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Well, I've not had the silly-hat ceremony yet, but I received the relevant letter in the post this morning. It's no longer in question. My thesis has been received and examined, I've been examined and not found wanting, and I've managed all the administration on time. I have a DPhil.
The acknowledgments section of my thesis follows, unaltered and unabridged. I think it says everything important.
I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr Elias Stipidis, for his guidance, patience and support during the research supporting this thesis.
I would also like to thank my second supervisor, Dr Falah Ali, and my colleagues and friends in the Vetronics Research Centre: in no particular order Dr Periklis Charchalakis, Dr Ian Colwill, Dr Obowoware Obi, Panos Oikonomidis, Dr Georgios Valsamakis, Dr Matthew Fowler, Dr Ireri Ibarra and Ioannis Melentis.
Finally, for acting as an anchor in the unpredictable tumult that has been the last five years of my life, I would like to thank my family and friends, in particular Yvonne and Christian Summers, Fouad Sethna, Rachael Acks, the Wayward Scholars and the denizens of #maelfroth and #afp.
Dedicated to the memory of Eileen Hewett and Frank Summers. Gone, but not forgotten.
Currently proofing thesis, before sending it to the publishers tomorrow morning. One hundred and sixty pages of dense material that I know, but can't skim because I need to catch typographical errors that have missed other readings.
By which I mean I'm kinda paranoid that this, in a hundred years, will be the only record of my life, lodged in the dusty depths of the British Library, and that any mistakes I don't catch will be recorded unto eternity. And that future scholars that read it will point and laugh if it isn't utterly perfect in every possible way.
I'm missing one person, and have just made the conscious decision not to go to London on Wednesday to see several other lovely people because I don't really have the time.
When I'm done with this edit-pass, I need to try to finish my CV and make a creditable attempt at writing the paper I should have been writing last week, but had to back-burner due to continuing faults and failures in the project that is my immediate source of funding. More on that later. I have coffee, and an IRC connection, and some Daft Punk on the speakers, to keep me sane and processing.
Tonight, I fear that it may not be enough.
So. Nearly done.
So nearly done.
My corrections have been accepted, and the postgraduate office has received notification of this within the deadline. I'm on course to graduate in July, in the stupid hat and weirdly multicoloured robes that Sussex Sciences DPhils wear.
Now, I just have to find a bookbinder and give them a PDF they can work from, and get a hard copy in to the postgrad office by the 17th of July. Doable. That, and polishing the CV, and all the rest await, but for the first time in a long time, my todo list is shrinking faster than it's growing.
That, and a relaxing weekend that recharged reservoirs I didn't realise I'd depleted, and maybe I'm starting to get a handle on life again. Here's hoping.
Good morning!
Workaday (0930-1745)
Evening
Several of my friends have started keeping todo lists online, for the day, for the weekend, or for whatever period is necessary. They seem to use them as a reminder that they are Succeeding At Life: that things are getting done and that they are a worthwhile person, even if they feel a bit overwhelmed by All The Things.
This seems like an excellent idea, so I'm going to try it for a bit: apologies for the blogspam this will generate.
Equally, they note that sometimes even the little things can be hard, some days. I'm aware that I'm at an extremely low ebb right now, in terms of mental capacity, so my todo list will probably seem weirdly specific or excessively detailed. This is an attempt at using mental resources when I have them (in the evening) to give structure and sense to the day when I don't.
Good Morning!
Workaday (0930-1800)
Evening all