November 10, 2009 by paulyS
So, I have re-started my PhD, again…
Its been almost two years since I even thought about it, and three since I actually did any work! I started in 2003, struggled for three years until I passed my Transfer stage and became an official doctorate candidate, and then took a year out for personal reasons. Not six months after restarting, I had the accident that has left me laid up for the last year and a half…
So here I am – three years after I passed the transfer stage – starting again. Except things have changed, ever so slightly. Six years ago, when I started this Sisyphean Task, I was young(er) doing well professionally, newly married, enthusiastic, and ambitious. Now I am an unemployed house-husband looking after a three year old son and wife.
Which is not to say that my family life is not a happy one, just that it is not conducive to conducting research. Money is also a problem. I have been invited to a great sounding residential course in the wilds of central Wales…Only problem is I cant afford to get there. The university is skint also, so I will just have to stay at home.
Like the Chinese say, may we all live in interesting times!
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October 6, 2009 by paulyS
For the last four months I have been suffering from the worlds worst ingrowing toenail. It started as a slight throb and has culminted in a minor surgery to remove the nail…
Why am I telling you this? Two reasons; the first is to try out WordPress for the iPhone, the second is a warning: look after you nails people!
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October 4, 2009 by paulyS
So, I have managed to create a job for myself!
As you may or may not know, I have been off work for almost two years following an accident. Before that I was a professional artist/photographer. I did a lot of community based work and the odd residency and was doing ok for myself, until I had the accident…
Anyway, I started going to exhibitions and stuff a couple of weeks ago – getting back into the swing of things – networking etc, and I ended up going to a steering group meeting for the Apollo Pavilion in Peterlee. (the big concrete thing in my top bar)
Long story short: They have just spent half a million pounds renovating it and want to produce projects that engage with the community – which is where I come in!
I suggested they allow me to become artist in residence for six months – complete with school workshops and community engagement, etc… and they said YES!
Yay…all I need to do now is design the bloody thing!
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