PhD in Lockdown: Reflections on 2020 and (loose) aims for 2021

 

PhD in Lockdown: Reflections on 2020 and (loose) aims for 2021

It's been a while since I wrote a blog post but my New Years goal (I don't do resolutions) is to blog more and give this site a revival.  Obviously, it would be rude not to do a reflection on the past year. To say it was a rollercoaster would probably be an understatement, it was definitely a year of ploughing through treacle and just about managing in every aspect of life but I'm still here and feeling a bit more positive about the year ahead (well I was until we went into another lockdown).  Here's what I've been up to so far:

Reflections of the First Year of a Part Time Ph.D 

It's safe to say that the first year of my Ph.D journey (I hate that phrase) has been frustrating, as well as challenging. But then 2020 has been frustrating and challenging for everyone else.  Here are just a few of the things that have made it difficult.  

Challenge 1: Childcare 

On the run up to beginning the Ph.D I had crazy childcare issues.  The nursery that my little girl was supposed to be going to didn't open due to lack of funds so with a week's notice before the start of term I had the fun of trying to find her alternative arrangements.  I found a childminder nearby, however Chloe had other ideas and wouldn't settle.  Cue major panic as we were about to go into enrolment and induction week.  Luckily my mum could come to stay for a few days so I was able to attend induction at the University but my search for childcare continued. 

We did eventually find a place a small nursery a short bus ride away (more about bus rides later) and Chloe settled quickly and I had two days a week where I could concentrate on my Ph.D.  

Of course this hasn't always been plain sailing, and the Coronavirus pandemic saw the nursery closed from March until June which put a halt on what I was able to get done.  I could go through the challenges of juggling a toddler, work and phd study but as that's a whole blog post in itself I've decided that my fellow Ph.D student and friend, Ben Hodges explains it much better than I ever could.

https://www.blogs.hss.ed.ac.uk/pubs-and-publications/2020/01/23/full-time-dad-part-time-phd-student-full-time-worker/

Luckily, Chloe is now in Nursery full time five days a week, despite the current lockdown situation, which now gives me a lot more time. Whether she should be there is a different matter but she seems happy and the nursery are doing all they can to keep the children as safe as they can. 

Challenge 2: Getting started 

Obviously I had an idea of what I'm researching and what my aim is but where do you start.  Which bit do I research first? Should I do primary research or get the secondary research done? This is where 2020 dictated my research more than my planning.  My original plan for 2020 was to get lots of the local research started. My plan was to spend a lot of time in the local history department in the library collecting data on Boot and Shoe manufacturers, getting a basic knowledge of their backgrounds to get an understanding of the motivations of philanthropy.  However, when we got to March 2020 and the first national lockdown, I had managed to get library once or twice and then they were closed. So I went back to scratch and just decided to write what I know.  I started a chapter on Northampton as an industrial centre which will be added to throughout my studies.  I also began looking at Friendly societies as this was a topic that I had managed to find a bit of information on having obtained a lot of rule books from the rare occasions I got to library. 

Frustration definitely set it and I reverted back to secondary resources. I then became intrigued by the women related to the manufacturers.  I had found a number of newspaper resources which linked the women to philanthropy within the town and that was that.  Finally a spark which could light the fire into some research I could do with limited resources during a global pandemic. So I guess the moral here is don't give up. You'll find something that sparks an interest at some point and it will all contribute to the final thesis in the end.   

Challenge 3: Access to Resources 

Access to resources when you're juggling adulting is a challenge at the best of times so throw in a global pandemic and as you can imagine it can get limited. 

I have found the British Newspaper Archive invaluable.  The subscription is not the cheapest (about £80 per year) but as the local library close, access to local newspapers became a real struggle.  Many libraries are allowing outside access to Find My Past  which you can also access the newspaper archives through.  However, I have found having my own subscription easier to manage, especially with the volume of reports I am currently trawling through. 

The lovely library staff at University of Northampton who set up a click and collect service has meant that rather  than having to panic about buying books etc I have been able to arrange a time to collect books from campus and this has been invaluable. 

Obviously, access to the Local and National Archives has been a different challenge altogether.  When they have been open, they have been on a booking system and places go fast. With having to consider timing and travel etc it has made it near impossible to even attempt to get access. Of course the advantage I do have with being part time is that I have 5 years to fit in access to these (on the optimism that they will reopen - some museums are already under threat of permanent closure).

So What Now?

I'm sure there are many other challenges that I have found over the past year and I'm sure I'll face more challenges to come. However, I have a brief plan for at least the next 6 months. These are my aims:

1. A substantial piece of writing 

    

 As I'm coming to the end of my "probationary period" I have to produce a substantial piece of writing.  This  can be a draft chapter of 5 to 10,000 words.  As mentioned, I am currently writing about wives and daughters of the boot and shoe industry manufacturers and this is likely to be my transfer work.  I'm currently at just under 5000 words so it's safe to say that I should be ok with this piece of work. 

2. Keep this blog updated

This blog originally started to share my family history with family and friends.  I hope to develop it into a substantial history blog with updates on my research and tips and tricks that I discover as I go along.

3. Transfer 

As I've already said I'm due to transfer in the first half of this year.  My aim is to have completed this process at around Easter (this is realistically because juggling everything, sitting down to research or write is not always forthcoming).  For this I need to do a seminar presentation as well as the substantial piece of writing (the piece of writing I've already mentioned) as well as a mini viva exam.  

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my blog.