Hi to everyone who replied to my last post.

I'm glad I joined up to this forum, you have all confirmed that I am not alone, and it is very nice to see that there are other part time, self funding mature (nuts) PhD students out there!!

Hey Caramel, thanks for the advice about the post grad adviser, unfortunately my supervisor is that advisor!!

Hey Mumbler, haven't tried Fennell seeds but thanks for the tip.

Hey Joyce, thanks for the book recommendations.

Hey Trishatops, wow how the heck do you manage to be a new mum and a PhD student?? that's amazing!!

Another question to everyone on the forum, does your university post annoying write ups about the (usually extremely young) bright stars in their depts who are getting novels published, fellowships and fully funded research scholarships, on their web site or is it just that mine likes to torture their older self funding plebs like me?? whilst taking our money and ignoring us most of the time??

not bitter, promise, it's just a thought.

Hi Everyone,

I'm new and have joined this forum as I don't know any other Post Graduate students. I sometimes feel a little lonely, as I am self financing, part time undertaking my PhD in the area of English Literature.
My friends think that my choice to do this is really weird, my parents do not even know what a PhD is, and my husband thinks that in this recession with the lack of post doc jobs that i am nuts.
I am 42, and my university is 70 miles away, i work part time 3 days a week to pay for this course, and my two supervisors, hate each other and barley communicate, with one who seems to think that i am beneath his consideration, and who doesn't return my emails, the other spends his time moaning about his home life to me, when i get one hour's supervision time every 8 weeks or so with him.

Any way forgive me for totally rambling, how do you all manage to keep your confidence, and self belief, whilst negotiating the obstacles i'm sure that you also all face??