Hi Emaa, I'm sorry to hear that you're having a tough time at the moment. I think that you should allow yourself to have a little time off to yourself so that you can allow yourself to think, do something with friends/family, or whatever you want to do. You need to give yourself time to think about other things without trying to forget them, as if you make a conscious effort to forget them then they will only be on your mind more. I think you need to be accustomed to them more than forget them, if that makes sense.

I hope you stat to feel better soon, Nxx

Thanks for trying anyway - Ev and Starlight, Nx

Sneaks - I have a little electric heater that fits perfectly under my desk and keeps my feet warm - would highly recommend!

Thanks for trying anyway Satchi :-)

This one is a bit of a longshot as I think its quite a rare journal, but I need an article from the 'Annals of Contemporary Medicine' if anyone has access to it.
I need de Beauvoir, S. 1997. A Very Easy Death. Issue 127: pp. 891-894.

Thanks in advance, Nx

I've had the heating on for about 2 weeks now - I really feel the cold. And my mum bought me a new pair of cosy slipper boots so winter is definitely here!

Its milder today than it has been though, my horse only has a medium weight rug on and he's been clipped - usually now he'd be in his heavyweight rug.

Hi Satchi, I'm a bit like this myself and have also got myself into trouble over it through people taking advantage of me. Its so difficult to say no sometimes though. I'd babysit once if she was desperate and didn't have anybody else, but then tell her you're really busy with work etc. and can't help so much any more. I'm sure you've been really good to her so she should respect this. Nxx

Sorry this is late (been away for a while) but congratulations!! Hope you're still enjoying the post-PhD glow! Nxx

My research is all qualitative and there are some good books on it out there. I don't know what method you are using or what field you are in, but 'Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology: Adventures in theory and method' by Carla Willig is very good (or anything else by her), as well as 'An Introduction to Qualitative Research' by Uwe Flick. Good luck!

Hi Sneaks - I haven't voted but I wouldn't remove all of them, just the most inappropriately-placed ones. Maybe replace some of them with an alternative that you think is better like "despite..." or something like that - remember you know what you want to say possibly better than she does. Hope your writing up is going well, Nx

Hi KB - thanks for replying and sorry I've taken so long to get back to you.

I am planning to work from home 3 days a week and go to my little office space at university 2 days a week - I work as a pa for a few hours every afternoon/evening and for 2 days of the week I start a bit later so then I'll get a bit more time to spend at university. I do like keeping in touch with people and the uni working environment but gradually I've got used to working from home and can get as much done. It also works well with my horse as I can be a bit more flexible.

I went in last week and felt much better afterwards, like a proper student again I guess. I'm going away on Thursday for the weekend but will definitely go in nect week and hopefully start going twice a week again and re-settle myself now I have a new job and things are a bit more secure.

Nxx

Apologies if this sounds a bit self-pitying and rambling, but I've been feeling like this for about a month now and worrying about whether I am cut out for my PhD, which I start in January.

I live in London and my university is 60 miles away, about 1 1/2 hour's drive. During termtime when I had seminars for my MSc I went in 2 or 3 times a week, and a few times during the holidays. However this summer when I've been working on my dissertation (due in December) I've only been in about 4 times - although I have been making good progress working from home I really miss going to university and working there - I have been working a lot with my p/t job as well so sometimes it is difficult to fit a trip to uni in. I have had meetings and email contact with my supervisor and he is confident with my progress and keen for me to publish a section of my dissertation so I don't think there is much to be concerned about there.

Maybe I just miss the university atmosphere and want to get back to a bit of normality, I am going tomorrow so hopefully I will feel a bit better then. I just feel really distanced from academic life, like I was another person when I got accepted to do my PhD etc. I'm still really motivated to do it and I'm looking forward to finishing my MSc and starting it, but in a strange way I'm worrying that my supervisors have forgotten who I am.

I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense I've written it quite quickly but its something I've kept inside my head for quite a long time - if I mentioned it to my mum for instance she would just panic that I didn't want to do my PhD any more, which really isn't the case. I'm hoping that after going back tomorrow my academic spirit will return, maybe I'm just bored of working from home.

Has anyone else been through this, do these thoughts make sense to anyone, even sound familiar?

Nxx

I've been experiencing 'feeling old' lately, getting to an age where I don't want to appear older any more - today someone guessed I was 28 and I'm only 22 - think I need to start using eye cream! And when I see 18 year olds out wearing tiny outfits I feel a bit past it! Not got onto the jam making and mortgage stage yet thought...

I hope a London meet happens at some point, but unfortunately I will be in Italy on the 1st October!

I have done my undergrad and I'm now finishing my MSc at a uni which is just over an hour's drive from me, and just under 2 hours on the train. I am starting my PhD in January and they are aware of how far away I live. My department is quite friendly and flexible - I have an office space but I don't have to use it eveyday - it is there if I need it. I am working from home a lot at the moment because I am finishing my dissertation, I go in about once a fortnight. When I start my PhD I will probably go in twice a week and work from home the rest of the time. I prefer working from home most of the time and it fits well around my part time job and other responsibilities - I don't usually do a typical 9-5 day as I work in the afternoons as a PA, but I work mornings and evenings.

I wasn't aware of being able to use other university libraries though - there is a university near me so I might check that out.