deadlines (very scary indeed!)

Hi there EatingElephants!
Literature Reviews are difficult in the first year of PhD. Firstly, you have yet to really define the parameters of your research and second, and more importantly, you are settling into a whole new way of working (particularly if you are going straight from BSc to PhD). This is NORMAL. I found the first year to be the toughest...thing is to read what you enjoy and try out new literatures. By the time you start your fieldwork and have some results, suddenly the lit will fall into place...'eureka...I see where my work fits etc.'. First year is the time to really indulge in reading and the lit...enjoy! This is fun!
Good luck!

knees...not so keen on knobbly ones...having said that...

Hi jojo,
I have Endnote and I know exactly what you mean! Absolutely no idea how to use it for the best. I add references and then I get tired of adding references, I know there is a quick way to do it from the web but I am totally inept! Go for the course...alternatively find someone who has already done the course and photocopy their booklet...often if you search the uni intranet you will find the course is already on there and can do it for free...!
Good luck!

Barbados
(I hear it is nice this time of year!)

I think work is a bit of a "one off" thing. If I do lots of work one day...that is it for a few days. Like my brain can't take it or something. But great when you get those days you want to do work - I'm not scared to admit it! Unfortunately today is not one of those days...spent couple of hours considering postdoc options. Can dream that I might get this finished!

"the holidays are coming!"

Hi H,
No I don't feel like doing any work either, but I have just got a draft chapter back that my supervisor wants redrafted before Xmas. Grr...! But this will mean what I put in now, I won;t have to be stressing over Xmas about...so this is actually a good thing. What...I have just talked myself into doing work...!

I would give them a call. Ask how much it would cost to make contributions during your PhD? If it is less than 350 quid for one year then I would do it. Probably much less.

My boyfriend understands what I am doing and is very supportive, BUT he cannot understand why it takes me so long to get anything written. As an undergrad he would have his essays done way before the deadline...not me at all! Also he is always going on about saving for a potential 4th year if I don;t complete before the funding runs out...boo hoo...but he is right!

Hi Tom,
Yeah, I have recently got a letter saying that I haven;t made any contributions for the year 03/04. To be entitled for a full pension I need to pay them about 350 quid. To me this is a lot of money and I am not convinced there will be a pension at the end of it. Am tempted to pay to be on the safe side and also open a private pension as well. The leaflets that came with this letter were not very useful. I think our research councils should provide us with some info on this.

I am at Royal Holloway (university of london) in the geography department

Hi Tom,
I am doing a geography PhD at RHUL. Congratulations on the funding! There are some great geography PhD induction sessions attended by students from across the University of London. You will not be alone. Great sense of community! Are you human or physcial?

I congratulate the very dedicated folks posting on this site - I am perhaps too relaxed! It sounds like some supervisors are more hands on than others and see the project as (in part) their own. It is your project, you are doing the PhD for you!

I think what we are all trying to say is "do what works for you". I think we all have our own strategies for coping. But Christmas is a good time to take stock - whether it be taking a break, doing some further reading, or cracking on with work during this quieter time.

I agree, there is always the danger of seeing what other people are doing and wondering if you should be doing that etc. I have learnt there is nothing much to be achieved, other than freaking yourself out! So do what you are happy with.
I live with my boyfriend and I am in the writing up - end of data collection stage and to be honest I take time off when I need and this hasn;t been detrimental yet! I think sometimes supervisors forget what it is like to be a PhD student - working out what you are doing etc. and ssometimes set the same standards to us as they do for themselves - well, they are professors and we are starting our careers so...Go Xmas shopping, have a drink with friends and relax! (sorry again for the rant!) Hilary