I vited for nothing sweet nothing, but might end up doing some work on th grounds that my boyfriend has an assignment to do, the friend who was supposed to be visiting had to cancel, I'm not religious, not seeing the family, and the TV has decided not to work properly!

we were given guidance that it had to be divided under headings like introduction (3000 words) methods, results, plan of investigation, future work... and possibly some other things. For the plan of investigation I cut and pasted my protocol direct from my NRES (ethics) application. For future work I included a 1 page flow chart of what I planned to do over the next few months.

To get an idea of what to put where I looked at someone elses first year report form the year before. Is it possible for you to do this? Despite her being in a very differnt field, it gave me an idea of what to put in each section.

My supervisor keeps telling me I should start writing but I never seem to find the time. I'm in second year, and I know I'm giong to seriously regret not doing more now.

I have a beautiful view when sat in my chair, if i arrange myself right all I can see are trees, sky and sun (if I stand up I se the bl##dy great carpark between me and the distant trees mind!)

My favourite thing about doing a phd is that you arrange your own time, come in when I want, leave when I want etc. I can spend an afternoon shopping if I need to (yeah sometimes you do need to shop!) Oh and student discount cards are pretty nice too.

I'm guessing this become more common in the third year, but I'm only in my 2nd year, and have a long way to go and lots of experimental work to do before I'm even thinking about writing up. Anyway in my dream I had an epiphany about how my thesis would fit together, how the chapters would be stuctured, except now I'm awake I can't remmber any of it (except that it was a good idea!)

Anyone else dream about their PhD?

aagh it's horrible when you have so much to do and so little time. And somhow it all takes longer in that situation.

Maybe approach the course convener/undergraduate office about the essays, and see if you can hand them back next monday to buy you a little more time. They might be a bit flexible about it (they've tended to be at places I've worked, but then I konw people can be difficult about getting marking back as it needs to go back to the students, who complain if it takes more than 5 minutes to mark their coursework!)

It's terrible that it goes this way, but I think I'd make sure I got stuff done for evil supervisor, and then tried to get as much done as i could for nice supervisor.

My boyfriend has an assignment due monday (he's doing PGCE) so I'm cooking us dinner (just gotta get round to going to the supermarket!) He got me a card, champagne and a box of pringles! (should explain I said no chocolate as wqe still have some left from christmas).

should be working but can't open my excel files due to micosoft compatability issues (really thought I saved files in 2003 format but computer at home wont open them) ah well on with faffing on the internet instead - oh and a trip to supermarket

For me it's not just about fitting having a baby around career, i've also gotta convinve boyfriend it's a good idea! at the moment her's quite anti having kids possibly ever :-(
He's going into teaching (is this more child friendly? I have a feeling it is) and would poss consider a baby in a few years if he got to be a stay at home dad while I work my way up the career ladder. Has anyone considered that option? I'm not sure how much I'd want to when/if the time came, plus I guess there's the whole breast feeding issue......

I can't really help on teh coming up with a proposal because I applied for an advertised, funded project. But what I did want tosay, is that doing a PhD doesn't have to take over your whole life. I have a social life, I get to do more evern then I did a couple of years ago when I worked in bars/restaurants and could get weekends off. It is hard work doing a PhD and there are times when you have to do boring work that you don't want to do. But mostly the positives out wieght the negatives. 8-)

This reminds me of my 1st teaching experince. The seminar was on how to write an essay (based around the essay titles they had to do for coursework) It was a complete nightmare cos I just didn't prepare enough so I will echo what has been said on here, make a plan of what to do during the session.

One thing you could do is give them a couple of essays (though I dunno where you'd get them) and get them to mrk them in small groups to get them thinking about what makes a good essay. Or you could cut up the paragraphs/ or the ides that could go in an essay, and get them to put them into order.

I've been with MR catalinbond for 3 1/2 years, and we moved in together just before my PhD started. Things have been fine between us and I'm now in my second year. I often get home late in teh evening, but he is now doing a PGCE so often has work to do too. PLus if not he's pretty happy to amuse himself on the x box! I don't think a relationship has to suffer just cos you're doing a PhD. :)

As for friends, they'll probably foget what it is you do unless you mention it all the time. the friends I have who aren't academics have their own things going on and we just tend to talk about other stuff. It is nice to have people who do understand, but you'll probably meet some other PhDers when you start who can be supportive for that side of things.

This is something that worried me. Pretty much everything I'm doing has to a degree been done before, and more and more things get published each time I look :-( Whenever I raise it with my supervisors they reassure me, but then when I'm on my own I forget what the reassurances were! Anyway I'm trying to keep track of the little bits that are unique - such as other ways to analyse the data. I do dread goign to my viva though and being told there's not enough that is unique. I try not to worry about it too much though.

I last went into the office on the 19th December. Since then I have sent two impartant emails (one I should have sent ages ago and only sent yesterday oops) and that is it. I have done ZILCH! well some marking but that's not really for my PhD. Going back in tommorrow. Don't really want to!

my inbox has gone crazy with the replies! making it even less likely I'll get any work done!

Mulled wine is a must for any meeting placed in christmas week. Thankfully I'm finishing on Friday (just got the pesky marking to do over christmas) They even tried to say marks were due back on the 24th but have thankfully seen sense and given us til January.(up)

Anyone else struggling to do any work this week. I have lots to do, plus marking but can't get motivated. Keep thinking I'll do it at home over christmas, but as if I'm gonna want to do that next week. Plus it's beautiful sunny day.