I've been very lazy indeed and haven't done anything yet...had a little lie-in then went to the gym, then food shopping and a healthy lunch, now sat down to work for a few hours before riding the horse, then carrying on with work tonight.

Goal one is to find some papers on an online journal that I like the look of and download them - my supervisor wants me to submit a chapter of my MSc dissertation to this journal so I want to get some inspiration!

Goal two is to finish a mini literature review that I'm doing and send it to my boyfriend so he can have a look at it - he's an excellent writer so really useful for proofreading and improving my writing style.

Have a lovely day everyone, Nx

Hi Lizita, I'm in London and starting a PhD in psychology/sociology in Janury 2011 - finishing my MSc now. I'd probably be interested in this! Nx

Sounds like Bug and I may have started something - it would be great to meet more of you, it's a shame you're not all in London!

Sneaks I thought you lived in the West country for some reason, do you commute from there to London? Would be really great to meet you sometime!

No I don't usually wear a tiara, or have long blonde hair!

Nx

Just a little post to say that I met Phdbug for a coffee and a little tour of her lovely campus last week, as we are both in London I thought it would be a nice thing to do. It felt like we'd known each other for ages and she is a total sweetie - it was really nice to meet someone off this forum as I don't have any friends who are doing PhDs apart from those in my department who are starting to talk to me now (I'm still finishing my MSc), so it was good to chat about everything properly, as well as lots of other things!

Has anyone else met up yet?

Nxx

I find my time disappears like that as well Sneaks! I managed to get quite a lot of that summary done last night, going to finish it this afternoon hopefully.

My gym induction was cancelled this morning which was annoying, so I've had a bit more time to get some work done, done my 1st goal which was to type up my scribbled notes from my supervision last week and do a little plan. Going to do a little bit of reading then get my hair coloured at 1pm, then home to do more on that summary. Then going to do horse and out tonight hopefully!

Have a good day everyone, Nx

TTC - trying to conceive??! Never heard of that abbreviation before but sounds exciting - probably best to get the thesis done first though!

I think it's sweet when men want babies more than you do though!

Well done on the weight-loss front - maybe this can be an exercise accountability thread too?

Are you feeling better now Sneaks?

Today I've re-read and annotated a chapter which is key for my (theoretical) dissertation - now I want to summarise it in 1000 words, hopefully will get the majority of that done by the end of today. I've been to work at the salon for 1/2 of today so haven't had so much time.

Also feeling very smug because I've rejoined the gym and went swimming at 7am before work today, hope I can keep this up! My local council one has been refurbished so it's really nice now, only £28 a month for students with pool, gym and classes - going to try to go every day as I want to lose 1/2 a stone - excited!!

I seem to get on well with yasmin, does the doctor say it makes you put on weight then? The only thing I've noticed with it is that my chest is a bit bigger (!) - not an entire cup size yet though. Do you think yasmin is responsible for that?? Have you thought about the mini-pill or the injection, I'm thinking of having the injection at some point but a bit scared of the potential side effects. And as you hinted...I'm sure there are a lot of more 'natural' methods as well!

Sounds like your diet is going really well, 8 pounds in 3 weeks is really quick - good luck!

Nxx

If you don't mind me asking Sneaks why did your doctor take you off Yasmin? I've been taking it for two months now, after a little break from it and it seems ok - my skin is definitely better on it.

I've managed 5 tomatoes so far today, just going to the horse now then I'll do another 5 tonight, hopefully. Been a bit fed up today and not very happy with life so my work it taking my mind off of it all! Feeling so tired though, and it's freezing today.

Thank you Teek and Ogriv, I know it isn't a good feeling but in a way it is reassuring that others feel guilty and worry sometimes as well, I guess it shows how much we care about our work. I think feeling guilty and worrying sometimes may be part of the process.

Ogriv - I put my love life on hold for a long time, like over a year as I just didn't think I had the 'emotional space' for a relationship. I started dating again I guess in April/May this year, have seen a few different guys but I'm starting to feel more settled with someone now and although this is at a very early stage, I think it could go somewhere. He just came along when I wasn't really expecting it, I'm sure the same will happen for you! I'm a very independant person as well so I hope I don't ruin it for myself. He works very hard as well so it's not like we have loads of time to spend with each other anyway.

