Thank you all SO much for your very helpful replies. It's so good to know that there are people in the same position out there. I think sometimes we put too much faith in our supervisors and lose all faith in our own ability. I feel much more positive having read your advice. I have some thinking to do now.;-) Cheers.

Hiya. I'm a current PhD student and have been doing my thesis on and off since 2000. Even though i' m doing corrections at the moment, it's taking forever and my supervisor, who previously told me i would be ready to submit in March has now pushed the date back even further. It just feels like i will never finish. This is my second supervisor, the first one left after i began my studies and i was left for a year on my own and the second supervisor was appointed as he had a slight knowledge of my subject area. I was his first PhD student. Anyway, I've lost all confidence in myself and i feel like he has o confidence in me. I started the PhD as a very young and naive 20 year old and feel like my whole life has been on hold ever since. I don't want a career in a university and am beginning to think of turning in an MPhil/MA instead. I'm not sure if this is allowed...does anyone know please? :-(