Having problems with my PhD supervisor. Nothing I have written has been looked at and I am half way through the process. The problem is there is no one else to supervise me in my school. The supervisor is a decent person but really lazy- frequently seen by others in the cinema at 3pm or having coffee at 10am in hotels away from the uni. Waiting since December for work I have written to be looked at. Meetings happen every 3 months or so and usually follow the format of sorry i haven't read what you have written or, I've ben really busy elsewhere. On a couple of occasions it has been remind me what it is you are doing again.
I already switched from my first year supervisor who was surprisingly even more terrible. I don't want to get a bad reputation with others and yet I am not progressing as others are. Constantly doubting whether the next thing I am doing is right. From conferences and people I have met I feel I am going in the right direction. I have a sneaking suspicion that my supervisor is waiting for the whole PhD to be written and then corrected.
Any advice?

Have you tried discussing what you need from your supervisor with your supervisor?

The problem is trying to get in the door to speak with supervisor. It is next to impossible. Cancelled meetings and no shows. Very irritating. I have spoken and said I would like more feedback and it just has not happened. Feeling really frustrated and could throw this whole thing right now. for the last 6 weeks I have done barely anything. Just cannot motivate myself. Part of it comes down to supervisor. I don't know if what I am doing is right or wrong and am sort of afraid to move on work.

Sorry about your supervisor issues. A friend of mine had what she called her creepy stalking method--she actually noted down the times her supervisor arrived at the university, what time he left etc. and she would hang around there and just confront him there and then. This seemed to work for her because she would tell him that she had visa deadlines etc. etc. and this actually forced him to work with her faster.

I'm not exactly recommending her stalking method, just sharing a true experience :-)

Is there is a postgraduate mentor or tutor in your school whom you can turn to? Someone in the graduate research school may be able to help push things forward. Make a note of all the cancelled meetings, keep track of all the emails so that you have evidence to show that you haven't received help from your supervisor. This is not for blackmailing or stalking haha but at least this justifies getting help about getting your thesis looked at.

most of all, don't lose heart
love satchi

Thanks satchi. Sad to say that your response was more encouraging than my entire School. It i a very political place and a lot if fighting.
I have kept the list of all meetings from the first time I stepped inside the gates of the place. I can show that in 2 years I have had nothing reviewed at all despite emails asking for feedback.
The stalking sounds like a wonderful plan except my supervisor wouldn't care. Pretty much given the run of the place. Very irritating. On a side note if any Phders wanted to volunteer for the position of stalking I wouldn't say no :)

Ok this sounds completely unacceptable. Do you have your University handbook to hand? When you start all PhD students should be given written confirmation of what they can expect to occur and written proof of this should be happening regularly (i.e. meetings with supervisors should be written up and documented). If you haven't been given the support you are entitled to then you have every right to complain - it won't look bad on you but it will look bad on your supervisor if it shows they haven't been doing what they are supposed to do. Do you have a secondary supervisor at all? Having more than one supervisor is supposed to stop things like this happening.

I feel bad for you :( I really hope things can get sorted out because you are quite far into the process now.

Try more than once, twice, three times... be persistent. He can't avoid you all the time.
And if he's expecting your writing, maybe you could give a couple of sections or even just a few paragraphs -- to show him that you've done your bit, now he has to at least give responses.

In most instances in life, when I get no satisfaction over the phone / email. I just set aside a day, and I literally just turn up in the reception area of your office. You would be AMAZED at how much more attention you get when you demonstrate that you wont be ignored.

Thanks everyone. I think it is unacceptable as well but there is no support from the uni.
I actually laughed when I read about the school's guidelines. There is no such thing for us. Literally. I was in 16 months and was then handed a 2 page document from a friend stating the submission requirements including the font and referencing style.
At the moment I am mid-chapter writing which will give me half of the phd written up. It should take about 3 more weeks to write up. I'll email it to the suppie and give him 2 weeks to reply- if nothing I am complaining.
My school only gives us one supervisor each. I was thinking of asking another but unsure who to go to or how to approach the person.

Thanks everyone!