Hi Wal, great to hear you got there! And that things are going well so far, sounds like you have plenty of control over what you are doing, that's good.

Keep us posted, thanks for keeping in touch. (up)

Hey Wally, this sounds like good news - an academic post in Oz? I can't offer advice on the plugs etcetera, but I do wish you luck my friend. Congratulations, I'm glad you've kept going.

Hi Bluespace,

I read 'Style: Ten lessons in Clarity and Grace' by Joseph Williams a couple of years ago and it has been brilliant for advancing my writing style.

here's the Amazon link, you can get an old copy for a few quid:


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Style-Ten-Lessons-Clarity-Grace/dp/0321024087/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335717377&sr=1-8

Hello folks - am posing because I need to get back to things after a three week break for a marking mountain and after meeting a very nice man and doing some dreamy courting. So now I have to focus...

Tomorrow I will get to the bottom of a key article for my thesis and unpick it ready to write a throrough critique. I will do this first thing in the morning before anything else. I will not watch telly or dream or skype or anything similar.

Chat to you tomorrow, looking forward to catching up with you all xxxx

I think this is a loas of rubbish, if it were true I'd have had a job years ago...

No really. I have to say that after three interviews in all case either the least attractive or middlingly attractive person got the job - and I didn't.

Sorry to sound conceited, but my looks are commented upon - I have done some modelling quite recently, and my sense of style is superb. I blooming wish this would get me an academic job. No such luck.

Unfortunately, from my experience it looks as if an excellent research record, good teaching experience and - possibly - being friends with one of the interview panel are the only things that will do it.

The Daily Mail is not a great source of facts, come on, even my first years know this...

Hi Batfink and Button - I hope the return to work is going well for you both. I did a bit yesterday - about 2 hours of writing, and then out with a friend in the afternoon. And have yet to get cracking again today... must get into a proper routine again.

I hoped to get this chapter re-drafted by Christmas but didn't get anywhere near that, so my time of reckoning is getting closer - I must have something respectable to tell my supervisor by the end of this next weekend. See you later XX

Good morning all and Happy 2012!

I've just had two weeks off - stopped PhDing on about 16 December, so ready to be back at it today. I hope you all had a good rest and got all you wanted for Christmas. I had a mixed bag of it... lovely lunch followed by family dramatics then visits to friends on Christmas day; then lots of telly and loads of cousins and aunty and uncle for a lovely day of it at my place; then more telly and chocolate - thoroughly enjoyeed the Morcambe and Wise fest; then a nice New Year's even with dinner and fireworks at my friend's place. So, from hence forth it's PhD and Zumba all the way... for a couple of weeks anyway...

Today I'm going to write a section I researched for just before Christmas. So I'll need to review where I'm up to, type up my notes and write the section - no word count, it will be as long as it needs to be. See you later x

Maybe our lad here was taught by too many sessional staff on temporary low paid contracts who were rushing from job to job and probably rather depressed and desperately in need of a bit of support themselves. The system needs changing, that's for sure; but I really do get the impression that a lot of students think all academic staff just swan about dreaming of their 6 weeks holidays in Tuscany and their fat early pension. when in reality, many of those on the ground live on poverty level pay, dreadful job insecurity and an immense work load - not to mention the stress of dealing with ever more obnoxious and rude first year undergraduates who demand their money's worth...

Hi Cornflower, how did you get on?

I just spent brunch/lunch with my crazy parents - always a russan roullette type experience. Unfortunately this not was not a winner. I too will be spending next Christmas Day on my own, I think, that seems to be my best option. Really wish I'd done it today now.

Hello everyone, I did about five hours of reading today, so that's ok. It wasn't as bad as I expected it to be so feel all right abot moving on with the work now.


Hey Enmaki, congrats to your cousin! And good luck with the work everyone.

Hi Cornflower,

I find this time of year tricky too, usually. This years it's easier because I've managed to get my crazy parents to come to me for 'brunch', and my best mate may come round in the afternoon with her little son.

However, in previous years I've had a more difficult time. One year I spent the day on my own in the flat - which was ok actually. I prepared a really nice dinner and watched loads of telly, though I found I could only get through and enjoy it by having zero contact with anyone - I couldn't bare to hear about other people's family gatherings...

I spent last year at a friend's with her family, who I have know for more than thirty years, which was great, but I wouldn't do it again because I feel that would be an intrusion.

I've also spent the day with other friends who for one reason or another have no-one around on Christmas day - that can be lovely. One of my best Christmases was spent just me and an old friend.

I've tried the volunteering thing, but it seems to be harder than getting into the Emerald City, I think you have to book it months in advance and I'm never sure what I'll be doing that far ahead.


Spending the day alone is fine really. Just make sure you have some good food and drink and other treats. Just make sure you get some good company on the surrounding days. Don't haul up for the entire holiday period or you will go a bit mental - I did this a couple of years ago - not good. Make some arrangements with friends.

Christmas is so tricky if you're single and have a difficult family, you have my empathy - I would say sympathy but I'm confident that you can make it wok and still enjoy the day on your own so long as you manage it right. I feel much better about the whole thing after my solo Christmas. The actual day doesn't matter so much to me an more, even though the family stuff still hurts.

Good luck and let us know how you get on! I will message you on Christman day if you are about...

Hello all. Am returning after a slack couple of weeks. Must get properly back in the saddle tomorrow morning, so will get up early and do the unpleasant reading I've been putting off, and which has been stalling me...

Chat more tomorrow after I've done some work!

Hi Sneaks, yes I can do it. Am having a day of lounging around, while I ruminate the thesis...

I'll PM you my email address.

Hi Batfink, I'm here!

I saw my supervisor about my latest chapter draft and am going to complete a final-for-now draft by Christmas.
Not sure if I'll be working today though. Am going to the public service strike demonstration later. I suppose I could read through the chapter before I go...


Good luck with you goals!

Good afternoon Miss Piggy and Sneaks! I had zero students turn up for tutorials this morning, so managed to get about two hours of reading about writing style in this morning.

This afternoon I will:

1.Start compiling a reading list for the next chapter.
2. Do a couple of hours reading of key sources.

Good luck wth your re-read Miss Piggy and congratulations on posting your thesis to the sup - even if it cost twenty two quid, blimey, can't they print it at the other end?

See you later x