What I am trying to fathom is why is this better than say working in a factory? It's different but not necessarily better or best is it?

I think it’s important to appreciate that neither life path [in therapy speak] is 'better' than the other. Just different. I prefer to do this. Others may find building Nissan's rewarding and fulfilling.

'I'm glad I got out while I did..I'd hate to end up like them'. Hmmm...you might want to have a look at yourself? What exactly is wrong with working in a shop or factory..its an honest days work isn't it!

and your point is?

Weren't you thinking of becoming an investment banker W2DN?

I would say probably yes. In my field entry to PHd's [via funding opp's] is very, very competitive. I would say even more so if you're not a Home or EU student. If you are a self-funder it's not such a big deal. Of course transcripts will show how close to the Distinction you were [if they read that far as I'm informed is not always the case].

Alot of it is mostly laziness.

Thank you for the replies.

You can tell its school holidays. You obviously have some insecurity issue to address ginga. Do them somewhere else.

Back to the adults you obviously need some external 'mediation' on this in my opinion. The graduate school advisor is the obvious way. I still think it might be an idea to put your grievances [as they are becoming that] in writing just in case. Have you looked at what the 'handbook' advises in such issue btw? There will no doubt be a procedure to follow.

I'm onto version 6.X of my proposal. All the usual bunk in there. Nice snappy title, keywords, aims, motivation, basic lit review, significance, etc, etc. All this in 800 or so words. Where it falls down [badly] is in the proposed methodology. It is the grand total of 3 and a half lines.

I think the problem is that while I do have a Masters with some reseach training [anyone who has done a MSc at one of the old Poly's will probably appreciate that comment] my knowledge of research methodolgies is limited. Can anyone recommend a good site or indeed text that covers research methods for the Business field?

Quite practically, W2DN is correct. It's the Easter hol's so I would imagine most universities from a staff viewpoint resemble the Marie Celeste at present.

Not too sure about taking time off to re-charge and such like. Just sounds like procrastination to me. My personal rationale is to just get on with it as it won't do itself [unless there is a 'genuine' reason why you can't]. You'll have to do it in the end so it might as well be now. Sorry if that sounds blunt. I bet you prefer the other solution[s].

Can you do a PhD for 10 years? There was a woman on my MSc that was into year six doing it p/t which was incredible.

'she takes over telling her how shes done all this work'.

I wouldn't have that. Stand up for yourself. Tell her exactly why you're not happy [re that anyway]. Email could be good as you have a record if it occurs again. The fact that she's not a PhD doesn't exactly place her in a strong position re this as well.

Anita Roddick...gets bad press as a parent/person.