Beep! Findaphd.com is EVIL. Former classmate Teresa went there out of interest, and ended up signing away three years of her life. And I went there on 28th December, to see there was a Ph.D on offer at Oxford (exactly where I want to do my Ph.D) to do exactly what I want to do for a Ph.D (a more logical version of the project I did in Australia), under the supervision of a guy I've met who seems fine. Since the closing date for applications was the 31st, I decided to apply then would be too hasty, and anyway, getting references would be impossible. But I went back there yesterday, and the deadline's been extended to 31st January.
Trouble is, if I got it, I'd have to start it now.
On the one hand, I've got this room lined up to live in Whitstable, and I'm looking forward to going there. I'm also looking forward to going to Australia next September, and I'd rather start a Ph.D in a September, to make meeting people easier. And I'm sure similar projects will emerge in future.
On the other, not doing it means finding a job - suddenly an imminent and very scary prospect. Menial work continues to be horrible and I hate job-hunting. That said, the idea of starting a Ph.D, like, now, is deeply frightening too.
My plan was to go to Whitstable, and turn up to UKC and surrounding companies to see if they had any short-term research type jobs going. But if they don't, and I'm propelled to apply for this Oxford thing - eek.
Time to write the great novel really really fast, methinks. I seem to have written about 4,500 words of it this evening, but I don't know how - I keep getting distracted, and checking my e-mail and eating chocolate orange crumbs, in the absence of anything more appetising, due to the flooding of the nearest Tesco.
There's still no light at work, and the electricity company is seemingly unaware of this fact and won't answer their phone.
Wednesday 12 January 2005
We have light! We have bread! And I'm going to apply for the Ph.D. If I'm offered it, it'll be a little while before I have to decide whether I actually take it up: something more enticing may arise in the meantime, but it would be very good indeed itself.
