Thought I'd share the good news... I had my viva yesterday and passed with minor corrections :-x

It lasted an hour and 15 mins, and although I was terrified beforehand, when I sat down at the table and they asked the first question - 'what is the main contribution of your thesis', I became calmer and from then it went quite smoothly. The examiners were really nice about the thesis so that made it easier, as well as the fact that they told me straightaway at the beginning that I'd passed with minor corrections, although to be honest, the tension was still there and I still defended the thesis thoroughly as if my life depended on it! I'm still in shock I think, and will need quite a while to let it sink in. And I finally got to say the words 'It was worth it'. Godspeed for the time you can say it too.

So thank you to the forum and members for their words of wisdom, advice and support - not necessarily directed to me, but reading these threads and conversations for all this time really helped anyway ,-) the ones that stick out for me were thecoastman, piglet, lara, olivia, O.Stoll (where did he go? He always had something contentious to say but I enjoyed his posts so much!) fluffymonster, golfpro, chrisrolinski... so thanks xx

TIGHT

No - I win!

Do both - good for the CV and you'll be grateful for the experience at the smaller one before the big one.

I'm qualitative and, doing a rough calculation, my final thesis has around 280 references - so less than you! Now I hope I have enough!!

I live about 2 hours away from my uni and its ok - BUT I only moved this far away in my third year, and I only go there every 2 months or so. I don't think I'd have been able to make that commute on a daily or weekly basis. I'd say move closer if you can! Plus I found it a great help to be surrounded by other PhDers in the department and I made lots of friends I wouldn't have if I had started as a commuter.

...However, its important to realise that insurers are in the business of making money and are not doing a public service - and aren't some kind of savings account that 'pays out what you put in'. You have to understand that you pay to insure against property being damaged or taken, and they see you as a calculable risk, whereby you pay them money and overall the incomings from everybody's premiums will be more than the outgoings from claims. Therefore, they will always try and make the risk to your stuff the absolute minimum - if you tell them you always leave your window open (more likely for burglars to get in), they won't insure you, or will make your premium so high that they don't lose money. If you abide by their rules, they should pay out. You just have to be a bit more consumer-savvy and not rely on companies, there to make money, to advise you. Read the ts and cs yourself and if you don't like them - don't sign up! Just my two pennies.

I totally agree that many insurance companies are rotten - I didn't use Ensleigh when I was on campus as I'd heard loads of stories about them not paying out and they have a bad rep. Its a case of the cheapest actually being a false economy. I guess you have to shop around and check carefully what you're putting your money into and whether it is worth it or not. I know it shouldn't be like that and there are lot of rotten companies and upset people treated really unfairly and its horrible. Ive had a taste of it myself with a local garage and had to get trading standards involved to get my money back...

I really sympathise sleepyhead, its so horrible to have things stolen, such an invasion.
I feel as though I must ask - did the terms of the insurance state your windows etc. must be locked? (Not just the summary - as a consumer it is your responsibility to read the ts and cs.) If so then you can't really complain about them not paying out... for example, if my car was stolen and I hadn't locked the doors, I'm sure my insurers wouldn't pay out... and I'm not sure if any insurance company would. Stipulating a window is locked to guard against theft is not an unfair term or condition, if you really think about it. And if it was in the terms and conditions then you shouldn't actually complain - if they weren't, however, do complain!! very loudly!!

That is just such good news! Massive congratulations!! You told the story of your viva really well too - it gave me goosebumps thinking of when my time comes in a few months! Best of luck Dr S!

Hi, on the ordering ice water note, I thought I'd share what I do when I'm skint - order a pint of soda water and lime - it costs 20p where I am, takes ages to drink, doesn't anger the barman, looks like a 'proper' drink (it is a proper drink!) and actually tastes really nice you're not alone!

BHC I only just read this thread as I've been out of the country for a while - Incredible!! What an awful position to find yourself in, you were very brave to do the right thing and confront this girl. Then in the face of very nasty blackmail you pull some amazing detective work out of the bag! Wooo! I'm looking forward to hearing how it unfolds today!

Hi Olivia, when editing I have resorted to converting my footnotes to endnotes, which puts them all at the end of the document, where you can edit them all there in the one place, and has the same effect as what you're looking for. (Just in case... in Word, click Insert, Reference, Footnote, then click 'convert', then convert footnotes to endnotes)

lol!

Haha it can definately be fun to experiment in real life, and from what you say you definately have an intuitive knack at it. Although I have to try not to think conersation analytically in my day to day social life or I think it might start analysing everything and go bonkers! And I think my other half suffers enough already!

It's still a relatively new field, started in 1975 (by Harvey Sacks) and based in sociology and linguistics, so some analyses are still exploratory forays into the structure of interaction in different contexts. There is a broad base of research on the analysis of ordinary conversation though, and lots of empirical evidence from which other new research in other contexts can be framed (thank goodness).

Thanks Rick, its so nice to have someone interested in my work