My hairdresser takes at least 45 minutes to chop the mop - even if they are little old men and ladies. Yes, 10mins jobbie for £40 is a right rip off. However, it is said that you can only get a good chop at top class salons. Wonder if I will ever have the dosh to try it? And I suppose I will have to be totally off the rocker to splash that kind of cash.

Just completed a long email detailing why I want to change supervisor for the second time! I've got an awful feeling that the PGRT and the faculty will drag their feet again. And that the supervisor wants to hang on to the thesis! I know I am the common denominator but the problem is really the leading supervisor (honest) who wants to change the focus of the thesis. The other supervisor thinks she's nuts but don't have the balls to say it! I spoke to Research Ethics Committee and was told that it is a criminal offence to change the focus unless I reapply for approval. This a just a never ending story! I'm just 2 chapters away from submission! Argggggghhhhhhhhh!

Got my hair cut in Otley for £15 and should last 3months. Thanks guys and gals. Nope, not had my haircut in Headingly,yet.

Think I need a chop - get rid of the bad luck. Has anybody been to Nicky Clark for a chop. Toni and Guy is just too hyped up. Not been to Vidal, yet. Any suggestions for a good, slick chop?

Just how I felt -from the pan into the fire! Looks like another pit stop as the woman sup is not playing ball and resisting removal from the team!

Glad you liked the analogy. Can't say I've 'mutated' like Frodo but friends and family members are tired of the adventure and want to return to the Shire, especially Samwise Gamgee. You might recalled that I sucessfully removed the first set of plonker supervisors. Well, this current one whom I want to remove is like the Balrock (?sp), and she managed to knobble one of the supervisors to persuade me to change the focus of my thesis (at this stage of the writing- she is so off her trolley!) The PGRT has submitted my request for removal of the supervisor to the Research Degrees Office for further action(s). What a journey! Can't believe I'm going round the same bend. Must be jinxed! Wish me luck chaps.

It is written in a highly acclaimed book on "thesis writing" that some students change their research questions to fit the results! This also means the literature review has to be changed. Apparently, this is a norm in quantitative research, but certainly unheard of in qualitative research!

One of my supervisors want to change the focus of my thesis when all the fieldwork is done! Its called "reverse engineering"! I tried to accommodate this ludicrous suggestion but failed. Its come to an impasse and I've just requested for termination of supervision. Seems like a never ending story. Can't wait to dump the thesis into the fires of Modor - what a curse!

It will not look bad on your CV, on the contrary, it reflects courage and maturity. You might consider doing it in the future and that's OK. Remember, the PhD is always going to be there for the taking, but you have to live your life here and now.
Alternatively, speak to your PGRT about temporary suspension and see how you feel about 3-6months.
Good luck!

Hi Eska,
You could approach your PGRT or speak to someone in Research Degrees Office to suspend your PhD till the new supervisor comes on board.

Specifically from Oriental to Occidental languages.
Ta muchly.

Its a bit of a "cherry picking" with Nvivo7 ie you take what you need from it.
With regards to your research interest, what aspects of "quality" are you looking for ie advice, clinical skills, interaction etc. And, are you interviewing drs, nurses, patients and allied professionals in the same group setting?
Just curious.

Well done! Few questions:
How many more do you intend to do?
What aspects of primary care are you investigating?
Can you expand on what you mean when you said that organisation of the group(s) was difficult?
I'm using Nvivo7. Stay away from Ethnograph- its ancient!

I agree with Aloha - sups who are not that au fait with the research area tend to concentrate on bits that are within their comfort zone, and in your case, nit-picking the article(s) you cited.
I do however, disagree with Sim - that its common for PhDers to feel 2 inches at the end of a supervision session. Supervisors are expected to support and encourage, not bash the student to a pulp!
If you are paying 10k a year, the uni will definitely want to keep you happy and they will try their best to find you a supervisor if the current team is incompetent.

H there,
Sorry you are feeling so bad after 2 months into the PhD programme. Expecting you to know the articles throughly at this stage of the PhD is very cruel indeed. If you feel that your sups don't really understand your research interest, this might be the right time to speak to the Post Grad Research Tutor and possibly change supervisors. Are you self-funding, dept funded or external sources (eg ESRC) funded?