blimey

Romance and tragedy in Paris.

come on boy, don't be such a baby

Post PhD = emptiness, misanthropy, nihilism and gloom.

It really is like a major break up.

Moreover, I'm earning proper money for the first time in my life but I don't care. I could buy a decent bike, but don't care about cycling; I could buy new lenses, but don't care about photography; I could write an article and get it published, but don't care about history. I'm not even two dimensional anymore...

5 years, stuck on my eyes

Words you want to hear when you begin your viva examination:

"Ed, you've got nothing to worry about, we want to discuss how to best get this thesis published."

After 90 minutes of discussion, I was told my thesis is of doctoral standard: the examiners just want me to rewrite the conclusion because they say I sold myself short and should be more forceful in saying what I think! They said what I have to say is genuinely important!

What an amazing day. A very bizarre end to a very bizarre 5 years of work and life though. Thanks to everybody who supported me.

waaaaaaaaaaagh!

For the first time in 2 years, I wish I still lived in London! Well done England!

Excitement.

(a) On Friday, I was offered (and accepted) a proper job.

(b) Today, I acquired tickets for the last day of the Edgbaston Ashes test (i.e. tomorrow) ... I also made a cultured return to the Guardian's OBO. (71st over)

Guess which excites me more.

Done.

Previously, I remembered 9 July as the day I was hospitalised with internal bleeding.

Henceforth: it is the day I finished my PhD.

I have just emailed it off to the printers and will be submitting it tomorrow.

'More later'.

101,379

I'm definitely entering the endgame now: the introduction, body chapters, conclusion, and bibliography are all written. I am now above the word limit. My examiners have agreed to read my thesis and I'm entered into the exam. My student days are drawing to an end and I have to face the reality of waking up every day without a PhD to think about!