On nice days, I'm happy I can work from home. And so is Fenn. #phdlife

Every morning I find myself wondering why I have to write this chapter and why there isn't a technology that will just pull the thoughts out of my head and arrange them in a coherent form while I sit on the sofa and knit.

I had quite a scare just now when it sounded like someone was trying to break into my house. Turns out someone was...next door's cat. The cat burgler strikes again!

Feeling frustrated with the general incompetence and lack of consideration of certain organisations (there's an oxymoron of I ever heard one).

Stuck at Edinburgh Airport and my flight home keeps being pushed back for no discernible reason. I just want to get home to James and Fenn!

Great! Flight now cancelled, so I'm trapped in Edinburgh for another night worried about my dog back home who is pouting and refusing to eat because he misses me.

Touched down in Kirkwall at last!

I am deeply saddened and outraged at the decision made by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v Wade. To those who were in favour of this...if you are against abortion, simply don't have one, but don't restrict other women's bodily autonomy.

I think I may loath Xcel pivot tables more than anything in the world. Just had a major meltdown when some of my data didn't transfer over and my numbers weren't adding up. This is going to set me back several days. Cannot wait for this PhD to be over.

My stress has reached levels previously unimaginable. I'm feeling like it's increasingly impossible to finish this PhD and remain in Scotland. But I don't have any prospects in the US either. It all just feels a bit hopeless at the moment.

Despite how careful I've been these past few years, I tested positive for COVID. Feeling really crummy.

Caught COVID on a Loganair flight and they insisted we pay exorbitantly for the privilege of rebooking our return flight for a day when we're no longer contagious. Rudest customer service representative I have ever spoken to. Do better!

So happy to get home to our sweet boy.

My destressing is manifesting in the form of hand-knitted dog sweaters.

I screamed because a spider was crawling up my leg, and my dog ran to my partner for help. I have trained him well.

Just got told off by my dog for making too much noise and disturbing his sleep. He is now burrowed under the blankets and refuses to come out.

You know when is the worst time to get a cold? Days before your PhD deadline when there's still loads left to do. Thanks a lot universe!

Still feeling absolute rubbish, but I'm powering through. Just the conclusion and formatting left. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! As long as it doesn't turn out to be an oncoming train, all will be well.

Of course, after traveling all day when I'm sick as a dog, and then spending all evening putting the finishing touches on the PhD, im about to send it off so I can enjoy my vacation and there's one final hoop to jump through, which won't be dealt with til Mon.

What a week! Crossed the finish line literally and metaphorically. Set a new PB at the River Ness 10k and submitted my PhD thesis the following day.