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Ron Dough
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« Reply #1035 on: 15:07:39, 15-08-2008 » |
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She's actually already on chemo, Kitty: started on Monday.
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #1036 on: 16:37:55, 15-08-2008 » |
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tonybob,
I renectly went throgh a long period when I could not listen to music. It was very hard. I don't know how I survived it.
I felt bad for 6-7 months, then I was better. However, I could not listen to music at all. People here gave me their support that was very helpful.
At the moment I am better.
I am glad you came to visit us here.
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...trj...
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« Reply #1037 on: 21:59:25, 18-08-2008 » |
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This really belongs in the room just down the corridor from Life's Challenges and Upsets as it's not on the same scale as some members' Challenges, but allow me the indulgence... Is there anything more dispiriting than working through the examiners' report on your PhD? Every typo spotted begins to feel like a personal attack - and that's to say nothing of the many pages of more substantial problems that need fixing. And there's no sugaring of the pill either. (Actually, the line, 20 pages into my report, that reads "page 264, para 1 - this is more like it!" is the sharpest cut of all.) Just a whinge, all part of the game I know, but yikes.  |
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martle
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« Reply #1038 on: 22:06:22, 18-08-2008 » |
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Tim, it's the last and least consequential of the hoops you have to jump through. You must indulge your examiners in their pedantry and possibly their desire to wee over territory which they had hitherto believed to be almost exclusively theirs but that your thesis proves is not necessarily so any longer. It's all very ancient and elemental really.  |
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Green. Always green.
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ernani
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« Reply #1039 on: 22:07:29, 18-08-2008 » |
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Dear Ron,
I'm so sorry to hear this - my thoughts are with you and your family. It is an awful thing to see someone you love go through as, like others here, I unfortunately know too.
Best wishes,
ernani
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #1040 on: 22:14:05, 18-08-2008 » |
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Is there anything more dispiriting than working through the examiners' report on your PhD?
No. After one read and enough whisky I decided never to read it again. So I didn't. It's still in the flat. Somewhere. |
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'is this all we can do?' anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965) http://www.myspace.com/itensemble |
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richard barrett
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« Reply #1041 on: 22:18:39, 18-08-2008 » |
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And there's no sugaring of the pill either. No, examining PhDs is a bit like driving in traffic, it brings out the worst in some people. I think that's because the proofreading aspect of it is a tedious chore which sometimes threatens to distract from the actual substance of the work. There's nothing personal about it of course. |
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martle
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« Reply #1042 on: 22:23:23, 18-08-2008 » |
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There's nothing personal about it of course.
Absolutely, and to be serious, it's part of the requirements for examiners that they ensure a thesis is 'of publishable quality'. Perhaps sometimes that means they are draconian or nitpicking; but don't read too much into it. Just do it, then it'll be over.  |
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Green. Always green.
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ernani
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« Reply #1043 on: 22:30:47, 18-08-2008 » |
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No, examining PhDs is a bit like driving in traffic, it brings out the worst in some people. I think that's because the proofreading aspect of it is a tedious chore which sometimes threatens to distract from the actual substance of the work. There's nothing personal about it of course. Yep, and in this day and age with so much litigation surrounding examinations, it's no wonder that pedantry is seen by some as a defence against the shadow of the writ. Having said that, the job of a PhD examiner is a fairly thankless task. If you are reading a piece of work that is the summation of 3 or 4 years full time research, I don't think that it's unreasonable to expect a level of professionalism in the presentation. The odd typo her(!) and there is fine, but it's amazing how sloppy some work can be. After all, once you hold a PhD, you are qualified to examine other PhDs and standards are standards... That said, any examiner worth his or her salt will be interested primarily in the content and originality of the work (and I speak as someone who has been in the unfortunate position of having to fail a PhD). I hope the final stages don't prove too tedious for you trj. Good luck |
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« Last Edit: 13:07:37, 19-08-2008 by ernani »
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Kittybriton
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« Reply #1044 on: 23:29:42, 18-08-2008 » |
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This really belongs in the room just down the corridor from Life's Challenges and Upsets as it's not on the same scale as some members' Challenges, but allow me the indulgence... Is there anything more dispiriting than working through the examiners' report on your PhD? Every typo spotted begins to feel like a personal attack - and that's to say nothing of the many pages of more substantial problems that need fixing. And there's no sugaring of the pill either. (Actually, the line, 20 pages into my report, that reads "page 264, para 1 - this is more like it!" is the sharpest cut of all.) Just a whinge, all part of the game I know, but yikes. How sharper than a serpent's tooth is the pencil of the PhD examiner! I think an inability to deal with any kind of criticism is one of the reasons I never achieved much academically. |
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Click me -> About meor me -> my handmade storeNo, I'm not a complete idiot. I'm only a halfwit. In fact I'm actually a catfish. |
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...trj...
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« Reply #1045 on: 11:15:22, 19-08-2008 » |
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Thanks all. There isn't anything unreasonable here - and on many occasions my examiners have been more helpful in their comments than they need to be. Doesn't make it more fun though! |
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Milly Jones
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« Reply #1046 on: 13:12:09, 27-08-2008 » |
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I took the teenager for his blood test this morning which is step 1 in the quest to diagnose the lymph node problem. We have to ring up for the results next Tuesday apparently. They are testing him for glandular fever as well as lots of other things (which I don't want to think about  ) so let's hope it's just some weird infection at the end of the day. I'll be amazed if it is glandular fever because he's only got the one raised node on the side of his neck behind his ear - but you never know. Then there is one on his arm and one in his hand - but everyone is different. He has no idea of my own concerns. He is just expecting it to be an infection of some sort. Let's look on the bright side. I'm a bit paranoid about lumps now due to my family's past experiences. He isn't related to us in any way other than by marriage anyway so it isn't going to be genetic. |
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We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
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Ron Dough
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« Reply #1047 on: 13:46:07, 27-08-2008 » |
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We have to ring up for the results next Tuesday apparently. Which means either that they already consider that it's something minor, or that they're in danger of breaking a protocol, unless they then ask to present yourselves personally. Surely it can't be normal practice to discuss complications over the phone? |
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Milly Jones
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« Reply #1048 on: 13:53:22, 27-08-2008 » |
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We have to ring up for the results next Tuesday apparently. Which means either that they already consider that it's something minor, or that they're in danger of breaking a protocol, unless they then ask to present yourselves personally. Surely it can't be normal practice to discuss complications over the phone? You wouldn't think so but certainly at this practice, this is what happens.. That's actually what they said to me when I had my tests done - to ring up in about a week for the results - but in the event, they rang me three days later to give me the verdict and ask me to go in for the medication urgently. I don't know what to think. The speed that they arranged the blood test (i.e. next day) led me to believe that perhaps they do think it might be something to worry about. They do discuss things over the phone and always have. I shall take the view that no news is good news if we don't hear anything between now and next Tuesday. |
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We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
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Lord Byron
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« Reply #1049 on: 13:56:51, 27-08-2008 » |
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it is always worth getting a 2nd opinion, even though in the uk, the doctors do not like 'poaching' patients, which is a very silly way of looking at things
i generally find that a gp is ok for colds etc. but you really need a specialist, the french system is more 'specialist' based and works better
i try have lots of fun, due to the early deaths in my family line, i never really know how long i have got left, at any time, ever
what else can one do but try enjoy the ride ?
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