I cannot wait until I get to the point where I decide to go through endnote and change all the references I have imported from google scholar that have put them into CAPITAL LETTERS, that will be a fun week I can tell you!

Can I be a latecomer and win the entire contest?

hmm, although I have a rough idea of my title - I don't think I will fully know until the end. My current one is based on a slight obsession with Jane Austen - and wanting to work her title into mine lol. even if its not relevant!

going by my experience its best just to get on with what the Sup wants, even though you won't probably use it in the end - keep em happy

I had this. Basically, if you have two authors with the same surname some 'styles' e.g. APA format like to put in the initials of the person that is repeated e.g. if you have D.P thomas, and W.H Thomas, then endnote will put the initials so it is clear which one you are talking about. - even if you only reference one of them in your document.

However, if you have the same author, but it is cited differently in your endnote database e.g. D.P Thomas, D. Thomas, D.P.M Thomas, then endnote will think they are differetn authors, when in fact they are just put differently depending on the journal/authors preference. To combat this, you can 'copy' the authors name and then 'paste' it into any other reference that is by the same person - to ensure they all match up. E.g. so they all say D.P. Thomas. (if they are by the same bloke).

Failing that, it could just be how your style output is set. You can edit your style output in one of the menus - and you can tell endnote how you want references cited.

I know some 'perfectionists' who are still working on their PhDs 10 years down the line - when the version after 3/4 years was fine - they just kept on re editing it and getting wound up in the detail. I say, send it off, get some feedback and move on!

I send my supervisor writing with notes in it like 'insert section about this here' and comment boxes saying "should I put this here - doesn't really make sense!"

I think there probably is a moment when it clicks - I play the cello and when I was about 13 after ages of completely misunderstanding '4th position' (i.e. where you play with your hand close to the body of the cello, rather than up at the top near the scroll) and then suddenly like an epiphany it all became so clear!

I think I have had that moment with my PhD - but then I just gave loads of writing to my supervisor so who is to tell! next week I could be back at square 1.

I have found that domestic things do get in the way, so I start the day at 6.30 - have breakfast and a shower, take the dog for a walk from 7.30-8.30, then put washing on, do washing up etc. clean whatever is necessary, then check the internet for 'silly things' e.g. facebook, forums, hotmail (non-work emails) with the aim of being sat down by 9am ready to get writing.

Also - make sure you buy in food for the week, otherwise you will spend half your time having to nip to the shops to get lunch/milk/other distractions!

many cups of tea are necessary! I sometimes try to have half an hour off for lunchtime where i go and watch tv or watch iplayer or something just to give my brain a rest. Also try to schedule out a certain portion of the day for non-phd stuff e.g. an hour in the afternoon for lecturing tasks etc that are otherwise good ways to feel busy, but not actually do phd stuff!

I find having radio 4 on in the distant background, i.e. another room also makes me feel connected to the world in some way, or my mother in law leaves on LBC radio - which just makes me so angry that i have to force myself to get back to work before I start writing letters in lol - load of rubbish it really is!

city allows access to senate house as well - I thought anyway, alhtough that could be my bps membership that did that.

if you are doing a postgrad course, I think online facilities are really important - so check the online journals in the library - I have experience at City and its poor IMO - However, I can't compare it to holloway. If you belong to City uni you can also use other london libraries which is a plus.

I heard that royal holloway was 90% female - although could have been a rumour lol. City University is good, the social sciences building is a nice environment too. Maybe have a quick google scholar search and see which teachers from which unis have publications.

Also - the guardian league tables used to rate unis out of 5 for things like teaching - it will probably be the same staff for undergrad and postgrad so its worth checking.

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a lot of unis have someone they have already lined up for the role - but as they are doing a second round of interviews, it does suggest that they haven't found what they were looking for in the first - but who knows! I say good luck - keep applying everywhere and see what happens! It could be a boring admin requirement to interview X number of people.

Not too sure about your chances, although if they added a second round of applicants, it could be they spotted some really good applications. Also, you are probably up against loads of competition - I know in my department all the MScs are asking about PhDs as an opportunity to get out of the job market for a few years, while getting paid.

my hubby seems content with talking to other people online while playing call of duty 4 every night - there must be a female equivalent!

Is there any way you can have writing breaks, where you live with hime for 2 weeks or so, but still keep working?

I have turned into a crazy cat woman and have 2 cats and a dog to keep me company all day. Although my cat always sits on the document I am trying to read so slightly annoying.

ask to record it - my supervisor rattles of various ideas for studies and I can never keep up - I just nod and look stupid. I lost about a year like this, until I used a dictaphone and now I can go home and listen to what she has said and make sense of it!