Argh I have submitted it, sup seems happy though so I cant complain. Having a bit of 'me' time very self indulgent I know but considering I have spent the last few days in jogging bottoms with my unbrushed hair and no make up I think I deserve it. Supervisor is being lovely, so Im feeling a lot happier.

Have moved onto full fat nasty dominos cookies (oh yes they do them now) none of this weight watchers lark, we're phd students and I cant concentrate on 2 things at once so I say Bollocks to the hips lol.

And btw literature review sigh I remember those days...Sometimes I think if i could go back and start the phd again knowing what I know now would it change me. U know I think Id probably still arse about till the last minute. ah well
x

Argh Im late with another chapter. AGAIN. And Ive been unsuccessfully trying to get it written and doing bloody awfully at it. Im avoiding my emails in case my supervisor has sent me a 'where is that chapter!' email and I am just in no mood to start seriously panicking. I like dealing with emails when I have signed on to send the chapter in Im only at 13,000 words this particular chapter. Part of me wants to blitz it haphazardly and get something down and in so it can at least be seen. The other part of me wants to do it really well, which is going to take eons longer and I just dont know whatelse. I am terrible at writing chapters. I also am a terrible writer full stop. Every now and then I just think Im putting in quotes and joining them up with me writing a line between them. God I hate doing a phd.

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I think the 'get pregnant let my partner sort it out' comment implies (and I think the response from the other women illustrates this) that it is a manipulated thing. You may be backpedaling now but your comment implies that it is a premeditated disregard on the part of the pregnant woman to neglect any responsibility and be 'supported' and I echo PhDbug, what do you mean by support? Purely monetary? Emotional? Physical? Psychological?

BHC what a pile of rubbish and I agree with Smilodon a poor attempt to cover up a poorly judged and ill-considered remark. Falling pregnant means someone else can cover your arse? Oh grow up, I wont even begin to tell you how offensive that is as I think you know already. Masses of pregnant women work up until the last minute and continue as soon as they give birth, a prime example of which being a colleague of mine who whilst writing her PhD thesis was pregnant, continued writing all the way through her pregnancy and never took any time off because of it. If of course you were referring to being 'paid' for having kids, such as benefits and local authority housing then I suggest you try it and see how pretty it is.

Oh dear, trust me you should enjoy your time now before you start. I have no carrotcake left im on kitkats today...want one of them?

I got a great piece of advice from someone who had submitted and done and dusted it all. She said, 'remember it doesn't have to be perfect' It just has to show a new contribution of knowledge. Your Viva discussion can completely change it all for you. Just remember that when u hand it in you will be free!!! And do the best you can. That is all anyone can ask of you. Dont panic you are in complete control of this. 6 weeks is fine for time. I promise!

xx

The ones from my class that hve kids are the ones without careers or the overtly religious. But primarily they are the ones without careers, most that I know of arent with the fathers of their kids. So I wouldnt want to be in that situation. Anyway they do say writing a PhD is akin to having a baby, long gestation, painful delivery, sleepless nights you see you have all of that only without the nasty nappies!

I dont intend on having babies till im in my thirties, im much too selfish lol and I like holidays too much. Pets for me till then.

Hi all, just to add to my moaning a chapter im reworking at the minute is now completely irrelevant, well my methodology has changed and huge chunks of it are completely irrelevant. Its heart breaking and just feels like 1 step forward several thousand back. Ah I know I shouldnt complain im just a bit annoyed to be honest that a chapter I was happy with at 15,000 words is now obsolete. Sigh

ive planned daily up to august, with a submission sheet on my wall, for when im due to hand things in. Plans are all about being realistic being kind to yourself, maybe with weekend days off which can be utilised if you fall behind during the week. I find it hard sticking to plans but atm at least I know where I should be and if i follow it that I should be finished in time. In that respect plans are piece of mind. With a well thought out daily plan you should be able to not think about x y and z that needs done because they are covered another day. I think it gives you the ability to focus on one thing without stressing about when you will get something else done.
Also if you go off plan, you have a record of what u should have done so its easy to catch up again. In summary, it takes the planning out of your head and on paper so you have room for more important things.

Can I have a star now :-) lol

They do indeed, although Im currently eating Rib and Saucy flavour. As to the chapter, atm im going through it and scrutinising and changing things that need improved etc. Its a bit dull and arduous but I suppose its better than writing it from scratch!

I havent worked in a shared office mainly because even trying to get workspace at my uni is a nightmare, too many postgradders that when I started there was no space for us, and the library was always too noisy. So I worked and home, and now there probably is space in uni being that im in third year and could probably throw a strop and get some lol but my office is all nice and kitted out. And im currently burning a lovely cinnamon candle which is very calming. Plus Im taking a break at 5 to watch Paul OGrady! Lol the things we Phd lot bribe ourselves with!

Thank you Heifer, Im also an avid copier of text, realised last week I had nearly copied an entire chapter of one of my methodology books. Durr at me. My brain is a bit on the fritz today to be honest but this does need done. Nice to know other people are out there also working. I havent seen anyone yet today!

Weight loss regime eh? Have a carrot cake they're weight watchers, nothing to fear, Ive moved onto the nik naks crisps. They on the other hand are not good for the waistline.

Urgh I hate references!

I dont think the self doubt ever goes away. I still feel like the no talent police are going to come bursting through the door and arrest me with impersonating an academic.

Hello all,
Im sitting here in my office redrafting a chapter I should have handed in last week (spanks for me) looking out my window, and eating weight watchers carrot cakes. Currently trying to summon up the mental clarity/ discipline/ arsedness to plough forward. I have another 40 pages to go (woo) so just a shout out to anyone else working, is anybody there? And if so, what are you doing? Also would you like a weight watchers carrot cake, theyre really very nice.

xx

Wow, this thread has really taken off! There was me thinking I was just having a bit of a moan about feeling a bit crap lol. Well many interesting points, personally I do believe praise where praise is due, picking up on doodles point I believe it goes a very long way in a task such as a PhD. My colleague who is doing her PhD that I mentioned before, does work very hard, and I do believe my supervisor was just relaying to the students the discipline required when you have external things in your life to your work, such as children etc. I do think I was being sensitive, probably just because as we all know we do all tend to feel like we could do more, and like everyone else is doing so much better, for a lot of the time, so hearing evidence of that just got me down.

Im pretty lucky my supervisor is a lovely man, very busy, so often doesnt chase me as much as I probably need chasing for chapter drafts etc, but I think ive been hit with the lucky stick compared to some of the people ive spoken to about theirs. I agree supervisors need to do more training on actually 'HOW' to supervise, its a lot more than just reading drafts. As Joan Bolker says, it comprises being a counselor, parent, friend, task master and critical thinker. Its a heck of a role. How many people can say their supervisor does all of that! I think we dont necessarily need all of that but some would be nice when we hit our doldrums. Just a thought.

I agree with you miss spacey. Lol maybe im just jealous that my work requires so much redrafting! She has just done so much and I suppose has utilised her professional contacts to the max. Maybe the fact she just seems to find it so easy and quite clearly is their favourite for faculty position, to I suppose resume the one she left just makes me feel a bit useless.
No maybe youre right, maybe he was just being a bit tactless I probably shouldnt read too much into it. Probably just all me.