Ooh cheers H, it was only the once! I did look in the bin for it though, really thought I'd lost it (the mug, not the plot, though I guess that's going too...)

I also tidied up and accidentally chucked my new credit card down the rubbish chute, that was embarrassing to report. I felt like a real prat on the phone to the bank. It's not been a very good few days.

...or when you think you've lost your favourite mug because you've not seen it for a few days, then find it tucked in a corner on the floor by the front door, half full of coffee that's been growing furry mould since the postman called the other day....

I felt like that for years during my PhD - I was the odd one out amongst everyone doing PhDs at my college, the only theory person amongst lots of practice-based artists. I didn't have a clue what they were talking about most of the time and felt I had very little in common with them. Instead, I used to spend a lot of time with a group of staff that generally congregated on odd days in the canteen, as they're always really interesting to talk to and are great for discussing ideas with. Apart from that and my supervisors, I just got on with my own work elsewhere. I would have rated the whole 'PhD experience' in broader terms as pretty dire, but on a personal level, the academic side for me makes up for that, as it's been and still is very stimulating (thank goodness). I did find going to conferences and symposia for my subject useful, as I met odd people, including postgrads from other unis, that I could discuss my general subject in depth with, which I couldn't at my own college. It's a very spread-out network though. It's only been in the past year since our whole dept moved to different premises that I've been talking to 'fellow' students again, as we're all stuck in the same building space. It's the hideousness of the whole writing up/submitting part of the PhD process that we've got in common now, so the actual subject isn't too important any more. Are you still interested in your research topic, apart from the isolation?

moat

mown

Tricky, I did that one too :-)

Just working a couple of days a week so not fulltime now, finishing in Feb. I'm resigned to putting my life on hold till then if it's not essential for my job, my thesis or immediate staying alive, housed and healthy type of stuff. Wanting to get to the end of the flipping thing is the best motivation for me at the moment. Can't imagine a more hideous situation than working fulltime and writing up actually, but I admire anyone that can do it.

fount

mound

goon

14-21 hours a week sounds ok, though you'd probably need to find more time in a block when you're got papers/a dissertation to write though - can you use annual leave if necessary? I did my Masters part-time while working full-time, so it is feasible. Didn't always get to all the lectures though, so I probably didn't get as much out of it as the full-timers, but I really enjoyed it and it led to my PhD, so it turned out ok in the end. Good luck!

Ooh 404, can you still PM me with any updates, as I don't fancy joining facebook just for this? Cheers in advance! :-)