Category Archives: Study

Puff the magic dragon

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As I was working on the last section of my Research Methodology chapter which at the time of writing stands at an absurd and definitely to be edited 63 pages before appendices, a childhood favourite came up on the Spotify playlist – Puff the Magic Dragon.

My parents loved Peter, Paul and Mary and as kids, their music was regularly playing on the family radiogram. There aren’t a lot of music artists that I have in common with my now late parents but Peter, Paul and Mary was one of them.

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Research paradigms – down the rabbit hole again!

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This year’s Doctoral Colloquium (a posh word for an academic conference or seminar) for post grad students provided me an opportunity to peer once again down the rabbit hole.

A requirement for attendance is the preparation of a short paper which each post grad student is required to present and receive feedback on.

My short paper was an excerpt from Chaspter Three of my thesis – Research Methodology . I used the paper to get feedback on how I was approaching my research. Specifically my research method.

My paper glossed over my research paradigm because every time I start to think about the research paradigm I quickly descend down a rabbit hole.

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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.

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