Hello. I am new to this site. Just gone into my 3rd year (hopefully final year but writing is proving harder than I thought). Just got back from a week in Munich - big Xmas market, lots of mulled wine and if it is too cold outside, beer halls where you can order litre jugs of beer! DanB, I would go to the Xmas market, have several drinks, go to the graduation ceremony, have several more drinks and spend tomorrow nursing a hangover. Just read the posting about hangovers - has anyone else thought there is some correlation between the further into the PhD you are the more you drink?

Definitely, I wrote the last bits of my thesis whilst rather tipsy on mulled wine (try to avoid writing up over Christmas if possible). I think a little alcohol opens the mind and allows the ideas to flow. However, too much results in a glass of mulled wine being spilled into your laptop, not good the day before you submit. The laptop survived btw, they are hardy little beasts ;o)

Go for the mulled wine before the graduation Dan! I had Pimms and lemonade before my PhD grad ceremoney but that was in the Summer.

Hi Ann. Yep, definitely had a few drinks at my graduation ceremony...can get Winter Pimms now...yum!
Wrote some of my best undergrad essays with a g&t in hand.
I have just started writing up, although I still have quite a lot of data to collect for my final case study. Just wondering when the writing bug will kick in. I know what I want to say...just scared to start writing I suppose. Anyone else find this?

Hi

I posted a discussion topic regarding hangovers about a week ago. Some good advice given. I have my MSc graduation coming up in a few days (first yr PhD now) and will be implementing the tactics shared. I would like to ask you all if you share a common trait I have. This may lead to a confession of alcoholism, but do any of you find it very difficult to stop drinking once started? I think I have an 'all or nothing' mentality which means after one glass of red wine, I want to drink the whole bottle (and usually end up doing just that!).

The only consolation I have I guess is that I have always been the same so its not like I am developing a dependency on booze once consumed. I just like the taste and the feeling so I have more! I probably drink once a week on average but it does always seem to end up being more of a session than I first anticipated. I dont think I could do what was mentioned previously though. have a drink and then work? No chance. The two dont marry up for me.

I have the all or nothing mentality as well when I start drinking. The trick is not to start - but that is easier said than done. however I too have amazingly gained some self-restraint since my undergrad days. Never thought it would be possible

Problem I have is when I have a blow out the next day is a total write off so I try to organise other things on that particular day i.e. xmas shopping.