Hello everyone! I hope you're all having a good start to 2011!
Massive congratulations Sue, i'm pleased as punch for you! :) Also congrats for the job, it sounds like life is sorting itself out for you! I'm so sorry to hear about your lovely dog, and also that you have to be apart from partner, but I hope despite all this, you are excited about the new chapter and adventures with no PhD!

Wow also no corrections, that's awesome! You must feel like a total star Dr Sue!

Isn't it weird, we used to be on here all the time, and as its all come to a close we just don't get on here the same! I do still think of you all, and occasionally come on to check peoples progress, but since finishing I think I've been blocking out the horrors of PhD life like a bad car crash, and distanced myself from everything to do with it!

After my festive holidays (although very busy), I do feel a bit more normal, the last few months have been pretty low for me after finishing, I think just with all the stress and anxiety of those last months, my body and mind went to melt down, but i'm certainly on the mend now!

I hope you're all doing well, and aren't suffering some weird kind of PTSD (post thesis stress disorder!) too!?

Rick that's great that you're almost there too, I can't imagine what its been like being dragged out like this, but not long now! Do you have dates or anything?

Monte, I go with Bilbo, I did mine that weekend after viva, i just wanted them gone, and for a day or so of horror having to go back through it, that was it, and I have hardly looked at it since. Just think, no more phd, hard bound, done and dusted! My corrections were also typos and little paragraph changes, it was pretty dull, but actually not as bad as I expected, there was no major analytical/evaluative brain required, just change this to this, etc! I sat with a cup of tea and some munchie food and just ticked off the list one by one - DONE! :)

All the best everyone for a fab 2011! AL x

======= Date Modified 22 Jan 2011 00:44:10 =======
Congratulations Dr AQ! I'm so happy for you! I've not been on here for ages and just popped on to see everyones progress - how pleased I was so to see your post! :)

It sounds like your viva went really well and with just afew minor corrections you'll be free in no time!
Enjoy your holidays! A pleased as punch Dr AL xx (We did it! :) (up))

Congrats Wally - that's fantastic news! I hope it all comes back ok! I'm sure it will, and the last bit is pretty boring and repetitive, mind numbing etc, but actually I quite enjoyed it - seeing it all come together is soooo good!

I recommend pdfsam - free software - it easily splits, merges and collates all your pdf documents for each chapter, and image files etc, and you can see one big document of pdf looking all professional and stuff! also makes the printing easier! :)

Good luck with the last bit! AL

Hello everyone! Wow its been a while since I was on - i'm still in a massive recovery period after all of this, but working today and tomorrow and then what seems like my first holiday EVER away from everything! :)

Congratulations Dr Monte, that's fantastic (sorry its belated!) i hope its starting to sink in?

Hows everyone else getting on - Sue, AQ, Rick?! feel like i've been a total stranger recently, but just needed some time away from it all, hate even thinking about the 3 little letters - PHD! still sends shivers down my spine!

I hope you're all surviving this weather, I had to do some serious digging of the car to get to work this morning, i'm manager today so have to be in for staff - ok as long as I can get home....!

Have a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS everyone and a great New Year - for some of us a whole fresh year, and also hopefully the last year with study involved for others! :) WHOOP WHOOP!! (gift)(snowman)(tree)

Congratulations Dr LittleStar! :) What a Star you are! :p

WOOOHOOOO!!!! and a WHOOP WHOOP!! I'm so happy and proud of you Sue!! Congratulations! You just relax and chill out now!

I know what you mean about the hurdles never ending - even at the last second! I got my 4 hard bound copies back, and got them home to find they'd messed up two of them with the pages all jumbled up! Very annoying, especially as I'd spent time compiling all the pdfs into one big one so all they had to do was print!! Anyway, took it back to them and hopefully get them back in order in next week! They didn't even apologise though, which I thought was pretty sucky! Anyway, last hurdles, and its all done! I hope you have no more problems.

I'm so so sorry to hear about your doggy, like bilbo and Rick said though, she's been with you through the whole thing, been there for each other, and she has given you so much support and love throughout all this, and wanted to be with you to finish it. At least now I guess you can chill out and just spend all your time with her, with nothing in the way. Big hugs for the next week.

