Good idea for this thread Pink Numbers!

My 6 years (PT) runs out May 2011 although technically with an intermission and extension I could prolonge the agony until feb 2012! My aim (with supervisory backing) is to submit for April 2011.

I have all 7 chapters written, commented on and amended. I am finishing off the thesis by editing out words to reach my 40000 max limit for a sciences PhD thesis. I had 7000-8000 over and have reduced this to just 500 now. I have all tables and appendices added with about half of the figures left to annotate and add in (About 80 in total :$).

My main concerns are 'word count' and whether I have enough refs (105) as it is an under-researched area. I also worry about knowing my refs and the broader area well enough for the viva, eek!

Hi Pink Numbers - Its sounds like a fab idea to get away for the weekend and have a break doing something else you enjoy. Would love to do so too but need a childminder for the weekend and that is a huge order lol. Oh well I will keep dreaming.

I have 7 chapters all written but am editing/formatting although only ch 6 and 7 discussions to finish now. I have figures to add but all tables and appendices are done. Cannot wait to be able to produce the final version. Not sure how long this phase is going to take me........?!? Would love to see the end of this now :-s

Ady - when I got my first chapter comments back from the supervisory team (yes 3 sups!) I was almost afraid to open it! The comments were plenty and the first read through had me panicking that I could not write a thesis. However on re-reading and reflection the comments were not actually that bad at all. I think it is better to have feedback (even if you can dispute it) rather than submitting with no comments at all. Once you go over the chapter comments again you will be more focused and constructive.

My deadline is a moving goal! Officially 6 years in May 2011. An intermission for 'twins' takes it to Sept 2011 but the write-up extension that my supervisor added in when I applied for write-up status takes it to Feb 2012! I personally am aiming for April 2011 as my supervisors reckon that by Easter will be easy! At least I don't have a firm deadline.........although probably best to have one before things slip! Currently ahead of schedule :-)

Hi Star-shaped, I also find myself getting ratty with the pressure I put myself under to get the thesis completed. You seem to have alot of deadlines at the moment.  I can have lower tolerance for the toddler tantrums and babies. My hubby switches off when I talk to him about my thesis etc which I find annoying, but he doesn't really understand the subject I am doing. DH is very understanding with the time I spend at the laptop in the evenings so I cannot complain!  I think that a PhD isolates us from friends and also very close family at times when deadlines loom. Have a chat with him this evening, I am sure it will all be fine!

In the meantime hope you have a productive day!

Well done Wal for submitting! I am pleased to hear there were no 'cliff-hangers' with the ending of this movie (up). I am looking forward getting to your stage as the final thesis editing seems to take me forever (motivation flagging now!). So what will you do with all of that spare time? I am sure it will be filled and you will reflectively wonder how you managed to fit in a PhD ;-)

Good luck with the job hunt!

I would imagine (given his previous reputation and professional relationship with you) that he has just not considered how this might look. I would not read too much into the invitation ie he may just feel comfortable with you as a student and having the meeting at his home is for his convenience. I personally would not go to his home unless it is for a social event where others are also invited. Others that hear about such a meeting may cast inaccurate rumours which is not needed by yourself or him either. I would suggest meeting at the usual 'formal' location due to your travel arrangements or another equally 'public' location that you feel happy about.

Pink Numbers - I thought Refworks was a pain but at least it did provide an Office 2008 compatable file. I can imagine your frustration as ref software is not the most user friendly.

I have now edited ch 5 discussion and am emailing it to my supervisor tonight. I have done some formatting corrections to the contents page and ref corrections.

Off to bed now I think, very tiring day!

Well done Batfink and Star-shaped for putting the hours in. Hopefully the distractions will quieten down for you and you'll be more productive.

I shall hopefully start editing in about an hour once bambinos are bathed and put to bed. Feeling motivated for it at the moment lol.

Last night I managed to finish selecting cited refs in refworks and download them in Harvard style for Word format. Just need to add any extras that are incorporated into the final thesis.

Tonight I shall try to edit ch 5 and 6 discussion - looking to remove 500 words!

Jenny, the write-up fee for my uni is £400 for the year. You will only have 12 months to complete write-up at this reduced fee. It is a supervised phase as the supervisor is very much a part of the writing up period as they check over the work. However, it precludes the use of lab facilities, statisticians etc and covers the use of library, IT facilities. I would check that the fee you have found is the correct one as it seems much less than we pay.

Goodness, Pink Numbers - just realised you stated '22' figures to do for tomorrow morning! No wonder you had a sleepless night, I have that many to format and annotate and it takes some time for me! Good luck with it and hope your not up all night.

I am sorting out the final thesis, but I am finding that I never seem to finish each job. I have more figures to annotate and add, editing discussions for ch 6 and 7, refs cited to download from refworks into thesis, sort out formatting inconsistencies (noted in printed copy lol). So lots of tedious (and large goals) but essential things to finish off.

Last night I have moved from editing discussions to references as my brain has lost some motivation, is this normal in the final stages? So later I shall try to finish the refs download so I can at least tick something off my list. The funny thing is that I would love to get this submitted asap yet my motivation to complete it has gone :$ Anyone with some words of wisdom out there?

Congratulations Dr Sue! That is fantastic news, I am so pleased for you. Sounds like everything is finally coming together with the job too, I hope it is enjoyable!

Afternoon all! I have just had a skype tutorial with my supervisor regarding lab politics. We were hoping to do some 'further' work to my PhD thesis but the NHS has blocked the lab use again. More red tape to sort out :-s Anyhow He is really pleased by my thesis progress and hopefully I won't need the further work post viva.

So I have ch 5 discussion to read and edit followed by ch 6 and 7. Just 600 words to lose, yeah.

Pink Numbers - I wrote myself small goals such as 'write the methods and results for ch 3' or 'write ch 3 discussion' rather than giving a set word count to write. This way I could just write and tidy it up later and not focus on words. Ok I ended up with 7000 over the limit but editing is easier to do than write!

Star Shaped - what are you eating or drinking as you are on a roll!! Can I have some of what your having :-)

At my university I have been advised to attach a letter to the submission paperwork (for the examiners) regarding my availablility for the viva. I have three babies to get childcare for and hubby often works away. Based on this have you contacted your 'Academic office' and explained this situation to them? It may be that they can forward your availability to the examiners. Alternatively what does your supervisor suggest? It would not be advisable for you to contact your examiners directly as this could affect their eligability to conduct your viva. I would seek advice from the university directly. Hope this helps and good luck!