Life, version 2.1

Yes, it is done! The thesis has been delivered (went to the printers one week ago, and was given to the faculty on Wednesday - great thanks to my hero Elise for helping me with that!) - a new phase of my life has begun. It is a great relief, but also strange. The work that I have done has been such a great part of my life and my identity for the past five years, and it is hard to find a new role, and a new way of defining oneself. More than anything, I am really, really tired. I could easily sleep for a week. It has been both physically and mentally exhausting.

Also, the day after I had finished, mum and dad came to visit - and the day after that Tim's mum as well. Tim has been very very busy - his last sale being on the Wednesday (which went very well, and he has been raised to the skies), so I have had to been entertaining and social non stop for the past six days. To say that I am knackered is not an exaggeration. But it has been very nice to have them here, and to focus on some new things.

I still do not know what to do now, though. The natural first step would be to apply for funding in the UK, but I don't think I have enough (English) publications to even be considered. So, I'm sitting here, contemplating my life, wondering what to do next (do I really want to stay in academia?), worrying about lack of money, lack of experience, lack of future plans. It is a strange feeling - being utterly happy and really frightened at the same time... Welcome to my life - version 2.1!