Wow, what a couple of weeks!
It does not seem like anytime when I was just turning 30 and starting my PhD, but that was obviously a little while ago, as I have just turned 35! I am not at all bothered about my age, in fact I wouldn’t be where I am now if I had not done all the things I have done, so in many ways I am happy to be where I am!
Friday 19th Sept was the day I had earmarked for printing off my PhD thesis, which thankfully was not as arduous as anticipated! I spent an industrious morning at the CfDR printing my 6 copies, five of which had to be taken off to be bound. I keep thinking, in many ways it was like therapy, giving me the chance to get closure on my research, even though my subject area is forming the basis for much of the work I am currently doing!
The start of the week was dedicated to transcribing sustainable corporate wear interviews I had conducted as part of the work I am completing for the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse. Also I spent a day meeting with Skillfast-UK and ABC to finalise the footwear and key cutting qualifications I have been working on.
Wednesday, well that has been a different day altogether! Though a concertive effort I managed to secure a place on an EPSRC workshop looking at ‘Digital Economy in Business’. It was the first event of this type that I had attended, now I understand why it is so competitive to gain a place! The purpose of the day is to bring together around 80 people, sector experts and those with an interest in the workshop thematic area, in order to generate areas of focus for a pending ‘sandpit’ to be held in December (fingers crossed!!).
Friday 26th Sept I collected my bound theses for final submission! Where they went: unbound copy to the British Library; black binding for Northumbria University Library; light green for the CfDR; British racing green form my Mam and Dad; red for my friend Dr Penelope Watkins; my copy was in mid green! So that is it, all completed! I am planning to upload an electronic version of my thesis in the near future, so watch this space!
Over the weekend I started packing so that I could move house on Tuesday 30th Sept! That means that my partner Jason and I no longer live at our lovely flat in North Shields, we are now in Whitley Bay in the house that was my Nan’s. It is great to be here, but in my Dad’s words (as my wonderful removal man) ‘you have too much stuff!’ I have a mountain of sorting to do, just can’t wait until it is done!
More excitement next week… Tuesday I am off to the RITE Group conference, being held at Central Hall, Westminster. Then on Thursday I will be sitting in on a Technical Advisory Group looking at printing and dyeing of garments with my friend and colleague Verity-Gay Hardy, a Skills Manager at Skillfast-UK.