The new academic year is now underway and my mind is looking back as well as forward. Ten years ago I arrived in Newcastle as a fresher, but by Christmas I will have submitted my PhD thesis – something I wouldn’t have dared to imagine back in 2002 when I had yet to submit my first university essay (oh how writing 2,000 words was such a monumental effort!). So while I see all those young new faces around campus, and I reflect on the fact that I was in that situation now a whole decade ago, I am also looking forward to completing my doctorate and, hopefully, having a nice sunny July graduation in 2013. Although some things never change; freshers’ flu is just as contagious this year as it was back in my day!

Back in 2006 I got a nice sunny day for my first graduation, but, judging by the way the weather has been behaving in Newcastle in recent summers, I think getting such a lovely day for my next graduation is going to be unlikely. To be honest, I will be happy just to be Dr Steven Robinson and to have my degree parchment in my hand. While much needs to be done before then, I feel now that the end is now in sight and having that summer graduation is definitely the plan.

I received some useful feedback on the work I did over the summer. Now it is a case of finalising the thesis, polishing the chapters and drafting the conclusion. I am hoping to get my thesis in before Christmas, although I do have until the end of January to submit it. But a November submission is the target, which would allow for my viva to be scheduled for January. The viva is, of course, something which I will return to on these pages in the coming months, but I’m keeping that in the back of my mind for now. But I am glad to hear that my examiners have accepted their invitations, so the wheels are in motion it seems. It’s down to me now to make sure that they have a thesis to examine!