I've never really had a routine, really. For me it's procrastinate for a bit, work for a bit, procrastinate for a bit - and so on. I think you'll pretty quickly find what works for you, whether it's a disciplined military routine or working extra hard when deadlines draw near. I can confidently say, judging by the nature of your post, that you're not likely to let your days go to waste. Just remember what wise Bilbo says: don't burn yourself out by 'sprinting' all the time. Good luck and I really hope you enjoy it.:-)

No progress today so far and I've spent 5 solid hours at it. I've got a methodology chapter and a methods chapter - and they just don't make sense. Two months to supposedly get all this done and I'm stuck. It's going to be a long day.

Yep, Queerface gives a very eloquent definition. The only thing I can add is that my theoretical framework came from the findings of my 2 literature reviews - so things like 'this hasn't really been looked at' and 'oh, nobody's ever made a questionnaire like this before'. So, my theoretical framework sets the scene for my particular approach to my research problem.

Okay, I've got another chapter fired off. That leaves the re-writing of my methods chapter tomorrow.

You'll do fine, Chrisrolinski. Just you remember who the expert is. People never know as much as you think.

Unless there was a camera filming you as you reversed, or a policeman drove past and was filming you as you reversed, I doubt that you'll be in any trouble. It was 21 days ago, nearly a month, so I would have thought you'd have heard something by now. I'm no expert but, to me, it doesn't seem likely that you'll get fined and feature in Police Camera Action! this time.

I can just picture Michael Burke narrating:

"And this dangerous motorist thought that it was perfectly acceptable to reverse on the hard shoulder of the motorway. Motorway accident statistics are unacceptably high and are almost always caused by careless driving. This motorist thought that she got away with it but she'll be getting a knock on her door and a hefty fine from the long arm of the law"

I wouldn't call what you did idiotic; you had the unusual bad luck of pulling in behind someone who had also broken down. I've had worse experiences, so try not to worry about it:-)

Here you go, Sneaks. Have some of my rubbishy theoretical framework chapter, which provides a dodgy definition...

Eisenhart (1991) describes a theoretical framework as:

‘A structure that guides research by relying on a formal theory…constructed using an established, coherent explanation of certain phenomena on relationships’ (p. 205).

Thus, the establishment of a theoretical framework serves to incorporate the views and findings of other scholars on a particular research subject of interest in order to justify a specific research focus and approach (Kumar, 2005)

My viva date has been organised and I'm having my internal evaluation next month. This is really it then. It looks like it's really going to happen now. I have 2 more chapters to write, quite a few chapters to re-write and I have about 2 and half months to do it in. I'm extremely nervous, really stressed and, in an almost sick way, I don't really want it to end. As much as a hate it, it's been a constant in my life for the past 3 years. No matter what else has happened, it's always just been something that's been there and that I've just tried to get on with. How weird will it be if/when I pass my viva and it's gone?
What am I going to do with myself? What am I going to think about? How will those endless hours of reading and trying to write be filled? Maybe - shock, horror - I'll have to think about resuming a 'normal' life? Haha. I'll have to start venturing outdoors once again and interacting with other people, if I can remember how to do it... Still, I can put off all the worrying about things like that until next year.

Thanks for your input, everyone. I've written something that I hope is a theoretical framework and now just have to type it up. So the task for the rest of today is type up my theoretical framework chapter. And, if I'm good, watch a film later as a reward.

Right, as well as another 2 chapters I have yet to write, I've been told that I need another chapter that is dedicated to the development of a theoretical framework. I know what one is, but it just seems so pointless. I've looked at a lot of other PhD theses, some that have done something similar-ish to me and they don't have theoretical frameworks. It makes me wonder why I need to write one? Is this just to satisfy the whims and desires of someone else or what? I'm quite annoyed about having to spend time doing this. Does anybody else have to write a theoretical framework chapter?

I have three suggestions:

1) Wear a fluffy dressing gown over your normal clothes and wear leggings under your jeans or pants.

2) You could buy a low wattage (so cheap to run) heating fan. You have to be careful not to sit too near it though because it can dry your eyes out and make you feel like a frog who's been sat out in the sun for too long.

3) You can buy a low wattage heating mat and sit on it: http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/homedics-massaging-heating-pad_1_156891.html

And that's it for all my good ideas. I'm running low on inspiration in general at the moment.

Mmm, what the hell would a person who's only a teacher know anyway? The most challenging thing she'll come across is marking an essay on Hitler or correcting some kid's spelling. It's not exactly cutting edge research or abstract theoretical concepts that she has to deal with. The fact that she can talk such rubbish just goes to show how little she knows about anything that goes above a post-graduate certificate in education. The next time you get comments like that, I suggest you get even. Smile, nod sympathetically and say, 'Yeah, it's a right laugh - just a couple of hours here and there. Why don't you do one part time for a laugh?' It's wishful thinking, but if she did it would really shut her up.

Hi Pamw, if there's anything you need to get urgently for work over the weekend, just request it and I'll see if I have access to it :-)

Congratulations,Jojo. How I envy you getting so close to the end.

I've amassed a fair bit of paper work. About 25 lever arch files, 1,230 journal articles and 54 books. However, the journal articles are mainly in .pdf format as are the books. Given the amount of workspace I have, it makes for an interesting walk around my room in the dark. I can't wait until I've got my PhD finished so then I can just hide them away somewhere. I've worked out that if I made them pay me rent (at the going rate) for stopping in my room, I'd be a millionaire by now and have no need to even do a PhD.