Ian, no need to apologise :) . Funnily enough I find being busy with a family grounds me. My family is priority then PhD. Helps me not get stuck in being a perfectionist and be more pragmatic to get the job of doing the PhD done. A busy family of 2 children only 17 months apart means I can multitask and assimilate data like you wouldn't believe and my time and project management is second to non ha ha. I credit these skills to parenting as I certainly didn't have them before!

Hi. I have two children and a husband in a manual job who works long hours, which is just as frustrating. It's exhausting and very lonley not seeing your partner. This situation can happen in any job. You probably don't need to be at the computer anywhere near as much as you think you do. Make targets for what needs to be done when. If year 1 goal is pass the upgrade just work on that. You need to situate your research in the wider context but don't read around too much, keep focussed on your topic. It gets very easy to read around too much and become less specific, hampering productivity. You'll only really know what your PhD is after upgrade anyway. Put thoughts of presenting at conferences and writing articles until you gave some data - end of 2nd and into 3rd year. Two reasons, don't tell others ahead of you your gap in knowledge, they might fill it before you! Also data helps a convincing and engaging presentation/paper. If I could change anything (and you can as PhD is pretty flexible) what I'd give for my husband to be able to take the children out once a week, even only for an hour or so. Other than that, limit screen time when you're at home-have set times where all screens are off. You can do a PhD without overworking yourself.

Well done Dr. These stories make me feel it is all possible.

:-)

Marking can be a nightmare. I was on the receiving end of getting on the wrong side of a lecturer in my MA and I'm certain they purposely marked me down. My UG I was getting good marks and all of a sudden it seemed I couldn't write for toffee according to the marks I was getting. On one occasion we did a piece of group work (not written by me) and the usual 80% student wrote it and we got about 54%, with me being in the group. The lecturer had even worked out the percentage grade wrong and we corrected her but she didn't correct it for us on the system so it stood. This unit was not second marked. I changed unis mid way through my part time MA and miraculously went from marginal pass to Distinction (my Distinctions were across different units with different tutors and were all second marked with agreeable percentages and my final piece was externally marked). I changed nothing of my writing style.

Who knows if he does or doesn't, if he's a psycho or just socially inept or you're reading too much into it. He's widowed with kids so you need to stop thinking around this. If you want to keep him as supervisor I suggest you get a second. This is very common practice. Have both supervisors attend the meetings. In the meantime go get a hobby, join a club and put this guy out of your mind.

Have you been offered teaching training? If not find out what's on offer or approach your uni's Ed Dept if they have one and ask to speak to someone who lectures on teacher training for some tips. If it's a question of nerves take up some short term drama/improv sessions. Ask your class straight out...what do you want from me and the lesson, what types of activities do you engage most with. I'm a PhD who hates writing, lol.

Well done for getting through it. Some academics love arguing it out and enjoy it rather than get cross at it and see it as all part of the process, in a good way. I had a disagreement with the leading authority in a field once. It was seen as nothing but professional banter. Congrats on minors :D

You will have already or will shortly pass your research proposal through an ethics committee. It's up to them, not your supervisor to comment and pass or deny your fieldwork on health, safety and ethical grounds. Also just because something is high risk doesn't mean it won't be passed. What stage are you at with ethics? If it's already been passed you can do the fieldwork then go. You'll just have to say its important to the research and its been passed. If it's been passed without the fieldwork you need to send in an amendment to now include the fieldwork and argue the grounds for including it with how you will mitigate risks to yourself being a lone traveller. Good luck.

Currently have the big wine

I can see how this can be frustrating but I'm sure the buddy offers their services with the best of intention. As you will find you become increasingly busy. It's rare in many disciplines to be in the office most days when your in midst of data collection. Maybe contact your buddy about the types of support you feel you need?

Urghhh why do PowerPoint's have to be 'interesting'. Gets on my nerves. You're there to teach not entertain! Do you have a mix of activities they can do as group or pair work to vary it from you stood reading from the front? Have a look at 'Prezi' instead of pp to jazz things up if that's what they want from you.

Why are you doing a PhD if you want to change? Why not ditch and do the BA full time?

To be a chartered clinical psychologist in the UK you need: British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited psychology degree and usually 12 months experience in a clinical setting as a health care assistant etc on a paid or voluntary basis before you can then get on the required Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. This is a professional Doctorate rather than a PhD with 50% placement. For Ed Psych courses it's much the same but Educational experience then Ed and child psych Doc - another professional doctorate See links for course example.

Finding what works for you is a challenge. I have a family so they are my priority, my life's work. I am constantly thinking through various problems, issues, researching and reading at all times. My mind is hardly ever switched off from that. But with youngsters I have no social life so I can do that ha ha. Physical writing I do when I have the energy and enthusiasm. I work better that way. I can clock up quite a lot of words in a very short time when my minds on it. If I'm not on it I don't write. I'd rather do something else useful than fret over writing because I know it will come back to me. I'm not a planner as such.

Then I'd say don't accept Salford. You would get very little from Salford if you intend to start NYU in Sept as any training modules, seminars etc effectively end in April/May and barely nothing occurs from May-end Sept. As a PhD this time is usually spent Pre reading and going through the particular hoops for that particular university e.g first year report writing, ethic etc. You'd be wasting your own and Universities time and they could re offer to other candidates. NY sounds exciting though.