I was aware of my examiners at the end of the writing up phase. Neither have published in my field, which actually spans two areas that I have linked in the experimental work and detailed in my thesis. I did manage to incorporate my externals review paper which has some relevance but in a matter of fact way. I have not cast any personal expression of how wonderful any reference is so that the external cannot take offence that I have not shown them favouritism. I think that as long as you are not shredding their work to pieces they should feel well respected by your inclusion of their work in your thesis. Well I hope that works for me, I guess I will find out soon enough!

Excellent news! I guess its time to make the most of this and publish, publish, publish! As they say, if you don't ask then you won't get. I just hope that my brain is still as sharp when I am 66. Glad to hear some good positive news :-)

Well my afternoon of study also includes looking after one stay-at-home-cos-i-am-spotty child, argghhhh. Oh well will try to get something done while toy story is on, then she is getting a nap as she is unwell ;-) Goals 1 and 2: I need to check out my discussion for notes on the key authors and their relation to my work then I have to sort out my key refs into one file for reading/viva.

Ady I can totally sympathise with your lack of motivation. I felt so bored with my thesis pre submission and elation once it was handed in. However, now I am being even more critical during my viva prep and am also getting fed up with my thesis again. I just want it all over with now, my brain keeps analysing too much and I am having trouble remembering 'why smith said this or jones said that. Also stuggling with verbal and written dyslexia :$ and worry about conveying my research without being a tongue-tied mess.

Sneaks, I really fancy some marmite crisps now and don't have any :-(

Goal 1 is done. About to start goal 2 which is to prep answer to my last viva Q on the list. May go off to bed soon though...........

Hi Ady, wow teaching your daughter to drive sounds like a harrowing experience to me!!! I hope she passes first time too. Glad to hear you are on track for returning your thesis to sup. Always good to get it back so that you can wind down a little and contemplate submission. I found it difficult to know what to do while waiting for my sup to return with comments, now I would suggest filing, tidying, setting aside key refs to viva, thinking about potential questions for viva (adding clarification now is good), checking out printing/binding costs in readiness. Amazing what hindsight can do lol. I really hope you get the go ahead when it gets returned to you next.

I have done half of goal 1, I did stop for some dinner though. Onwards with ch 6. Nice to know I am not working alone (up)

Evening all, am I the only one working tonight? I have so many things to do but I shall try to set smaller tasks and hopefully tick some of my list.
Goal 1 is to finish doing post-it notes for chapter 5, 6 and 7 just outlining key areas/findings of the chapters.
Goal 2 is to finish answering the final viva Q on my list.
Goal 3 if I get there, is the start re-reading my prepared viva answers.

I think as you have described, a PhD journey is a rollercoaster ride.  Some projects get through it and others fail due to problems occurring. I think a determined mind and a robust project are key to success (whether I have that remains to be seen!). I do believe now that a PhD does not automatically provide well respected and well paid jobs.  In the initial years I thought it might open up some opportunities that otherwise would be out of my reach, but I am not sure that I want those myself either. In reality, I am looking to go back into my clinical career that has much better pay and long term stability in favour of perhaps a research post-doc that might intrigue me more but has poor future security and poor pay.  I always took on my PhD because I wanted to academically achieve as high as my abilities, ie this was a personal goal!

I would say to potential students who are keen to pursue a doctorate, make sure you know why you are doing this and don't expect a glittering career as a result. It will provide transferable skills but there are very few in this financial climate that will acheive financial security purely based on their PhD.

Validation chapter findings summerised to give me pointers/extra revision. Now to prep notes on if and why my key findings differ to work of the key authors. Funny how I am feeling more detached from my thesis the closer the viva gets, yet the panic is rising as to how little I feel I have done and how little time I have left........I hope this is normal!

Wow sneaks, welcome to my world of childcare while trying to study lol. I always find a movie (such as toy story 3) works a treat for the eldest at 2 1/2 years, while I catch up on bits. So I need to summary the findings for my validation chapter, just in case I get asked.

Hi Star-shaped, sounds like you are on track for a full draft! Just got to keep working at it as really submission is not far away (up)

I have my viva middle of next week (ok trying not to panic) and really I have got behind with prep. I have addressed quite a few Qs but need to re-read them and some papers. This week may be full of sickly babies with 1x chicken pox and 2x major green snot. Really bad timing :-( On the up I am feeling better although tired, yeh!

Well I am envious of those with a weekend away, Sneaks and Star-Shaped enjoy! Ok so I have had a very nice family day with hubby and the kids, some sunshine and a BBQ. However, reality returns with some more viva Qs to address. Got a bit behind as I was applying for a clinical job last night....sounds very positive (they are desperate to fill and I am qualified moving close by) except I will have to relocate 20 mins nearer and deal with childcare for three days a week 7am til 8.30 pm. Why are things never straight forward :-( Oh well, will forget about that til after my viva now.

Slowmo, it is hugely dependent on the uni being organised, examiners being able to commit to reading it and talking to the uni about a viva date. Just recently we have had Pineapple with a very long wait due to an external pulling out, Keenbean will have just 6 days (very lucky!!) and mine will be just over three months.  Hopefully, if you are the first they will be super-organised and get it done quickly. Make sure the examiners are approached prior to submission so they are ready to view your thesis. The quicker it is done, the better I think, as it will be so fresh in your mind whereas several months gap can make you lose the feel of your thesis.

Heehee, would love to let the bambinos get on with it while I hide away, but I know the level of destruction I would come back to which is amazing for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 year olds! Well I guess if I am going to get it, I have probably been 'infected' already. I think I had it as a child with spots everywhere so hopefully no reoccurance for me. Hubby had shingles too so he should be ok.

Got a fair number of Qs answered last night, never know how much to add to the answer (they won't want me talking for too long surely!). So goals today are:
1. Answer more viva Qs
2. Read a crucial paper
3. Phone up potential employer (they requested I call them in their email about my application)

Yes totally agree with the acknowledgements, I couldn't write it until I had a thesis to put it in lol. I wouldn't add a chapter into the 'thesis' document until it was written and comments completed.

I have to say that it would be useful to be able to vote for a helpful user more than once. I have had some users that have helped me many times but my vote for them (ie 1 vote) does not reflect that. Can that be changed?