Completely Inexplicable
I've got a transfer exam tomorrow morning. What this basically entails is giving a talk to two professors about what I've been doing for the past year, before they're allowed to question me probingly and at length (oo-er) and then decide whether I'm worth keeping on for the rest of the phd.

The inexplicable? For the first time in my life on such an occasion, my stools have not taken on a texture akin to either a baked oblong of clay, nor anything which would interest a geologist. Something's not right...

Also, the first thing I did this morning was - in an attempt to be helpful - knacker a piece of equipment. It was a fragile little deeley and anybody could have made the same mistake. I just felt a bit bad, given it had only been delivered the week before and we'd been waiting a few years for it.

The inexplicable? My supervisor's response was simply: "Ah, well, shit happens."

EDIT: Change of mood. "Tomorrow morning" has become "in about forty minutes" and I think I'm about to lay an egg. So at least my state of mind has returned to normal.

I'll of course let you know if I do actually lay an egg. That would probably count as something "unexplained." Or maybe just "bloody weird."
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 8 Jul 2008, 22:21, 2 replies)

Well, how did it go?
Judging from the above, it sounds as if your supervisor's either accepted you as one of their kin, or has given up on you entirely...

Enquiring minds need to know...
(dxg, Wed 9 Jul 2008, 11:41, closed)

I'm very glad it's over....
...and, unfortunately, no eggs were laid. The two professors have been left in the room to discuss my performance. My supervisor reckons I did alright...certainly managed not to fold too badly under questioning.

I don't know when they're going to let me know their decision - it may be today, it may be next week. This of course leaves a nasty feeling of anticipation behind, but at least the difficult part's over. (For this year)

EDIT: They've decided. Apparently it was quite good. I have succeeded. WOO!
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 9 Jul 2008, 12:12, closed)