are!!

I made really good progress with my main discussion chapter yesterday...so much so that I nearly have a complete first draft, just 2 more sections to write! So hubby is working for a couple of hours this morning, so thought I might as well do the same and get this chapter finished!

Goal 1- write section 8
Goal 2- write section 9

Then we're spending the whole weekend packing to move, what fun!

======= Date Modified 15 Jun 2012 11:51:31 =======
Decided to tackle 'the main message of my thesis' which sup wanted me to do...that was fun, not! Now going to have an early lunch before moving onto 'original contribution' section of my discussion chapter, that's even worse!

Morning!

I'm not really in the mood for work today, but I'd like to get another section of a chapter written. I have a load of other jobs that need to be done as well though!

Goal 1- decide which section to work on
Goal 2- write section!

Thanks all, very helpful!

Don't say the word chocolate, I'm still on a diet!!!

I've finally done the reference list for my journal article, what a faff that was! Having to move full stops and commas and allsorts of ridiculous things to make it in line with the journal's referencing style, what a bore!

I'm now off to have lunch and then I'll get cracking with goal 3.

Good luck all!

Hi everyone! Big hugs for you Linda.

I've done goal 1, now need to get my reference list sorted and then I'm officially done with this article for now!

I've just eaten a punnet of raspberries though and feel a bit sick (down)

Hi all!

Today's goal is to get my journal article sorted so that I can officially say I'm happy with it as the first draft, before it goes off to sup. I think the discussion/conclusion need a bit of work, but I'm fairly happy with the rest of it. I then need to move straight onto working on chapter 8, my final discussion chapter. If I could get that done before I move house next week, I could do all the unpacking without having to worry about work, and then we go on holiday so it would be great if I could go away thinking I've got first drafts of all my main chapters! It will be pushing it though because I haven't packed or anything yet, eek, so best get cracking with the work!

Goal 1- read through journal article and make necesssary changes
Goal 2- do reference list
Goal 3- read through everything written for chapter 8 so far

Good luck today everyone!

Any ideas?! I keep using the phrases 'in relation to' or 'with regards to', and I can't think of another phrase aah!

Well those next to goals are pretty much done, can't be bothered doing the very last bit though. So I'm off for lunch and to walk doggy. Hopefully I'll be able to get a first draft finished by today woohoo!