You are more than welcome for the support, you have been there for me just as much. Maybe we should start up a new thread soon on the post grad, for the class of Autumn 2010! :) Just cos we're all finished, or almost finished doesn't mean we can't still be there for support! :)

I'm still a bit of a mess from the whole thing, think its going to take quite a bit of time to get my life and emotions back to normal. Had an appointment with my counsellor yesterday, she's from the University, and as i'm now finished I can't see her anymore. I've been going to her for around 3 years, and she's helped me so much, but I still have so much to sort through in my life, and got pretty upset that I can no longer go to her. She has offered email support though so think I will be using that!
When is your session with counsellor Sue? I hope it goes well and it helps you work through things.

Right, I have friends coming over in afew hours and really need to clean the house, (lots of cat hair from our friend Sid!).

Take care all! And for those in the UK, enjoy your extra hour in bed tonight! :)

AL xxxx

Hi Sue!

How goes it? Have you manged to get all bound and submitted today? If so, massive congratulations! Let me know how things are going and maybe we can get that celebratory champers out! :)

AL x

======= Date Modified 22 Oct 2010 22:11:21 =======
woo hoo Sue, that is fantastic!

The last bit is such a drag just checking over everything again and again, but its good cos you know you're about done and the worst part is over! :) You should be so proud of yourself!

So sorry just replying, had pretty busy few weeks! And now i'm on holiday down at best friends down south and beautiful little girl, having lovely time and lots of hugs! :)

I know what you mean both, I'm finding it really difficult to readjust. It's 3 weeks yesterday, and I haven't had a day yet where I've just chilled out and done nothing!! I've had a few evenings, but every weekend i've done something, first one corrections, second one working (and on days off I was running around to binders and things), last weekend running around with family and things (which I guess is what people call relaxing....! ;) ). And now down south, which is fantastic, but also running around with baby and dog. but then i'm at work mon-wed next week and off on holiday again for long weekend, with NOTHING to do on Thursday!!

Ooh, I also got a cat from the cat home, he's called Sidney, he's ginger and 10 years old (and a bit senile), so spending all my time trying to get him settled in too!

I can't decide whether life is just mental even without phd, or whether I'm so restless after finishing, I can't slow the pace down, and am finding things to do to keep me busy - how sad is that!!! (sprout)

Anyway, Sue i'm so proud of you, and totally up for breakfast drinking next week! I'm off Thursday - Sunday, I have a meeting with my counsellor on Friday morning, so prob shouldn't go to that drunk...but other than that name your time, and we can have skype champagne??

Monte - hope you get settled with job soon and feel 'normal', I have to say, i'm not sure I was normal before, but I don't think I ever will be again, this process has changed me in so many ways, and sometimes I'm not sure who I am anymore, but i'm trying to work my way through that. Any ideas for when your viva might be?

hugs, AL xx

Hi Monte and Natassia!

Thank you, wow, I can't believe its been 3 weeks now! I've still not had much chance to chill out and relax, do nothing and let it all just sink in. But I think it must have done in some ways as my body is starting to feel released of all the stress!!

Got my hard bounds this week - and as per the rest of my phd process, something had to go wrong! The printers or binders mixed up pages on two of the copies, so there's duplicates in one, and missing in the other - typical!!! Luckily the one I submitted to uni was right - phew! So need to go get that all fixed!! Otherwise, good really, very tired, everyone seems so proud and excited for me, but to me i'm just relieved its over, glad I never have to deal with supervisor again, and I can go home and chill out at nights! Maybe one day i'll be proud of myself, but i'm just glad the hell is over!!

Keep going everyone, it's worth it to be done! :)
AL xx

ooh YEY!! I finally have time to play!! I WIN! :p

Hi Sue, just wanted to say thinking of you in this final week countdown, hope everything is OK? Not long now and you can sit down iwth a nice cold beer and chill out!

hugs, AL xx

Congratulations Dr Bakuvia!! No corrections is fantastic, you must be very proud of yourself!
Enjoy your celebrations and we'll hear from you soon!

AL

======= Date Modified 03 Oct 2010 21:28:05 =======
Thanks Chuff, hope it was useful! :) You will do great Bakuvia, I hope you are out doing something just now and keeping your mind of it!

AL

Good luck Bakuvia, i'm sure you'll be brilliant! Just keep up the deep breathing and remember to be confident of you and your work. You did it and you deserve this.

Let us know how you get on. AL

I just passed my viva on Thursday (30th September) with a few minor corrections! If all goes through the university fine then I will graduate on the 17th November. My PhD was in cancer microbiology.