To be honest Eska, I avoid Liverpool City Centre like the plague during weekends (and most other times). I get pedestrian rage (much like road rage), and the hoards of pajama wearing teens, and frail old ladies does nothing for my patience.

Another thing I've noticed recently, on top of pajama's as day wear; is people wearing leggings as if they were trousers. Sometimes I want to tap people on the shoulder and say "excuse me love, but your leggings have stretched so much over your bottom that I can now see your spotty pink knickers... perhaps wear jeans next time or a dress/skirt." This frustrates me even more because my mother (being the fashionista she is) has taken to wearing 'jeggings' with long jumpers, and I find it highly disturbing that not only is my mother following fashion much more that I ever could/would, but she's following possibly the worst fashion there is*.


*No offence to anyone who does wear leggings as trousers or jeggings.

I'm pleased to hear things are working out for you now, and good luck with the job search and masters re-work!! :-)

I've just finished writing... and just want to say, the end is near for all of you!! Keep at at and soon enought you'll be able to stop writing... and start reading and scrutinising every word you wrote. :-s

Hi Vini,

While I'm afraid I'm not able to offer much in the way of advice, I can point you towards someone who might. Guitarman has recently quit his PhD and found success elsewhere. Perhaps you could send him a private message for some advice?

Good luck!

Jinkim

Yay... chapter 2 has now been read and spelling mistakes rectified... I was quite pleased - it seems to be a pretty good chapter, although I don't remember writing half of it!!

Gonna start with chapter 3 today as I fear I won't get the chance to do it all tomorrow (stupid interview).

I will treat myself to a cuppa before then though... mmmmmm... caffeine.

Is it me, or have you noticed that the more work you have to do, the more time you seem to have to procrastinate?

Hi Guitarman,

well done on your decision and I'm glad it has worked out so well for you.

I'm not taking sides here because I believe you have to do what's right for you, and obviously for you, leaving the PhD was the right decision.

All I want to say, is that if we all quit at the first hurdle no-one would get anywhere with life. I think the support given by members of this forum is extremely useful in helping people to see the bigger picture, and yes, that might not be right for some, but for others it acts as a sort of virtual hug... the reassurance needed to keep going. The key is that it is the individual who makes the decision in the end, and you cannot criticise them, or those who gave them support in making that decision. Each to their own and all that.

I agree with Teek and PhDbug that your post could be interpreted as a criticism of all of us who decide to carry on with their PhD's, and I don't think that's fair. I'm sure it wasn't intended that way, but that's how it comes across. Everyone has low points during their research, but that's by no means a reason for everyone who experiences this to quit, which seems to be what you are saying. I for one feel like my lows point have made me a stronger person, and know for a fact that I would have nothing but regret if I had quit because I felt miserable at some point.

Today I have so far done no thesis work :-(

I have, however chosen my outfit for an interview tomorrow, filled in the millions of forms they want me to take, and I've also nibbled on some toast, which went cold in the process of choosing outfits and filling in forms. Hmmm.

Onto Chapter 2 now...

Thanks Teek!! I'm sure you'll get there... we all do eventually!

Poppy, I think a virtual drink is definitely in order... maybe the mods will give us a little cocktail image (hint hint, nudge, nudge)?

I'm finding that at times I write ridiculously long sentences. Also found today that my page margins changed halfway through... that caused some headache after changing them back to normal, and my thesis suddenly grew by like 10 pages!! As if it's not long enough as it is!? Ha!

Hi Guys,

I know there's loads of accountability threads on the forum, but I'm not sure which I fit into at the moment so thought I'd make my own. Join in if you're in a similar situation/ don't know where to go/ just want to join in for the hell of it.

So, I have three weeks till I submit my thesis, and 9 weeks till my Viva (viva date already set as my external travels lots and we had to keep her in the country!). I finished writing on Friday last week and am now checking through my thesis for mistakes/ omissions/ format, etc.

My aim is to read a chapter a day (taking 9 days, give or take), doing changes as I go along. This gives me the last week to panic. Perfect.

So far today I have reached my goal, and am now working on job interview prep. (up)

Tomorrow is chapter 2. :-)

======= Date Modified 15 Mar 2010 14:31:48 =======
The key to getting my PhD (although by no means proven to lead to success... yet), is to keep myself entertained.

Writing, reading, thinking... these things can be dull. So, I learn useless information and think of ways to use it to make me laugh.

One favourite from last year was to make origami animals. My aim was to build my way up to the infamously difficult origami shark (I did not reach this target).

My current form of entertainment is Eddie Stobart trucks. I'm doing a lot (LOT) of driving at the moment, and found out that it is in company policy that if you wave at an Eddie Stobart truck, the driver has to wave back!! If he doesn't, you can report him which will lead to a disciplinary (I'm not mean enough to do this). So I have taken to waving as a means of entertaining myself on long career-related journeys. I also quite like spotting random stuff being carried on trucks. Last week I saw a tank, a massive drilling devise, a house and another truck all being towed on trucks (not the same truck carrying all though). Endless fun!