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| This photo is a year or two old, but shows how I stand in relation to Sherpa… |
Firstly, blog news – after seeing some alternative centuries around the blogosphere, and chatting to my friend at work, I have decided to shift my century a bit. I’ll now be doing the past 100 years – that is, 1914-2013. I found the first years so difficult to fill last time, and I also missed the 21st century – this way I can keep myself more content, and still have a great overview of a century. And, of course, 1914 is not an insignificant year.
Secondly, life news – I had my DPhil viva yesterday, and have passed with minor corrections! I think I’m not technically a doctor until I’ve done those corrections, had them approved, and got a piece of paper from the English faculty in my hands – but to all intents and purposes I am now Dr. Thomas. Gosh, how strange that sounds! I think it might take me a lot longer to get used to it than everyone else.
Huge congrats!!! And I'm very much looking forward to your century of books – especially the 21st century ones :)
Thank you very much Samara!
Congrats to you, Doctor! Must say on that century change…hmmm…is it cheating to change the rules after the game has started? ;) I'm just giving you a hard time! (Especially, since those early years have been the toughest for me! My dds assure me I can fill in most of those years with Oz books by L. Frank Baum — not sure how many of those I'm anxious to read, though.)
Thank you Susan! It is unashamedly cheating, but it's my game so I'm making up the rules ;) I have to say, stumbling upon this change has made me feel rather happier about the whole thing.
Simon! Dr. Simon! What a relief.
I was nearly as anxious for this news as I was for my son's law degree and my daughter's Master's degree. Can you hear the champagne cork from my house to yours?
Congratulations. Your mum must be so happy.
I also want to add that you're a marvelous blogger because you always find time to update. So many other bloggers become stale. Thank you for that.
Both Simon's mum and Simon's dad are thrilled – but not surprised! Images of his early days, learning to read when he was 4 & 5 irresistably come to mind. It's been a long and fascinating journey – now where will the *reading* road take you, Simon?
Memo to Our Vicar and Our Vicar's Wife: Speaking as a proud mother myself, the two of you have every right to be proud of him!
Thank you to all of you! I hope you enjoyed the champagne, Susan – I managed to leave a bottle in Somerset, so my cork-popping will be delayed.
Congratulations, Doctor! (It does have a lovely ring to it.)
I seriously considered changing my century to 1815-1914, so I could include Emma. But I'd rather read the 1930s than the 1830s.
A very wise decision! As you see, I creep ever further away from the 19th century…
Although it would have been fun if we'd managed to have consecutive centuries…
Well done on both counts. Modern lit and old. Congrats on the doctorate to be.
Thank you Pam!
That's fantastic! Congrats on doctoring!
And doctoring your century too….well, as the originator and on your second lap, I think that's a fine idea. Starting at 1914 does make sense.
Thanks Melwyk! Excellent doctoring pun, may I say ;)
Wonderful news, Simon: huge congratulations! Sherpa should be bowing down before you now. ;-)
I wonder if she will respond differently next time we meet? Perhaps there will be a glimmer of respect in her eye…
Congrats again!
Those early years are tough. I combed my library's catalog today to find potential reads and was not thrilled with the results other than Sister Carrie for 1900 – so I understand your shift.
Thanks! I am glad not to have to go through the process of finding books from those years… although may I recommend Beatrix Potter for some of them…
Since you already completed the Century of Books once and you invented it, I say you can do what ever you want now.
Congratulations on your Doctorate!
Thanks Ruthiella! I am definitely playing the my-game-my-rules card, aren't I? ;)
Yes, we are all very comfortable with your new status. And thrilled for you. it is such an achievement , Simon. A
Thank you!
Many congratulations! Looking forward to your future accomplishments; I suspect that this is just the beginning.
That is very kind of you to say, thank you!
Hearty congratulations on attaining your doctorate.
Sue
Thank you Sue :)
Congratulations, Dr. Thomas! So pleased for you!
