The last few months my PhD studies have been like wading through the Bog of Eternal Stench … 

I feel I am finally getting my motivation going, my brain in gear, and my thoughts in some kind of order. 

Comment heard a few days ago ... (paraphrased) "I've built up a good relationship with my funder so it's easier for me to get funded." My first thought was - yay, this is good, more money for good projects, going to a good person. This is what third sector...

I can be stubborn, I can cling to ideas and possessions and people long after they should be discarded by the wayside. But learning to let go is a valuable lesson I have learned over the years (see, there's a benefit to being a wise crone). I've been struggling with...

This last couple of weeks have felt chaotic-good. Despite a chest infection, decorating, flat-packed furniture, and feeling like I know nothing I am still here, still excited, still ready for the years ahead. And I had my first official supervision meeting today. It...

It's gone 4am and I'm unable to settle to sleep. Whirling thoughts are keeping me awake, even though I am tired. So I got up, sat in my almost finished office, and decided to write them out. Moodle: this is my bugbear at the moment, getting to grips with Moodle. It...

It's strange, I am always reading, searching for new knowledge, discovering weird and wonderful things, but not really learning. I think this could be because there was never really any 'purpose' other than knowledge for knowledge's sake. But no, now I have purpose,...

So, as of the 1st October I am officially a doctoral candidate 🙂 And I started this journey with a chest infection ... so I was very thankful (for the first time I think) that, due to the virus, everything is online and I could attend the intro events from my sofa....

Formal student registration in progress, filled in the forms, supplied the obligatory photo for ID. When I log on to the uni intranet I see staff and student information ... the dream is solidifying into reality. Over the last few months I've started to follow more...

I have my PhD place confirmed, I start October - I'd rather start right now, but I am making the best of things by preparing ahead. Mise en place is a French culinary phrase which means "putting in place" or "everything in its place". It refers to the setup required...

The stars and planets aren't quite aligned yet. With all the Covid problems going on I have this inner feeling that perhaps the uni will ask me to wait to start ... So I have been preparing contingency plans, how I will react, what options I have. And I do have...