Well I think I am glad to have a Labrador with short fur, just cutting her claws is enough of an event for me lol.  Mind you I think most of her hair is on my carpets at the moment :-s

Thanks Ady for the link, this is in prep for the Q how does your research meet doctorateness? I had down 1 gap in literature identified, 2 robust methodology, 3 critical and coherent discussion of findings, 4 originality, 5 contribution to knowledge.  The link suggest a few extra bits aswell but overall clarifies my thoughts! Incidentally the author is actually from my uni :$

So a little more prep then an early-ish night for a change! (slightly worried that incubation of chicken pox is up to 14 days and my viva is in 13.......)

I have located the calomine lotion and am applying copious amounts! Sneaks, why did you shave the dog? Is this normal?

I have had some work done but need to define doctorateness........guess I should know this by now :p I find with an exam coming up that I end up questioning everything :$

Wow, pink numbers, that is alot to deal with!  Ok I think some priority is needed for you to feel back in control again. Firstly, an extension can be applied for even if you don't use it.  I found the paperwork to be easy to complete and my extension was granted although I have actually submitted before my May deadline. If you over-run, you may be left with nothing so better to extend just in case.

Your divorce could be put on hold until you have submitted, you don't really need the added stress now when a couple of months is nothing in the grand scheme of 11 years.  I would suggest this waits.

Your home is very important! Are there any chances of accommodation via the uni rather than a hotel to give you some space/time to sort things out?  Alternatively, I think finding somewhere to rent has to be high on your list. Do you have any family/friends you could stay with short-term?

Maybe allocate some time each day to flat hunting and some time to review your thesis.  The chapter that has been criticised, does this include suggestions for remedy? Can you go back to your ?sup and find out what they mean?  I think when you have had a heavily criticised chapter it may be wise to take a few days break from it and then go back to re-read the comments as often the comments make more sense. I find that initially I don't take in the criticism well and need time to reflect on it.  This may be the time you need to find a flat.

You are so close to submitting but I think there are some other issues that need you immediate attention. It is hard to work under such pressure so alleviating the other pressures may help you write your thesis.

Afternoon all, I really need to be productive with my viva prep, 13 days left to go. Currently, have thesis review done, equations deciphered, a little extra knowledge on my externals pet area so now it is potential questions to answer/revise. Unfortunately I feel like pants with a head cold from my twins and now the childminder has called to say the eldest (2 1/2 yrs) has chicken pox. I can just see a house full of spotty kids right up to viva day :-(

Ok so I WILL get some questions done later today!

My PhD outline was rather broad when I started and once the data collection got underway it was evident which specific route I was going to take. I was able to change the title and define the experimental work in the middle of my PhD. The title change had to be approved by the research degrees committee but to be honest it was more of a clarification.

You are not alone, I think being stressed during the write-up phase is all part of the process.  It is a culmination of all of the work we have done, written in a mountain of words that seems insurmountable! Often there is a lot of emotional baggage tied up in the process too.  For many this is a pinnacle of their studies and something that was only dreamed about some time ago which is on the verge of reality. The imposter syndrome rears its head about this time too, are we really good enough, have I done enough?  The key to most phases where the work is not progressing is to break it down into smaller achievable pieces. The smaller areas are not so daunting and over time completion of these leads to one chapter then another until you have a thesis.  I started with a rough outline of each chapter topic area, then sub-sections and added to these were rough notes of what to include. I gradually started to fill in the sub-sections to complete each chapter. I saved each chapter separately (sent to sup aswell for comments) and once all chapters were done I added them all into the whole thesis.  Then it was a phase of making sure it all flowed, removing repeated areas and editing. You have got to this stage, so you can do this.  Take small baby steps to help you along.

There is a summer submitter thread on here that has lots of comments and support for all of use with summer deadlines (inc sept), you are welcome to join it!

Keeping a record of my supervisions was for me to record vital tuition, refs to paper, calculation discussions and also to note down plans for the next experimental work.  However, I did find these very useful when submitting my annual monitoring forms to provide details of the dates and content of such supervisions. Passing my annual monitoring was not just about my progress but also to check that adequate supervision has been given. The details have not been requested for my viva at all, and I cannot see why they would be discussed in my viva as this should be focused around my thesis.  I think it is a good idea to have details of these supervisions incase there is grounds for a supervisory issue such as lack of support at a later date in your studies but this would be registered well in advance of your viva. I have kept mine logged in my lab books which therefore reflects my whole PhD journey, and these will be with me in my viva!

Well done star-shaped, soon a full draft?

I have been getting an on-line job application done for me to return to my clinical career which is at the hospital local to where I am moving to, how convenient!! However, I really have loads of viva prep to do and not much time left tonight. So a few key Qs to do, like why I did this research - answer: because I was barking mad thinking it was a great idea at the time lol. Ok, better think of a better answer!!!

Have worked my equations and my brain is frazzed! Of to bed late I think :-(

Ok another evening clarifying and understanding equations with a justification as to why I have not included them in my thesis. Looking forward to moving onto some other more 'fun' viva prep Qs!

Wow, a one hour viva and minor corrections! Congratulations Dr Patseya (up). Would love to hear about it when you finish celebrating (secretly this is what I would like for mine very soon!)

Wow, extremely quick reply chococake, thank you so much! Just got to amuse the bambinos so that I can find the reference values I need........

Hi all, I am having a last minute panic for my viva and need to access the following article for some historical equation clarification.....eek! (Why I didn't choose an easier and more accessible topic :$)

It is an old one
Roughton, Forster and Cander (1957) Rate at Which Carbon Monoxide Replaces Oxygen From Combination With Human Hemoglobin in Solution and in the Red Cell J. Applied. Physiology 11, pg 269.

Thank you!

I think you need to get out of this situation. No supervisor should be allowed to bully and belittle a student they are supposed to be supporting. Obviously, this is a well known about situation and nothing seems to be done to remedy it by the university. My outsiders perspective would be to determine yourself how much work you have done and whether it is enough to write-up and submit. If you have enough work for a PhD then I would get it written up, submitted and leave asap drawing strength from the fact that you will be leaving his control very soon. Are there any other supervisory figures there who can look over what you have and give advice?

If there is not enough for a PhD thesis, then really you need to decide to either stay and do the extra work (only if this is a realistic option) but limit your contact with your supervisor so allowing yourself to get the work done, or make your complaints known and follow this through (but you are unlikely to get your phD).

Good luck Patseya! Let us know how you get on with your viva, a que sera attitude is what I am trying to adopt for mine in two weeks, eek!