Thanks Ady. Yes, I think you're right, it is a good thing that we get to do a viva every year - useful practice. Still don't want to do it though! :p

Viva done. Pretty quick really. The professor had some very sharp questions but I think I handled them all okay. He had a couple of suggestions for clarifying what I'm doing, and a couple of his questions raised some interesting things about the design of my study that I need to think some more about. But overall it was fine, and he said congratulations at the end, and my supervisor seems happy too.

Yay. As soon as they've officially told me I've passed, I'll be heading to the pub!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Hi Batfink! I've only just logged on, long story but, congratulations!! I'm glad your viva went well and enjoy the pub, you deserve it ;-)

Well, as for me, I'm about to start my working day so we shall see how far I get. I'm confident though, will report at the end of the day (or between tomatoes if I start struggling!).

Have a good day everyone! And a nice weekend too! I shall be around as usual;-)

congrats Batfink, enjoy a drink or two, or three...

Congrats, Batfink! Take a good break, have a nice and relax weekend.

Morning!!!

Something came up yesterday and I didn't even manage to stay sit at my desk yesterday :-( but I'm seeing this as a good thing as maybe (just maybe) I've been overworking lately.

It's a brand new day today and I've got my to do list from yesterday to go through. But I think my main goal is to edit one of my discussion sections and edit another chapter as I'm always done with these 2 so it'd be great if I could finish both by the end of the weekend ;-)

I hope you're all doing good!

Good afternoon!

I am working on the most demanding chapter of my thesis, which needs restructuring and lots of amending.I hope I can get it done by next Wed. I had 5 finished tomatoes this morning, aiming to have another 5 in the afternoon.

1) continue amending one of the core chapters
2) make writing/revising plans for next 3 weeks

hey all,
squaredot your predicament with your most demanding chapter is the same as mine. I have fought with myself today and broken it down into bite size chunks its helping me to breathe a little easier!!

Everyone else all the best with the goals for today....

Three cheers to all of us slogging away - for working on a lovely saturday afternoon (up)

naturalme, my pace so far has been 2 pages (just the minor amending,not yet get to the restructuring bit) per tomato.This chapter has 45 pages,still a long way to go.I've been taking deep breaths along the way....

Well done Squaredot and Naturalme for facing your challenges!

I can't say today has been very productive this end but I think my pace slowed down after yesterday of not working on my thesis. At least I've managed to get some work done today so hopefully things will pick up again soon as I need to finish at least 3 chapters by the end of next week.

Keep up with the good work (up)

Morning!

Thanks Skig,I am struggling with this chapter but it has to be done:( I understand what you were saying about slow pace when taking a day off from work. My friends (those not doing PhDs) often say to me it will help you to progress better if you just take a couple of days break from your work. I never manage to let them understand it actually is the opposite. The longer you leave it, the harder you can get back to it. I hope you progress better today.

Goal for today
1) continue amending the core chapter
2) re-structure the core chapter
3) make plans for next three weeks

Morning all,

Thanks Skig for the encouragement, hope you get round to your goals as well today.... square dot , I managed only half a section yesterday!!! truth be told I was so distracted as had other stuff going on.. today I am hoping to complete two of the major scariest sections so I can move this along!!Those are my only goals for today.

All the best everyone Im sure we will overcome(up)

Morning!

You're both welcome;-)

I really want to finish editing a couple of chapters today as I have been doing bits of work on both everyday for that past week or so (I've lost count lol). I also have other bits and bobs that I'd like to do so I've decided to split my day into two: before and after lunch. Bits and bobs to be looked at before lunch (anything that can't be done today can be added to tomorrow's goals) and I'll concentrate on the two chapters after lunch. I suspect today could potentially be a long day but WHEN (it's not an 'if') I get these done, I'll be well chuffed :-)

Hope you all have a productive day!

Hello everyone,

I was just making plans to meet my submission deadline on 30September. While I am trying to keep positive, it just seems impossible to meet the deadline with the amount of work ahead and the slow pace I've been working.

So I am thinking to give up social life, exercises, part time job.....basically everything except eating and sleeping to squeeze more time for the thesis. I work on the thesis from 8am to 6pm 4 days a week, and 2pm to 7pm for th other 3 days. I really want to meet this deadline but I also know there can be reverse effect if I force myself too hard and over do it.

Can you please share your experience? Many thanks.

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Hi Squaredot, my deadline is similar, ie on/before 30 September with the emphasis on before. I am working seven days a week, probably at different hours each day due to family and uni demands. I'm restructuring one complete half of my thesis at the moment and am not sure when restructured - and it will be by next weekend - if my supervisor will let me submit. I'm not sleeping, look horrendous, my house is a mess, I will be officially unemployed when I submit, I can't get an interview, never mind a job (close on 35++ rejections at this stage) and am completely and utterly stressed out. Apparently my mother and hubby were speaking on the phone the other day about my stress levels :-(. Anyhow !! we're all in the same boat and fingers crossed we'll all get there. I want to be finished so bad. I feel like a piece of elastic that's lost its elasticity.