June 19th Holidays

I am heading to Glasgow for four days today. The plan is to take the next two weeks off. After all my research in Cork and a very busy time before that I could do with a break. I will update the blog in two weeks. Once I get back it will be all systems go and just get the PhD written up.

15 June Taking it easy today

Well my trip to Cork on Thursday was successful to a point. Mind you I had to put up with being insulted after travelling all that way. I was told that local management really did not give a damn about my PhD. The other side of that is I don't give a damn about their problems as a result of that remark. I have my data and they got me to work for them for nothing for three and a half months. In fact I had to pay everything myself so I had to pay to work for and help them!! As a result of their comments I will not be helping them any further. They can read my case study but I am not presenting it to them. My meeting, other then that was successful and my work was appreciated and recognised of value to the larger organisation by the people from the States. If local management had the brains to understand what I was doing they might appreciate it.


I took the weekend off and I really needed it. I had to travel to Tralee on Saturday for an all day event so I took yesterday Monday off to make it a weekend break. The weather was fantastic yesterday; today it is a bit overcast but still warm. I have a presentation on Thursday, which I will organise tomorrow. I am off to Glasgow on Saturday for four days holidays and I will take the rest of next week off. Then it is a case of getting down and start writing up.

The Georgian Plassey House the orignal UL 

June 8th Getting ready for Cork again

Well I am heading down to Cork on Thursday it was confirmed today. This will be a day trip. I am meeting up with some Yanks from the research lap of the organisation where I carried out my data gathering.

I also went over the results of my research with my supervisor and it looks like I have enough done to start writing up. This is a major milestone in my work. I felt that I had enough done, but it is fantastic to have it confirmed. At this stage I really feel I need a break, but I also need to get down to some serious writing in the not too distant future. That will start as soon as I get back from Glasgow where I am spending a few days for R&R later in the month.

The next pressing task is for me to draw up a project plan for the next few months. I have a firm deadline for the end of January to have the first draft in. Fingers crossed I will make it. I have to say there is also the fear that someone else will come up with the same finding as I have before I publish mine and this adds some urgency to my work.

Looking down O'Connell St Limerick 

June 7th

I am enjoying the Bank Holiday there was a bit of thunder around 13.50 but the sun is out again now. I better make the most of the rest as the work starts in earnest tomorrow.

June 4th Journal Paper

I came into the office to send off my journal paper. It needed some slight amendments so at last I will be rid of it. At this stage I am looking forward to the long weekend. I will have to get the head down and get this PhD written up ASAP.

The Mirror Tree Fiztgerald Park Cork 

June 3rd

I have left my apartment in Cork and I have made it home safely. I have to say my four month stay down there was very enjoyable. It remains to be seen if it will prove profitable. I have a lot of work to get done over the next few weeks and months. I will have to head down to Cork again next Thursday for a meeting with some people from the US. Tomorrow Firday is the start of the Whit Weekend so after all my travelling I hope to have a bit of a break and enjoy the public holiday on Monday.

Patrick Street Cork  

June 2nd Heading to Cork

I am heading down to Cork to tie up a number of loose ends. I have to move out of my apartment and maybe meet someone from the company I am researching. I will stay overnight as I have to do some shopping as well.

A good pub 

June 1st The data gathering stage is nearly over

At this stage my field research is nearly complete. I have a meeting next week in Cork then I need to finish my analysis and start writing up. My plan (at this stage all it is is a plan) is to have a first draft ready by the new year. If I am lucky I hope to have a Viva in the spring. What happens after that is anyones guess. I will keep you informed on how things are going. It would be good to hear from other people doing a PhD.