Thanks Karen! It is lovely that it's come to an end, at long last :)
Well done on your viva! And, you know what, I was looking at all the excellent 21st century books I've got AND pondering the War, and this makes massive amounts of sense to me, so I think I'm going to join you. Hopefully knocking the 1913 one off the start will be balanced out by adding the newer ones on the end. I will NOT look yet, but I will look later …
Thank you!
I'm glad someone else is joining me in my somewhat eccentric century :)
Congratulations (Dr) Thomas! Your century shift seems eminently sensible, a practical solution.
Thank you Annabel! And thank you for the encouragement :) I think it does make for a good century.
Congratulations!
thank you!
Huge congratulations :-) I have just embarked on my PhD and can't imagine getting to the end yet. Or reading and writing about so many books along the way. You are an inspiration
That's such a lovely thing to say, thank you Victoria! I'm not gonna lie, it's a long haul – but I determined (before I started) that I'd only do it if I could read recreationally at the same time, otherwise it wouldn't be worth it. I hope you manage to find time for it all too!
Well done Dr. Thomas! That's some achievement! And enjoy your century – it is *your* century so you can read whatever dates you like – I'm sure that whatever you write about will be interesting!
Thank you so much Karen! I'm pretty excited about my century now (although it's off to a slow start, with thesis re-reading etc.) – and it's quite nice to be doing something a bit different from last time around.
Congratulations! Indeed you are not yet formally Dr Thomas, but I think we can all assume that you will complete those corrections in a few days and presumably the formal award will follow shortly afterwards. For me working for my PhD (though perhaps not writing up) was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life; I hope it has been (and will remain) the same for you.
Best wishes, Peter
Thank you very much Peter! I think you possibly found your PhD more rewarding as a whole than I did my DPhil – but I suppose I spent more time writing up than you did, since all four years were essentially writing up periods interspersed with more fun periods in the archives and libraries!
That's an interesting point you make! I spent about 10 weeks (7 days per week I hasten to add) writing my thesis. I spent quite a lot of time at the beginning and at the end in libraries, but of course a huge amount of time in laboratories and writing computer code (in FORTRAN IV if anyone else out there remembers that).
Congrats almost-Dr Thomas. ;)
thanks Eva! :)
Well done, you. I am so impressed with how you achieve all your scholastic goals AND run a blog (or two) AND read a ton of books AND have a life. To say nothing fo the cat.
I'd be inclined to go with the century ending with 2013. Otherwise, you'll be shut out of the current century, already slipping by so quickly.
Thank you Susan! I suspect I'd have finished quicker if I hadn't been determined to keep a life/study balance – but it was definitely worth being sane after 4 years than insane after 3!
What on earth is a life/study balance ?! I became addicted (and I think that is the right word) to my research during my PhD. Well done if you avoided becoming "dependent" (but perhaps you missed out on some "highs" too?)
I'm sure I did miss out on some of the highs! My DPhil was never my life, and I don't think I wanted it to be. Which is probably why I will not be a professional academic now!
Congratulations! Dr Thomas :) well deserved.
That sounds like a good century to do I am considering doing this in 2015.
thanks Ali! How well prepared, planning for 2015 already!
Congratulations, so happy for you, and good luck with the new challenge! Look forward to reading your blogs as ever.
sally Tarbox
thank you Sally!
Congratulations!
thank you!
Congratulations Dr Thomas!
Thanks Karoline!
I'm a day late and a dollar short as usual but many congratulations, Simon!
After confusing myself considerably by reading that sentence as "I am now … Dr Thomas Gosh", and thinking "I'm sure his name is Simon", I am now with the programme ~ many congratulations.
I guess I'm the last to arrive at the party, but congratulations. Excellent work!
Congratulations Simon, well done on your DPhil!
Congratulations! It must be really satisfying to have finished such a hefty chapter in your life – and to be (just about to be) Dr Thomas!
Congratulations Dr Thomas! I hope you are enjoying the sense of achievement. You said you're not going to be a professional academic, but I do hope we will meet again at a conference in future.
I certainly hope so! I'm going to keep doing the fun bits of academia :)
Belated congratulations on your doctorate and I look forward to hearing all about the 'new' century with you!