Tag Archives: PHD

The Drive for the line – completing my PhD thesis

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Back from an amazing 6 weeks in Israel and Europe, its now time to knuckle down and complete my PhD thesis.

While I was away I used siesta time and early in the day to work on a Book Chapter for a book on family business. The first draft is due for submission in the next week or so.

I have a final version of an article for submission and inevitable rejection.

After a meeting with my Supervisors, I have a timetable for submission of my thesis. So now its time to drive for the finish line.

Over the next few months, my blog will chart my progress to a mid-May final draft for my Supervisors for review and then to its submission for examination in the first week of July 2020.

To remind myself of life away from my PhD each post will have a photo from our recent trip!

The Natural History Museum, London

Lecce, Italy – a writing day

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Napoli Arch and Obelisk, Lecce

When we planned our trip to Europe I knew I would need to do some research and writing. I was quite looking forward to it. When we’d been away in 2015 I had used the early mornings and afternoon siesta time to write and that was in winter.

This time it’s summer and its hot and humid making the afternoons not that pleasant. As a result, it hasn’t been hard to spend many of our afternoons reading and writing while we have been travelling. My PhD supervisor will be pleased!

One task I have over and above my PhD research is to write a chapter for an academic book due for release next year. My contribution is due about a month after we get back and has been the main focus of my attention while we have been travelling. The topic is aligned to my PhD research which was why I pitched the idea in the first place.

With breakfast done, the day set to be hot and humid and a disappointing but not unexpected loss to my beloved Adelaide Crows out of the way, I sat down to write.

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Montefalco, Umbria – A wine tour

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Umbria is often referred to as the green heart of Italy.

The view across the Umbrian valley from Assisi with its patchwork of fields confirmed this. Umbria has a reputation for its food, wine and olive oil; all of which we can confirm from our stay in Assisi.

Our days in Assisi, a medieval town that looks across the valley, had enabled us to sample the wines. Montefalco Sagrantino and Montefalco Rosso were becoming favourites.

We visited a local wine bar, Bibenda, that had a reputation not just for the wines but also for its sommelier owner who has a truly extensive knowledge about the region.

We’d seen in a “things to do” post from Airbnb about a “new experience”, being a wine tour of a Montefalco winery and decided to see if we could make it work without a car.

Who wants to drive if you are doing some wine tasting? Continue reading →

The start – Europe 2019 – Adelaide to Tel Aviv

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It’s always the same the dog gets it. She sees the packed cases and gives us that look – you are leaving aren’t you?

Really she has nothing to be upset about, our daughter will look after her just as we do.

So with that and my favourite person’s one last adjustment to her luggage we are ready to put the tamper proof seal on our one case and we are ready to call for the cab. We use tamper proof seals rather than locks because it means we don’t have a key to lose or to remember a combination.

We are travelling light. Leaving winter behind and heading to the warmth of the northern hemisphere. We don’t normally travel at this time of the year but my favourite person has a health issue that makes it best to be out of the cold. What better excuse could you have to travel to Israel and Europe!

Our check-in is easy and our Lounge Pass is to the Qantas Club where I already have access care of years of work flying. It’s very pleasant and being a late morning the lounge is empty. Continue reading →

Another slow travel journey – Europe 2019

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Rome

It’s just under three weeks until we embark on our next slow travel journey.

It has snuck up on us, as my favourite person has not been a hundred per cent, I’ve had a couple of health issues of my own, there has been my PhD and waiting for the EPL fixture list to come out. All have meant we could not settle our final plans.

However with the last unknown, the EPL season fixture out, our itinerary is complete.

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