Congratulations everyone!
One week to go for me, so much to so I can't believe it will happen!

congratulations Larrydavid!!

Clementine, I'm the same - I have about 2000 words which just feels like I'm repeating what I've already said.... I feel like I need a big burst of creativity to write something really inspiring but I'm so exhausted and fed up I think this chapter will never get there :(

If it helps I have headings under each of my initial objectives and how I've met them - across various chapters, so trying to draw it all together. Then Contributions of the research, Limitations, Further Research and Final Conclusions. Unfortunately at the moment its just that - headings!

Keep going!!

Keep going Pam, nearly there and just imagine that feeling in 5 days time!
I'm having a slump today too, just can't get going...

I need to hand in 31st August..... starting to believe I can't make it but need to remain positive!

I feel the same Clementine - zero motivation! when do you want to submit?
I have so much to do I think I'll never get there, but then I could spend another year and still not not be happy so I should just push and hand it in, whatever state its in!

submitting end of August.... I have the same when I'm at work feeling like I could be getting on with it is so annoying, but then I have clear days like today where I just can't get in the 'groove'!

We'll get there! :)

Hi Pam, can I join?!
I haven't been on the forum in a while but am feeling exactly the same - so so much to do and working 3 days a week - not sure I can make the deadline but hopefully this will help keep motivated!
so far today, I have stared at my screen.....

Hi Flack,
sorry to hear that you're family aren't as supportive or excited about this for you. I think as others have said often our families just don't understand. I get on well with my family in general but they didn't congratulate me either - simply because I don't think they even know what a phd is. and instead I ended up in an argument with my dad who couldn't understand why I would give up a job to go back to university, instead they thought I should be buying a house, getting married and staying in a 'job for life' - I think its just a generational thing.
So, I've not spoken to them during my phd about the ups and downs and sometimes miss that support - but get it from friends and other who understand instead, and it sounds like you have a good support network even if its not family.
Edinburgh's a great place and you'll meet lots of new people who can support you and share your phd journey with you. I'm new here to and loving it!
Good luck and well done!

CONGRATULATIONS KB! Awesome news ! :)

oh wow, i didn't even realise such things existed ;-)

I used the gadget thing that plugs into the recorder and the phone line and it worked amazingly - all my interviews were very clear, probably clear than face to face ones. The alternative I tried was to use skype and download an add on called pamela, but I think the normal phone line worked better and as you have one of those plug in things would go for that.
Those links are really useful - thanks Ady!

I had an interview recently and went to the careers service beforehand as I'm so out of practice and have a habit of having total mind blanks in interviews. they really helped - told me to think in "signposts" so have 3 or 4 main points prepared for an answer to a question, eg hardest part of your phd. and then flesh your answer out around these pre-prepared signposts so it doesn't appear over-rehearsed but you have some sturcuture rather than just mumbling away which is what I normally do! Not sure I have explained that very well but it really helped me. I also used a grid with expected questions and 3-4 key points for each one.