thanks Blue.

@chuff - thanks...... :) i definitely have a credit card and i'll be walking tall tomorrow with a big smile on my face. thankfully my viva is in the afternoon so oversleeping is not gonna be a problem.

@pineapple - don't give up. be determined in EVERY way. right now everything in me is saying get out of here, pack your bags and go home. you're not phd material. but that does not mean i believe those thoughts. am banking on the fact that i have worked hard and i can easily talk myself into a phd with all the work i've done. how i feel is NOT as important as what i believe. am carrying on prep and showing up tomorrow because i believe in me whether others do or not. try to believe in yourself. you might just surprise yourself.

my latest problem is my relatives and friends who keep calling me wishing me luck. my parents even plan on calling me before i walk into the exam room! and they keep saying don't be scared bla bla bla. the thing is these calls are bound to freak anyone out. they didn't call ever before since i was in pre-school. why now? calling me now will only heighten my nerves. so i have my phone switched off. i will call them all and apologise tomorrow. :-( i don't want to start feeling that this is a big deal because it is to them. i don't need the pressure of expectation. i regret telling them the date because now they are more nervous than i am and managing them all is WORK...

back to it..

======= Date Modified 04 Jan 2011 21:58:00 =======
i finally got to the hotel guys! its really nice......... not conducive for reading though so am trying hard to stay focused whilst making sure i don't over-strain myself for tomorrow. so am alternating between TV and proofreading for typos. being the last minute person i am i still have not finished proofreading. still have a good two chapters to go. but should be done in about 2 hours time. overall i feel ok........

proofreading is really a job.................... not the most interesting thing on earth, but hey........... its got to be done.

can't wait for tomorrow to come and for it to be over. :-)

all the best Kikuka!

======= Date Modified 04 Jan 2011 11:56:31 =======
to do list:

packing:
suit - check!
fullscape- check!
red pen- check!
laptop and dongle - check!
tissues - check!
toiletries & essentials - check!
toothbrush - check!
thesis copies - check!
examiners papers - check!
thesis slides - check!
passport - check!
hotel reference - check!
usb with thesis - check!
charger - check!
bottle of water - check!

hope i haven't forgotten anything important!

i need to confirm a quote, make travel arrangements, prepare and leave. will finish up typo list and print it out at hotel.
am off now. next time you hear from me i'll be at the hotel room. i want to get there early to complete reading and my typos list, go thro slides one last time, have a small mini viva and sleep early... :)

J.

@algae - thanks. am trying my hardest to keep it together!

@kikuka - oh yes.. i'll definitely be seeing this. thanks.......... :-)

done with second mock viva! lasted 48 mins. but hardly had breathing space..... so hopefully........ that accounts for more time.

have to revisit chapter 3. i struggled with questions from that one a little bit. my posture and eye contact has improved so am well pleased. i also need water.

off to sleep now............ or should i pack my suitcase now. might actually be a good idea. will read remaining chapters tomorrow.

all the best to me! :-)

i wonder if my examiner is reading my thesis right now and thinking... #$#$%%%%Q#@$@#$#$##@#$@#$#$ two more chapters to go. the only motivation i have is that i need to get through Wednesday to finish that paper am writing! (giggles.)

i suppose it's excruciating both ways. lol.

yipee! all definitions learnt!

two chapters to go..... main motivation to read them is the fact that i need a typos list to show to my examiners so i can look like a serious researcher and reduce any angst already accumulated incase there is a perfectionist there. :-) am happy that they're only two chapters left now and one is fairly short. yipee!

i've got all my answers to Bilbo's questions worked out and quite a number of questions i made myself which i'll use in my mock viva in about 45 mins time. i'll also go thro Laras and my own which include Bilbos. am lucky to have someone willing to conduct a mini viva at midnight. lol.

can't wait to be a free person after Wednesday afternoon!!!!!!!

looking forward to the hotel. haven't made travel plans yet. train, bus, train, bus. will see!

i might pack tonight as well so tomorrow goes to proofreading remaining two chapters.

i also discovered that i have to learn to talk about my discussion which is very well written (am proud of it!) but when i look at it, its so good it looks like someone else wrote it! need to summarise it and practice looking the part. :$ i plan to do that in my mini vivas tomorrow.

am just soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo GLAD the end is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo near guys. i never want to enrol in this kinda again. if i ever do....... i will never be as serious with it like i was with this one. LOL. there is more to life!

speak later.... back to it.

:-)

ended up watching the whole movie. LOL.

reading through my discussion chapter just lifted my mood. it's definitely the chapter that will get me this phd. :-) fingers crossed.. still have 3 chapters to go. decided to stop reading them in order and its working. woo hoo! a break then conclusion chapter, then back to case study chapters which i found a bit taxing.

am so happy to have gotten over the nerves of yesterday! thanks everyone for your encouragement! :-)

looking forward to a mini-viva tonight!

Jo.

am gonna watch a movie now to help me switch off. not the whole thing tho. sigh..

thanks Bilbo and Walmin.

i just had another mock viva with a friend and was actually surprised by how well it went! it took 1hr 10 mins. i've only read half my thesis.

after this mock viva and feel better and more motivated to read through the rest of the chapters. i was surprised that i actually know the stuff without even reading it. wow.

i hope to have another viva tomorrow afternoon when i'll have read through another 2 chapters or so and hope for better performance then.

sigh.. can't wait for it all to be over!