Nxx

Thank you all for your kind words and practical advice. I agree in that I needed a bit of normality and a bit more of a balance in my life, in fact the family member that I lost was always telling me to do that, and I only really listened to him after he passed away in that respect. I am happier than I have been for a long time, and I feel more confident which should help my work really.

I have been setting myself targets again and have approached my work with fresher eyes which I think has helped, I am more enthusiastic and productive so hopefully the bit of down-time helped. I'm hopefully going to see my supervisor next week so I can get back on track properly. And maybe this time will help me in the end, it has told me that I can relax, see my friends and have a relationship like a 'normal' person...and still do well. I guess it's all about finding a balance, and that doesn't happen immediately.

Thanks again, Natassia xx

Fabulous news!! Well done and have a very well-deserved rest now, I'm SO pleased for you. Nxx

I don't really know where to start with this one or how to make it read coherently, but I'll try. I just feel like I've ruined my Masters (dissertation) and that I shouldn't be starting a PhD later this year, although I am motivated and really looking forward to starting, I almost feel like it is never going to happen, like I am watching someone else do it for me.

I found the taught part of my MSc (ended in the middle of June) quite difficult for a variety of reasons, but mainly because I was juggling my MSc work with working part time, and I was diagnosed with depression as a result of bereavement, I am still taking antidepressants but hoping to start coming off them gradually soon. So during that section of my MSc I was working very hard and didn't have a lot of time to see my friends, let alone have a boyfriend. Gradually this made me quite unhappy as I felt like I was withdrawing from social life, but I was really enjoying my work and got accepted to do my PhD so that more than made up for it.

However since the middle of June when I have only had my dissertation to work on for my MSc I have been going out more, dating (now in the early stages of a new relationship which is going well), and generally feel better about myself, I look much better and brighter and have more of a 'spark' about me, people are noticing that as well. I have also had quite a lot of work to do on my PhD proposal as my supervisors wanted it to be at PhD writing standard, however that has been accepted now, so it is just my dissertation.

However I feel that in socialising more, and seeing someone, I have let myself down when it comes to my MSc, I have still been working on it but I know that I am behind, I envisaged spending most of my time working on it during the summer as I have with my taught modules, but that hasn't happened like it should have done. Although I am not, I feel lazy and incapable. I don't know how to get out of this mess, but I have decided to stop going out now, I have had a bit of fun this summer (and my supervisor told me to), but now it is time to work.

I just have this constant feeling like I have let myself down as my life has changed a bit, generally I am happier but I feel like I have lost some of my academic ability, and I just want it back. My supervisor has been away for the last few weeks so I haven't seen him, but he is back next week. When I last saw him he was really positive about my work so I know I can produce a good dissertation, I just need to get my a*se into gear and do it.

I know this is a bit rambling and muddled, but any kind words/advice will be appreciated, even just writing it now has helped.

Natassia x

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There is a really good chapter on it in Willig, C. 2001. Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology: Adventures in theory and method. Open University Press

I've read quite a bit on it so will try to remember some more and get back to you. Good luck!

Hi Maria, I am a girl so I hope you don't mind me posting!

I can kind of understand what your friend means, you are clearly a clever and attractive girl (physically and personality-wise) otherwise you wouldn't be going on all these dates and have all these men after you! Don't think I'm analysing you or anything like that, but I think that if you're too self-deprecating that could be due to a lack of confidence, that is totally understandable if you are new to dating again, as it going out a lot and basically enjoying your freedom.

I think you need to have more confidence in yourself, these men are asking you out because they fancy you and are interested, so just relax and enjoy it. Let them notice your flaws for themselves, and they probably won't notice. The going out thing, they probably don't like that because it makes them feel insecure and they think you're going to meet someone else, particularly if you're drunk, I wouldn't worry too much about that one.

Good luck, Nx