Well, I’ve written up my pilot study in the form of a 5000-word journal article. The idea is that my supervisors critique it, then it gets critiqued at my probationary review, then it emerges as a lovely fully formed article which I can send off for publication. The only slight snag is that, owing to pressure of time, I’m only halfway through the pilot study. According to my article I have this wonderful, validated research instrument. I suspect, when I actually finish the pilot, that I’ll have something that works a bit. In some cases. And not all of the time. Still, the difficult lit review bit is in place, and the justification of why I did the study. It’ll just be more interesting to other people if it actually works 🙂
 And my U500 conference abstract is written and my presentation prepared and practised. For the first time since (um, checks PDA) 28 March I’ve got my workload down to a manageable level and things look as if they’re on target, and nobody’s imminently expecting me to organise a birthday party.
of course, over the next month I’ll have to actually domy pilot study, write the other half of my probationary review, give my U500 conference paper, finish the now-three articles that I have sitting three-quarters written on my desktop, write a 32-page annual report for Bethany and Jacob’s school, arange to get the school CD copied 250 times, take over as chair of governors at Miriam’s school… I’m beginning to feel quite tired again. Good thing it’s the weekend.
Sounds like you’re really making progress – and don’t be hard on yourself. You know as well as we do that Anesa and I are in similar, although not identical, positions with regard to completion. Anesa has a good framework in place for her literature review but is struggling with pilot studies. I’ve completed one pilot, am planning the next study but my literature is still putting up a bit of a fight.
I wonder if its a function of being a “Mum” that you just take on rather too much. I totally sympathise with your other demands. I have to finish the band DVD of photos from last March (2005 that is). I’ve also got to get the minutes of the last committee meeting written up and circulated before the next committee meeting on Wednesday-week. Today I had to break off twice, once to meet with my son’s special needs teacher and once to meet with the band treasurer.
Maybe we could suggest a new U500 workshop called “Just say no”, but relating to all those other non-sex-related requests that we seem to just agree to without thinking through the amount of time it will entail.
PS. Loved your posting in the group blog. Had me laughing for ages!