I have been looking at some theses online and what struck me was how many people thanked their partners in the acknowledgements. Phrases like "I couldn't have done this without your support" and " Your belief in me was essential" etc were in abundance. If I ever finish I really don't feel I could write the same thing about my husband! Yes, I am moaning, sorry, but he just doesn't seem to think that anything should change just because I am trying to study and I still feel like I am doing most of the household tasks and he doesn't really support me in the way I feel I do him. Just wish I had someone cheering me on every now and again. :-s Sorry - just had to get that off my chest! Tell me I'm not the only one! :$

Me too! I have been looking through notes I made before I was on maternity leave and some parts I have no idea whether I copied direct quotes or paraphrased - will have to go back and check everything! :-s

Thanks! Mine don't go to sleep until 9pm and by then I am ready to hit the sack! I am loathe to change the bedtimes though as they sleep so well at the moment - and in Italy all the children go to bed then or later. Also, a big problem for me is the only place I can have a desk is in the lounge so can't really work there while husband watches tv. Good tips though - you are right it is all about discipline and setting up a good routine. I also tell myself that I can't throw away the work I have done up till now (also I am being funded by work and if I don't complete I have to pay back the funding - don't think about that too much as just too scary!)

I think I might have to leave this thread and aim for an early morning approach instead.... I do also have a babysitter most mornings so I do most of the work then but I think it is not going to be enough as I am so slow at writing.

Sneaks - how do you manage to read in bed? That gets me to sleep in about 5 minutes....

Dunni - how's it going? Any tips for evening working? I am trying but just feel too tired after all the kids are in bed. I can't even use the excuse of being a twin mummy as you seem to be doing it alright! They are really tiring me out at the moment though. Any energy boosting ideas?

You have already had some good advice there but I would definitely emphasise finding out about childcare before you have a baby! I had two (twins) after my 1st year and have just gone back - it is HARD. Probably the hardest thing I have ever done. I am still not sure I will get through it!

I rarely go to campus as it is 800 miles away. :p In theory I work from home but I have to leave the house to the childminder so I am in limbo - constantly searching for somewhere conducive to work. I usually work from local libraries but I don't find it very satisfactory and am currently daydreaming about my neighbour offering me free use of her study - not likely to happen though! I don't recommend my way of working as it doesn't work and stresses me out considerably. :-(

SBCC - is the software Dragon? Just asking as I still can't get mine to work! Commiserations on the broken arm - hope it heals ok!

I've read a few older threads on this but wondered if anyone is using it now and can help me. I have the newest version of this and it is really poor. For those who have got good results with it, could you answer the following:

- did you buy a different microphone to the one provided? If so, which one?

- how much training did you do? (I have done about 30 minutes but it doesn't seem any better!)

Thanks!

There's no way I would want you to risk your health but you are so close! And it is so much harder to do once the baby arrives. I really wish I had done more while pregnant. Set yourself goals for each day and I am sure you will get there. Good luck!

Hi - I am just returning to a PhD after 15 months off for maternity leave. (It was only meant to be a year but I had a hard time in pregnancy and took extra time off). It is possible although I would agree that if I were in my early twenties I would have waited until I had finished as it is HARD. I had twins (and already had another child) and I am still trying to work out how to fit it all in! Also check out childcare facilites early on - I am doing a fulltime PhD and can afford part-time childcare - not ideal!

And there was I thinking that she loved only me! :-(;-)

Hi. There are a few posts on this but they are all quite old. Just wondered what people think of the latest version of DNS. I found it in the Amazon Sale today only at £70 for the premium edition. I know there is a student edition but it's not much cheaper. I get RSI so wondered if this is worth the pennies. Thanks!

Sneaks - do you mean like this? http://babyology.com.au/furniture/sleeping-pairs.html

8-) I don't think my mother-in-law would be impressed!

Coffee - Thanks - but what do you mean about them being difficult to configure?