Hi AQ!

Glad to hear you're well, and almost done too! WOOO! And that's excellent that you've picked up a lecturing position - well done. And a new city for you too - v. exciting! Hope you're doing ok, particularly if you're relationship isn't going well...

Interesting isn't it - we all finish, and want to move, take on the next huge challenge. I'm sure we could all opt for easier lives, but it seems we need to do big things. Good luck! And keep going and good luck everyone else too!

Hi Al and everyone

Nice to hear from you! Glad to hear you're feeling better - it does take a lot to recover from the thesis. I submitted, then had to write an abstract for a conference paper, then a journal article, then do job interviews. Then move to a new city, find a flat and start a new job and life. Phew!!! I did have a break over Xmas, but it wasn't all that relaxing as I was stressed about finding somewhere to live. But things are falling into place.

I'm not at all sure I want to live in my new city anymore - I lived in a little town doing my thesis, and moving back to a really huge city is confronting. So many people! And so much traffic, takes so long to get anywhere, constant rushing etc etc...But will see how it all goes.

Last week I got my bound thesis back - looks beautiful!! All I have to do now is submit it electronically, then uni will send me an email. hopefully this week, and I'll be Dr Sue!! Woo!!

And yes, good luck Rick and Monte. Let me know how you're doing!!

Best,

Sue

Hello friends

We haven't spoken to each other in a long time! How is everyone? How's life post-thesis? It's been full on for me - I've moved cities, have found a lovely place to live, and start my new job tomorrow. So, all very exciting. I've moved by myself as my partner needs to stay in our old town for another year or so, so this is a real challenge for me. But all's going well so far.

I've received the best news - MY THESIS PASSED, WITH NO REVISIONS!!! Woooo!!! I pick up the bound copy next week, then will get the magical letter saying that's it! Then I'll be Dr Sue!! Woooo!!!

Just wanted to share my good news. Let me know how you're all going.:-)

Hello everyone!!

Life has been hectic and full-on as usual. Sadly, my gorgeous dog passed away a couple of weeks ago, which was heart-breaking. The house is so quiet and empty, just awful. So, that did me in for a bit.

Then last week had 4 job interviews for really interesting jobs in the civil service (yes, there are such a thing!), and landed an excellent job! My dream job actually, if I have to be in the civil service, a prestigious adviser/researcher position to one of Australia's human rights commissioners. Woo!! And it's in my favourite city!! Excellent! Only downside is that my partner can't move with me, as he needs to stay in this city for another 12 months. Still, we'll cope being apart for a little while. And I won't mind not working in academia, have had quite enough of it...

Have also been accepted to give a paper in Leeds in April - so do tell me where else I should go in the area!! Am thinking of a holiday in Yorkshire maybe, before heading off to Italy...

So, after a horrible year, things have finally turned the corner. Season's greetings to everyone, hope things are working out for you all too!!!

Yeh, interesting thread. If I hadn't been accepted, I'd be working in my dream job, managing a team of civil servants in an area I'm passionate about. I was doing this job but had to give it up because of the Phd - and am still bitter that I've had to make so many sacrifices for this thing. In a way I wish that I'd gone down that path instead, as there are no academic jobs in my area and I've done all this work for very little gain...

Well done Monte!!! Congratulations, that's fantastic news!!! You must be so pleased!!

Life goes on, am busy applying for jobs, have found a couple of research jobs in the civil service which look quite good. Would keep me happy for a bit anyway. I'm also busy writing a journal article, altho I must say, am finding it very hard to get motivated to do any work - it's lovely not having the thesis hanging over my head. My partner says I'm like a new woman - he can't believe how happy and relaxed I am. Just shows how depressed I was doing the thesis.

Hope everyone is going well.

Thank you everybody for your congratulations and warm wishes!!!

Well, I almost had a day off! But couldn't keep away and ended up doing a bit of admin and a job application. It is starting to feel really odd that I can watch a movie or read a novel without feeling guilty. At the same time however, there's still work to do. I have to co-write an article in the next month, then I have three conference papers to give in the first 4 months of next year. I'm also planning to turn my thesis into either journal articles or book chapters. And I need to find an academic job. So - enough to keep me going!! Which is good. I can't bear a life like other people live, working, watching telly at night, doing nothing on the week-ends....crazy huh?

And thank you all for your support about my dog. Yes, I do treasure our memories, we've been a good thesis-writing team, her and I. My thesis has enabled me to spend long, long periods of time with her, which most dogs don't get, and we've had a wonderful relationship.

Holiday next week - no working at all!!! Thanks again friends.

