...but not the charts. I'm 40th in the leader list of stars!

I feel all starry eyed:p

Even before I read the second paragraph I was going to suggest doing your viva via video link. It would suit me I'll admit but this is very important and so you must do what makes you feel comfortable. How did you find NZ, out of interest? Brave thing to do, to study so far away from home for three years.

My current supervisors, to their credit, have always been very professional and so I've never had to endure any of this stuff. However my last supervisors...well I could write a book and then some!

Stumbled across this thread by accident but it's very, very funny! Happy reading!

This is probably not going to be helpful but honestly I'm not finding the writing up anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be. It's waiting around for feedback that really, really gets to me. That said, I'm organised and have always had a clear idea of how I would structure the thesis which I think helped a lot. Please don't quit but, if you must, take some time out, if possible, as that may give you a second wind or sense of perspective. I've never been too consumed by my PhD and actually really think this has helped a lot. However, my experience of writing up seems to be different to many others.

I hope things improve for you.

I'm very sorry to read that KB but you're not alone. I didn't even pass the application stage for a research associate post recently. Take heart, at least you got an interview and it sounds as though they really, really liked you at interview.

Keep trying!

That sounds really painfully, I hope you're OK. Nice to read you're feeling good about things.

I'm happy because I've started my discussion, still plenty of things to do on some of the other chapters, but feel I've had a productive day so far:-)

I set myself deadlines and then tell my supervisor when to expect stuff. It puts me under gentle pressure to work and works best for me.

Thanks Ady, I needed to read that. Only joking, I'm actually looking forward to starting that even if I keep putting it off...
For me data analysis and results was always going to be the worst.

I wish I'd known a year ago that the economy would still be in such a bad state as I might have planned better for it!

Gudwin,

You could be like some of us on here and are feeling tired, disillusioned and worried about the job market. I do think sometimes it's good to take a break and do something different as this can give perspective and help us know what we want or don't want. Do what you think you need to do and try to do what makes you happy. Just my opinion, but I don't think this postman job is a bad way to go for many of the reasons you've given and if you like it that's fantastic but don't burn your bridges with academia as you may get a second wind and decide this is for you.

You've worked very hard to get to this stage and so keeping trying with the aim of passing your viva as it would be best to keep your options open.

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