First interview transcribed - blimey, that felt like hard work, and all I have left now is the nightmare one with the guy who wouldn't stop talking. So I'm going to take a break and sing along to some music while I clean the bathroom. Oh what an exciting life!

Have fun cleaning the bathroom Batfink!

I am totally bored, and I've only been back at my desk 5 minutes after taking puppy out for a big walk! This part of the write up process is obviously not doing it for me.

Anyway, I've finished goal 1, and I want to make a start on goal 2. Here goes!

I ended up taking yesterday off. Woke up all clammy and feverish, and felt worse when I got out of bed, so I ended up spending the whole day on the sofa feeling generally rubbish and watching TV. I feel a bit better today, just like if I'm not careful I could come down with something nasty. So I'm going to take it easy - finish my final transcription and do a bit more housework, and that'll be it.

Hope your day's better than mine!

Oh dear Batfink, feel better soon!

I must confess, I've been avoiding this thread because I'm really struggling with my work. As you know I've written my findings chapters, but I'm combining findings/discussion within each of the 4 findings chapters if that makes sense, so I now need to make the links to previous literature. But I just don't know where to start! I've got a botch job of a literature, as well as loads of notes like 'add info from Smith 2009' scattered all over the place, and everything just seems like a mess! I've put all the key points I've made into a table, with the intention of then going through my lit review etc and putting next to each key point any literature which supports/contrasts with that key point. But it just seems like a massive task and makes me just want to ignore the whole thing :-(

Oh Button, I totally recognise that feeling, and the thread avoidance - definitely been there! Is there any way you can break the job down into smaller tasks so it's not such an overwhelming thing to face? Or start on what looks like the easiest/least difficult bit? Sometimes I find trying different methods works for me - like printing stuff out and physically cutting it up to play around with the order of sections, or going to work in a silent study booth or at my kitchen table instead of my usual desk. Would any of that help? Whatever, though, don't worry about it - I often find that kind of resistance to doing something means I haven't properly worked out what I'm trying to do. If you're fairly relaxed about it you'll figure it out.

Anyway, I would quite cheerfully murder my final interviewee. He's monumentally self-important and just talks too bloomin much! I've done another nine minutes of my transcription and I'm ready to scream!

Thanks for the advice Batfink :-) I am battling through, just seems like a neverending task! I've broken it down and it seems more manageable, so that's start! I'd like to get through the section I'm working on by this evening, which will hopefully mean I'll feel more confident about it all, so I can have the weekend off ready to start fresh next week!

You'll get there!

I've finally finished the nightmare last transcription. My head hurts now! What a boring boring interviewee that was... But that means I can pack away my work with a clear conscience. Going to do a bit tomorrow afternoon, but otherwise it's a lovel weekend off!

Have a good weekend too!

Morning all!

I did manage to finish the section I was working on last Friday, which meant I had a great lazy weekend. But back to it now!

Goal 1 (which will take me all day)- do links to previous lit for findings chapter 2

Hi all!

I got goal 1 done yesterday (just!) so today I'm doing the same thing but for findings chapter 3

Goal 1 (my all day goal)- do links to previous lit for findings chapter 3.

Good luck anyone working today!

Hi Button

Sounds like you're making good progress!

I didn't so any work yesterday because my parents came to visit, so they took me out to lunch and I just lazed around after they'd left!

Lots to get on with today. I'm meeting my supervisors
1.) Go swimming - DONE
2.) Look up travel and accommodation for two conferences - DONE
3.) Sort out software/hardware for taking measurements tomorrow
4.) Revise chapter plan for thesis
5.) Revise publication plan
6.) Revise timetable for rest of PhD
I did want to carry on analysing my interviews today as well, but looking at that list of things I don't think I'll have time. Oh well!

Goals 3 and 4 done, goal 5 mostly done, and I think I'll be able to sort out goal 6 before home time. What a good day!

Hope yours was good too!

Sounds like you had a good day yesterday Batfink! I also got my goal done, in addition to doing some teaching prep and planning for a conference.

Goal 1- links to previous lit for final findings chapter woohoo!
Goal 2- read related thesis
Goal 3- email sup

Doing well today; goals 1 and 2 done, but I'm not going to do goal 3 (email sup) just yet, until I've decided on a plan for the next few weeks.

So revised goal 3 is- go through links to previous lit and sort into table
Goal 4- make a plan of what to do next and what to cover in next supervision
Goal 5- email sup

Sounds like you're making good progress!

I was out at one of the organisations I'm studying this morning, collecting some final bits of data, so this afternoon I've downloaded the data and had a quick look at it (interesting!) Tomorrow my computer is being upgraded to a new version of Windows by the IT department, so all I'm going to do now is make sure my back ups are up to date. Then I'll spend the rest of the day sorting out a few things in my flat in preparation for moving.

Morning!

Today, my computer is being upgraded so in a minute I have to switch it off and take it to the IT people. Which means a whole day without being able to access the internet! No Facebook, no quick glance at the Guardian, no coming here... how will I cope?? (I'll probably get loads of work done....)

I've printed out my interview transcripts to analyse, so I'll be doing that today. And later, spending hours re-installing all the software that the upgrade deletes. Grrrr.