if you get stuck with the paywall, scihub is great
https://sci-hub.tw/

Follow the project that interests you. If you enjoy the topic you will be more motivated to finish it and do well. If you are looking at PhDs consider what skills you need and which course will be better for them.

Congrats on getting the PhD!

You are still early and don't worry to much. Most PhD students change from the original proposal in some way, it is the nature of research. I have gone through something similar, were i have changed my methodology several times due to several issues. There was no problem with changing as I am still achieving the same objective but I would try the initial way first. Try it and if there are problems/too long, suggest a new approach to your supervisor.

Have you spoken with your supervisor(s)?

Have you looked through literature to find someone who has done something similar? Even if it is barely linked it could be a good guide on how to start. No point re-inventing the wheel if you can just read someone else's hard work.

Done

The news has been the same for the last few weeks; MPs cant agree and blame each other while the world burns. We can't do anything except vote for the least bad option at the next election, if there ever is one.

No experience as a HE or FE teacher, so I may not be the best person to answer.

Lecturer jobs are not guaranteed and getting one can require some luck. I don't think people should do a PhD for the job prospects but because they like the work/project. The payback is minuscule but worth it if you enjoy yourself doing it. So if you are looking solely at career prospects do the PGCE.

PS: You can also do a PhD then go into FE

If I had a paper that never made it to publication - I would try hide it.

I know at my uni there is usually a 1-2 week "grace period" were they don't care. Though you could ask your PhD rep or graduate school. They are usually quite informed.

I voted remain, still want remain. Hope it doesn't hurt me too much. Though I am fortunate that I have dual UK/EU citizenship.

If anything I think the country will be better in the long term 10 years+ if we actually brexit. As there is a huge chunk of society that feels massively betrayed by democracy which cannot be easily rebuilt. If we somehow remain in the EU we will have a crazy populist (worse than Trump) very soon.

It is only 1 reference. In the grand scheme of things it is very minor and wont reject you just because of 1 reference.

Take some time off. Long term stress seriously affects your abilities and you don't realise it. 7 months is a long time but you can find a temporary job, rebuild your life and not have to constantly worry. I would recommend tidying up your notes and take 3-4 months off. Like a 1-2 months before you restart, you make your theoretical framework like newlease suggested. If you build your thesis on a good foundation the rest should be easy.

8-12 weeks sounds normal. As pm133 said, academics can be slow and you cant really tell until 12 weeks passes. You can always apply for other PhDs or other jobs while you wait.

I don't think there is anything wrong here. The scrutiny you got at the conference is similar to that of a journal's review process. Nobody criticises you for changing some of your conclusions/language during the review process and the questioner at the conference will understand. The only difference is that you found it yourself.

I am from the UK so don't know the exact details of Aussie funding.

Do you have your own funding? That changes the dynamics significantly. If you need funding you generally have to stick to their research areas. Generally supervisors want students that match their research interest and you can find that out by internet stalking them or emailing them individually. They more likely to be polite if you try and engage them individually.

Not an accountant but that research topic sounds very ambitious. I see, cloud computing, digital payments and cyber threats which are each huge topics and make your proposal look too big for an MRes. I would narrow the criteria by dropping one of them or focusing on a specific sector, so that is manageable in a 1/2 year time frame.

I take it he doesn't have kids and maybe doesn't understand how much work they can be. Just drop hints about how much work the baby is, how it is affecting your sleep and you desperately want to finish to get a real job. He might just not realise how life changing a baby is.