thinking is the new black

Transfer time is a bit like ‘Hammer Time’ – remember he of the peculiar pyjama pants, and nifty running man dance moves?

As is usual with per her ders I am registered as an MPhil. I have been working on the research for 2 years now so it is time to face a panel and explain why I am making an original contribution to knowledge and should be allowed to progress to a PhD and write the damn thing up. No pressure then.

I have been working on the report for a few weeks in between teaching 1st and 2nd year undergrads and was hoping to have the whole process over and done with, but alas I have to wait for the panel to schedule a date that all necessary peoples can be in the same room at once – hopefully some time this decade. There is also a bit of political argybargy at my place about who should attend. The SuperDupers are very keen to get the report perfecto and dazzle the panel which has been frustrating as advice is somewhat organic, there are no consistent guidelines on what the report should contain and SuperDupers are occasionally given to a nebula communication method during counsel (though advice given is usually superduper once harnessed and processed by me), plus being dyslexic my grammar sucks when I am tired and I seemed to have developed a new car-crash approach to syntax.

I am beginning to feel bogged down with the waiting and where as a few weeks ago I was uber confident that I would enjoy the experience, I am getting more anxious the longer the wait goes on. I would like to write the thing and move on with my life at some point y’know? Don’t get me wrong, I am not one of those research students who has grown to hate their project and feels trapped by the burden of finishing. Not in any way shape or form, in fact I love and believe in my little idea (cue torch ballad), but I do not want to work on it for the rest of my days and I am feeling as if this might be the case. Therefore I am thinking of telling them all to hurry up, come around to mine for a BBQ instead and I will present a copy of the report and a performance to make clear why I should be allowed forward, because….

Can’t touch this
Can’t touch this
Can’t touch this
Break it down!
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Stop! Transfer time!