Hi AL and everyone

Yes...I HAVE SUBMITTED!!!!! Wooooo!!! :-) What an effort!!

Even at the last moment, the admin person almost didn't accept it, as I hadn't gotten one of my forms signed by the research co-ordinator....5 years, all that grief, and still hurdles!!!

But, I'M DONE!! And thank you all so much, especially, AL and AQ, you guys have helped me enormously and I couldn't have done it without your support. My deepest, deepest thanks to you.

I went and had a lovely celebratory dinner with my two supervisors. Then came home to find my dog has gotten worse, and we think we'll have to say good-bye in the next few days/week. So that's overshadowed everything, and will put the kybosh on me going away. Not to mention how horribly sad it's going to be. It's like she knew - the day I finished writing she got worse - she hung in there but now it's really hard for her...

Ah, why is it always complicated??? So, not sure about celebrations. But for the moment am going to relax...

Thanks chums, you're the best.


xxxx

Hi Monte

Glad to hear things are going well. Yes, I know what you mean about adjusting to the normal world again. I can't believe that some people do a job, go home, watch telly, and do fun things on the week-end! I can't imagine a life without working every single day!!

Well, it's been tough going, but I'm getting there. I've been working insanely, sitting at this desk from dawn till late at night, not going anywhere at all, just working. I've been battling with my supervisor, who has made me rewrite the intro about 8 times - was in tears about it yesterday, but she's finally approved it. And, I'm most pleased to say, ALL THE WORDS ARE THERE AND APPROVED BY SUP!!! I have to fix up typos etc picked up by my proofreader, do the table of contents and check references, but the body of the thesis is done. What a relief.

I've booked a week's holiday at the beach. I'm seeing a counsellor and getting physio done, and still need a new job, but lordy, I am getting there. This time in a week I should've submitted (depending on uni admin) and will be kicking back with a champagne. Anyone care to join me for a brekky drink??

;-)

Hi AL

Thanks for your kind thoughts. Well, it's been a horrible, horrible week, with the funeral, I stayed in bed the next day, while my partner had to go away for 4 days for work, so it's just been me and my old dog. Thank god for the dog!! She's hanging in there, urging me on to finish!! I submit in exactly 2 weeks from today. I have a mountain of work to do, but am going to get it done.

Friends have started asking me if I'm excited to be finishing, and I'm not. While I can't wait to have this albatross removed from around my neck, I'm sure it will be the end of my academic career, which makes me sad. It's also cost me too much in terms of sacrifices and I really don't think it's been worth it. I can't get an academic job and it's deskilled me for a civil service job. So - am not much fun at the moment. But will soldier on, have a bit of a holiday, then back again to do a whole bunch of unpaid academic work, because I've said I'll do it. Sigh...

Yes, 3 weeks till submission. I haven't had more than 4 or 5 hours sleep in days, and now I get a phone call that my father, who lives interstate, is dying. Can life get any worse?

Well done Monty!! Wow, sounds like life is full-on, exciting and excellent for you! Wonderful! And so well deserved. Glad to hear it's all going well.

Quick update from me. Well, after not getting the job (maybe to make up for that crappiness!) I found out I was successful is securing some grant funding - $9000! So now I have another chunk of work to do, and this money will let me stay part-time in the day job for a while longer, which is great. A little peak in the sea of academic troughs....

Thanks for your support everyone, you're all fab. I'm a little better today, have picked myself up and am plodding along working again. Yes, I just have to get this thing done, then think about the future and start serious job searching, and broaden maybe.

And you're so wise AL, I did have concerns about living in that city, so, maybe something else will come up. I'm waiting to hear about another job I went for in a fabulous city, but not in academia. So, let's see what life has to offer next.

Honestly, the things they want for the money they're offering! I have 5 publications, presented at 12 conferences, have won academic awards, am a subject matter expert in their area, and that still wasn't enough.

Would love to come to the UK, but think I'd have even less chance of beating out a local!

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So, I didn't get my dream job at a great uni. Unfortunately for me, my research is in a social justice area which I, and academics care about, but no-one else does. There are just no jobs in my area. I've been looking for 2 years, and this was the only job I've ever seen that I could apply for. I was interviewed, but lost to someone with more research experience.

I'm submitting my thesis in 4 weeks, and I just wonder what it's all been for. I've forsaken promotions, job opportunities, relationships, mental health, it's cost me a fortune, and it's all for nothing. I also live in a horrible town which I loathe, work a job in the civil service which I hate beyond belief, and now looks like I'm doomed to stay here...

I tell ya, don't do a PhD. Or if you do, make sure it's in an area where there's work. I wish I'd never started it.