Uncle Phil said:
Will there be vivas? Or is it plain sailing now to the silly hat parade graduation ceremony?
God no, not yet, 6 months and 60,000 words to go before I even hand in.
This is just a meeting where I try and sound like I know what I'm doing, and care, and my supervisor (bless him) usually tackles the difficult questions the other two ask. TAPs (Thesis Advisory Panel meetings) are supposed to be useful and supportive, but pretty much everyone regards them with terror, or at least trepidation. I usually come out feeling stupid. You have to write up stuff like what you've done since the last TAP (and make it sound impressive), and how you're meeting the timetable (barely!), and usually have a chapter or two as well. I've given in two chapters (both of which still have to be added too) and a further rambling draft/notes of the next chapter as well. Now I need to get enough done before next week to be able to say "oh, yes, I'm much further on now...."...
I try not to think about the viva. Utter terror....
And to cap it all, I'm trying to knit a hot water bottle cover for Mother's Day, and test drive a glove pattern for a friend in the next week.
I need tea!
