Everyone told me to just read through the thesis. This made me cry and tug at my hair, so I stopped doing it. The most helpful thing that I did was to write summaries; a full 'thesis concept' summary and then a chapter by chapter summary. Each summary had two or three lines of background, a sentance to explain the aim and I then allowed two or three lines for each major result of the chapter.

I also made a list of questions they might ask and looked into these. I found that with my (science) thesis they wanted these summaries and also to know that I could explain techniques that I used (e.g. NMR, multi-variate statistical analysis algorithms).

Even if they don't agree with what you have done, as long as you can provide a reason why you took the approach (and obviously acknowledge that they are making a wonderfully valid point), you'll be fine.

The build up was the worst thing that I've ever had to go through but I got through it and so will you.
Good luck!

Tra-la-la! Passed my viva. It was nowhere as awful as I thought it would be...!

It's actually very reassuring reading these comments... I'm still trying to read things and prepare answers to the general questions at the moment. This time tomorrow will (hopefully) be in the viva and answering questions in a calm and collected manner. I'm working fulltime as well, which I've found really hard to cope with. I'll let you know how it goes, anyway.

What could be easier...? Off the top of my head:
- turning water to wine
- getting a camel through the eye of a needle
- controlling a ranch of cattle with only the power of my mind and a polish phrase book
- establishing an idillic rural retreat where man, monkey and llama co-exist in peace and harmony
Gah. Am doomed to be 'the girl who nearly got a PhD', aren't I....?

In a few short days (four) will be sat for four hours in a small, hot room, depserately trying to remember important details from the past four years (such as: name, supervisor's name etc...). Please tell me that the stressed out, paniced feeling of imminent doom is normal.... please?

Throughout my PhD I tried to keep a high profile by organising conferences and seminar series, giving presentations etc. I'm currently in my fourth year but have been working as a post-doc for a few months in a position I was 'invited to apply for' - I've also had my name included on some grant applications and stuff. I really think that this helped me get my job. Otherwise, conferences are also good, as previously suggested.

Good luck with the search!

One supervisor takes anywhere from a few days to a week. The other has had a chapter since the beginning of MARCH and still hasn't done anything with it.

I like to think of my writing up process in terms of the 'Pulling off a Scabby Old Plaster' theory - the faster you do it, the sooner it will be over for ever.

robber - yeah, that's what it stands for. Although I haven't been near my bike in months (as the thesis deadline fast approaches). I seem to remember a pretty little hardtail languishing at the back of my shed... MTB_boy has promised me a full-sus when I submit! Now, THAT is motivation! Do you manage to get out much?

I think people just don't understand... I've endured years of 'jokey' remarks about finishing. The in-laws-to-be have offered me money to 'motivate' me to finish my thesis (£50 if I finish in month X, £25 the month after...). People ask when I'll finish my 'essay'...

I thought when I got my post-doc it'd be different. It's not. My mother-in-law-to-be has just told me that at least it will "look nice on the CV" before asking why I'm not planning children yet. At least there's a 4 hour car drive between us....

I'm only motivated by the fact that the more I write, the sooner it will be over. I still enjoy my subject, but loathe thesis writing more than I can describe. Also, when I'm done, I will not have to endure other people 'helpfully' trying to motivate me. The fiance's parents have offered me £50 if I finish in a particular month, £25 the month after and so on in the manner of a GCSE £5-for-every-A-grade style. It is testiment to my self-control that I still have a wedding to attend.

Good luck - HSBC are actually quite good anyway, but we found that Lloyds TSB (Scottish Widows) accepted the stipend as 'income' as well

Thanks for trying!

E-mailing the journal might be the best idea, actually... I would have thought of it, but thesis-writing has removed all ability to think for myself, it seems.

I've tried google, my institution doesn't subscribe to the journal etc... Does anybody out there have access to:

Chrispeels et al. (1999) Signal transduction networks and the biology of plant cells. Biological Research, 32, 35-60

Thanks in advance for any attempts to help!

Mountain biking
Swimming
Patchwork quilt - making
Automobile repair

All of which I fully intend to master when I submit...