July 22nd Day 7

Well we ended up staying in Ramsgate for another day as Molly had to be taken to the vet's, her funny turns ended up being hypertension and she had high blood pressure she was at 280 and should have been at 180. Which is why she was having fits. So we were lucky to have got her to the vet on time, I think. it cost £150 but I think it is money well spent to keep a beloved pet for much longer. We sailed this morning to Dover, a 2 hour trip which was very choppy! I hated it, it felt like I was on a roller coaster for 2 long hours and couldn't get off! All I could do was lay on the bed and pray for it to end! So I think I am only a sunny day sailor me thinks! But unfortunately we still have to get back. While in Ramsgate we were taken on a tour of the local area by a friend and then had some lunch, which made for a grand day. Dover is very large and has a lot here, though as we are going to a wedding in Folkstone tomorrow, I don't think we will see much of it!!

I have had contact from Holloway and arrangements are being made to start there in the new semester, though I think I may have to delay that a bit what with this operation I have to have and recovering from that. I have been reading about nursing in Britain during the period from 1900 to 1948 and it is a very complicated period with a lot happening and no cohesiveness to the nursing system. I shall also have to chase for further funding after the holiday as I am self funding and am struggling now with making fees and expenses. I have spoken to a few charities and a cpl look hopeful.

 It is very difficult being a PhD student when you have not had a first and the bigger funding agencies won't look at you. I also feel that PhD students get a hard deal, we are sort of a afterthought to any funding and government proposals particularly. here has been no comment made on how funding for PhD students will be in the future, even though our fees will be going up as well. I know there are students who can afford a PhD but there are many of us other PhD students who are doing this because we want to teach and have a passion for research but have always just come up sort of a target, whatever reason that may be. It would be great tha if you have the motivation and determination to succeed that there is grants out there to access. Or maybe there is it is just made hard to access them. I know I am  doing a PhD because I want to teach and I love to research. I also know that my career will help my family one day. It is also one of the only tools I have that help me deal with the many issues I have had over the last few years and are continuing in the present. If I couldn't do my research and studying, I don't think I would have got as far as I have in fighting how ill I have been. I can only hope things will work out some how.